new thread
Hi Everyone! I've been reading around here for the better part of the day today and I have seen a lot of talk about the in between period which is usually somewhere around 6 months into the journey. Well, I have never made it past this mark because I've never known what to do. I work in a professional office setting so grooming is important. What I do have on my side is that I'm in the fashion industry so as long as it's neat and stylish, it's cool with "the boss." Right now, I have a very "police man" type cut and I'm sick of it...
So, here are my issues:
Do I trim around the ears or tuck the growth behind them?
I HAVE to trim my neck, so that's an easy one.
Do I need to get a periodic trim to keep the tips healthy?
What type of products can I use to keep the afro puff to a minimum until it's long and heavy enough to weigh itself down a little better?
AND I'm sure there a bunch of questions I don't even know to ask yet because I've never been past the hard part.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Frank
Personally I think growing all equal lenghts would be better (so trimming your neck will slow down the growth in the back). Periodic trims can usually range from 6 months to 1 year if you want to be regular about it, people saying every month or two are people who want your money.
I personally have cut it a few times, so few I can tell you when they were:
August 1999: Cut my hair with a 2-adaptor clipper...decided to not cut it anymore. I regretted cutting my 5-6 inches long hair at the time, because I did it for someone else.
January 2000: start working in a warehouse (hair was about 3 inches all the way I guess, since I cut it while working there)
June 2000: Cut my hair a little bit (2 inches off maybe) as I wasn't too sure about myself. It was by no means a trim but really a cut. Nevertheless I had progress from previous year even after the cut...but still short.
August 2002: left my old job, got to my new one...until May 2005 where I quit of my own accord
I'd like to point out I grew my hair from a bit shorter than shoulder to lower than mid-back, while working there.
...in the meantime, I dyed my hair a blue black in 2003 (not dyed again since), I got a trim in summer 2004 (1 inch or so) and in October 2005 (1/2 inch or so). Cut 3 times in 6 years.
However they are seriously due to be trimmed for split ends now.
Hi Frank,
Tuck the growth behind them if it bothers you - in any case, DON't trim. If you absolutely "have to" trim around the ears, by all means stop it once the growth from the top of your head gets close to the ears. - The best way to grow out your hair is to leave it alone as much as possible.
Only trim the "fluffy" growth at the LOWER part of the neck, the part that doesn't grow long anyway.
No, you don't. Once your hair gets longer, start using shampoo less and less often, just use water and a conditioner.
I'd try any type of anti-frizz balm (containing only dimethicone & cyclomethicone) or any type of "maximum hold" pomade.
Check the links on top of the main page (including Bill Choisser's site, they contain great info.
Good luck, and have fun!
Hans-Uwe
Don't trim this part. In fact, don't trim at all. Your hair will not grow if you keep trimming it, obviously. Sorry, but this is just a ludicrous misconception. And yes, you can tuck new growth behind your ears, but it seems a bit silly to me. If your hair is kept neat, as in cared for, you shouldn't have to be worrying about "tucking" anything until your bangs are long enough to get behind your ears, which will be when they're about mouth-length when stretched straight.
No, you don't. Your hair won't grow. There is a neck line of hair that you can shave off, but this is only apparent when your hair is long enough for a ponytail and you start tying it back. Leave all trimming alone.
Nope, but you should know that by now. This is an old wive's tail, I'm afraid. Your hair will just take a heck of a lot longer to get long, creating more potential probs with your boss. And either way, how you treat your hair is the indication of its healthiness. Trimming is only important if you get split ends, something you won't have to worry about until you hit shoulder-length after over a year.
Slick it back with gel. Gel can be detrimental to your hair in the long run, but it's pretty useful. Try non-alcoholic gel if you can.
It may seem feminine, but hairspray might also work. I've never tried it, but it will hold your hair if you're having problem keeping it down.
Make sure you're not shampooing too often. The curlier your hair, the less often you've got to shampoo, and the more you've got to condition. The dry afro look will be increased if you don't condition often enough or shampoo too frequently. For fairly curly hair, I suggest shampooing once a week or less, and conditioning once every 2 - 3 days. This paragraph is only applicable when your hair gets to around 3 or more inches long, though.
HTH.
I Should have been a bit more clear about this.
Like Hans-Uwe said and what I meant was that I have to keep the peach fuzz neck hair that creeps around the front trimmed.
You guys are all awesome! Thanks for the help, I'll keep you all posted as to my progress over the coming months.