Long Blonde Hair, but trims are necessary!

Yesterday I was sitting in the dentist office waiting room. Of course nervous, as he's a nice guy, just NOT a place I like to be! Upon entering he always asks "How are you doing today?" My answer is always the same "Nervous, how are you?" lol. .. Anyway sitting in the waiting room the lady next to me compliments me so nicely, "Your hair is beautiful." Graciously I thank her, and with a little lean I say "Oh, and one word... CHORE," we both get a giggle out of that, which of course eases the thoughts of where I am! lol.

Oh, if she only knew the whole process, as she had a nice short bob cut. I had to start the night before, as you can see, donned in my baggy pants and tshirt, as I know I'm going to get soaked, as I might of mentioned, with long hair it's just too much for me to do both at the same time with my shoulder impingement's.

As you can see, I have that one piece that tends to grow a little quicker and thicker than the rest! But as I name this "the process" that is part of it. The TRIM! As you can see I'm in dyer need of a good 4-5 inches to come off! More on the process, but for me, it hasn't began as of yet. Soon though! Reading and having conversation with other girls with long hair I've come to realize that every one of us has a different process and even thought process of utensils and products that fit our styles!

I guess my process would begin with :

1. I have an array of hair brushes. In this photo I used a large square brush
2. I'll leave it in this position throughout the whole washing and drying process!
3. YES IT HURTS MY SHOULDERS AND MY BACK LOL! (Keeping my arms lowered helps me be able to wash my hair without too much added pain, just remember if you don't want to chop your locks, then it's the best way to get your hair done and not be raising your arms over your head! It's just too hard and painful! Hair and bath are separate when you have a shoulder impingement!)
   
4. I never ever use a comb, and if I do it's already when it's sleek and snarl free! I have bangs and I like the velcro type roller that I can put in while my hair is wet, and sleep with it or let it set for awhile with a spritz of hair spray and it does the job, just NEVER, LADIES NEVER let one of those type of rollers get to your long hair, you'll be picking each hair out one by one, or you'll end up getting it cut out and it's rather painful, just BE CAREFUL. If you want wave or curl, see my hub on how to achieve a good wavy long hair do, with wet braids! It works great!
5. I switch shampoos OFTEN to avoid build up. Some women actually use a mixture they've made themselves with baking soda and vinegar. I find that it dries my hair out. (worse lol)
6. I don't brush my hair as much as someone with short hair would, and it's ok because it doesn't break off or fall out.
7. The way to tell if you have natural fall out, is to look at the root of the hair that fell out. If it has a tiny bulb on the end of it, it's reached it's normal cycle of growth and fell out naturally. If it doesn't, then either you've gotten a snagged hair out or you need to see a dermatologist. He'll ask you to keep the hair from your hair brush for 7 days in a row each in different envelopes, so he can examine which is which. Yes, they know, even though they're not hair stylist, :) they know skin, and your scalp is a part of that!
8. Right after this photo was taken I went off to wash my hair.. so it stayed in this same position, so when I went to come it out wet, I had little to no snarls or hairs to break off!
   

Yes, not only is this a super big handfull of shampoo, my hair is yes, indeed DRY. I glob as much as I can hold and put it ONLY on the back of my head, to smear it around... WHY? Because the longer your hair stays dry the less stretching it will get during the washing! It's true!

I know a lot of girls might disagree with this, but TRY IT, it's the only way to know if it's the right thing for you! If you've got long hair, you know it stretches and breaks when it's wet! So just one try of putting on the shampoo on dry hair! This glob lol, is for the back....

The thing about long hair too, is you're going to use more than twice the amounts of shampoo, conditioner, even if you color your hair, you buy two boxes not one! I've yet to see any double sized colors for long hair. Of course they know girls (or guys for that matter) that have really long hair are going to purchase two bottles of color so why would they just make one larger size, they'd have to adjust that price! I'm sure they do, I haven't been to the beauty supply house to buy my shampoos as of late.

My mother was a beautician by trade, and since her death, I've not trusted any one with my hair, and some of the supply stores require you to have your license in order to purchase.

