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Greetings brothers and sisters...
Just cruised into my two year mark...groovy! Thought I'd share a couple recent pics with you all. Sorry, not the best setting when they were taken (and it was late at night so I was beat) so the quality is poor. But, it's something and you can get a feel for where I'm at in my journey. Below is my timeline from the beginning. I buzzed my head at the end of May 2005 sometime around this week 2 years ago. The buzz picture was early June 2005 and then progresses...December 2005, June 2006, December 2006, May 2007.
I switched back to Nature's Gate brand Shampoo and Conditioner (Aloe Vera) after 7 months of using Pantene products. I was having a real bad time with tangles in the back so I decided to experiment with other products. I already had bottles of Natures Gate under the sink from previous use so I pulled them out and gave them a go. I was able to get out all my tangles and keep them out. Amazing. I love brushing my hair now and will continue using this brand at least for a while.
Last year I thought I'd get a trim at 2 years but I've decided to at least postpone it for now. It's growing pretty healthily and I'm enjoying the natural grow out in general. I'd prefer to never trim it at all ever but will if it becomes crucial down the line. For now it's not so I'm just going to let it continue doing it's thing naturally.
Well, thanks for reading friends. I'm very happy to have my long hair back and it's because of this board and all of you that I was able to keep on track. I've had my days of wanting to buzz it all off again...but, I've managed to break through the barriers and continue on. You all have given me strength and I can't thank you enough. It's all been worth it. Long hair ROCKS! Enjoy your summer and keep that hair growin'!
respectfully,
~Gman
Aha, first in!!!!!
Your right long hair does indeed rock and you were born for it. It suits you so well, the beard and hair look amazing. If I can get near to that I will be a happy Man.
Take care and peace Gman, Dave
Oh and congratulations on the two year mark, and moreover I have 'Kansas's Opus Insert' blasting my headphone as I type, wooooohoooooooooo!!!!
Thanks so much for the kind words, Dave. It's wonderful to have such a cool dude such as yourself to share this longhair adventure with. I must say that I'm really enjoying watching your progress, brother. Keep up the excellent work!
This was the intended size of that collage photo:
Hi gman,
WOW! What else can I say, but what an IMPRESSIVE update! Your hair (and beard) are looking awesome, thick and healthy with lots of shine. Your hair grows incredibly fast, I am amazed that your hair has grown this long in two years from a buzz, you obviously have great "hair-growing" genes. I DO hope you grow it a lot longer, you should be able to grow your hair to your waist or longer with ease.
Keep it growing, MOST definitely,
David
Well, thank you kindly David! I'm very lucky to have good genes from both sides of the family. I weigh heavily on my mom's side in terms of my hair characteristics. I do have many cowlicks and I have my father to thank for that...ha! Long hair makes them so much easier to deal with. Gravity takes over and that's that. I do plan to keep my hair growing. Waist length has been the ultimate goal all along but if I was to get it down that far I know I wouldn't want to stop. I'm pretty sure I'm in this for terminal whatever that length will ultimately be. We shall see...thanks again for you words here and for just being you on this board. You and I started out close together towards the end of last year. I've enjoyed sharing my journey tales with you and hearing about yours as well. And I'm jealous you'll be retiring soon!! Ah...much deserved for you. Congrats. Hope to see you on your US tour in 2009. Take care...
Great progress-keep up the good work
Thank you!
Hey, gman. Congratulations on hitting the two-year mark! As others have already said: your hair and beard is looking excellent. It seems similar to my own in some ways, so you're definitely an inspiration for me to continue.
Peace - and I'm looking forward to your next update.
thank you, Grimes! Glad I can be of some help to you on your journey. I know seeing the great progress from everyone who contributes since I've been here has really been inspirational to keeping me going. Even the new guys...their new found passion for long hair radiates out and affects those around them...even us who may be a bit further down the line. I'm constantly motivated by the new guys. And the more I look around me in my own town I'm seeing more and more young guys (teens) growing it long. It's about time!! They are definitely a big inspiration.
Thanks again!
Very nice hair! and beard lol, im a few inches shy of this length and its what id like to have as terminal pretty much
Thank you! Congrats to you on almost reaching your goal. It will come in no time :-) Best wishes...
Greetings Gman:
Congrats on your 2 year anniv. It's folks like you who definitely help me pursue getting through the awkward times. I'm 13 months in. Your hair is looking superb indeed. Keep up the great work.
Max
Hey thanks, Max! I appreciate your comments. And man, do I know about the awkward stages. I'm finally just nearing the end of my last one which is getting the very front bangs to fit in my tie without a fight. Right now they reach the base of the tie. A few more months and I should be home free. I'll continue thinking good thoughts for you, dude...the awkward phase is tough but will pass and it just gets easier and easier. I promise :-)
Be well...
