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I couldn't wait to reach a year when i started, but now i just don't have the enthusiasm anymore.
Either i'm getting my hair cut slightly shorter on wednesday next week, or i'm in it for the longhaul, i'm not making a decision yet.
And even if I do cut it, I only mean like an inch or two off, not the whole lot.
Sorry for the downbeat update, but so many conflicting thoughts lately, and I don't know why.
We've just chosen our options for importangt GCSE's and we're about to plunge into two weeks of constant tests, so not a good time for me.
Anyway, back to the hair.
After a year from buzzed extremely short, with no trims or anything at all, it is 5 1/2 inches, and reaches just past my mouth when pulled.
The left hand side is messed up at the back, and the right hand side messed up over my ears, both curl madly and look horrible.
If the flicks would just settle down, i reckon everything would be really hunkydory.
Thanks guys.
Sorry if i dont reply to everyone, revising constantly now.
Hey,Beanz,good to hear from you again.Just don't give up on your hair because of the tangles,as they appear when you hair gets longer.Best wishes.
Rafael
Hey Beanz, great picture! I understand your frustration over the "flips" and such on your hair, but I seriously don't think it looks bad or messy at all. Everyone with hair like yours experiences a similar stage before all the hair eventually settles down and lays relatively straight. I wouldn't worry about it. Keep at it!
Peace,
Ryan
Hey Beanz - hang in there and use the two week rule. You're down right now, but you may think differently after the next two weeks of tests have passed.
To help with the awkwardness, try using a little aloe vera gel - I really helped me through my awkward phase, It might help your issues, too.
Jim
Your hair is looking great, dude! Just use gel, bandannas and hats to get through the awkward stage. Think of how absolutely awesome your hair will look a year from and then two years!! Time flies by but our hair always grows.
You shouldn't get a haircut in my opinion. Those flips will go away when your hair gets longer. In less than a year you'll be able to have a ponytail and then it's so much easier to have your hair do what you want. Stick with it a little longer and all your hair will fall the way you want it.
AHA!!! So you DID decide to go with my suggestion of the side swoop part! It looks great man, definatly helps hide the awkward stage. If anything maybe trim the back slightly so that the rest catches up and there will be less flips. Either way it looks great. Keep it up!
-Phil
I know it prolongs it, and all that, but i wont get anything drastic, maybe an inch.
(side swoop works wonders)
Hear looks great mate but I certainly would not be looking at a trim for quite a while.
Cheers,
John.B
Nor would I. A trim only sets you back. A "quick fix" that isn't. And then the flips are back.
well if anything you should just wait it out and then trim, at least then you'll be past the awkward stage
dont worry beanz just keep growing it and itll look better and better as you get closer to 2 years of growth! looking good keep it up!
First of all, your hair looks good. You have come a long ways and a year is a true accomplishment.
About your trim ideas... You may truly regret getting a trim, 1-2 inches is a lot of hair growth, 4 months atleast. But I suppose if a cut is what you really want, go for it.
I wish you well,
Hegg
I went to a trusted barber and ended up having about 2" taken off myself at the back which trimmed and tidied everything up.
I felt a lot better about my hair afterwards since it did look a lot better. Since it wasn't 2 inches everywhere, I don't believe I actually lost much growing time.
AndrewB
So this isnt the first time we have heard about you being onthe edge about cutting your hair. Do you remember the last time what happened?......you said you wouldnt do it again. Now you want to do it again. Stop. Think. Do it. Dont Do It. Just stick with your desicion.
Dont mean to be harsh, but its time to do some serious thinking about if you really want long hair or not because cutting it is not gonna help if you want it long.
peace
clayton
I think that was phoenixece
Hi Beanz,
You have excellent quality hair, just right for growing. After having come this far, you are approaching the end of the awkward phase, and things will get much easier. A 1 to 2 inch cut will only extend the length of the awkward phase and make things that much more frustrating. Why not just hang in there for a while longer.
Keep it growing,
David
Well, I think your hair look quite nice, but I can understand the frustration. I'm at over 21 months now, and believe me things get MUCH better between the one and two year mark.
I would suggest waiting until the school stress subsides a bit before making a final decision about the trim. You'll be in a better frame of mind.
Mouse
Hey!
I was so looking forward to your one year update since last summer and I have to admit that it exceeds all my expectations. Your hair looks superb, it looks healthy and the side part suits you very well. When I read/answered your questions about layers I expected your hair to look much more awkward then it does, the back doesn't look bad at all, instead I like the wavyness (no joke; a mate of mine wears his hair in a kind of awkward-stage-look and he has a similar wave. I think it suits him really well and the wave gives something very special to his look, he trims it this way a few times a year...I'm too curious about what it would look like when grown to your length or even longer, though). Your back and sides don't look horrible at all. In my opinion it looks really great for one year of growth, you can be proud to have reached this milestone. In a few months you should be able to tail it, at least party. As it gets longer it gets much more manageable, too, so I recommend to stick with it a few months more.
At least you should make use of the 2 week rule (if not longer) if you consider to cut. At least only cut off as less as possible. A trim can throw you very far back and you will never exactly have this natural grown out look again, so decide wisely.
