new thread
Hello to the wonderful poters, lurkers and people at the MLHH.
I have not been a regular poster here for some time. This is not because I've given up on my long-hair goal (pics attached), but simply because I have not prioritized writing about hair and life on a message board enough to make the time necessary to regularly respond to the large number of postings. I have tried to read a bit and to comment when I could, but I simply have so many things on the go that have take more of a front-burner that I haven't been very consistent here.
I am sorry to have been so absent after having once been so engaged.
I have not cut my hair One year, Two months and Twelve Days. While much longer than it was, being curly, it still often seems shorter than my straight-haired companions on the road to long hair.
I still prefer the 'Got2Be: Hottie' line of hair products. The shampoo, conditioner, hair-repair leave-in conditioner and the oil-therapy are all great. The leave-in is used daily to combat frizz and I often use just a bit of gel to keep the wind from whipping my hair up into a big fuzzy meringue. Pony-tails are a normal part of my life now, using them to keep the hair back about once a week or so - usually for work-outs or for days where I know I'll be outside a lot and would like to fit a hat over my big hair.
School is out for the summer, though, with Holly home and mommy working, my days are filled with the joys of preparing her for school in September (She'll be going to an École Français) and finishing my Teacher Librarianship On-Line Course. I'm also spending time enjoying summer.
It is nice to know that my absence has been conspicuous to those whom I had often conversed. (Thanks for the email, George and the recent posting, David.)
While I still have a long way to go before I get my curly Manlocks™ sitting on my shoulders, I find that I am often one of the longest-haired males in the room. (Unless I am at the farmers' market or at the local outdoor festivals, that is...)
To give a quick update, I've included some recent pics:
Here's what my hair looked like when I started:
Now, here's one of me at about 13 months. This shows some really tight, nearly frizzless curls catching some good sunlight.
Here's my hair in a ponytail (though it really looks more like a lamb's tail, I suppose) - funny...today I bought a hat from an artisan at a summer festival. It is a great lamb's skin winter hat, lined with curly lamb wool that looks very much like my own hair. If I added highlight to my hair to match the colour of the lambswool, it would be nearly impossible to tell where my hair ends and the hat's begins. (I will take pictures of this hat in the winter).
This is what my hair looks like most days now at about 14 months. My wife says I look a bit like the action figure for Sirius Black, character from the upcoming Harry Potter Movie. (I take it as a compliment.)
For anyone who doesn't know why curly hairs should NOT use a pick or brush or anything when there hair is dry, I submit the following:
And finally, a picture that really says how I am these days. Everything is just fine. I am quite alright, if busy and engaged in living my life, even if a bit more offline than on.
I wish you all the best. I will continue to lurk and post as I can. Please understand that I really appreciate the work people do here. I would NOT have the hair I do today if not for the support offered on this board. I will try and post as often as possible to be the support for others that I have been lucky enough to receive.
Thanks to all of you. (Long post, I know.)
Shawn (Mr. Crow)
Well, I'm a relative newbie, so I don't really know anybody yet. The curls look great, you are going to have some awesome locks when the hair gets longer.
Your pics of the crazy afro make you look like one of those people who touch those Van de Graaff generators that make their hair stand on it's end. Pretty funny.
Carol
Thanks, Carol. I'm looing forward to shoulder sitting locks.
I used to work as a "Mad Scientist" and frequently demonstrated Van de Graaff generators to kids. Back then, though, I had only short hair. Too bad.
Thanks for posting!
Shawn
Whoa, yeah Shawn, that WAS, indeedy, a long post, but one written with much wit and charm. And such a wide array of looks that you can sport, too! Well received, definitely. Your presence HAS been conspicous in your absence, as the old adage goes. Thanks for dropping by, inspiring us all anew, and encouraging all of those who put in the time to maintain this site, surely one of moral support for us. I guess we'll have to wait and see if if we will concur with your wife's assessment, that you look like Sirius Black from the next Potter film, LOL! . . . best wishes always!
Yours in longhaired camaraderie,
Quenyan (+:-)}
Thanks for the compliments!
Whether or not I end up looking the part, I consider the style he wears his hair and facial hair in to be inspiring for me. My hair is getting longer and my moustache, bigger. Time for a long dark coat?
Thanks for the post!
Shawn
Great to have you back, Shawn!
Nice Fro'!
See you around
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Shawn
Hey Shawn ...
Good to hear from ya. Man .. the picture post pic/brush is hilarious! My side hurt from laughing so hard after seeing it..... and I thought I had it bad in the morning with my awkward stage!!
Glad to hear you're doing well.
Be Blessed..
Tristan
LOL
I am glad the picture brought you such mirth. It hurts to comb out thick, curly hair when it is dry. I could certainly do well this halloween.
Thanks.
I appreciate your posting.
Shawn
Hi Shawn,
I am delighted to hear that you are back with us, and glad that you saw my recent posting asking about you. In fact, I was getting more and more worried with every passing day, but I figured it would only be a matter of time before we would be seeing you, and your glorious Manlocks, once more.
