Grow, Baby, Grow!

January 12th, 2009 @ 1:33 pm by Mrs. Penguin

My typically blonde, long haired SIL, Ann, went into a salon a few weeks ago looking for a change. Now that she’s quit the workforce and has headed back to school to get her doctorate, she doesn’t feel like spending her loan money on keeping up with her roots. She thought that going a honey brown color instead would be her answer. Because she’s in a new city (Glendale, AZ), she had to go to a new salon, and her new colorist told her, quite frankly, that she would look bad as a brunette. Ann disagreed but was too lazy to argue, so she just decided to stay blonde and chop off all her hair instead. She asked for a “Kelli Pickler”, and basically got a 4th grade bob instead. We all think she looks beautiful of course, but she fully regrets chopping it all off. It was a big topic of conversation this Christmas, and since brides are always looking to grow out their hair, I thought I’d enlist the hive to help!

When my girlfriend got married a couple of years ago, she was taking Olay Total Effects X7 Vitamins. It was a multi-pack of vitamins that she took once a day. The vitamins claimed to give you healthier skin and hair, and my girlfriend swore by them! She really felt the improvement in her skin and hair’s texture when she was taking them.

image

I immediately suggested them to my SIL, only to find that they have been discontinued! Boo-urns.

I did a quick search to find out what vitamins help your hair grow and several sites yielded similar results. I hesitate posting nutrition suggestions, so if you’d like to find out you can also do a similar search! I did find that GNC carries a product called Women’s Hair, Skin and Nails Formula that contains all the vitamins and minerals that many of the websites out there claim to help your hair grow. It sounds very similar to the Olay Vitamins that my friend took years ago, and at $19 for a 120 day supply, it doesn’t seem like a bad investment.

image

So many brides seek to grow their hair as long as possible in a year’s time (or less).

If you’re growing your hair out, how are you doing it? Regular trims, better shampoo, and vitamins? Miracle pills and products? Share with the hive your tips for long, shiny locks!

… And while we’re at it, if you’re in the Phoenix/Scottsdale/Glendale AZ area and have a fabulous salon/stylist rec, I’m sure my SIL would love the recommendation!

Tags: beauty, hair, sacramento |

| Share this post: Grow, Baby, Grow!

Latest Gallery Pics

My ring... just hangin' out on some pearls

20 Responses to “Grow, Baby, Grow!”

Hostess

Mrs. DG (message) 4,227 posts, Honey bee

Pre-natal vitamins. They have everything you need to maximize your hair potential.

1/12/09 @ 1:39 pm (reply)

Guest

nps

My hair dresser suggested pre-natal vitamins…I just started taking them so can’t really say if its worked or not. Apparently its te folic acid that helps the hair…so maybe you can just take folic acid?

1/12/09 @ 1:42 pm (reply)

Guest

Vic004

@doctorgirl: I heard the other day prenatal vitamins can adversely effect your birth control is this true?

1/12/09 @ 1:43 pm (reply)

Member

Hyeyoung (message) 5 posts, Newbee

I just started the pre-natal vitamins too (about a week ago)… haven’t noticed anything yet.

boo-urns!! “smithers, are they booing me?” “no, they’re just calling out, boo-urns, boo-urns.” HAHA i love it!!

1/12/09 @ 1:56 pm (reply)

Member

soontobemrsg (message) 11 posts, Newbee

I just asked my mom about prenatal vitamins, she is a PhD level dietitian.. she said the vitamins are only everything I need anyway plus extra folate and iron. She said they’re definitely healthy to take, do not affect your fertility, help your cells grow, etc- basically all good things anyway. They don’t make you nauseas as many women think, it’s the pregnancy that does and then the vitamins often enhance that. As for effect on birth control, I forgot to ask, but I don’t think that would be the case, as they aren’t hormones like the pill is, they’re vitamins- totally different. Ask your doctor though if you’re worried. I think I’m going to go out and buy some prenatal vitamins!!

1/12/09 @ 2:02 pm (reply)

Guest

Jenn

I can recommend the fabulous guy I go to in Scottsdale. Email me at azwinelovers at yahoo dot com and I can give you his info.

1/12/09 @ 2:47 pm (reply)

Guest

meme

I have thin straight Asian hair, and this routine works wonders on me! My hair grows about 14inches a year. I only get it cut once a year. I have no split ends, and I don’t dye my hair.

Now this is the most important tip, wash your hair every TWO days. Washing everyday is just too harsh on your hair and scalp. I use Garnier Fructis Length & Strength Shampoo & Conditioner. If your hair gets greasy fast, you can rinse & condition your hair everyday without shampooing. After each wash, blow dry with a hair dryer, but do not put a brush or comb through your hair while it’s wet. Your hair is a lot more fragile when wet. Work your fingers through your hair very gently as you dry it. Use the hair dryer until it’s about 90% dry, then brush minimally and air dry the rest of the way. You can brush more when your hair is completely dry. I will occasionally style my hair with a blow dryer or flat iron for special events, but definitely try to keep that to a minimum.

