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Original poster

Wearing hair down all the time

27 replies

Scotblue · 10/02/2023 14:42

Does anyone else wear their hair down all the time? Do you experience breakage and damage to the ends easily?

I want to grow my hair long but I am experiencing breakage and damage to the ends despite haircare techniques and minding my hair. I don't use straighteners or hair curlers or hair tongs in my hair. I wash my hair twice a week and I mind my hair when it's wet. I don't brush my hair when it's wet.

The only thing I can think of is wearing my hair down all the time. My hair tends to part and all fall over my shoulders. The breakage tends to take on a ^ shape in the hair. The only thing I can think of is the parting in my hair when it's down and maybe hair rubbing of the top of my jacket and jacket zip.

Do other people experience that type of breakage or damage to the hair?

OP posts:
puppacup · 10/02/2023 14:58

I wear my hair down virtually everyday. Don't have much breakage but it's pretty strong.

MargaretThursday · 10/02/2023 15:37

I think it's just genetic really. DD1 has knee length hair. She has it normally in plaits.
Dm has never managed to grow her hair below shoulder length. It just breaks off.

Original poster
Scotblue · 10/02/2023 15:38

puppacup · 10/02/2023 14:58

I wear my hair down virtually everyday. Don't have much breakage but it's pretty strong.

Thanks for replying and filling me in. I'm disappointed in my hair. I forgot to add my hair is fine. I used to have thicker hair when I was younger but not so much any more.

I am trying to get tí the bottom of my hair breakage and hair damage. I don't bleach my hair or use heated products. Yet mid section of my hair looks awful.

OP posts:

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Beauty
Ihatepcos · 10/02/2023 15:40

Usually it's wearing the hair up that causes breakage

BitOutOfPractice · 10/02/2023 15:41

I wear my hair down all the time (unless I'm at the gym) and don't really get breakage no.

When I had a hot tub and was in it all the time, the ends of my hair were a mess. I found this stuff really good. Still use it now occasionally if my hair looks a bit fluffy at the ends.

IWineAndDontDine · 10/02/2023 16:09

Do you wash your hair lots? That will make it dry and brittle and it will make it more susceptible to breaking. Maybe try conditioner washing in between washes if your hair gets greasy

rosesarentalwaysred125 · 10/02/2023 16:18

when did you last have a blood test? Hair, skin and nails can be affected by the thyroid, in particular an underactive thyroid. Menopause effects this too.

Original poster
Scotblue · 10/02/2023 16:18

IWineAndDontDine · 10/02/2023 16:09

Do you wash your hair lots? That will make it dry and brittle and it will make it more susceptible to breaking. Maybe try conditioner washing in between washes if your hair gets greasy

No I don't wash my hair lots. I wash twice a week. From my mid section down to my bra strap, it's looks dry and thin. I understand that's older hair. I used to use coal tar shampoo but I stopped using that about 18 months ago. Maybe that was drying out my hair too much. I don't know.

OP posts:
Original poster
Scotblue · 10/02/2023 16:20

rosesarentalwaysred125 · 10/02/2023 16:18

when did you last have a blood test? Hair, skin and nails can be affected by the thyroid, in particular an underactive thyroid. Menopause effects this too.

I get regular bloods done at the doctors. It's done yearly now at this stage. My ferritin in 79. I do have low iron and I am taking an iron supplement for that. Aside from that it's all clearish except sometimes markers showing an infection. I am 40 and I think I am peri.

OP posts:
IWineAndDontDine · 10/02/2023 16:23

Scotblue · 10/02/2023 16:18

No I don't wash my hair lots. I wash twice a week. From my mid section down to my bra strap, it's looks dry and thin. I understand that's older hair. I used to use coal tar shampoo but I stopped using that about 18 months ago. Maybe that was drying out my hair too much. I don't know.

Show quote history

Hmm.. have you tried not washing at all or only once a fortnight? I go through phases of not washing and so long as I massage my scalp with the conditioner it feels and looks clean. And if I do wash I only put the shampoo on the scalp. Never on the main body of hair and definitely not on the ends.

Original poster
Scotblue · 10/02/2023 16:23

BitOutOfPractice · 10/02/2023 15:41

I wear my hair down all the time (unless I'm at the gym) and don't really get breakage no.

When I had a hot tub and was in it all the time, the ends of my hair were a mess. I found this stuff really good. Still use it now occasionally if my hair looks a bit fluffy at the ends.

Thanks for your reply and for letting me know that you wear your hair down and don't experience what I am experiencing.

Its bizarre. I don't know what's wrong with my hair. I implement good hair practices aside from wearing my hair in a protective style but here I am experiencing damage and breakage in my hair.

OP posts:
Original poster
Scotblue · 10/02/2023 16:27

IWineAndDontDine · 10/02/2023 16:23

Hmm.. have you tried not washing at all or only once a fortnight? I go through phases of not washing and so long as I massage my scalp with the conditioner it feels and looks clean. And if I do wash I only put the shampoo on the scalp. Never on the main body of hair and definitely not on the ends.

Show quote history

Unfortunately I am not able to go too long between washes. Due to dry scalp or dandruff and greasy roots too. I tried experimenting stretching out the washes before but I don't like it. The hair gets bad and looks bad.

