new thread
Hey guys,
I've recently just let my hair grow out, and haven't really went to get my haircut for a good 5 months or so, maybe even longer. I've had long hair before, but always got it cut just when it reached a little over my ears. So it's not THAT LONG, but long you could say.
My hair is like my moms. THICK. When dry, it gets REALLY REALLY big and I usually have no other choice than to use a couple products in my hair when it's wet. Mainly hairspray, and mousse. My only problem is sometimes I think that's the wrong way to go, and hate when it's wet, and gets that "hard, fake feeling."
I guess this is why I'm here. Is there anyway you can treat thick hair, mainly like someones that is wavy and not use hardcore products in it? At times I look at another guys long hair, and wonder how he gets it like that. Easily slicks back and holds in place.
My hair is starting to make me mad at times. It's at the stage where I slick it back, and it starts to part down the middle, and my bangs curl in and hit my eyeballs. Kind of itches at times, and it's hard to train it. I use to tuck the sides behind my ears, but it's now to the point where I wear it over my ears, and that's even harder for the bangs to cooperate.
I like my hair long, but trying to find answers on how to take care of it in a different way other than putting all kinds of mousse and hairspray in it.
Also, for my bangs, should I go to a barber and simply just trim my bangs? Would it look awkward for other parts of my hair if I don't want a full trim since I want to keep the length of the back/sides?
Thank you, and I hope you can help.
Hi N.B.S.,
Well, first off, WELCOME!
Secondly, there are probably a thousand and one different answers to your few questions; but my first recommendation is to just, "stay tuned" RIGHT HERE, --- by just visiting MLHH often, topics like the ones you just brought up come up here quite regularly. You can also get some more ideas by just clicking on the Links section and reading some really cool material there.
What you describe about how your hair is currently behaving is what we commonly refer to around here as, "the awkward stage", --- and it can indeed be VERY awkward (so, no woriies, you are NOT alone - lol)!!
There are a thousand and one ways also in how to best deal with this stage. Here's just a few ideas:
1) gel and/or hairspray (what you already mentioned you are doing);
2) wearing a bandana around your head (see Bill's "FAQ On Being A Longhair");
3) tieing your bangs back into a half-tail;
4) wearing a hat (and there are LOTS of different kinds to choose from);
5) just "hangin' in there" & enduring the tough times...
6) intentionally getting into looking like a, "wild man!"
7) crying alone in the dark a lot, --- until your hair is long enough to put all back into a ponytail, that is (lol)!!
Hope these ideas have helped; but, in the meantime, rest assured that we've all been through the same endurance test (or, are going through that same test right now as well... As your hair gets longer, the weight of it will start to go down, intead of up & out, --- and I'll bet you'll then be the envy of the planet, once it's loooooong!
- Ken in San Francisco
Hi N.B.S.,
Well, first off, WELCOME!
Secondly, there are probably a thousand and one different answers to your few questions; but my first recommendation is to just, "stay tuned" RIGHT HERE, --- by just visiting MLHH often, topics like the ones you just brought up come up here quite regularly. You can also get some more ideas by just clicking on the Links section and reading some really cool material there.
What you describe about how your hair is currently behaving is what we commonly refer to around here as, "the awkward stage", --- and it can indeed be VERY awkward (so, no woriies, you are NOT alone - lol)!!
There are a thousand and one ways also in how to best deal with this stage. Here's just a few ideas:
1) gel and/or hairspray (what you already mentioned you are doing);
2) wearing a bandana around your head (see Bill's "FAQ On Being A Longhair");
3) tieing your bangs back into a half-tail;
4) wearing a hat (and there are LOTS of different kinds to choose from);
5) just "hangin' in there" & enduring the tough times...
6) intentionally getting into looking like a, "wild man!"
7) crying alone in the dark a lot, --- until your hair is long enough to put all back into a ponytail, that is (lol)!!
Hope these ideas have helped; but, in the meantime, rest assured that we've all been through the same endurance test (or, are going through that same test right now as well... As your hair gets longer, the weight of it will start to go down, intead of up & out, --- and I'll bet you'll then be the envy of the planet, once it's loooooong!
- Ken in San Francisco
Hey Ken, I've tried the first six methods with fairly good results although I not real fond of gel or hairspray.
Guess I'm not the sniveling type so never took the time
to try out #7! ;)
peace, jonalbear
Hey, how are you doing?
Don't panic too much about your hair in this condition--we've all been there. For me, it was a few months ago and my hair made its own decisions and flopped in my eyes and my hair is thick as well.
As for ways to control your hair, I agree with Ken and the tips that are on that one website in the Links page that brought me to this forum. Beyond that, I will say that during this phase, you develop subtle neck movements that will help you out. You'll figure out how to hold your head and how to jerk your head to move individual pieces of hair. You'll also figure out how to solve temporary problems quickly like where the hair will stay best. Natural, non-product hair is going to be free and flowing but that helps in quick fixes as well and so it is six in one hand and half-dozen in the other when it comes to products (I still remember sometimes wrestling with gelled hair that fell out of line, it did not want to get back in line).
As for cutting bangs, if you do, you'll always have bangs. If you do not cut, your bangs will become part of the rest of the hair and will eventually become part of a ponytail or hairstyle. You cannot just keep them short now and then expect them to magically fit into a ponytail later. I'd suggest taking a notice at female friends--some always have bangs out of a tail as an intentional part of hairstyle and some just have everything one length. Sadly it is a decision.
Welcome to the site Matt hopefully we can help. I may add we have many Matt's so you may want to use an initial or number or something after it. Just a suggestion.
Although you've described your hair very well it's still hard to suggest things as we don't know much else about you. Aside from what Ken (Urban Cowboy) suggested I would also suggest seeing a stylist or two for ideas. If I were in your shoes I would call around and ask if they have anyone with experience dealing with longhair or people growing their hair long. A good stylist should be able to help you out dramatically making life much easier.
We can suggest things but a stylist can try them out on you and find something you like or can live with that works.
Good Luck
Kevin
Just stick it out man. 5-10months is really the meh part. Don't worry about what you look like too much. Something I found about the awkward stage is it really helped me to build confidence in myself, I don't care what others think of my hair now.
Personally, my hair started to get really bad around 6 months. Now I'm at 14, and it almost fits behind my ears, hangs low instead of sticking up, etc. It's worth it ! :P
welcome matt
take this from a guy whose private school made him keep his hair in the awkward stage 9 months each year there is nothing you can do but buckle down and grow through it all of kens suggestions are perfect best of luck to you these next few months of growing are the hardest and where most guys give up so if long hair is something you really want you gotta live with the issues this stage causes take care :{ ]