(Continued...)
Okay, this post is getting a bit long, but I have had to give my hair a rest several times after damaging my hair because of over-processing. During these times, I have not relaxed my hair frequently, and have washed it or rinsed it daily, leaving conditioner in my hair, and have worn it in a bun behind my head or used a ponytail attatchment. It is during these times that I've experienced the most significant hair growth.
The problem with the daily washing of course is the styling afterwards. I have been wearing my hair pulled back in a bun with a scrunchy over it for years. While it's not the most beautiful hairstyle, it is an all-purpose one that I can wear anywear. I have also used ponytails, although, since my hair has been longer, it's been harder to pull the hair up on top to use the ponytails.
I'm desperately looking for other hairstyles, as I don't blow dry my hair. I do however take a break from the daily washing for a week or two and wrap my hair. Wet hair is also fragile and has to be handled delicately. Usually what I do is I will wash my hair once every 3-7 days and on the other days I will just rinse my hair thorougly in the shower. It really makes you feel so clean in the morning before work. You have to be careful if you live in a region that experiences colder months because you can get sick running out of the house with a wet head. I leave conditioner in my hair because it makes it easier to comb it when it's wet. I'd like to find a good creamy detangling leave-in conditioner, but have not found one yet. After I do that, I apply curl activator. I used to apply a light hair gel, but have stopped doing it lately. I apply a hair mixture I created that I posted in the "Hair Recipe" section, and because it contains some petroleum (which I know is a bad word...I'm still tweaking the mixture) my hair stays in place. I've just dealt with the few whispy edges that pop out when my hair dries. I guess if I got up an hour and a half earlier, I could sit under the dryer, but I like to sleep until the last minute.
I am daily becoming a firm believer in this approach to increased hair growth. I am working up an exact hair regimine now thanks to ready all the posts, but whatever products it will contain, I will still be washing it daily, and when I say washing, I mean washing and rinsing. I believe this is why our straight haired sisters have achieved so much amazingly fast hair growth. I'm not a scientist so I could be wrong, and I think somone has posted some information regarding the dangers of this, so I'm going to check that post out now, but so far cleaner hair is working better for me.