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every passing year. The latest to show up on my radar made its debut
around the same time that more and more kinks started forming on my
head. Yup, if you haven’t guessed it already – I my dears, am suffering
from a good old dose of hand-in-hair-syndrome.
What beats me is the reason for its sudden occurrence….
Is it the fact that I can actually feel the roots without the hindrance
of a weave? Is it because my hand wants to explore this new texture
emerging out of my scalp? Or, am I fondling my mane as a precautionary
measure that its all still there, right where it should be? Like I said;
I have no idea where I have picked up this habit from but, I do know
that I would like for it to stop.
Playing in my hair so frequently means that all that lovely moisture and
the natural hair oils are ending up on my hands, giving my nails all
the goodness instead. Strands of hair appear in my palm, and I have that
nerve racking moment during the time I search for a white bulb to
confirm that it is a shed hair, and not a ghastly broken one. There’s
also that dreaded point your finger seems to have caught itself up in a
knot, and you now have the task of trying to set it free without
snapping off the hair it is hooked between. Sheesh!
Perhaps it’s time that I seek refuge in a good old head scarf, or wear
my hair in protective styles more frequently in the hope that this habit
will gradually disappear. If all else fails, I guess I will have to
live with it and maybe try to put a cap on my hair fondling time. Of
course, I’m now sitting here wondering if I REALLY play in my hair that
much. I know…denial never helped anybody.
Are you apart of the Hand-In-Hair Crew?
Oh yes. I've been suffering since before I can remember. I have braids now so I love feeling the texture of my roots as my hair grows. Ugh. I can't seem to help it.
It's okay to touch your hair with your fingers ( with trimmed nails of course ),i do it too and i see it as a way of learning to appreciate your hair texture but it's better to do this when your hair is in twists or braids so as to not mistakenly call out the frizz monster.
Yes I am! My father tells me I've never changed, that when I was a baby I'd play in my hair when I was drinking from my bottle. I started again once I grew out my hair after wearing a TWA for 7 years. I probably do it more when I try new products, trying to see if the feel of my hair has changed.
You know how when you feel that perfect ringlet coil and you stretch it and look at its perfection in the mirror? Well, I've done it in the CAR while driving! Yes, so so wrong – looking at a coil in the car's rear view mirror!
I too suffer from HIHS *hangs my head in shame*. I really do love the feel of my hair, especially when it is moisturized and the curls are popping. However, all of the fondling leads to single strand knots which don't feel so nice. I try so hard to control it, but sometimes I do it subconsciously. I must try harder or put my hair in some braids.
I'm definitely part of the HIH crew. I love touching my hair! Even when my hair is in twists, pinned up, or a bun, I find some way to grope my strands. lol I've been natural all my life and been wearing it in 'natural' style for years now, but our relationship is still in the honeymoon stage, I just can't keep my hand off it it… her.. maybe I should give her a name since we're so intimate! lol Ok let me stop.. Hi, my name is Dawn and I have HIHS.
Yes I am guilty of HIH my nails are long and snag on my hair broken pieces here and there sometimes with white bulbs and not. I need to stop!
Guilty too ya'll…especially on a good hair day from a banging twistout or fierce wash n' go with NO frizz! SEE….then I end up with frizz 'cause of my HIH problem….ugh!
LOL, these comments are hilarious. I too am guilty of HIH….my family and friends won't let me forget because they are always telling me to keep my hands out of my hair 🙂
LOL.
+1!!! Can totally relate!
Yes, I touch my hair all the time. I dont twirl it around my fingers or anythng I just "pet it". LOL. I love how soft and cotton like it feels.
There is no way I can get a HIH syndrome. I used to do it as a kid when my hair was natural (never when it was relaxed though) and now that I'm 6 months post. But in addition to that, the bf always has his hand in my hair, distractedly massaging it while watching movies usually
HI NATASHA! (in my HIH Anonymous voice. lol)
Guilty!
I'm using mindfulness to try to break the habit but any tome my attention lapses…
And the thing is I didn't use to do it!
It's ridiculous! And I'm more nuts on wash day. I said I would NEVER suffer from this syndrome.
Oh well….
Yep. Card carrying member!
Hey ladies!
Wow – I'm so happy to know that I'm not alone in the HIH Crew!!
The funniest thing? As I was reading your comments, my fingers were getting reacquainted with my front baby hairs! It is wash day for me, so I am about to go and enjoy caressing my hair as much as I want to without an ounce of guilt 🙂
Thanks for commenting!
Bonnie –
I suffer from HIH syndrome. I love how soft my hair feels, especially near my scalp. My hair sometimes gets snagged on a nail or breaks off in pieces. I'm trying not to touch, but it's a work in progress.
I pet my hair constantly. Its like a fluffy pet kitten lol
Errr, yeah!!! I love touching the little ringlets…asking myself goofy questions..like is that a coil, a ringlet, is it the size of a coffee stirrer or a pen spring??? Duh self! But I am guilty as charged!!! LOL…just mini-chopped last night.
Oh, BTW, When hubby started the HIH thing, I had to "TEACH" him how to do it because he was pulling all of my well defined curls apart and I'd end up with a frizzy spot! Now, he is sure to just twirl the curls and keep them together or he just massages the roots.
Hi…my name is Natasha and I have HIH.