But it's your hair, so decide by yourself. I never had such long hair when I was in your age...
I think you will feel totally different about this when all your exams are over and your intentions about cutting will just let your blood run cold when thinking back in the future...in certain situations it is better to occasionally keep the hair out of your mind and just to wait until things get better again. I know this is more easily said than done.
But I don't know the best attitude on this problem, too, maybe a long time long hair knows advice (I just did my 30th month update).
Best wishes,
Herb2992
It's great to see your progress! I would encourage you to take it easy. If you do go in for a small trim next week, then promise yourself that you won't have another trim for at least six months. I have passed my two year mark (and I should post an update picture soon). I guess my secret to longevity is that I pretty much don't care. What I mean is that when I look in the mirror, I don't see myself as I would like to be at some point in the future, I just see myself as who I am at the moment. I am okay with that. I have thinning hair, but I don't care. My ends get tangled, but I don't care. I just know that one day, I am going to realize that my hair finally reaches my ass, which will be cool, but, of course, I won't care... ;)
David L
Looks great Beanz! A big difference from your avatar:D
I hope you don't get it cut, but of course that's your choice.
I don't think it looks bad at all and I hope you don't get that trim it will only make the akward stage longer.
You've come very far and keep on going and the akward stage will be over.
Your hair looks fine and I agree with most here don't trim yet if at all. Those flips will only come back as it contiinues to grow
thus the only way to be rid of them is to wait them out. It's not easy going through the awkward stage it's more will power than anything.
Trims prolong the agony which often leads people to just give up
in despair. You've read their posts I'm sure. One of the things that make being a longhair so cool is what we endure to get there.
It's a character thing in a way.
I hope you don't trim at least not for a long while and wish you better hair days ahead.
Kevin
Your hair look like mine when they were that long, and I agree that it realy doesnt feel right to have straight hair with Wings...But i SWEAR Patience will pay off. Here my story.
When I Was 13 I decided that I was SICK of short hair, So I decided to Grew it long. But Each time I reach that very lent I would cut it off about 1/1.5 inch and each time I found myself Regreting a whole lot. A year Ago, I discovered this board and That what inspired me to try to go past that stage, and guess what it got better and better after each month! Now I laught at these old days were I would alway get pissed about my hair.
I guess...youll just have to be patient...but gravity will do his jobs and pull these damned flips down and when youll reach your desired lengh, youl sure be proud!
And By the way...You look way better now then the first few pics you posted :P
Hope I helped!
You seem to be getting hit hard with the awkward stage. I'd vote strongly against a trim, as this would do nothing but set you back a few months of your journey to longhair. In your picture your hair looks good and healthy.
Consider wearing hats or using hairspray to help tame your hair. In a few more months (if you dont trim) you should be able to tie a ponytail with help from hairspray like I do right now. I remember how happy I was when I was able to do this for the first time.
Whatever you do, best of luck. Hopefully you tough it out though.
So close to passing that awkward phase too.. How you feel about your hair is what's important in the big picture.. You want to cut it, do it. If it ends up you wish you hadn't.. well you can always start over, it will grow back! lol Good luck bro
Tom
Damn, I hated the flips! But the only way they went away permenantly was to grow past my collar, to longer lengths. If you trim, the flips will just reappear when you get back to this same length. (like a bad penny!) It looks good, btw and will look fantastic even longer. Good luck in what ever you decide.
Bruce
Absolutely, you gotta get more length to add weight to it. Either that or get a flat iron and straighten it, or get a chemical straightening. The awkward phase sux, but you muscle through it. I had serious thoughts about going bald again last week!!!!
I see a huge change from your first avatar when you first came here, and the long hair definitely suits you. I'm less than a month ahead of you in growth, so I know how you feel about the awkward stage [its got its benefits but it does kinda suck]. If you think about it, we're already more than halfway towards the end of the awkward stage so I hope you fight it and keep growing, I know I will.
Hey Beanz,
Whatever it takes to endure the awkward stages and make it to the next hairy day still intact, I say, "Go for it!"
Many folks here believe in no trims at all along the longhair journey. That's fine; but, that's not how I made it, myself, --- especially during my first time growing it out. Back then I had SEVERAL trims and touch-ups, and even experimented with a few re-shapings and re-stylings. Once I got my mane past the shoulders (ponytail stage), I discovered I liked it enough to just let it grow and grow and grow and.... Well, today my mane speaks for itself!
Don't worry about being in a down mood. That just means you're human, --- we all have our moments. Don't let a down mood, though, take over your life so much that it begins to rule every decision you make. And if it persists an abnormally long time, and/or starts to feel like it's getting serious, don't hesitate to get some professional help for the depression. And, last but not least, don't forget to get outdoors as often as possible to get plenty of fresh air in your lungs, sunshine on your skin, and excersize, --- there ain't nothin' better for the body & soul than that!
- Ken in San Francisco
We've all had the flips and just let it grow!
Just seems alot of justification about a trim...eh trimmers!
Cheers,
John.