new thread
Hey everyone! I'm new around here, and as the subject says, this is my first post. To start, I guess I'll give some background about myself and my hair, considering this is a site dedicated to long hair ;)
For as long as I can remember, I've had hair longer than most guys. I don't know why, but something always compelled me to grow it out, even at a young age. In fifth and sixth grade my hair was kept at chin length, and I was often accidentally referred to as "Kim" instead of "Tim", but I didn't care. It became a bit shorter during sports seasons, but otherwise I kept it relatively long - what one might call "mid length".
At the onset of Jr. High, I decided to try something different and cut it all off - you know, a typical "guy haircut", #2 on the sides and an inch or so on top. For the rest of my public schooling time, I would switch off between long hair and short hair - either going a year without cutting it and chopping it all off or just leaving it relatively long. Regardless, I was pretty inconsistent.
Upon entering college, I had the really short hair again. For some reason, I decided to simply never cut my hair again - I just didn't like the idea of short hair. Since nobody here knows me, I'll give a rundown of my hair growth journey, the bad luck I've encountered, the good times I've had, and the dilemma I am currently faced with.
This is my hair on September 15th, 2005. Pretty lame, and this is only a few hours after a fresh cut - don't ask what I was thinking.
For whatever reason, I cut it again in January 2006 - I don't have a picture though.
However, I do have a picture of it on April 1st, 2006, once again after a fresh cut.
It got quite a bit longer, and I was happy with that style so I decided to just let it grow after that. Sadly, I quickly came to a bump in my growth process. In June 2006 I decided I wanted to dye it black. There was a girl at my work who was in beauty school and volunteered to do it for me, which was a BIG mistake. My hair was fine at first, but about a week later it started falling out in clumps - I lost hair everyday, ranging anywhere from 100 - 1,200, for the next four months. I cut it in August 2006 to try to slow down the shedding...In retrospect I don't think it helped at all, but it was moreso to try retain my sanity - losing that much hair per day is terrifying. I saw a dermatologist and it turns out I had an allergic reaction to the dye and it was clearly left in way too long - she advised me to cut it ALL off, but I refused, seeing as how long it would take to grow back.
It was still falling out in December, so I decided to do something about it - I went to a very, very upscale salon and asked if they could fix it. I figured if they got the black out of my hair, it might stop falling out. So I got my hair foiled and cut and shaped, and it ended up being the best hair experience of my life - you really get what you pay for at the upscale places.
They evened it out and styled it perfectly, and for whatever reason, it stopped falling out. It may sound kinda lame, but knowing I got to keep my hair made that absolutely one of the best days of my life. About 1,000 people told me to cut it off, but I stood my ground and managed to make it to the length/style I wanted, even after losing so much hair.
After that, I decided to let it grow some more.
*It was trimmed an inch the next day
At this point, I decided to keep it at the December 2006 length for a while - it just got too heavy, and it took a long time to wash. I planned to grow it down to my shoulders eventually, but didn't have time to take care of it with school/work always interfering, and I was happy with the December length.
In August 2007, I decided to try to get it styled a bit differently - my girlfriend recommended a cheap salon, so I tried it out. It was about half the price of the place I normally go to, so it seemed like a good idea, it ended up looking like this.
Not too bad, right? But it didn't always look like that - the cut looked very strange not straightened, and with the front and back such similar lengths it just looked like the world's largest bowl cut. Normally I'd get my hair cut every four months, but by October I was already frustrated with the way the cut was looking. I went back to the cheap salon for a restyling - quite possibly the biggest mistake of my life, considering the extreme style I picked.
Now, I loved my long hair more than basically anything, but I wanted to do something slightly more adventurous than my usual trim. My hair was all around at 8 inches before the cut, so I decided to get it cut in half or so, so I could pull off some extreme styles. Here is what I decided upon, and took the picture to the stylist.
