Around 15 years ago, at the age of 40, I became convicted after reading 1Corinthians 11:1-16, to grow my hair long (and cover it, but that isn’t what this article is about). At the time, my hair was about shoulder length and I had long bangs in front. I had always admired long hair, but never had the patience to grow it out really long, especially after the children came and time was at a premium.
By far the most frustrating part was the bangs. For a very long time, I kept them, until I was challenged with the statement “Why would you cut what God calls your glory?” So I determined the bangs would go, too. This took several months before they were long enough to easily lay with the rest of my hair, but it did finally happen, and it was worth it.
I had permed my hair for years, and the result of this was that the ends of my hair were lighter than the top part. The top part, where nothing had touched the new hair, was also much shinier. A pregnancy in my 40’s, though, hastened the process of the old hair falling out and new hair growing in, as it is typical to grow new thick hair during a pregnancy, only to have it fall out again to its normal thickness after the baby is born. By the time my daughter was six months old, all old, permed hair was gone, and I was left with new, shiny hair.
Different people’s hair will grow to different lengths, then stops. In other words, depending on the person, hair will only grow so long before it stops growing, or maybe it falls out at this point. Mine just touches my waist. Other people may have hair that grows much shorter than that, and I know one lady whose hair drags the ground. Uncut hair will usually not be exact even at the bottom, but most of the time, the very middle will be slightly longer, giving it a rounded look.
Long, uncut hair should be handled carefully. The ends do not need to be washed as often as the top, but not washing the top of the hair will usually result in oily, dirty looking hair. You will need to determine your own skin type to decide how often to wash your hair, but remember, unclean looking hair is very unattractive, and if you are growing it for religious reasons, it’s a bad testimony.
Wet hair, whether short or long, is more delicate than dry. Once you wash your hair, finger comb it, or use a pick. Try to avoid hair dryers, as they will dry your hair out and make it more brittle and the ends more likely to split. Once your hair is dry, you can use a pick or a brush that is made to avoid tangles, and brush it smooth. If you are only going to be home all day, it’s then a good idea to pull it back at the nape of your neck, and then again half way down your back with ponytail holders designed to be easy to remove. This will keep your hair from tangling as the day goes on, and it will also keep it out of the way when you cook and do housework, so that your hair will stay cleaner. It is also advisable to check if there is a laser hair removal near Brampton so you can have a place where you can get rid of unwanted hair.
Natural products will keep your hair and the rest of your body much healthier. Local health food stores have many natural shampoos you can try. Melaleuca Products have nice shampoos. Since conditioners tend to weigh down long hair, it might be best to avoid using it on a regular basis. You can make your own hair rinse by mixing vinegar, green tea, and rosemary tea. Mix it in equal amounts, pour it down the length of your hair, and massage it into your scalp well after you wash your hair. It smells bad while you are doing it, but the smell goes away when your hair dries. Once massaged in your scalp, you can lightly rinse it out if you prefer. I also like to rub this mixture over my face as I use it in my hair, because it’s good for all of your skin.
Try to avoid using any heat on your hair as much as possible. If you would like to curl your hair, consider going back to the rag curlers from the old days. Simply wind locks of your hair in a circle around your finger, then slip your finger out and a strip of cloth in, tie it, and sleep comfortably.
Long shiny hair is a beautiful asset to your looks, and what God calls a woman’s glory. Consider growing your hair long, and reap a blessing!