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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Help me with my hair!

30 replies

LouiseEH · 16/08/2018 17:05

So my current hair care routine isn’t great. In fact, it’s truly horrible and I’m fed up with it! I brush and wash it once a week as that’s all I have time for (I have very quick showers daily to wash my body, I’m not that gross 😂)

My hair is super long so when it is brushed and washed it looks dull and flat because it’s so heavy, so I put it up in a bun. I have a 4 month old who now likes to grab hair so I don’t like it down now anyway.
It takes about an hour to brush each week as it’s so matted and I end up ripping so much hair out every time.

I could maybe wash my hair once during the week too but it’s not really ideal, I have such little time for things like this and when I do I’m usually exhausted and don’t want to do anything but relax

Any tips on how to maintain my hair better that are super quick and easy would be great

OP posts:

MrsMotherHen · 16/08/2018 17:06

get it cut shorter.

cupcakesandglitter · 16/08/2018 17:08

I'd definitely get it cut, and make sure you're conditioning it when you wash it (and leave the conditioner on for a few minutes). Instead of putting it in a bun, I'd brush and plait it, less chance of it matting x

sexnotgender · 16/08/2018 17:08

Are you able to cut it?

UnderMajorDomoMinor · 16/08/2018 17:13

I’d either get it cut a lot shorter (mid back at longest) or carve out the time to brush every day.

I’m slightly surprised by your post. My hair is thick but as long as I use conditioner it never mats. Is everything else ok? This may well just be me but if I wasn’t brushing my hair everyday that’d be a sign I was a bit blue.

If you want to keep it long i’d use a rich conditioner. Put in an anti-tangle spray and plat rather than put in bun. Brush every morning and evening.

Hth.

UnderMajorDomoMinor · 16/08/2018 17:15

Brush while you watch tv/read/relax. It’s something you can do while relaxing.

Original poster

LouiseEH · 16/08/2018 17:15

I had it cut to just longer than shoulder length a couple years ago and it still gets matted just as easily and just as bad :( back then I only had one dc to look after, plus I wasn’t single so I had much more time to spend on it though

Defiantly wouldn’t suit a really short hairstyle lol

OP posts:

Original poster

LouiseEH · 16/08/2018 17:23

My hair tangled really easily, it always has, even as a child, it’s always been a chore for me.
I suffered from pnd with my first and have had some down days since having my second but it has been much better and I feel like I’m doing really well in myself :) I just have no time to look after myself like I used to :(

Will a leave in conditioner work for keeping it less tangled? I’ve never used one before, not exactly sure how they work lol

OP posts:

Original poster

LouiseEH · 16/08/2018 17:24

Sorry for any typos, I’m using my left hand whilst I breastfeed 😂

OP posts:

ineedtostopbeingsolazy · 16/08/2018 17:26

To stop it from matting you have to brush it every day.
If you have very long hair that you're not brushing there's nothing that's going to work for it.

You say you don't have time to wash and brush it more than once a week but because you're only doing it once a week it's taking a very long time.
If you brush your hair regularly it will tajes a minute couple of times a day not one hour.

Cut it a bit shorter, brush it every day and wash it every other day or three days or whatever. If it shorter it won't take as long to wash and dry and will be easier to get a brush through it.

ineedtostopbeingsolazy · 16/08/2018 17:28

I'm glad you're feeling better this time round, it's not easy to find the time with small children and breastfeeding but hopefully you can manage a better hair routine which will also make you feel a bit better in yourself.

ElfrideSwancourt · 16/08/2018 17:28

Definitely plait it when it's damp it can't get matted then and should be much easier to brush next time- have 2 DDs with long, thick curly hair and they rarely had it loose when they were small.

haverhill · 16/08/2018 17:29

Leave-conditioner will help or you could try an oil like Extraordinary Oil. I really think you need to brush your hair daily, though. I have longish and if I only brushed once a week it would be a horrific snarl-up.

Original poster

LouiseEH · 16/08/2018 17:30

I thought that would work a couple years ago when I got it cut and it still gets quite matted during the day. I don’t know what happens to it for it to get so bad, it didn’t take an hour each time but it still took a good 20 minutes

Think I need to look at my whole day and see what I can cut out to give me more time, don’t know what though 🤔

OP posts:

TheBeastInMsRooneysRoom · 16/08/2018 17:32

What’s your hair texture? Straight/wavy/curly? My eldest has curly hair she likes to brush and treat as if it’s straight. It mats within 12 hours. When she wears it curly with lots of moisturising product (oils) it looks beautiful and shiny and doesn’t tangle. I think if you’d fighting your natural texture you will always have an uphill battle.

Jozxyqk · 16/08/2018 17:35

If you want to keep your hair really long, I recommend the Long Hair Community site for hair care information. My DD has extremely long & thick hair - weekly washing is fine. You will definitely need to brush more often though, even if you only wash weekly - once per week brushing isn't good, no wonder it's matted. A bun is the easiest for low maintence - I used to have super long hair in my youth too.

Original poster

LouiseEH · 16/08/2018 17:35

It was quite wavy when I was a kid but now it’s really straight

OP posts:

WeeBeasties · 16/08/2018 17:37

What sort of brush are you using? I have long hair and only brush with a very wide toothed comb. If i brushed with a normal brush it would take too long.

Original poster

LouiseEH · 16/08/2018 17:43

I use a combination of a tangle teezer, wide toothed comb and fine toothed comb, depends what type of knot I’m trying to brush out

OP posts:

CherryBlossom23 · 16/08/2018 17:58

Like others said, a plait would help it not get so matted and won't make your scalp ache the way wearing a bun or tight pony all day will (I have thick hair too, so I know the struggle). Even if you don't want it short getting a few inches off the ends will help the condition of it. And brushing every day will help, it only takes 2 minutes! Could you do it after your shower? A hairdresser might be able to give you some tips to keep it manageable. Another think that might help is hair oil - it makes my hair lovely and smooth and shiny. I use a loreal one from boots - just spray a pump or two into your hands, rub together and run through your hair focusing on the mid to ends section.

CherryBlossom23 · 16/08/2018 18:00

Also, getting some layers cut into it will reduce the weight and might stop it getting tangled so easily

whattimeislove · 16/08/2018 19:01

Combing conditioner through it before you wash it out may help.

Seriously though, if my hair was getting matted I'd be cutting it off. You say you don't suit really short - it doesn't have to be really short but also sometimes you don't know what you suit until you try it.

Original poster

LouiseEH · 16/08/2018 19:35

I’ve decided I’m getting it cut to something like the pic, once I have the money lol

OP posts:

marsbarsandtwix · 16/08/2018 20:21

Nice. If you can afford it OP, try getting a silk pillowcase as that will stop it tangling in the night.

whattimeislove · 16/08/2018 20:30

Don't wait - can you go to a training night at a salon?

userxx · 16/08/2018 20:47

You brush your hair once a week?

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