new thread
Most everyone had something encouraging to say to my incredibly long first post, and I thank everyone that took the time to read it and give their feedback. I know it was kinda all over the place, so I'll clarify some things that may have been confusing.
- I cut my hair out of curiousity, and learned many, many things from it. It didn't turn out the way I wanted at all, and it's a complete, uneven mess at this point, and I regret the entire thing - the pictures I have don't illustrate the unevenness well at all, and I don't have any pictures of it when it was REALLY bad. I tried to avoid having any pictures taken of me at that point, and still do avoid cameras like the plague.
-Now that I've been growing it out for three months already, I'm wondering if I made the right decision in not cutting it all off in the first place and starting from scratch, so I could grow it out more comfortably. I feel like I've backed myself into a corner since it would take 8-10 months to get to this point anyway, but it just looks SO bad, regardless of if it's in the "awkward stage" or not - the awkward stage doesn't have to look bad, nor does it have to be uneven. For example:
So. I've already pretty much made the commitment to stick with it, I just hate looking like an idiot everyday and trying soooo hard to "cover it up", ya know? I've been through the awkwardness many times, but never felt this self conscious about it. Come to think of it, this is the first time I've EVER felt self conscious about it...
Growing hair out should be a fun, natural process - not a constant mental battle within yourself, looking in the mirror all the time to see how bad it looks, and feeling self conscious within your own home.
Anyways, here are my goals.
Immediate goals:
- Try to chill out and let nature take it's course, regardless of how bad it looks, or find ways to cope with it.
-Eat healthier and exercise more to promote better hair growth and maybe then I won't dwell on it so much.
Short-term goals:
-Get it back to normal style by August. Normal style, being:
Based on my hair growth timeline in my previous post and how my hair looks now, is this a realistic goal or am I being delusional?
Long-term goal: Once it's back to "normal", let it grow to shoulder length.
Thanks again everyone, and if anyone has any more feedback/encouragement/ideas I'd love to hear.
~Tim~
Hey, Tim. Didn't get a chance to respond before, so I will now. Just let it grow, keep a healthy diet, and you'll be golden before you know it. You have great hair that is definitely meant to go long, so keep it growing, and see you around the site. =)
-James
Hi Tim and welcome to the board:)
I'm a bit late responding to your post as I read your first one earlier today but I had to leave for work and didn't have time to respond until now...finally.LOL.Anyway let me say I agree with what some of the others said and that is just to let it grow for a period of two to four years just to give your hair a chance.If you keep trimming it constantly you are going to get nowhere fast.Cutting it way short to "Start over" will only delay your goal of long hair that much more.If you could possibly post another pic of how you say your hair looks really bad would help but regardless just continuing really is the best path.
Since you are new here, as I've been a member for some time,you wouldn't know that I've had my hair long for over 20 yrs.I basically started growing my hair after graduating from high school and its been an interesting journey which is an understatement.Really the only time I ever experimented with my hair was in my late 20s when I had my straight hair permed!LOL.It was certainly different but that experiment had a negative affect on my hair as it just started knotting up big time over time.Fortunately I never had to cut it short as I eventually cleaned up that mess and kept my hair straight and natural ever since.My avatar is the best example of how my hair is today.Just for fun I'll attach a pic of me with my perm just so you can see the difference.
Anyway Tim certainly you spilled your guts about your hair journey but if you play your cards right you'll have fabulous hair as the older pics you put up show that the quality is there.Good luck my friend and keep us posted.Mark
Thanks for the warm welcome. What you and everyone is saying is really helping: cutting it, as bad as it is, really isn't going to get me anywhere. I'm definitely going to stick with it after all this encouragement.
Within the next few days, I'll post clearer pics of the way it tends to look and what I have to "cover up", so maybe you (and anyone else can see what I'm talking about).
Thanks again though! :D
Most of us growing out go through a stage of believing our hair looks really bad, and having the urge to cut it. The problem is, the more you cut it back the longer it is going to take to get to a point of looking decent again. Just let it grow with maybe a very slight trim in the process.
We all make fools or idiots of ourselves from time to time. It's just when there is no chance of escaping that it becomes a problem. Give it a little time.
Hi Tim,
I would like to extend my warmest welcome to you, and apolgize for not replying to your earlier post. It appears the other guys have given you great advice already, so I probably don't have a lot more to add right now. You have great hair, and be sure to keep it growing!
Take care,
David
This is my experience:
Over time you will shed so many hairs that your hair will even out on it's own.
I doubt if trimming it will make anything easier UNLESS it is
important for you to look "neat."
Good luck!
I'm wondering if I made the right decision in not cutting it
all off in the first place and starting from scratch."