"Consistent" hair for Hanging Hair Test

[Mer]

Morning All!

I'm learning this honing thing and getting along pretty good I think. The Hanging Hair Test always comes up and you get those who like it and those who don't. Mainly from what I gather is because of differences in hair. My thought is, what if someone were to standardize on something like an artist paint brush? I would imagine that a certain brand and style of brush would be pretty consistent from one to the other. You buy one brush, cut the bristles off and you'd probably have 500 - 1000 consistent test samples at your disposal.

Any thoughts?

 

[oakeshott]

I think the HHT is valuable because they use human hair. Those paint brushes are either synthetic, horse, boar or some other much thicker hair.

What I've done is co-opted my children. For about 5 or 6 years, my wife saved some hair from all of my son's haircuts. Think about years 2-9. I have that box of hair. He's a redhead and it's pretty fine and so is a challenging test. I've also persuaded my daughter to occasionally let me cut a lock of her hair. She's lately called a moratorium on that, but refreshed my stash of hair with a miserly lock of it for Father's Day.

While this gives me consistency, it's not nearly as consistent as one would think. The hair, even from the same kid at around the same time, shows dramatic variances in width and stiffness. I've gotten to the point where I can visually detect those differences, but it ain't foolproof.

Prevail on a long haired friend, male or female, to cut off a 2" lock of hair. This requires either a good deal of persuasion, the owing of a large debt or a very, very deep sleep. While forcibly or secretly cutting a lock of someone else's hair is not a felony, it's no moral achievement either. In the service of a greater good, it might be forgivable, but opinion on that, particularly in my family, is divided.

Keep in mind that the HHT is only an indicator. It's not a guarantee. For those of us who are learning to hone, it's a crutch albeit a valuable one. I use it between progressions to gauge my progress. Eventually, I hope not to use it at all. I just don't know enough to do that today.

 

[buca3152]

Learn the test if you can. Ive gotten to the point when I hone that although I still use it, Im never surprised with the result. Im 99% of the time where I need to be with the exception of naturals that I am still not 100% proficient with. Thats another story altogether. Im lucky to have a daughter with the same hair as I do, and my wife has much finer hair than us both, but I find the results are the same with either hair. Im sure there are certain hair types that are easier or harder or maybe wont cut at all. But I have nothing to say about those as I really dont know.

 

[Kentos]

I just raid my daughter's hair brush. Her hair is fine and the HHT's are repeatable. My wife's hair is also fine, but pass the HHT much easier.

 

[professorchaos]

There is a consistent hair for the test. It is yours and you use it when you try the only test that really matters (after the TNT) - the shave test.

 

[Acmemfg]

There is a consistent hair for the test. It is yours and you use it when you try the only test that really matters (after the TNT) - the shave test.

That's what I finally decided on doing. Turns out it was a very good decision too.

 

[Mer]

Thanks everyone.

Eric

 

[blackhhawk]

I like the test. I just grab my wife's hair brush and use it. The hair may be inconsistent sometimes because some hairs are finer than others, but that doesn't matter. When I went to test the edge on a coarse hair I just grab a coarse one. When I went to test it on a finer hair, I grab a finer one. You start to get a feel for how each type of hair acts, if you get what I mean.

 

[drmatt357]

Go to the beauty supply and buy the real hair extensions. Will cost in the $100 range but will last for life.

 

[BillC]

Go to the beauty supply and buy the real hair extensions. Will cost in the $100 range but will last for life.

Maybe someone can buy some extensions and host a split. Then we can start arguing about the use of various 'standard' hair - Using a JNAT I can get HHT5 with DrMatt Blonde September 2013, but I'm only getting HHT4 with Blackhawk Brunette October 2013 - which test should I trust.

 

[drmatt357]

LOL!
Gotta go with Miss September there Bill.

 

[Loner16]

I like the test. I just grab my wife's hair brush and use it. The hair may be inconsistent sometimes because some hairs are finer than others, but that doesn't matter. When I went to test the edge on a coarse hair I just grab a coarse one. When I went to test it on a finer hair, I grab a finer one. You start to get a feel for how each type of hair acts, if you get what I mean.

This gentleman has it right! There is no consistent hair for HHT. The hair on my head varies from .0015 to .004 inch, and my wife's a bit finer. I've also tried English and Gordon Setter hairs. All a bit different, but all valuable in their own way..

 

[BillC]

There are some RCH jokes to be made here too but I'm trying to remain above them.

LOL!
Gotta go with Miss September there Bill.

 

[H Brad Boonshaft]

Learn the thumb pad test it is quicker, non destructive, more accurate and you can check the Whole Edge, all of it.