One of the advantages of the BC is that you get to know your hair slowly. But, now and again, unlearning and re-learning takes time. I stopped cutting my TWA in April of 2010. So it has been about a year of not cutting my hair. During this time I realised that although I enjoyed my short hair, to fulfill the challenge I had set myself, I needed to begin growing my hair. Up to this point I wasn’t really paying much attention to my hair. But my experience with YouTube especially, was that if you treat your hair well, it will respond.

100% Cashmere Sweaters

So, I have begun trying to be nicer to my hair and treat her like a delicate fabric sweater that really needs to be looked after very well. Caring for a pure wool or cashmere sweater or silk blouse means: washing it gently, by hand; not using harsh detergent; Do not wring; dry while flat and not in the blazing hot sun; do not iron with high heat, etc. When you do this with your treasured clothing, you ensure that wear and tear is reduced, the item lasts longer, maintains it’s shape and texture and generally looks good.

Applying this same principle to my hair is definitely working for me:

1. I am more patient with my hair. I take time to comb it gently. I have fewer knots and combing takes less time
2. Now that my hair is long enough, I detangle and wash my hair in sections. I was amazed at how much time and effort this simple step saved me. Combing and styling my hair after washing it was much easier and took less time. This was an important discovery because I am one person who thought this whole business of section your hair into four or six parts to detangle and then wash would consume time for nothing
3. I also make an effort to moisturise my hair more regularly. Dry hair feels rough and coarse and not as pleasant to the touch
4. I put glycerine water in my hair when combing, styling or braiding it. This ensures it is not too dry and minimises breakage. Broken pieces of hair is depressing. This is different from normally shed hair, which comes out from the roots — with the little white thingy at the end.