I am using shampoo for my hair type for dry scalp. I do the same as you. I only use a dallop of shampoo and I spread it all around the scalp and not the hair length. I let the rinsing wash the hair.

OP posts:
Frasa · 10/02/2023 16:30

How often are you having a trim? Even with wanting to grow your hair a regular trim will strengthen it by getting rid of split ends.

HyacinthineMacaw · 10/02/2023 16:31

Scotblue · 10/02/2023 16:27

Unfortunately I am not able to go too long between washes. Due to dry scalp or dandruff and greasy roots too. I tried experimenting stretching out the washes before but I don't like it. The hair gets bad and looks bad.

I am using shampoo for my hair type for dry scalp. I do the same as you. I only use a dallop of shampoo and I spread it all around the scalp and not the hair length. I let the rinsing wash the hair.

Show quote history

Are you also conditioning every time you wash your hair? Mine is dry at the ends and I wash it about as often as you, but I also use Aussie 3 minute miracle repair, to try to combat the dryness and protect it from the hairdryer (which I have to use as I have no volume at all, otherwise). It really makes a difference over any other conditioner I have tried, and helps me grow length.

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 10/02/2023 16:33

I wear mine down all the time. Myhair is ringlets naturally so I blow dry and straighten twice a week. My hair is healthy until it reaches my bra strap, at which point the ends will go thin and snap. Nothing helps them except cutting off. I think hair has a terminal length which differs for everyone.

Chewbecca · 10/02/2023 16:34

I don't tie my hair up and wash and (quickly) blow dry daily and don't have split ends or issues.

Are you getting regular trims?

MsSquiz · 10/02/2023 16:35

I wash my hair every 2 to 3 days with shampoo & conditioner, and always use a serum or heat protection cream or spray when blow drying. I also straighten my hair daily and I don't find I have much hair breakage at all.
Plus I only get it cut twice a year and dye it at home.
Hair is such an individual thing

JennyDarlingRIP · 10/02/2023 16:36

I wear my hair down almost all the time, it's long, thick and curly so wearing it up too often gives me headaches, I wash it 3-7 times a week depending on whether I'm wearing it curly (wash daily) or straightened (with heat -ghds). I have no breakage, it takes a long time to even get some split ends, my hairdresser often comments on the good condition. I do think it's largely genetic. DM is in her sixties and still has a thick healthy head of hair albeit greying rather than red now. Would you be better having it cut shorter?

KickAssAngel · 10/02/2023 16:42

I wear mine down all the time and it's long and strong, although fine. I think I just got lucky with genetics. I don't blow dry, rarely straighten it, but do have it colored regularly. I'm sure those things influence your hair, but it just seems to be that way for me.

If you're feeling envious, genetics also gives me the ability to put on weight like a champ.

wonderingwanderings · 10/02/2023 16:43

I have fine hair but a lot of it, so people seem to think it's thick! I'm currently growing it and it's about mid-back level. I dye it plus use curlers most days but it still seems quite healthy...or at least people tell me it looks healthy anyway.

The house looks like it belongs to a yeti though! I'm forever picking up strands and we'd best not talk about the plug hole in the shower.

My guess is that with yours, it might just be genetics. Some hair adapts well to being long, some doesn't. Maybe you could try some supplements...I think there's a specific vitamin which helps hair health?

queenMab99 · 10/02/2023 16:45

My hair is quite curly, I wash it twice a week, I only do one wash with a mild shampoo bar, I use a leave in argon oil conditioner, I never straighten it, in fact if I have time I leave it to dry naturally, I was worried in my 50s as it seemed to go thinner and very dry, but it seems to have recovered, and is now thick and shiny, although very grey now in my 70s. I do wear it up mostly.

Moser85 · 10/02/2023 16:47

I always wear my hair down and don't really get breakage. I sometimes have the front part tied up and sleep on it like that but I don't get damage from that either. My hair seems to be pretty strong because I don't do anything special to look after it really except a treatment every now and again.

Philip Kingsley elasticiser is AMAZING. Brandalley is the cheapest place for a 1000ml bottle of it. It lasts for a long time, my daughter has very long thick curly hair and the 1000ml will last her a year if used once a week so it's well worth it.

Unfortunately I am not able to go too long between washes. Due to dry scalp or dandruff and greasy roots too. I tried experimenting stretching out the washes before but I don't like it. The hair gets bad and looks bad.

Are you using a very harsh anti-dandruff shampoo?
Listerine is amazing for dandruff...has to be the original though which seems to be hard to fine.

Teeshirt · 10/02/2023 16:51

I always wear my hair down -it’s shoulder length or just a bit longer- and it looks nice. It doesn’t break. I’m mid-50s. I don’t use a hair dryer or tongs or any products really.

BessieSurtees · 10/02/2023 16:55

When you say mid section down is the rest of your hair healthy, could it be something you were using at the time that hair was growing or medical at that time? Or does it always look good and then get thin and break when it reaches a certain length?

How often have you been having it trimmed, have you asked the hairdresser what they think?

Oblomov23 · 10/02/2023 17:08

I thought it was hair up that can cause breakages, not hair down.