The hair and beard look great!
Like everyone, you were born to have long hair ... keep it growing.
Karsten
Hi Karsten...I couldn't agree more. Your hair has been a MAJOR inspiration for me. Big Time! Keep yours growing, too :-)
Looks Fantastic (aka "groovy")
I like the timeline.....sure shows your fast progress and dramatic appearance change.
Thanks for Sharing
WWT
Thank you so much! It's been quite a ride so far :-) Take care...
Hey my man, You have came a long way. Your hair has made astonishing progress and looks incredibly healthy. I feel the same way you do about this board. If it wasn't for this board i don't think i would've made to 17 months. Take care G-man and keep on keeping on.
Chris
Chris, brother, I am in awe over your hair progress dude. Just outstanding...be proud of that head of hair for sure. And thanks for the kind words. This board has been awesome and your continued support means a lot. Keep fighting the good fight!
Looks good. I really like the comparison/progress photos. Aside from the men (and ladies) here feeling better about themselves when they have long hair, most, including you, are more aesthetically appealing (to my tastes), too!
Great job on stickin' for two years and for keeping on beyond.
Shawn (Mr.Crow)
Thank you kindly, Shawn! Yeah, I've always enjoyed other people's timeline shots and they have actually been extremely helpful for me. Gives us something to look forward to. I just love watching people's hair grow and reading about their new experiences...Your's included, my man! I always enjoy your updates. Thanks very much for sharing :-)
a real discipline. It is a real growing experience. You grow inside as well when you grow your hair out. Many people don't realize how just much discipline is needed until they attempt to grow it out. I can speak from experience. I made several attempts at growing out my hair and failed. Finally in 1992 I decided to give it another go. I managed to do it this time around. The mlhh did not exist until 1997, so I did not have the wonderful support that it now provides. At its inception, my hair was about waist length.
Dude, you have great hair. I can see from the photo that it grows very fast. I would encourage you to go natural and let it grow to full length. I have natural full length hair. I have not had even the tiniest trim in well over ten years. Here is what it looks like.
Absalom
You aren't lying...definitely a discipline. But, having great inspirations such as yourself really make the hard days brighter. The first time I grew my hair long it was in the early 90's so, yeah..no MLHH for me either. So, I can understand the self motivation that's needed to push on through the awkward stages without much (if any) support. Anyway, I am always in awe over your hair and beard growth. To me you represent FREEDOM and that is what I'm going for. I'm going to continue growing naturally like you recommend. It's been a much more magical ride this time around than all the previous attemps when I'd always try growing the top out first. Growing it naturally this time around has been so much more positive for me. It's hard for me to explain the feeling, really. Maybe I feel closer to nature this way...I don't know. But I'm diggin' it and I wouldn't be surprised if I grow to terminal length. I've been concentrating on my hair mainly this past year but now that I've met some of my hair goals I'm thinking about starting my beard journey again. I can pull the majority of my hair back into a tie so I really don't think much of it these days. I've been focusing on my beard the past few weeks and am really feeling the urge to just let it go naturally as well. We shall see. Thanks again, Absalom!
Hi Absalom
Wow your hair is great,i have not had a hair trim in about five years and it's only to the crack of my but and i have splt ends so i'm going to have my hair trimed just enough to clean it up,so then it will be a little below my waist.Margie
I can't believe that this much growth can happen in only 2 years, --- INCREDIBLE (and looks TERRIFIC, to boot!)!!!!
Some lucky guys are just meant for long hair... Oh, sure, you can cut it or you can buzz it; but, looking at your short hair pics in comparison to the long, and I'd say the shorter haired pics just look WRONG on you!
And as far as a trim goes, I just don't see any need for you to have to do so, --- your mane is simply hands-down PERFECTION just as it is!!!
Take care, gman. I always love reading your contributions to this site!
- Ken in SF
Thanks so much, Ken! Like you, I've always been a longhair...even when I was young and sporting the occasional buzz cut, too (never forced though...I had hippie parents). And like you, I was traumatized by my last adult buzz and am so glad that I've reached this point again. Isn't it a great feeling? I'm actually about 3 inches shy of the length my hair was when I chopped it in 1998. So, it's been nearly 10 years since I've had hair this length. Crazy to think about. But none of that matters. It's back and It's done wonders for my body and mind. The longer it gets the more I feel like my true self. It's amazing. Thanks so much again for your kind words. You've been a very big inspiration for me and not to mention a resident of my favorite city in the world. The next time you see mother ocean please send her my love... :-)
Hey Gman, what is UP, bruh?!
Great t' see tha progress pictures, lotsa comprehensive variety and different stages, especially the one with one of your own genetic progeny, so happy and joyous! Beautiful progress in every sense of the word. In addition to YOUR recommendation, may I also suggest any hair product containing biotin amino acids. They seem to contain a natural vanilla-y mintiness and strengthen the hair.