Interestingly enough, I was very excited that day - I couldn't wait to go to work and show everyone my new haircut, and was also happy that it would grow back differently than before.
The stylus said "are you sure you want it like this? You'll have to straighten it every day if you want to achieve this exact look" and I said "Yes, I know it's a bit of hair but I own a straightener and it will be fine".
So. The haircut took quite a while, but I kept telling myself things like "I haven't had a substantial cut in a while, they're probably just about to finish up, I'm sure it'll be okay, etc, etc, etc"
And I don't know what the heck the stylist was thinking, but here are the hideous, HIDEOUS results.
October 2nd, 2006
Yep. I'm smiling in that picture, but dying on the inside, and am still traumatized by this experience. It's been three and a half months since the cut, but I still think about it every minute of every day. As extreme as this sounds, I have absolutely no confidence now, my social life has gone downhill, my academic performance is mediocre at best, and my family, friends, girlfriend, and even casual acquaintances are SICK of hearing me bitch about my hair. Really though, I can't stop, feel like a completely different person.
So I had my initial freakout, threw my iPod against the wall, and did various other angry things. I temporarily got over it though - if you look at my pictures, it's evident that I am blessed with healthy, thick, fast growing hair.
Unfortunately, as is it started to grow out, one thing started to become more and more evident: I had two completely different haircuts on each side. The left side is shaping up pretty well - it's thick, has a good progression of layers, and shaped nicely.
The right side...well, the right side is a different story. It's thinned out a freakish amount, the layers make no sense, and there is a an inch missing from my bangs and a huge piece missing from the back.
After nearly losing my sanity and feeling self conscious everyday, I decided to see a professional stylist and see if there was anything she could do to salvage my hair, but make it not look so insanely stupid.
She examined it, and told me the same things I already knew - there are pieces missing from the back right and front right, and the right side overall was thinned out way too much. She offered to thin out the left side too, but why would I want two shitty sides of hair? After talking to her for about 15 minutes about my fear of haircuts and my desire for long hair back, I told her to even it out as best as she could without taking off any length. Needless to say, she did a fabulous job with what she had to work with, but that doesn't mean it still doesn't look like a pile of garbage on my head.
I asked if I were to continue growing it out if it would always be so uenven, but she said if I gave it time new hairs would come in on the thin side and it wouldn't be thin for the rest of my life. Also, if I let it get long enough to reshape it I could potentially cut off all the thin parts.
So here's how it looks now - not so great, but a huge improvement.
It's hard to tell from these pictures, but there is A LOT less hair on the right side than the left. Either way...it's not much of a "style".
So lately, three months later, here's what's going on in my life:
-I wear a hat every day, even inside my own home
-I spend way too much time looking in the mirror examining my hair and trying to estimate when it will be back to "normal"
-I dwell on the fact that maybe I should've shaved it all off and started over, seeing as how I feel like it will be uneven the rest of my life if I continue to grow it
-I lay in bed watching TV, eating unhealthy food, and avoiding my school assignments that I really should do
-A whole list of other unhealthy behaviors
I went from a person that worked out everyday, ate healthier than anyone I knew, had self esteem too high for my own good, had a 3.89 GPA, and was the most cheerful person imaginable...into a sluggish sloth that feels like a worthless human being...
So if anyone has actually taken the time to read all this...
-If I keep growing my hair out, is it going to be thin on the right side forever? It's really uncomfortable and looks ridiculous unless I use hairspray, straighten it, or wear a hat...I don't want to grow it out long to find that my hair is still thin on the right side a year later...
-Should I just have shaved it all off at the beginning and started over? I'm kinda regretting not doing that at this point, and don't know if I made the right decision...I've got a bit of length, but it's not necessarily comfortable or nice looking...
-Based on what my hair looks like and my growth timeline, how long until I can get it back to my standard style? My standard style being...
My short term goal is to get it to that length/shape and let it grow from there...