1/12/09 @ 3:46 pm (reply)

Hostess

Mrs. DG (message) 4,227 posts, Honey bee

AFIK (and I’m not finding anything in a search of the medical literature either) pre-natal vitamins do not affect your birth control. Some medications can, but these are medicine that are specifically metabolized in the liver and ramp up the cytochrome-p450 system…

Probably more than you wanted to know!

1/12/09 @ 5:57 pm (reply)

Guest

Stefanie

I live in Peoria, AZ which is the city right next to Glendale and I cannot recommend enough Rolfs Salon, Arrowhead location. You can e-mail stefmike09 at hotmail dot com for more info, but I’m sure a quick search will bring it up. They are sort of upscale, but have different levels of stylists for different price ranges. Good luck!

1/12/09 @ 6:50 pm (reply)

10.

Member

mlindsey (message) 349 posts, Helper bee

Try Nioxin. My beautician swears by it. It comes in either pill form or in shampoo/conditioner.

1/12/09 @ 7:41 pm (reply)

11.

Bee

Mrs. Green Tea (message) 705 posts, Busy bee

aren’t YOU the most qualified to give such advice, since you’re the one with that perfect silky AWESOME head of long hair!

perhaps…the secret is to shower less?

1/12/09 @ 7:57 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

Rita

I’ve been taking biotin pills- they’re for hair & nail growth also. They’re super cheap! it was like $1.00 for 90 tablets at target. Not sure if it’s working, but some women swear by it! anyone else taking biotin? i’m curious about this gnc stuff though & prenatal vitamins!

1/12/09 @ 9:18 pm (reply)

13.

Member

mabella (message) 19 posts, Newbee

If she feels like trekking down to Tempe, Mood Swings on Mill is awesome.

I just started taking the GNC vitamins a couple weeks ago, and I actually really think my nails are stronger already. Not sure about hair benefits quite yet, though.

1/12/09 @ 10:26 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Mrs. Penguin (message) 2,148 posts, Buzzing bee

Thanks for all your recs, gals! I passed this post along to my SIL… I hope she was able to soak in all the great tips!!!

1/13/09 @ 2:34 am (reply)

15.

Bee

Mrs. Penguin (message) 2,148 posts, Buzzing bee

@Mrs. Green Tea: Ahh yes. The trick to my luscious hair:

Last haircut: one month before wedding (approx 7 months)
Last washing: (sniff, sniff…) 3 days? 4 days?

1/13/09 @ 2:35 am (reply)

16.

Member

msgirard (message) 228 posts, Helper bee

I can confirm that with the Oil of Olay vits I noticed a difference in my hair, nail, and skin. I wanted to lay down and cry when thet were discontinued.

However, the best way I have found to make your hair grow is to just make sure you have good hair treatment. Most people don’t adequately condition their hair and over process it. Which allows for dry hair and split ends. I go for a weekly deep conditioner to keep my hair from drying out in this tough winter weather. She should talk to her hairdresser about a good regime.

Vitamins do help and my hair dresser swears by pre-natal vits!

1/13/09 @ 8:34 am (reply)

17.

Guest

Leslie

I take prenatal vitamins from Trader Joes and I also shampoo every other day instead of daily…. Cutting back on all that lathering and blow-drying really help. For those blondes out there like myself, use cornstarch on your roots & scalp to absorb greasies and buy you a day or two between washings…Best trick ever! Cornstarch is white of course so it may not work as well on brunettes which might leave a dull ash color on your strands.

1/13/09 @ 1:24 pm (reply)

18.

Guest

doublemint921

My friend got a short hair cut and then decided to grow it back out. She swears by horse shampoo. It not only makes it stronger but helps it grow faster. I’ve never looked into it or used it myself but I guess that’s what it’s called. You can get it at most stores but i’m not sure. Anyways, worked for my friend.

1/13/09 @ 2:36 pm (reply)

19.

Guest

Katie

I have found that prenatal vitamins really help my skin, hair, and nails look fabulous, my hair grows so fast as do my nails and i have really noticed the diffrence since i started taking the prenatal vitamins, no im not trying to get pregnant but i read that they can help your hair and skin etc so i gave it a try and sure enough i swear by it

1/14/09 @ 11:13 am (reply)

20.

Guest

Robin

OMG, you may be my long lost sister. I don’t know anyone else that says Boo-urns!!! It’s usually a long explanation.

2/4/09 @ 11:46 am (reply)