i'll post my current length in another post since i can only do one at a time
my current length
I'd say give yourself till at least Jan. 2008 to get there. The braid/tail type arrangement of the character in the picture would suggest at least 10 more inches of hair than you have now.
Good luck, it is a cool looking fellow in the first picture!
Your fringe would probably be that long by then, but you'd probably not be able to get the right length for the braid.
the bangs will be longer than that but i dont think you will be able to get the braid. but you will probley be able to put your hair in a ponytail.
and fullmetal alchemist is awesome.
The reason i'm asking is because i'm going to the Otacon in 2007 and i was hopeing to cosplay Ed with my own hair as opposed to a wig (cheaper and looks better) but unfortunatly it looks like it will be long enough in front if not too long but a bit too short in back to do the braded pony tail he has, oh well
you should remember its probably hard to emulate a cartoonlike hairstyle....becuase obviously the physics in a cartoon is different.