new thread
My hair seems to be growing so slowly, but I think it is really just because it all curls up. In about 6 years, when my hair begins to brush my shoulder, I'll probably be really grateful for the curls (which easily form little ringlets, even on their own). For now, while I do like them a lot, I am a bit discouraged by the seeming lack of addition.
That said, when looking at pictures of my last haircut, I can see that I really have grown a substantial amount of hair, particularly when looking at the back of my head where a forest of curls has emerged from barely a mossy scalp.
This board is my encouragement and source of resolve to do what I have long dreamed. Thanks to all of you!
Shawn - Mr.Crow - Crowell
PS. Today's pics were taken about 14 hours after the hair was actually styled. The hair holds up against the elements pretty well, I think.
Well, don't be discouraged just based on your hair length! You look good where your hair is at right now, and you should be very thankful that you'll never be stuck in an aesthetically awkward stage, because the ringlets have enough character to make your hair enviable by anyone at any length. It probably wouldn't be nearly as striking seeing somebody with long curly locks if it only took a couple of years to grow them out! Just look at Bodhi in the User Directory, anybody who's ever grown their hair out can tell that it must have taken several years to get it that long, and his perseverance has definitely paid off.
One great thing about curls is that even at your current length, it really looks cool and retroish....kind of like the guy from Wolfmother =)Keep it growing, because it will show more and more of it's true length as it gets longer and gains more weight. Prepare yourself for the envious stares from strangers in the street, because they are inevitable. Take care, dude.
Prepare yourself for the envious stares from strangers in the street, because they are inevitable. Take care, dude.
very true since ive started growing my hair i have gotten alot of positive feedback. one woman ask me if it was naturaly curly and i said yes and she said your very lucky . by the way i hope it doesnt take 6 years lol
Thanks for the words of encouragement.
I look forward to those stares.
Shawn - Mr.Crow- Crowell
Greetings, fellow resident of Ringlet World. :P
I believe you'd replied to an old thread of mine (well, my last thread, really; it's been a while since I've posted, much less created a thread), but, nevertheless, it's apparent that your hairtype is very similar, if not identical, to mine. I remember being at the same stage that you're at, with all the hopeful zeal of bangs-pulling quickly countered by a look in the mirror after the bangs coil back up like some unfriendly jungle plant. lol. I particularly remember looking at women with waves streaming over their shoulders and then grimacing when I looked at the back of my head. The tube curls just seemed impossibly thick and tight, just bobbing there as if affixed to the skin with Krazy-glue. I thought they'd never grow.
That was over a year ago. Now, those same tubes brush my lower neck and shoulders without any stretching and reach down to my nipples when stretched. I was able to tie a full center-parted ponytail a few months before I was able to do it with my hair straight back (and though this is some time away for you, I highly advise that you don't brush/comb your hair back to do a ponytail. I simply bring my bangs over my center part like brushing back my hair with my hands, and all is fine); nowadays, I can braid, bun, and ponytail at will. Neither of these styles looks as impressive as I'd like, but I'm sure they will next year.
Basically, don't worry about your hair too much right now. The cornrows you proposed are dangerous at your length, and the curls will lose much of their definition when you take the cornrows out (for a while, anyway). I also suggest not to center-part your hair anytime soon; I made the mistake of doing this very early into the awkward stage, and I looked, in numerous people's opinions, quite bizarre, in a homicidal clown sort of way. :P Wait until your bangs drop down to below eye level to part it. And, yes, our hairtype grows as fast as anyone else's, but the curls conceal the length to an amazing degree. As they loosen, the length will reveal itself proportionately, but there will always be a moderate-to-high level of length-concealment. This doesn't mean that you can't grow your hair to your waist - it just means that if it's there when curly, it might be to your knees when stretched.
Also, your hair will transform quite a bit as it gains length. Believe me, the transition through the awkward stage is a metamorphosis (on multiple levels). Never be disenchanted through the early awkward stage; chant to yourself that you are like a Renaissance statue slowly being created.