I can realate to this, I love the way my hiar feels! But I think in general I'm really motivated by my senses, especially touch! I'm so into the way things feel. I'm an artist and one of those poeple who wants to touch the art in museums, lol. My hair has not been exempt from this. Even when I wore curly weaves I still has my hand in my hair! I'm working on it though…..
My hubby and I BOTH cannot keep our hands out of my hair! Actually, I LOVE how it feels when he twirls my curls and tickles my scalp! Honestly, I don't think any of us should even stop anytime soon. We are just admiring and appreciating what is all ours. Now, when strangers want to touch it-that's another story! But I do appreciate that they are just amazed at all the hair. I love coming here and being encouraged to continue my natural hair journey!
I'm absolutely addicted to touch my hair, swirling my curls, pulling my coils out then letting them snap back. It's a joy in life. LOL. I've cut down a lot and have allowed myself to play with one curl thats behind my left ear, while I'm out. When I'm at home, I don't even realize what I'm doing until my hair has been hand picked to an afro.
GUILTY AS CHARGED! I have recently just BC'd and I find myself playing in my hair all the time, especially at work. Since I am a newbie, I did not think it was a big deal, but reading your blog has gave me insight that I have to STOP! If anyone has any tips on how I can keep my hands out of my hair. Please Help!
Yes, even with these two strand twist!
I have a moderate to severe case of HIH syndrome! Even when I twist my hair I cant stop myself from twirling the little coils at the end. Sometimes I try to justify touching my hair by telling myself I'm just checking for unraveling twists. I fiddle with the damaged areas the most for some reason.
Yes, sometimes I find myself playing with my hair and I have to wear a hat or a scarf to stop myself.
Do I have HIH Syndrome…hell yes!! My goal is to get through the day without playing with my hair, let me just say I have yet to accomplish that goal 🙁 I'm glad and sadden to know, I'm not the only one suffering.
lol HIH anonymous sounds like a good idea
yup, my hands are always in my hair. But i'm trying to stop with the help of my mom and my sister (they slap my hand, tell me to stop, etc. lol) 'cause it can't be doing any good for it
Yes, I am that person. Smh. I need a support group. I just love the way my hair feels (especially when its really really soft). **sigh** I'm working on it.
Yes, I am part of the HIH crew. I did a protective style last night to try and break this bad habit. I think it's because I'm amazed at my new texture. I've had relaxers since I was about 10 (now 28). I had to ask my mom what my natural texture was like b/c I don't remember. One thing I do know is I love it and can't wait for more to grow. I'm almost 5 months post relaxer so I guess I still have a long way to go.
Guilty! More so when my hair is in twists. When it was locked it was even worse, and that was for 7 years with my first set. I just couldn't stop! I had to actually fuss myself out to stop. LOL! When it's out I'm making sure there isn't a hair out of place, or I just like how it feels and just want to play with it. I was playing with my twists as I came onto this page and when I saw what it was about, I just laughed and quickly separated my hand from my hair. I don't know why it's so addictive.
Sadly yes I am a part of the HIH crew. My hands were never in my hair when I wore a relaxer. I made the mistake of allowing my hands to roam my head when I had a TWA and they never left. I try to do things that will keep my hands occupied (Reading, writing, organizing) I even tell people to stop me. My boyfriend pulls my hand away. Its become second nature. But lately I haven't been so engrossed with my strands. I think now that it's been over two years and my hair is SL and the routine of wash, condition etc, reminds me of the time and effort I put in stops me from HIH, But sometimes I catch myself
When I first decided to go natural & my first few curls started to come in I would definitely pull at them & watch them spring back. Anyone that was in my reach I had to show them my curls, because I was so proud. It's been two years & I don't have HIH syndrome anymore cause I don't want have to deal with unnecessary tangling it causes.
Hi I'm E, and I am an HIH addict! And the funny thing is, I don't have a whole lot of hair! I have a twa that's less than two inches long, but I can't stop rubbing and twisting my hair. Especially when it's freshly washed and conditioned. It feels so soft, and there's something about running my hands over my curls. They feel divine! I also have gotten into the very bad habit of pulling out individual curls and twisting them around my finger. I love stretching them out and popping them! I know right, CRAY-ZEE! I'm a grown *ss woman, but I can't keep my hands out of my hair. I think I'm being gentle with it, but I do realize that the friction and tuggin could cause damage. Unfortunately, just like any other addiction, even though I know it's not good I can't stop myself! If it's this bad now, I can only imagine what I'll do when it's longer. I think I need some meetins!
It's not a new habit, since i've been a kid i've always twirled some hair between my fingers especially when i get nervous…now its a little more fun because i'm actually cleaning up the ends of my twists on some occassions…lol
I am GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY! My hair was getting longer and I wanted to play with all the kinks and curls which only resulted in more knots. Finally, I knew I had to do something, so now I am now mainly wearing my hair in protective styles. I feel if I don't, then I am going to be stopping my own hair growth
Todally… I just had my hand in my nape when I read this post! Dunno what it is…. I think it's kind of a sweet distraction that gets sweeter as you twirl and feel the texture. But true, I realize my hair then gets dry and all the good oils and moisture goes on my hands and nails. I do try to stop it… but sometimes, I simply can't resist!!! My scarves do help me a lot. 🙂
Haha! I think our childish ways kick in! When we are babies we are fascinated with our toes, hair etc (all these parts). same reason whysp some people touch their scabs,..lol, something new. i think hand-in-hair sydrome will soon fade once you are useto the newness of length and curls!