Plus, there is the fact that I rarely use the same brands twice due to the buildup. And I'll NEVER stop liking Prell. After not using it for about 10 shampooing times, it's time for Prell! It gives my hair a super thick and full feel, and also leaves it silky and smooth. I NEVER buy shampoo/conditioner in a combination. WHY? If I had a short cut maybe I might try, but never with long hair as I barely put any on the top! But here is why us with long hair go through so much shampoo and conditioner(s) (as I do use more than one) :)

I made this photo above for things to look for and do! I LOVE John Freida For Blonde hair! As you'll note I put a little arrow to "for strengthing" as I've mentioned above, wet hair stretches and breaks easily! So anything that says or can even remotely strengthen my hair, I'm on it! lol.

This little bit, I will rub together and barley touch the top of my head, and the rest will go from mid to bottom. Sometimes an extra little bit JUST FOR the bottom ends! They get the worst treatment when it comes to the whole process!

One other thing I like about this product is that is it made specifically for blonde hair of any shade. That means if you've put color on it, even a few spritz of Sun-In (yes, they still make it lol) it's peroxide, and it's damaging, so I'm for anything to help moisturize those ends!

Never use too much though, as I've said.

Another thing about importance of conditioning, is that it reduces static cling! So when you wear that silk blouse or even sweater, if you've used fabric softener in your laundry, you don't have to worry about that fly away hair! But don't get too close to someone in a crowded area, because if they have not, you're leaving yourself open for a whole big mess of your hair sticking to them. Some people will get upset, and some will not. but it's best to .. .keep your hair to yourself lol.

This is after all the rising and conditioning! I rinse and rinse, and not a drop of soap, not a drop of conditioner, and believe it or not, the wash/rinse/repeat process, then condition... and still you can see after a good towel dry, I'm not going to have a hard time getting this combed out! :)

I love it! If you really are bothered with frizz or your hair tangles easily, please check out my BioSilk link! It really only takes a couple of drops after you've towel dried a bit, to get sleek silky hair!

They have come out with a new dry shampoo I've yet to try, but will! It would be handy for the 2 day trips! Also please look for Celebrity hair stylist Tammy Mixon! She has lead stylist from the Miss Universe-Miss USA as well as Miss Teen Pageants, for the past decade! (It's under "Artists" at their site)

Next comes the towel dry, and then JUST A DAB in the palm of my hand of BIOSILK.

If you're not close to, or have someone who can buy from a beauty supply house, online is really the best way to purchase this. They buy bulk so the price might be a better choice, just keep in mind, A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY, so this product is most worth it. I got a sample size of it, and it lasted a good 8 months. I used it mostly on those dry ends you see above, THEY WERE WORSE than what you see, and in my next "Long hair hub" :) you'll see a difference! I don't believe in the 6 month trim, if you're looking to grow long hair, everyone has a different growing cycle and if yours is shorter than 6 months, your hair will remain the same length and not grow longer! If you want it long, you're going to have to wait for it to get past a really bad stage in order to cut off little bits, say, and inch or two at most, for at least a couple of years!

At the point my hair is now, after I take off about 5 inches, it's not noticeable, other than it will have more of a sleek look and feel! And you'll love it!

If you buy it direct it could sound a bit costly. At about $40. a regular size bottle if you have long hair and wash it every day, you'll need BioSilk. It just takes a small few drops, rub it in your hands, and go down your hair from about half way (just as with conditioner) and BioSilk will make brushing your hair out a breeze! I LOVE BioSilk! It does come in a smaller size, either way, it also lasts a long time because you use only a few drops as I've noted!

I'm adding this photo, because I have had many compliments on what a nice clear complexion I have! Even without make up! *YaY* lol

I do wear make up of course, and spend quite a bit on it as well, because I hit the Estee Lauder counter before I EVER buy of another counter. I think I have a hub about it, under how to get things for free, check it out. They have never ceased to give me MORE than promised, and when it comes to make up and hair products, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. I do prefer Clinique's minieral foundation powder to any other foundations. It's like not really having any on.