Anyways, if anyone has any encouragement, similar stories, tips, or advice, I would HUGELY appreciate it. I'm going a little insane here without my long hair, and really feel like I've backed myself into a corner here...
I look forward to what anyone has to say.
i dyed my hair black and the same thing happened to me =/
I left the dye on to long i think. and after about 4 or 5 months the shedding is finally stopping.
i think it will probably take you about 6 months to get your hair looking like your normal style again. hair generally grows at a speed of 1/2 an inch per month so it wont take to long.
That's my estimate too - it was seven inches in the front at the time of my style, and right now it's sitting at 4.5. I'm just wondering if I'm wasting my time and it will be still be thin/uneven on the right side, or if I will have enough hair to even it out and the right side will have grown in a bit.
Also, once I reach that style I plan to keep growing it from there, but the thin side makes me uncertain...
However, thanks for your input!
I think 6 months will show a lot of improvement. But if ya really want long hair. Quit fussin with it and just let it grow for another year before doing anything cept wash and condition. Then take a look at it.
I know exactly what you're feeling,man.I once straightened my hair,because I had never tried it before and wanted to see how my hair would look like after I did it.Just like you,I had terrible results,but mine was even worse than yours,as I was fat at that time,and have dark brown hair,so yea,I looked like an EMO fat japanese with a lil look of turkish,as I have really bushy eyebrows.I felt terrible after that,did terrible at school,had no friends and all this shi t.But then I told myself to stop bitching and wake up,and after that it was ok.I started growing my hair out,and after 1 year and two months I found out that my hair was shoulder length,thick and health,but after some more months I started to get some annoying tangles,and decided to cut almost all my hair off,due to the same reason and family problems.Now I'm growing it out again,and hoping it will look as cool as it looked before.Good luck with your growing,you will be fine,you hair looked awesome before,and it will look awesome after some months of growth.Don't give up!Also,I love soul calibur III,Zelda,FF and a whole lot of other videogames,as well as some online MMORPG,such as WoW(private server).I can tell from some of your pics that you really like Rock,just what kind of rock do you listen to most often?Do you know Children of Bodom,Arch Enemy or Cannibal Corpse?Sorry for making this post so long XD.
Peace :).
If you want long hair, you need to quit cutting it. Your hair won't be thin where it was cut - hair grows. Hair will keep growing on your head everywhere that you have a hair follicle. Shaving your head to start over will not make any difference in your hair thickness, or how quickly it will grow. Wait a year - or better, wait 2 years - and then cut your hair in the parts where the ends don't match up if you really want it to look even. Your hair can't have more than 3 inches in the length variation - my hair has a much bigger gap than that, and still looks great.
I have also had problems with hair thickness - my hair is only half (no exaggeration) as thick as it was when I started growing it thanks to an illness, but it has not had any effect on my willingness to keep growing my hair. The worst thing you can do is stall your growth by trimming it until you're satisfied with the condition. Just let it grow. When it is down to your waist you will have a lot of healthy hair, THEN you can afford to cut from the ends what does not fit your standard.
ZELDA TATTOO ZELDA TATTOO ZELDA TATTOO.
*geekgasm*
Okay, I'm done. Whew. xD
Anyway, I hate to say it, but the stylist had that cut done right. It's maybe a bit shorter than that, but with wax and a straightener it'd look the same.
But yeah, you should go back to your standard. It looks awesome. ^_______^ And it's funny how you look different in every consecutive picture after the first. xD
Crap, it's early. I knew I'd misread something.
Anyway, it shouldn't take too long, and the thinness can be taken care of if you grow it out and cut it to the shortest layer. However, that will take a lot of time.
Layers can be painful.
And about the base cut being right, I'm wrong. Upon further examination, it really is to short. D:
And I think it looks good now, fyi.
I'll agree with Gylfi just leave it alone for along time and that means no colour no straightening no anything. Just let it grow for 2 or 3 years or more and then maybe trim the ends only a tiny bit.
