Hair stuff

[mamadeb]

A few weeks ago, I finally decided I'd broken enough hair with the big metal barrettes. There's a row of short hair just around ear level, and I don't want to cut the rest of my hair to match, so I'm stuck. But I don't want *more*. I'm wearing it in a real bun now, fastened with hairpins. I was using the standard U-shaped metal ones, but they keep slipping out, and digging into my scalp under hats. Fortunately, I found a couple of old tortoise shell pins and I'm using them now. They hold better and are more comfortable.

No more breaking hair, and it looks pretty when I take my hat off - and Jonathan appreciates the effect of falling hair when I take out the pins. And my hats fit better.

I've also, for other reasons, started taking a woman's one-a-day vitamin supplement. I haven't noticed a lot of difference, except that my fingernails are stronger and are growing longer between going to mikveh, when I have to cut them short. I think my hair is stronger, too, but it's too early for that.

Totally on a whim, a couple of weeks ago, I bought JR Liggett'sOld Fashioned Bar Shampoo, because I could buy it in a cheap hotel bar size, and I wanted to see what it was like.

I'm...not sure. I haven't used, or needed, conditioner since I started using it, which is a good thing, and it's fun to use, which is also a good thing. But. My hair feels different, and I'm not sure if it's good or bad. On the face of it, it's good. It's less knotty and less flyaway, and even less frizzy. When I comb it, it doesn't fluff up the way it used to. And it doesn't feel as...fried as it has been. It's...softer.

But it's also heavier. And limper. And, I know it's clean and the shampoo rinses out easily, so there isn't any residue, but it feels like there's, well. Oil there. There isn't. My hair doesn't clump up as it does if I can't wash it for a long time, so it's definitely clean. It just feels different, and I'm not sure about this.

Also, it doesn't smell very pretty, but there's an herbal version that does. Any one else try this?

Comments

[catmoran.livejournal.com]

JR Liggett's Old Fashioned Bar Shampoo

I've never heard of this before. Did you buy it in a specialty store?

[batdina.livejournal.com]

My hair is coarse enough that I don't need barrettes or pins to keep it up; I can just put it in a knot and it stays. E thinks it's hysterical since hers won't stay up with even the tightest pins.

What's getting me right now is that in order to keep a kipa on my head, I have to use pins, and they do get caught and my hair does break. I've tried berets and snoods, and neither of them are particularly comfortable for me. I could go back to scarves I suppose, but I have the same trouble keeping them on that I do with kipot.

But hey, if Liggetts helps with knots, I'd be up for checking it out almost no matter what. Getting a comb through my hair in the morning can be a painful experience.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

No. I picked it up at a small, privately owned pharmacy. I have nothing against the big chains - they have more of the standard drug store stuff, but the private pharmacies have quirks that make them fun. Also, of course, the pharmacist knows you, and that helps.

Anyway, this particular one is really good on soaps - it has shelves and shelves of soaps in all sizes and scents and colors - both bars and decorative. It also has the complete Burt's Bee collection, and a little display of the Liggett's soaps. I was curious, so I bought an .89 hotel sized bar. Just the right size and price for a tryout, no?

But you can also go here (http://www.jrliggett.com/) to find it.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

What sort of pins do you use? Jonathan, who has very coarse hair, likes to use bobby pins. He doesn't like the clips at all (and it's one reason he doesn't like suede kippot. Too thick for bobby pins.)

Or, have you tried velcro? I'm serious. Stick the hook side to the inside of your kippah.

[amireal.livejournal.com]

Have you tried velcro?

No, I'm serious.

I know a few people who've sewn a strip into their kippot. They might still use clips.. but it gives the extra security or something.

*shrug*

Hope that helps.

[cellio]

A friend who has trouble with regular hairpins has had a lot of success with some "wavy" ones. Imagine a corskscrew, but in only two dimensions (so a flat wavy pattern). She says they're hard to find, but if you ever bump into them you might want to give that a try. She finds them mostly at craft shows and SCA events.

Not being a hairpin person myself, I can't actually tell you how she applies these. I can ask. (When I need to restrain my hair I generally make a ponytail.)

[ailsaek.livejournal.com]

I tend to braid mine and stuff it under a hat or into a snood. Possibly not for long, though, as I am seriously considering cutting it short (i.e. shoulder length or so) because I just can't take care of it, and I'm tired of knots over the back of my neck. I'll have to see if I can find any of your bar shampoo and give that a try before giving up entirely.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

I like having my hair *up*. It keeps it off my neck, and it makes it easy to cover - I just pull on one of those little knitted hats or a beret, and I'm off to work, or a snood for the neighborhood or if I have guests in my house, or a formal hat for Shabbat. Nothing to stuff or tuck.

Right now, since I just got back from a second pa-kua session (so I could get the actual belt), my hair's in a high ponytail, which isn't as easy to tuck up into the snood, but I didn't want to risk pins coming loose while I was running around in the heat and humidity.

And I need a second shower now...

[batdina.livejournal.com]

This is going to sound silly, but I just had one of those "aha" moments, where I realised it wasn't magic keeping that kipa on Dan's head!

Between you and Deb, I think you've given me the best idea yet. I'll let you know how it works out.