That rambling preamble being said (and I am ALWAYS too long winded, the windbag that I am, lol!), your curls are looking awesome, and that is one incredible amount of hair you have in your "brushed" photo, WOW! Congratulations go to you as well, for being able to wear your hair in a tail so easily. Keep those Manlocks growing and flowing!
It is wonderful that you are spending so much time with your lovely family. I am sure that your sweet Holly is your biggest fan, as she always has been, and I am thrilled for her that she will be staring school in September, it is amazing how quickly the years fly by.
Take care, and my best to your family,
David
Thanks, Dave. I am just thrilled to see the term adopted so easily into your vernacular. (And the compliment is appreciated, too!)
I plan on it.
I love summer vacation, though it does encourage my procrastiniating tendancies; there is so much I could be doing to prepare for next year....and here I am on the computer, completely non work-related (but fun, nonetheless).
Thanks, Dave, for you ongoing support.
Shawn
Hey, that's some great hair! For such curly hair it seems surprisingly tame (except that afro picture :P ) and fits your facial hair very well. Congrats :)
My hair can be quite tame with the right products and styling technique. If I am skimpy (or absent) with the product, though or should the wind be strong or a hat mar my style it begins looking more like the afro and less like the others.
Thanks for posting!
Shawn
Hey guy, good to hear from you again and that all is well.
Lookin' good!
George
Thanks!
Shawn
Shawn,
Glad to hear you are doing well and still have the hair. :-) I know what it is like to be busy. I too work for a school system, but in the IT dept. Summer time is our busiest time as the students are out and we can do all our major projects and what not.
Your hair is looking great. I bet it seems to take forever to grow because of the curls.
Take care,
Mike
Hope you can get into the hot buildings to do all your work. I, as a teacher, am HUGELY appreciative of the work the IT department does.
Thanks! It does take a long time to get really long, but I am feeling like a long-hair these days, being able to half-tail and pony it.
Thanks for posting!
Shawn
Ah, but long posts, when well-written, are a joy to read. :)
Good to see you back. I was wondering, too, where you might be - I guessed you were busy at work as usual, but one can never know for sure. I'm glad you're doing well. I'm also glad that your hair looks as excellent as ever (even when brushed! Hee hee, that brings back some memories of MY early days. Yikes. What's awesome is that you pull off that look just as well as the ringlets), and that your wife is at least comparing you to movie characters now instead of just shaking her head or the like (and Mr. Black, ultimately, is a good guy, so hey). Whatever the case, I'm sure she'll warm up to it, or at very least come to accept and expect it, by the time your hair hits shoulder-length. My parents are like that now, though they request my hair be in a ponytail whenever I go out. But that's a small compromise for the vehement arguments we got into over my hair at first.
Keep it growing, man. You're already an immense inspiration to other curly-hairs, or just longhairs in general.
Peace
Coming from you, I really appreciate that.
You had me figured.
Thanks, FA. I am loving it! I lookforward to having tight ringlets sitting on my shoulders like you, though my hair doesn't seem to be quite as curly.
I think she has. It isn't her first-choice, but not worth leaving over. She is coming to terms with it. (Though the amount I shed on the bathroom floor grosses her out. We now have a SwifferVac™.)
And a pony looks and feels good, too!
So kind of you.
Thanks for the posting, FA.
Shawn
A long post, but a good post. I am happy to hear that you still walk the path to long-haired-ness steadily and resolutely. That's great that you get to spend time at home with your daughter. Those are the kind of days that she will always remember - when you don't really have anything planned, but then stuff just happens that's fun! It sounds like you have lots of positive things going on now, and while you are missed here, you've got to do what you've got to do - enjoying the summer. The snow will lie deep there soon enough in Canada to bring you back here. Until then, have a great summer and keep those curls growing. Oh, and, love the 'fro.
Bragi
Thanks, Bragi. I do love the unscheduled, 'ripe for spontaneity' portions of my days.
Thanks for posting!
Shawn
...Shawn! Its' nice to hear from you. Your pictures are great. I love that one with your hair combed out. It cracked me up and I can tell that you enjoyed it as well.
Keep on growin'
Bruce
Thanks, Bruce.
As self-conscious as wearing my hair like that makes me feel, it goes into that style so easily that, with an air of self-confidence and matching clothes, I could go out in public like that and others would assume it to be my style.
Thanks for posting.
Shawn
Shawn,
Good to hear from you and I'm glad you're still growing your hair out. It looks awesome!
Stop by when you can, but keep enjoying your summer!
Mouse
Thanks for the compliment and, moreso, the understading.
Shawn
Hey good to see you around here again Shawn, your hair growth is still amazing, and woaah those curls are awesome, that afro is soooo cool, Hendrix would have been proud. Take care see you soon, dave
Thanks, Dave. I wonder if I should wear it out to a summer festival or some such thing.
I appreciate your posting.
Shawn
Good to see you drop in! And actually, I like the 'fro!
Bill
Thanks, Bill. You also support my bandanas. You are good for the soul, my friend.
Thanks for the support.
Shawn