Ok... Do any 3c's actually have long hair?

And by long I mean after it's dry and all shrunk up and all you did was put some leave in and kccc: www.curlmart.com/Kin...urly-curling-custard in it (no twists or braids) it's still bsl or longer? If you do please share how long it took you to grow your hair out and the stages your hair went through. Because my goal when going natural was to have long, beautiful curls (like Terri from tightlycurly) yet after years of being natural, shrinkage is killing me and I'm sick of never being able to do anything with my hair other than wear it in a bun or braid because it's too short from shrinkage to wear down and look nice (and before you go there, twists and braid outs only leave my hair looking worse, I don't know why). If it's just impossible to combat shrinkage and my hair will never be past ear level no matter how long it gets, please let me know so I can go back to a relaxer. But if there is hope, ladies with long hair please share (and show pics!).

Well Teri has 3c hair, so I don't know why you would ask such a question. I wish I could help you, lol, but I just bc'ed in December, so my hair is no where near BSL. I've definitely seen them though. Spankie Valentine (my avatar) seems to have 3b/c/4a hair and hers is like down to her waist. Instead of a relaxer, why don't you consider a texturizer so you can keep your curls but loosen them a bit so they hang more?

ETA: BSL curly is my goal as well, and I'm giving myself 4 yrs to get there - my hair is heavy so I'm hoping as it gets longer the weight will combat shrinkage.

There has been a lot of debate over Terri's hair type as you may know. In any case, I have also seen models and actors with long 3c/4a hair, but I have no idea how they got it that way or if it's all theirs. Which is why I'm asking if any folks on here have long hair and can share their story. Because it seems that regular people can't get their hair that long.

I mean, I'm not really one to debate hair type...on her site she has her strands at the size of a pencil, which is "textbook" 3c...so to me that's what she is. I wouldn't argue further, but that's just me...



Please also remember that it took her 10 yrs to get to that length, and she is extremely careful to not use heat and only colors with light highlights so she retains more length.

There are definitely more ladies with long 3c hair though, just do a Google search for 3c hair!

Have you measured your hair in terms of inches? That might help you determine how long it will take you to grow your hair out and you can factor in your shrinkage factor. My hair shrinks about 50%, so I doubled the number of inches I'll need to get to BSL.

Many of the ladies on this site haven't been growing their hair out for years, most I know who post frequently have been growing it out for 3 yrs at the most, so please don't be discouraged if no one is posting to display their long locks.

I'm not sure what bsl is. But my hair is like a little below my arm-pit. It took me I guess 8 years? the only time I actually 'cut' my hair was when I was 5 and it was right below my ears. Other than that I only got trims.

All I do to my hair is wash-and-go with olive oil. And I plop while I get ready, then I'm done.I shampoo whenever I remember.

edit: I'm not sure if below arm-pit is long, btw.

My hair staid between shoulder length and chin length for years, because it would grow, but I didn't know how to take care of it, the ends would split and look so raggdy I had to cut them.

I did a lot of research, and learned about protective styles, how to keep my hair moisturized, the importance of protein, growth aids, and how to dust my ends.

After my last cut in Feb. I put all the pieces together and my curls have gone from chin length to past APL curly and unstrecthed.

i think other than time and patience, you really have to know your hair. my goal used to be BSL while curly and after about 6 or so years of being natural, i don't think my hair will do that. my hair tends to increase in volume when i gain length rather than start hanging down. when i reached BSL (stretched) the first time my hair finally started grazing my shoulders. i think i would have to grow it to my tail bone before it would ever hang at BSL curly...and i'm not about to do that.

do you have any pics of your hair you wouldn't mind sharing?

3c hair is incredibly shrinkable. It will take a looong time to get that length while curly and it is entirely possible that some people will never get long hair. Some of it depends on how long your hair is actively growing before it stops and falls out. If you have a 3-4 year growth phase then you would only have 18-24 inches of hair. That would probably shrink up to about 12-14 inches.

Terri may have a longer growth phase than others which is why hers is so long while curly. There's no way of knowing except to wait it out and see.

In my avatar I have about 2 1/2 years of hair on my head. That's the longest it's gotten after a wash and go. Usually it shrinks well above my shoulder but below my ears. It's been looking that length for about 6 months but I know it's grown since it was longer when I got it straightened a few weeks ago.

