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Hi, i've been noticing lately that hair on the back of my head is way longer than the rest. My bangs are just past my chin, the hair by my ears is almost an inch past my jawline, but the hair in back is down to my upper back. I'm gonna go in for a trim anyway for split ends, but should I get maybe and inch or so cut off the back to even it up or will it look less weird over time?
Personally I'd say no. The back will always look longer than the front, and if you're going to have long hair you gotta put up with it untill the front catches up.
My back looks longer than the front, but that's because it is further down than the front. It is purely up to you.
If you want long hair with a short back then yeah go for a trim, but if you want a long ponytail or hair down your back, then i'd say just leave it.
In my opinion, the most important decision you can make re. getting a trim is to go to a VERY highly reputable salon, preferably with a stylist who either specializes in trimming long hair (has a longhair following), --- or making the appointment with the owner / manager of the salon themselves. It will cost you more $$$ than going to any of those cheap chain shops; but considering we longhairs don't go in for trims all that often, it is WORTH IT!!!
After that decision has been made, the next decision to figure out is: how long do you ultimately want your hair to get, --- and what "look" do you prefer it to be? The 2 most common ways of styling long hair in back is: 1) a "blunt cut" (where the hair is cut strait across in a horizontal line, to all one length evenly in back), or; 2) "tapered", also sometimes called "sculpted" (where the hair in back is more or less shaped like a "V", --- the point of the V being in the center of the back, where the hair is longest). Choice #2 is always my personal preference, because that's what happens when you leave your hair alone for any length of time, anyway... Mother Nature herself sort of creates that look whenever someone grows to teminal length, so whenever I go in for a trim, it's mostly just to remove the split ends. But, the blunt, strait-across trim is also very popular around here, --- especially for guys who like that even look. And then there's a compromise between the above 2 main methods of shaping: you can request a "U" shaped trimming in back, instead of either strait-across, or shaping into a "V"...
Just DON'T agree to have any "layering" done, or the use of thinning shears on your hair, --- you'll be removing a huge portion of all your hard-earned growth if you do that!
Hope these comments help.
- Ken
listen to Ken. n/t
Thanks Ken for the advice. I actually think i'm gonna hold off a little longer. I want my bangs to still be past my chin after they cut some off so i'll wait a month or 2. My only problem is finding a barber that I trust. I live in a small town that has 2 barber shops. The last one i went to cut about an inch and a half off after I asked for only 1/2, I havent been to the other one since i was a little kid.. then there's a perfect look chain in the next town over, and i know for sure that would be a big mistake if I went there lol. I've heard some bad stories and have had some really bad uneven haircuts from them. I might just have to go to that other shop and hope for the best lol.
One of the nice things about being a longhair is that we all become less and less interested in feeling any need to have to rush out and get a trim, --- so, holding off a little longer until the bangs grow out more sounds perfectly valid to me (lol)!!
You mentioned living in a small town with only 2 barber shops... If I were in your shoes, I'd save up some $$$ and wait until you know you're going to go visit a bigger town or city, and THEN get a trim out-of-town. Barber shops in general are geared for men only, --- especially the traditional, conservative, short-haired male. Once in a while you might "luck out" and find a barber who just might happen to be good with long hair; but if it were me, I would NOT go into ANY "barber shop". The Uni-sex type of hair salons are better bets by far: their prices are much higher; but, as the old saying goes, "you get what you pay for!"
If you don't want to gamble at all re. losing any of your hard-earned length, a hair stylist with a good reputation will hear you loud & clear when you tell him/her that you only want a TRIM; whereas by walking into a barber shop, most barbers think: "Hmmmm... the boy says he just wants a trim; but, he sure looks like he needs a HAIRCUT to me, --- and baaaaadly!!
My main point is this: a good hair stylist that specializes in long hair is not only worth the $$; but also if need be, worth the extra miles to have to drive to as well!
My best to you!!
- Ken
It'll look less weird over time. I got a trim to get rid of tangles but now I regret it. Back then I didn't use conditioner so tangles came naturally. Conditioner could have fixed it but i trimmed it instead. It's the same with one part being longer than the other, it'll look even once its long. Plus, you're probably the only one that noticed it.
Hope this helped, keep it growing brother!
-Mihnea
Dont bother, it will look better when its longer. The back of your hair is naturally suppose to be longer anyhow, if it looks awkward now well...your in the awkward stage afterall! :)
You should periodically trim the ends of your follicles, in order to prevent split ends. If you trim periodically your hair will grow faster and it will not break as easily. Personally I like to cut off 1-2 inches every 5-6 months. Theoretically You COULD avoid trimming, I wouldn't suggest it, but you could; your hair would be more brittle and you would have exponentially more split ends, or worse, your hair could feather, and that just sucks. That happened to me just before I got my new job, and I ended up having to cut off 4 1/2 inches to get rid of the feathering. **shudder** So small cuts Biannually or quad annually would be my suggestion. If not then eat alot of sugar free gelatin/sinnew, don't blow dry, and don't brush your hair when wet. also avoid avoid heavy shampoos, and silicone based hair products (those are meant to dry out your hair, and get you to cut your hair.)
Good luck and happy Growing! ^.^
Jon
To be honest, you should probably at LEAST trim the splits every so often yourself. "Dusting" the ends every few months is seriously worth it. I don't care how many people whine about how much that slows things down -- a proper dusting is undetectable really unless you look at the very ends. It seriously is worth it, whether done yourself (with help from a friend or such) or at a salon (1/4" trim).
Even with, say, 4 dusting trims a year (every 3 months) your hair still will be 5 inches longer every year. Relax, it won't be as bad as it sounds.