Continued/continuing longhaired camaraderie,
Quenyan (+:-)}
Thank you kindly, Quenyan! And thanks for the product suggestion. I'll look into that. It's awesome to be around such a wonderful and diverse crowd here at the MLHH. You definitely are a unique soul and I'm honored to be sharing this hair path with you. You bring insight and laughter to the board and I'm grateful you're here. Many thanks, brother...
namaste
Your hair looks awesome!
It grows very fast, I will be at the 2 years markin August and mine is juste a little bit past the shoulders :(.
Thanks so much! Just keep on truckin'...you'll get to your goal in no time. :-) Keep up the good work!
Congratulations on achieving that 2 years mark! Your hair is absolutely fabulous, very healthy and as if the 2nd year it has been growing faster. Glad you've found better products, I hate Pantene too. AS long as you don't have any split ends cuts are only for styles =}
Thanks for the nice comments, man. Yeah, I'm enjoying my longer hair more now that I've switched back to my usual product. Pantene gave me an initial "oooh" and "ahhh" but the thrill was short lived when the tangles started to take over. My patience for tangles is very short. Switching to a product that eliminated them was a good move as my enthusiasm for continuing to grow long hair has completely spiked!
Great Hair gman!
You know your hair looks a little like Justin Lee Collins', host of the Friday Night Project on Channel 4 (UK). Which I stress is no bad thing. He's one of the few longhairs we have on UK TV.
Anyway great progress and cool hair.
Thanks very much for your kind words! They are very much appreciated :-)
Now THAT is one awesome head of hair! Congrats on reaching your second year of growth, and from now on, it should be a breeze for you. Looks great, Gman! =)
-James
Much appreciated, James! The longer it gets the easier it is to handle. Especially when you're able to get it mostly in a pony tail. 99% of my hair stays in a low ponytail. Now when the winds totally pick up there are just a few strands that blow wildly. I prefer to wear my hair loose but there are times I just want or need it completely out of the way. So, I just pull it back now and...boom!...problem solved. It's a great milestone indeed! Thanks again, brother. And I'm very excited for you to be entering the next phase in your grow out! This is a very fun (yet, challenging) stage and just remember there are many of us out here pulling for you. If there is anything I can do for you along the way don't ever hesitate to contact me. Enjoy :-)
Hi Gman, thanks for posting the great pics!Its really fun to watch the progression of your hair over time with the photo gallery.Of course your hair currently is stunning.I hope I'm one of the guys here that is helping to prevent you from buzzing your hair as that would be an absolute shame.Anyway looks rockin' and do have a great summer yourself.Mark
Hey there, Mark! Thanks for the kind words, brother. Indeed, you have definitely been an inspiration for me to bust through some difficult barriers. Not only in terms of hair growing but also with dealing with the loss of my feline companion of 16 years. Your kitten rescue story was very uplifting and eased my pain at the time on so many levels. So, thank you. Although I've had my isolated rages where I'd be happier just shaving my hair completely off, those days are gone now. I have finally finished crossing one of the most difficult bridges along the path and know without a doubt that I'm in this for the long haul. If I can make it through the first 2 years I know I can continue on to my goal of at least waist length...especially with the tremendous support found here at the mlhh! Take care, man :-)
Very nice Gman. You've had some extraordinary growth in 2 years. Really suits you well.
Vince.
Vince, brother...thank you kindly! Your hair is rockin' on you, too. Believe it or not, I had blond hair just like yours up until I got to college age. As I entered and traveled through adulthood my hair got thicker and darker. Very strange. Same thing happened to my uncle on my mom's side. His hair got so thick as he aged that now it's the classic "lasagna hair" (I hope that isn't an offensive term...it's what he calls it). I had almost bleach blond hair when i was a baby, too. There are times I miss the blond for sure. Take care, man and thanks again!
Hi Gman:
Was wondering what your goal length is? The growing out natural look really looks pretty cool on you.
I'm at 26 months now myself. When I hit 24 months, I had a few inches (around 3-4) cut off the back to make it that all one length around the whole head. I sort of like that uniformity look around my whole head. I'm thinking after about 6 more inches of length I will probably opt to keep it maintained, (at the length) for a while. Sure is a fun (psychological and sociological) adventure, having long hair. Peace
Vince
This is a great montage you put together showing how longer hair transforms one...into what, well, the height of cool!
I think your hair looks great and glad to see you have endured the journey and find yourself enjoying the results.
I think your right in foregoing a trim. If you don't have tangling problems and rough ends, then why do it if you want more length and are satisfied with the look of your hair as it is?