Well, this is quite a bit more than I'd intended to write. :P Best of luck in your journey.
Peace
Wow!
You sure offered me the right dose of medicine. I can tell you've been here by the suggestions and warnings about certain practices -- How did you know I was trying (in secret) to centre part my hair? (and yes, I agree it looks clown-ish: flat in the middle / top and huge on the sides).
I am avoiding brushing, especially when dry.
My usual routine is to condition in the shower using luke-warm or, usually, cooler water. (I shampoo less than once a week).
I then moisturize with a small amount of additional conditioner which I apply after lightly dampening my hair dry with a towel. (Usually I use this as my only styling product and it works fine, though occassionally I might put in a curls-specific light-hold de-frizzing gel or something).
Lately, I have started using a pick to push my hair outwards from the crown in all directions, giving me momentary bangs and length down the sides and back. Then a brief head shake and a couple finger scrunches and I have what you've seen in the pictures.
Thanks, too, for the advice on cornrows. I was seriously considering it, but not if it might even just possibly damage my hair. (I am treating it too well to chance damaging it at this point.)
Thanks again for all your incredibly helpful advice.
Shawn -Mr.Crow- Crowell
Actually, I had no idea that you'd actually been toying with the idea of a center-part; it was merely an assumption based on the fact that aspiring longhairs, zealous and eager, want some way to "prove," "confirm," or, at least, symbolize, that they are real longhairs and not merely lazy or sloppy bums, and the center-part provides the perfect symbol. Curly-haired folk, already agitated by their slower apparent growth, will want to confirm to the world that they're longhairs as soon as possible (as in your case, you still strike me as a short-hair, which, for contemporary standards of professionalism, is an obvious initial benefit of our hairtype), but center-parts just won't work until the curls gain weight and drop a bit.
Brushing with a brush is dangerous stuff, facetious rhymes despite. Though it can straighten out your hair, it'll frizz it out tremendously, and the damage over time can be bad. Even the use of a comb or afro pick is treading dangerous territory. I would wholeheartedly recommend finger-combing over all other forms for ringletted hair, because it can be done safely and gently when the hair is either wet or dry. I do it throughout the day, often absent-mindedly. But what you're doing with the pick sounds okay. Don't get paranoid about your hair from all of this; I mistreated, hell, abused, my hair because I didn't know how to take care of it for the first few months of growing, but because of how meticulous I've been since, my hair is fine now, and you would hardly know it was ever damaged.
I don't shampoo at all, and it's helped my hair, IMO, tremendously, as a lack of the agents in shampoo makes the hair curlier up to a point in which the hair's totally natural. You might notice your hair gets curlier if you don't wash it for a while. I just use natural conditioners, honey, oil, and, for scalp-cleaning, a clarifier, usually apple cider vinegar, like once every week and a couple days. But I suggest you stick with your routine until much later on. After all, what works for me might not work for you.
Cornrows - I'd say that if you're ever dead-set on them, get someone very skilled at them (and gentle! Cornrowing is notorious for ripping out hair) to do it, and research how to take care of your hair (washing your scalp, etc.) while wearing them.
Peace
you should show a picture of your hair then and another of your hair now :P i'm very curious to see your starting point
mr. crow your hair appears to be a lil, lil bit longer than mine even though i have more months than you . (started of at 1 all over) anyway. your hair is very similar to mine though . so i feel you when u say it feel like its not growing but it is. me and you in the same boat .good to see a very similar curly hair growing it out . enjoy your journey because im there with you .
mr.cub
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I hope we can grow long together: two Curly-haired Mr.C's
(And I wonder, having read your writing style, if English is not a first language for you (or if it is, if you speak with the same pacing)...The flow of the speech and the chosen words are very reminiscent to me of the way my Dad's relations in Trinidad speak.)
Mr. Crow
PS I'd like to some pics for a comparison, if possible.
yes english is not its spanish. im from dominican republic
Coming along nicely mate! It will look well cool when its longer.