Some Hair Advice, Rene?

[elek_trik]

Hey Rene, I'm letting my hair grow out, u got any tips to help along the process? Especially during that awkward stage when ur hair's starting to get long, but still short and it gets hard to manage(I think you know what I'm talking about). Also, u know any tips on how to prevent excessive hair shedding, or is that just something I have to deal with? ^_^

[Rene]

ACK @ excessive shedding! Well lets just say, if there is no baldness in ya family, not to worry about all your hair falling out just yet. Lets get that negative image outta the way. Our hair does go thru sleeping phases where sometimes it does stop growing, as well as phases where old hair falls out and new hairs come in its place. Its a normal stage of hair shedding dont let it worry, unless like I said earlier, there is a history of baldness in the family. Oh and sometimes, hair will fall out when there is stress invovle, once thats taken care of, the process will reverse.

When we plan to let our hair grow, which I had this question a couple of days ago from an old friend who is planning to let his hair grow, I said to him, hun, there will be a point where we have to just let hair be hair in the process of growing 'cause it will take a while before it eventually grows out. The rate of hair growth is about 1cm to half an inch per month, and unfortunately, all them shampoos and treatments for hair to grow faster tend to be myths, to this point I havent found any product out there that will make hair grow longer and faster, but ofcourse if ur positive, and have a bit of faith, with that positive spark ofcourse our hair will seem to grow faster and longer at the time.

Like me, I have long hair, and it took me about 6 months to grow it long enough to pull it into a pony tail for the professional look, and then onces its there, time wont mean anything. About 5 month ago I cut maybe about 6 inches off and made it into a graduated wedge, kept styling it back to keep it from my face, and by the time I knew it, it was already back to the length I had, and since then, Ive leveled, trim and cut my hair about 3 or 4 times since then...and now its up to my jaw line. For puffy hair, I do recomend layering at 90 degrees elevation, get rid of that volumne in the back and sides of the head. Grow the back to the length you want, preferably shoulder length, and just trim the ends at the bottom every month of so til the rest of the layers meet that length for one-length hair.

After all, the long hair for men is coming back, layered out with lots of movement so there is nothing strange there, just be patient, and in the mean while, learn to deal with hard to manage hair, style it back, to the side or whatever in a way where it makes u comfy, and wait it out, in 5 to 6 months you should have a good length.

If there is any other questions I could answer, dont hesitate to ask or email.

RENE

[Rene]

Here is an example of 90 degree elevation hair cut or what it would look like while u let your hair grow... its hip and in style at the moment, then again, once length hair styles never go outta style either! CLICK << 90 Degree Elev. Cut >> (http://members.vpchat.com/xdiddyx/dtmain.htm)

Also, if you go into MISC on the forum here, look for the topic HAIR GROWTH MYTHS... Think its a lil more detailed than what I said earlier...

[elek_trik]

lol well ok, maybe I may have exaggerated a bit about the hair shedding. The reason I was asking was because last fall as my hair was getting longer, I kept noticing every morning a few stray hairs were on my pillow, and always when I washed it with shampoo, i'd look at my hands, and sure enough, more strays. My girlfriend at the time recommended to switch to another shampoo AND (I think its what made a difference) to start using conditioner. I never really used conditioner till then. So now its more under control, or maybe it was just a phase, as you say.

And I was never really worried about balding, it was just annoying to see so many strays coming out when I was trying to let my hair grow out back then, and it made me give up, so now I'm trying again. Although, come to think of it, both my uncle's on my dad's side are bald, but I don't think I have to worry about that cuz it happened when they were middle-aged, and also, my dad's not bald, he just has a receded hair-line (I guess I lucked out on the good genes! hehe ;) )

Also, I have really stubborn, thick, slightly wavy hair, so sometimes I worry if it'll even look good as it grows out. Well not really stubborn persay, I only say that cuz my hair's weird; on certain parts of my head it grows in opposite directions. The only way I can style it and manage it is by using some hair product when its still damp, whether it be gel, mouse, or pomeade. But I think I'm starting to get used to it now, cuz I'm actually just towel drying it now, and managing it slightly, without using any product in it, and it actually looks okay. Just one question: how come hair is usually a bit frizzy after you wash it with shampoo? If I just run water through it, it doesn't get like that. Just curious. Thanks Rene! :)

[elek_trik]

oh and by the way, i'm sorry, i meant to put this in the Misc. forum, hehe.