Bragi
Hey thanks, dude! I have found comparisons pictures to be very helpful so I try to give back in hopes I can be of help to others as well. I've been enjoying watching your progress over the months I've been here and your beard is absolutely killer! I hope your studies have been going well and that your are enjoying your chosen path. Best wishes for a bright and happy future :-)
~Gman
Hi Gman
Your hair looks great.Margie
Awesome hair! Long hair really suits you perfectly. Keep growing that mane! :)
Thank you brother! And I must say I've been enjoying tracking your progress very much! I can tell long hair is going to look superb on you. I want to send you my best wishes in making music your life path. I'm a musician myself and always love to see you younger guys keeping the passion alive. Have a great summer and keep that hair growin!
Hey! You were truly a born longhair, no question about that!:)
Lookin forward to your next update!
Simon
Hey, much appreciated Simon! I continue to look forward to your updates as well. And I have to say, your hair in your avatar reminds me of Santa Cruz as there is a good sized population of young people who sport the 50's hip look and are really into rockabilly. You've totally got the features and hair for that look for sure. I dig it. "Officer Krupke, you're really a square"...whoops, got carried away there for a moment...lol!
Thanks again, brother...
Hey Gman,
Thanks for another great update and congratulations on 2 years!
Not only do you have awesome long hair but to me, your whole attitude and philosophy on life sum up for me what it means to be a longhair. I could totally relate to your experimenting with various states of consciousness. Long hair symbolizes freedom and allowing nature to exert its full influence in one's life IMO.
Peace,
Jason
Hey thanks brother!...your hair continues to be a huge inspiration for me and I don't think there is a style out there that you couldn't pull off. All your experimentation with different hair styles has truly been magnificent. You are helping so many of us on our journeys...I can't thank you enough. And I agree, longhair symbolizes freedom. In fact, I have liberated myself from certain strongholds that plagued my life both physically and emotionally since having my longhair back. It's as if longhair has given me strength. It's amazing. Thanks again, Jason. Your comments are always appreciated. Keep growin' your incredible hair and take care...
Hey
Gman
Great update & thanks for sharing to looks great Btw Pantene products didnt do anything for my hair all it use to do was dry my hair out which made it very brittle yet you see the advertisements on TV the hair looks ace which sucks to say the least !
Axel
Hey there, Axel...thanks for your kind words. Yeah, Pantene just wasn't cutting it for my hair so change was necessary. The dryness and tangles were really getting to me. One application of Garden's Gate shampoo and condition has made quite a difference so I switched back.
Take care..
Hey Gman, your hair looks great! and I may have to try the shampoo you are using also. Hey do your kids like your hair? or not old enough to tell you? I know my kids don't care that its long, I think they like the fact that I am different lol I know when I used to carrry my youngest son in my back pack he used to grab it for leverage or balance or something LOL Anyway his hair is about to his shoulders, he says it looks cool in his football helmet and snowboarding helmet WOW I can't believe I have had it this long, he's 11 now, time flies, enjoy every minute! take care and keep up the great work there. longhairedone!
Hey fellow longhaired dad! Thanks for your nice comments :-). Yeah, my son is just now starting to get interested in my hair. He'll be 4 next month. He's got cowlicks like me so I trim his hair like mine used to be at his age: The classic bowl cut all one length. Except, I don't use a bowl. My daughter is 1 and she has always found my hair of interest. The problem is, little baby/toddler hands get sticky fast and act like fly paper. She rips strands out constantly as she likes to pet my head..lol.
That's cool your son has longer hair like that. My son has the same texture as mine and seems to grow it fast as well. Sometimes I'll let his hair go and it will get close to shoulder length. I just gave him a trim a couple nights ago as a matter of fact. It's been getting warmer and warmer out in these parts.
Since you're a father you'll probably appreciate the photo's below taken back in April: I was blowing bubbles with my little girl while my son plays on the ground behind us. It rocks being a dad, doesn't it? Us long haired pops gotta stick together!
Hey Gman, great pics there of your daughter! It brings bacl alot of memories. My oldest daughter is now in college! When she was little we used to travel and hike and things like that. Last year she gave me a set of pictures which were her favorite of the two of us which was cool. My next son is 12 followed by the 11 year old. My middle son has short hair, his texture isn't good for long hair, at least for now, my younger one as I said has the longhair now and he thinks its cool. I guess as long as he keeps getting A's in school no one can complain LOL I certainly don't. I have a great picture of my son and I I can send if your interested at all, it is also black and white taken about a year ago, at least we both look the same! Well you look like a great dad and when oyu get older, all though I am not that old LOL you will scare your daughters friends which is not a bad thing LOL you look like a great dad keep it up!
What a change in two years. Long hair really suits you, and it's added a delightful touch to your features. The highlights it has in the sun are wonderful!
Keep it growing!
Mouse