Also, Terri sleeps with her hair in a braid and that definitely stretches it out a bit. That, in addition to her styling soaking wet (added weight) and air drying probably stretches her hair out too.

on Youtube there are videos of how to stretch your curls after they dry with a blow dryer and nozzle attachment. It's takes seconds and really works. I've been down the texturizer road and you will be happy with the length the first few weeks but as SOON as the new growth comes in you'll see shrinkage like you've never seen before and you'll feel impelled to "texturize" even more and more. Check out youtube before you commit to a relaxer again you may be pleasantly surprised with the results.

this is my hair curly



and straight



sometimes you just gotta roll with the punches. if i want my hair to hang more i can band it but it still won't be anywhere long as my hair in a straight state.

and...who the heck are "regular people"????

Quote:

Originally Posted by empressri

this is my hair curly



and straight



sometimes you just gotta roll with the punches. if i want my hair to hang more i can band it but it still won't be anywhere long as my hair in a straight state.

and...who the heck are "regular people"????

My hair looks about your length curly - just a regular wash-n-go. I have never straightened my hair since going natural and I honestly dont know how long it is.

To the OP: My hair grows different lengths. The right is a little longer than the left. The back is longer than everywhere else. When my hair gets to true bra strap length, it will still look short unless I band it (not sure what else to do that doesn't involve heat).

For me, healthy hair is more important than length (though I LOVE long hair). I would never go back to pressing/flat ironing for the sake of length. It would be counterintuitive for me to start adding serious heat to my hair like that anyway.

I have 3c 4a hair I think. My strands are thick and coarse. My hair doesn't have slot of shrinkage. My hair is shoulder length stretched and neck length shrunk. What are you using? Kccc makes my hair shrink and it makes it straight. If your strands are fine youmay want to style wet. I just wanted to encourage you to stay natural as our hair looks different and behaves diffeteny at different lengths. I don't like to wear my hair down as I have curls and waves. I'm certain your hair is longer than mine so you may want to change products. Also the condition method under your stylet should weight the hair down and give you hang time.

Wow im worried about my hair after reading this!! I recently grew out my hair. I grew it for about a year and cut it about 4 months ago. It was relaxed before for about 4 years. It was just past my ear (when dry) 4 months ago but its a bit longer now. when i comb it out or wet it it's almost by my shoulder. I really want my hair to grow so that it's waist length when dry. I was hoping that would happen in 4 years but now i'm worried that it might take 10 years or something. I've always had long waist-length hair (except now of course) so I don't know.... maybe my hair grows faster than most.

trying to put a picture but idk how to

Well I have long 3c hair. It stops like right under my nipple(sorry to be vulgar) when dry. It used to be above my shoulders 2 years ago. The thing that really changed everything was the curly girl method. Herd of it? It also a book and sometimes referred to as the cg method. Well its basicly using only conditioner and cutting our silicone based well everything! And noooo more heat! Its seriously helped my hair drasticly! In 2 years I got like 8 inches of curly hair! And my hair stays contained!
here are my steps:
1.Go in shower and stand under shower head(get hair wet but don't.mess with it)
2.after wash my body( unimportant important)
3.put conditioner( suave coconut) on finger tips and rub of dirt on scalp
4.stand under shower head and wash out well kinda( don't touch hair, this lets the conditioner spread throughout your hair)
5.now turn off your shower to save water
6.take a generous amount of conditioner in your palms and graze it over the top layer of your hair like your icing a

cake(comb your fingers through)
7.this next step will me very hard at first but after the first few times it becomes a breaze--- take as much conditioner as needed and comb through the rest of your hair with your

finger, no brush!!!

8.after hair is FULLY combed out step out of shower and don't. Rinse anything.out.
9. Once body is dry flip your head over and scrunch your hair with an old t shirt(not towel!) Towel=bad. Scrunch until hair is 45% dryer.
10. While still fliped over apply a minimal amount of gel to

Your hair in a scrunching way( Aussie catch the wave gel).
11.spray your hair suave spray gel
12. Tilt your head upward slowly and then shale your head when your head is fully up to get your hair to fall into.its natural curl pattern/ formation.

13. Let your hair air dry! Your hair may be frizzy like the first week, but this is a process. You will have smooth shiny

frizzless Long hair like me! I would never even think about straightening my hair! That's how much I love it, but like 2 years ago I straightned it everyday! Enjoy your hair oh and frizzness/stiffness depemds on how much conditioner you leave in your hair.
Peace and love-lyric <3!