But about this photograph. No, I NEVER EVER use regular soap on my face! I know that sounds freaky, but soap is drying and I use WATER only to wash my face, except after I'm taking off make up, then I use Estee Lauders exfoliating face wash (the big blue tube). It's kind of pricey, but WORTH EVERY CENT. I got it as a freebie in one of my purchases there, and unless I've already used make up remover to take make up off, then I use it, otherwise, just PLAIN WATER!

Between times, I keep what's called a BuffBuff, (they have others with similar names) and I use that to keep any dry skin from building up. They feel kinda rough, but a few light sweeps keeps dry skin away, which in turn, keeps wrinkles away! No links here as you can get these at any drug store or even the dollar store, just be very careful not to press too hard, as you only want to wipe away dry skin, not scrape or damage your skin! :)

In the meantime, I LOVE Estee Lauders Hydra Bright skin toning moisturizer or Cliniques Youth Surge SPF 15. Both are EXCELLENT moisturizers.  (Clinique is a subsidiary of Estee Lauder, there are differences, as I mentioned with the mineral make up & compact, and even make up brushes. I prefer both, but definitely prefer Clinique lipstick to EL's) :)

And ladies who smoke.. STOP IT! lol.. or at least before you go to bed or when you're not smoking, dab this around your lip line, you'll decrease the "smokers wrinkle" so many women get from smoking! Either one of the things I mentioned are cheap, but IS SMOKING? You weight it for yourself :) Me? I'd rather spend $40. on something that will help keep my skin soft and my lips free of wrinkles as I'm pushing the limit here as to aging, and I like to keep it that way! Luckily I'm not a smoker, and didn't get caught into that trap, but I still keep these with me religiously just as you might cigarettes, and if you are a younger person, DON'T GIVE INTO PEER PRESSURE, BE YOURSELF, keep that youth long as you can by NOT smoking, and that's not a "mom" giving you an order, it's a person who just never picked up the habit and I'm SO GLAD for it. Younger generation buy into M.A.C. and Sephora, and others, and I'm not saying their not great products, they're vibrant in colors, but when it comes to moisturizing, trust me, us older ladies know what works! :) *hugs* WATER your skin, and drink lots of water!

Yep, still haven't lifted my head up but once to rest my shoulders, sit with my hair in the towel, letting it soak up some of the water on it's own!

Then, I came to get it brushed out before, the evil heat has to set in to dry it! Ah, yes, here's where you make your decision to part it in 3's to make braids to dry.. if you're going out on Saturday, do this on a Thursday night! Use another towel (yes if any men read this, we need more than enough of everything lol) to wrap your wet braids in, it'll help absorb the water, and help you sleep and not get tangles! But this hair is going to be brushed out for a sleek straight look!

Let the brushing begin! AT THE BOTTOM! :)

Yep, now my brush can go from top to bottom without one single snarl to pull through, and I'm not left with a huge brush full of hair!

Then it's onto whatever styling I prefer at the moment! Um... think think think....

I'm getting pretty tired, and with shoulders starting to ache pretty bad, I think a little rest is in order! After all, any part that dried too much in towel, can always be spritzed with a bit of water to wet it again, such as the bangs or sides that got a 'towel hair' look! lol :)

Just for the sake of it, I'll mention I have a cute RATHER LARGE hairy Rottweiler too! So, that's why the towel is there, not just to catch drips, of course, but I know my hair is going to touch the floor, and her hair tends to do as mine.. and it'll stick to my hair wet, so since it's all washed and clean, I don't really want me doggies hair getting all comfy in my freshly washed hair! (although it finds it's way in many places... like my keyboard... um... yeah.. well, she's a mommies girl, so I wear black a lot lol) :) In fact my lil 130lb snoogie is sleepin' right here by my side. I think she'd be in my lap if I didn't have a laptop computer... Jealous she is! :)  If you'd like to read about her, check out how I've trained her, and the first few weeks hard, but after that anything is as easy as pie. Treat a Rottie with love and you'll never have to worry about having a watch dog, because nobody will get between the babe and her mommie! lol :) The same for Pitts, it's never bad dog, it's bad owners!