As you've had bad hair experiences you should be able to tolerate the unpleasantries and in a few years you'll be thrilled.
Just my thoughts and Welcome to the board and I hope you hang around and keep us informed as to how it's going.
Kevin
I bet you will feel better about yourself if you get back to your old HEALTH routine. I'm turn 52 this week, and have been in a wheelchair 30 of those years. I've was way wanted long hair and made up my mind Now Is The Time. I have a few problems like you because I've have family and friends wacking on my hair since 1978, I have thinner longer wavy/curly on the left side and wavy on the right side all shoulder length. I'm at the AWKARD stage. Because of my motorcycle accident in '78, I'm disabled from about the neck down and can't use my hand to even gip a comb. But I'm on a hair journey and it sound like you are too, these are the bumps in the road. Try to ge back on the HEALTH track, you and your hair will appreciate it.
ps. I'll post pic as soon as I can get someone to take a decent pic of me :-)
Tuckergeek... there are lot of Longhairs here in Palestine TX.
ifth and sixth grade my hair was kept at chin length, and I was often accidentally referred to as "Kim" instead of "Tim", but I didn't care. It became a bit shorter during sports seasons, but otherwise I kept it relatively long - what one might call "mid length".
these things always require you to identify the problem and come up with a solution. You say you are terrified of haircuts, but yet you continually let scissors get to your hair...maybe you are nmore terrified of the results...i never 'liked' haircuts...but i always got them. the solution to this is to not get haircuts, and if you do accept the results based on the risk you take...i havent had a haircut in 8 years and i havent been happier or healthier...and this is mostly because i am on the outside as i am wired on the inside....Maybe if you identify what you really want..your solution will be more happiness.
Welcome Tim to the hyperboard! I think most of the replies have all hinted at the same idea, but I'll chime in to. #1 Relax! Society has brainwashed most of us into thinking that hair is something to be fiddled with instead of just enjoying it. Yes I know that currently you're in a pickle, but that's because scissors got too close to your hair. I think if you just leave it alone, it'll grow past this unevenness, then you can trim it then. Honestly, your unevenness doesn't look half as bad as my awkward stage.
#2 Live your life to the fullest! What I mean by that is stop thinking about your hair, it'll grow without supervision. You need to take care of you body and soul. (Also see #1) You'll be surprised how fast time will fly and your hair will be happier too!
Bruce
Hiya. The best thing you can do for your hair just now is to stop cutting it, stop dying it and get back into your old healthy regime and give it a chance to recover. You'll feel better about yourself. There's nothing that's guaranteed to make you feel worse about yourself than slobbing about, eating junk food and watching daytime TV! Get out into the fresh air and start enjoying life again. A healthy diet will help your hair too. It's not hte end of the world though. A couple of months will make a dramatic difference to the look and feel of your hair. By summer, a lot of the thinned out hair will be long enough that it will add volume. Maybe go back to the stylist who sorted out your previous cut later in the year for another tidy-up and to find a style you like, or can at least live with. for a while. Going by your pics, your hair looks long enough to braid. That's one way of hiding a bad haircut while giving the rest of it a chance to grow back in and you can pretty much guarantee you'd be one of the few guys in your school or college with that kind of style which would get you some more attention.
You've had two bad expriences with friends and cheap salons. If you're going to get your hair cut or treated in future I suggest finding a good salon - ideally recommended by a long-haired friend (or better yet, two or three). Salons are often cheap because they're either skimping the quality of their products of they're not very good. That doesn't mean that an expensive salon is guaranteed to be any better. That's why I'm saying go with word of mouth.
Sorry if I sound a bit blunt and harsh, but I'm not usually one to mince my words. I hope my advice helps. I've been on the receiving end of a bad cut before - I went from 18 inches of hair to practically shaved because someone decided I'd look better with an undercut and didn't bother to ask me first. If you ever hear clippers near the nape of your neck, jump forward before you turn to look.
