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Hi all,
Perhaps the curly folks aboard can advise me.
My hair is thickest and most curly at the back, It also seems to grow slower there too. The sides, top and front always have had looser curl and seem to have less density. I'm at the stage (3 plus inches and 5 plus months) where the back starts to look like a poodle while the rest is looser.
So getting to the point, I've been very happy with how the hair looks from the front whether it's left curly or brushed out. I didn't have a hand mirror so I got one at Walgreen's and rushed home to look all angles. I was shocked to see through to the scalp in a few spots. On the left upper side and 3 or 4 places on the top and upper back pink was showing through. I immediately thought it's MPB and felt pretty sad that my long locks were not gonna happen. I should add I had brushed it out that day. Well even after trying to 'brush and cover' the hair would rapidly curl back and expose the scalp between the curls.
Today after walking for a couple of hours and dampening my hair with perspiration my curls tightened and the pouf was gone. When I looked in the mirror my scalp was much less exposed and after scrunching a bit it looked pretty good.
I'm not positive, but I think I'm dealing with several cowlicks and a natural part on the left side. Maybe it is the start of MPB, but I'm hoping as the hair gets longer this will be less of an issue.
So are cowlicks, unexpected parting, pouf and localized poodlelike hair welcoming me to the awkward stage?
What I have decided to do is get rid of the damn mirror, let it grow, and stop brushing it out. After washing, patting it dry and combing with the wide tooth comb, I'll just let it dry by itself and GIVE UP trying to be anything but a naturally curly guy.
Can any of the folks with curly hair relate to this? I'm sure there will be more challenge and frustration before I tie the tail for the first time.
Thanks for listening.
Peace to all,
Don
Hi Don.
I have curly hair also and currently it's about five inches below armpit level in back. Curly hair take forever to grow long and it seems like, at times, to have stopped growing altogether. It is growing...but sometimes it likes to hide! Most of the time it's due to your curls wanting to draw up with themselves, whether due to dampness or humidity or sleeping on them weird... or sometimes the curls just being ornery and perverse!
The hairs on your neck will probably never grow as long as the hairs on the top and sides and back of your head. Being naturally shorter they will curl more and poof more. That's probably the poodle effect you are experiencing now. But they will get longer with time and the weight of the hair will straighten them out somewhat. They will never go completely straight...they will just hang better soon.
Brushing curly hair tends to make it bigger because the hair is now less compact and there's air between the hairs. I sometimes have to brush my hair to get the shape I want but then I'll mist it with a bit of water so the curls will occur again. And suddenly my hair seems five inches longer than it did five minutes before!
I think long, curly hair will look superb on you. You've got good volume and the silvering effect is most attractive.
I wouldn't worry about MPB. Your hair if nicely full, and for most men, if they've kept their hair throughout their 40s...any MPB that may happen should be minimal.
Your hair is beautiful now and it will be even more beautiful longer. I look forward to your updates.
Scott
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your reply and support. I think/hope it will be fine as it gets longer. I've never had the top this long, though I've had the back as much as 6 inches longer. (yes it WAS a mullet, my stylist called it a bi-level at the time) It's an adventure to discover that it can vary in texture and curl in different places on my head.
Don
Hi Don, no mate, i dont think it would be MPB. Dont worry it is all part of the dreaded awkward stages. I say stages, and not stage because believe me Don, my hair changes its look every bloody month.Im at 13 months from skinhead like yourself, and ive been where your at.When i was at about 6-8 months i too could see some scalp when i looked at my head in the mirror, but it just seems to have grown and my worrying was for nothing.
Now its a new problem, the sides and top are quite flat, but at the back, it looks like im about to take off, thats how thick and wavy it is. I may have to get it thinned out in the near future. So dont panic bud, its all part of the fun. All the best ,Jonny H uk
Hey Jonny,
Thanks for the reply. It sure helps to know others have the same experience. I'm glad I posted.
As for thinning the back, years ago my stylist encouraged me not to do so. He said it's a temporary fix as the hair will grow back and add bulk again. Thinning again will affect the overall length as there is no way to thin just the shorter growing hair. I let it grow and the weight of the longer hair did loosen the tight curl.
I'm sure I'll be updating with new awkward stage challenges.
Many thanks mate,
Don