[Rene]

Sometimes a switch of shampoo does help when the shampoo ur using builds up... A good example is PANTENE, its awesome shampoo and conditioners, but the only thing I see with it, it does build up to a point where it will break the hair... Not only with that shampoo but there are a few others that do build up and will do the same... Then it will be a great time to change shampoos.

What pantene has, its amounts of silicone which will be deposited into the hair, thru its pores or cracks and snips, making it feel silky and looking shiney, which ofcourse is a good thing, but you gotta give it a rest after a while so it wont break.

Next time you get a handful of hair strays on your pillow or when you brush/comb your hair... check the ends of it... see if there is that lil white ball for a tip, which is a sign that its falling out from the root, if there is no signs of root to it, then ur hair is breaking.

For wet hair, its best you tap it dry other than roughly running the towel thru it. Hair is weakest when went. For long hair, best to brush less while went. And just to throw in the other advice... when blow drying your hair, dont OVER BLOW DRY it with dryer... it fries the hair.

Hair frizzy with shampoo: It all depends with the shampoo.. sometimes, some of the shampoos take off all the build up, and leaves it weightless, causing the hair to puff or curl or etc but straight. Everyone, at one point or another will have frizz, its normal. Sometimes tap water will weigh hair down do to the minerals and chit it has in it... San Antonio, not sure but I think the water has Floride, which sometime can clog ya scalp pores and cause hair to shed. Don't quote me on SA water having floride... but when I was last there, they were trying to get it like that. We just have to fix it every now and then with either products or serums to make it look healthy or style the way we want it.

[Maricela]

:) Hi Rene

My hair designer is a great person and does a great job on my hair. I pay $85.00 once a month for the upkeep. But, she refuses to change my hair style. My hair is long between my shoulder blades. It's been the same style for 3 1/2 yrs. I have gone to other stylists twice in those 3 1/2 yrs but, they manage to make my hair stiff, brittle needless to say can't match my roots to my now blond hair etc.... anyhow when I go back to my stylist she is not happy person that she has to repair. But, I feel LOST. I need a change. Any Ideas ??

[desdemona88]

Maricela, Rene, I too spend alot of money on the upkeep of my hair....my hairdresser is/was awesome!! He always kept me ahead of the game when it came to color. But something happened along the way.. I had been after him to color my hair BLACK.. its naturally lt. brown, but that was ages ago.. anwhooooo.....

I paid him $100 so he could color it the darkest brown there was!!! :angry: I was upset, since I had asked for BLACK... not dark brown.. so he apologizes, tells me he did it for my own good....ok so forgiven....I went back again.. I told him.. Listen Francisco.. I want my hair black this time, with blue or with red underneath but only in the back.. and he says NO We are going for the more conservative look now...why not leave it one color....I'm like you positive you won't do it for me... he's like NO.. besides it would be very expensive to first have to bleach it, then put the color on(money is never a problem when it comes to my hair)...I said to myself OK THAT'S it... he did the touch up....(dark brown mind you) paid him... and I haven't gone back....

I'm also a lil apprehensive to go back to him seeing as I WENT AHEAD AND DID MY OWN HAIR COLOR, BLUEBLACK pa cabarla de joder... :unsure:

Anyway..... From yalls point of view.. did I do something wrong.. or was he out of line...?

Geesh it felt good actually typing this down.. haha

:P

[Rene]

Maricela... what can I say... As a friend, Im telling you, if you want the same color, stay with the same color technician, only they know what color or mixture of colors with what lil secrets they do to get ur hair looking the way it does... So for color, I do recommend, if u like ur same color, stay with the same technician... I know that stylist have different prices for CORRECTING color, some charge double what they would do just for a regular color job. As for the style, I really wouldnt know what to tell you, if you feel its time for a hair style change then, follow what you want, but I do recommend to ask your stylist what other styles would be good for you face shape, maintainance on keeping up the look, and keep in mind, what if you dont like it in a day, week, month or so, how long before it gets back to a workable size to get it back to what you had. Do you want to keep the same length just shape it different? or do you want it short and totally off from what u have now... Keep in mind as well that, when ur hair is in layers, you can do ur hair in different shapes and forms, brushing it in for volume, flipping it out for that layer definition, or mixing it, in and out... Layers are versatile. All one length hair, I can see where one can find it boring after a few months. Just think about the pro's and con's. Today I had a New client who just felt happy after the job I did on her... She used to have long hair down to her waist, went somewhere and got BRAIDS fully done all over the head, unfortunately it broke her hair. She went to one stylist for a while, and only recommended that she cut it shorter and layers, and she did, and cried the whole time. As I worked on her hair today, she was very opened about it, and told me the whole story... She wasnt happy about the layers she was given, and only got them as the only solution outta the mess she had gotten into a while back. Her hair is now only up to the bra strap, and I evened it out some what... and she was just happy coz of the advice I gave her on keeping up the hair whether it was with me or whoever, but as long as she got what she wanted and made her happy... Said she was gonna call me in a month to redo her cut and her family... Thats four more clients for me next month, even if its for cuts, but I do educate my clients as I work on them.

MINNESOTA!!!! what did you do???????????
lol... well sweetness, you wanted what you wanted, and your stylist didnt give it to you. But more than just not wanting to give you what you wanted, was there a reason why he didnt want to in the first place. I myself, dont recommend black for my clients, specially when they want changes in months and weeks. Black is terrible to get out, and honestly after black, only comes bleaching, and after bleaching, results are usually reddish tones on whatever you get... and very bad damaged hair, and shampoos really wont fix that problem. Is there a major difference from the colors u usually wear to the the black you got now... meaning, is there major color shade difference? From black to dark brown is like only one level different, med brown is two level diff, light brown is like 3 to 4 levels difference, and so forth, dark blonde, med blonde, light blonde, very light blonde, ultra light blonde, and so forth, highest difference would prolly be 11 levels to pale blonde. Lets just say, i dont recommend going from black to anywhere above a med brown... do to the reddish tones as result, any higher could result in hair damage, and could end up costing you and arm and a leg so to speak.

Today, I had another client... and MY GODNESSSSSSSSSSSS, her hair was prolly half way down to her waist... BUT DRY, BRITTLE, bad to the touch... and just wanted a haircut... well a trim to be exact, she didnt wanna loose any of the length but maybe 1/2 inch, and didnt want to layer it out to kill the other higher broken ends. I did what she wanted, even tho, i would have just cut all her hair off and start all over from nothing... unfortunately, I didnt, and after the trim, there was no charge... I couldnt possibly charge her, I felt wrong because the hair didnt improve its look, it was just evened out at the bottom. Thank you Lord for my Hair!

[desdemona88]

Ay RENE!!! You live and you learn.... :unsure: I'm going for extensions now... let my hair rest awhile from the coloring.. and hopefully by the time I go to EP in Christmas...I'll be able to do the inverted colors thingy.....Even tho Im gonna be hell walking...con los roots and what not... but.... que mas hago..... Umm maybe I can make an appt with you???? :lol: THANKS a BUNCH!

[Maricela]

:D Thanks Rene. I will really love my Hair stylist , she gives me the correct color and works wonders to my my blond hair look like it really belongs to me. Mind you, I'm very light skin with green eyes and my natural hair color is dark brown.

I will approach her and ask her again for a diffrent look.

[memories]

Rene,

I've got a question for you. My hair when I get out of the shower is naturally wavy. But when I want to do something with it/ when it dries, it gets frizzy. I've looked for things to stop that, but I can never find anything that is too inexpensive and that would actually fix the problem. I'm a college student on a budget, but I always end up pulling my hair back into a ponytail because I can't stand the sight of frizz! It is either the ponytail or straightening it...and to cut the time in half...I choose the ponytail more often than not...What do I do?! :unsure:

Thanks!