new thread
Alright, my query will no doubt sound silly to you enlightened people, but I will ask anyway with hope that someone will take pity on my short-haired existence.
I am of a fairly youthful age: I am a teenager, live with my parents, and with my father being the conservative type that he is, I've never had long hair or anything incredibly fashionable. Anyway, one thing that I've noticed from getting short cuts all my life is that my hair grows back at an alarming rate: I can have all my hair trimmed extremely short and it'll all be back within 3 and a half weeks. I'm not sure if that means my hair is genetically prone to grow quickly, because it's never really been given the opportunity to grow beyond the length which prompts others to nag me about getting my "shaggy" hair cut.
Anyway, there have been times when I've refused getting my hair cut at the shaggy stage for about a month's time, but I've never taken it beyond that, as I find it difficult to manage with hair that is shaggy, yet not long enough that I can tie up or comb away from my face. The main thing that bothers me about this stage of my hair's growth is the length of my bangs: I typically get Caesar-type haircuts, and once my hair reaches the shaggy stage, my look resembles that of Ringo Starr of the Beatles. My hair will get long enough that it chafes me because I'm not used to it's length, but the main reason why I get it cut at this stage is because it is too short for me to comb out of my face.
I am totally ignorant to the ways of styling hair: Like I said, my father's conservative influence has effected my growth, so I have never really fussed with combing hair for any length of time longer than what I need to have a decent appearance. I've never parted my hair, I don't spike it with gel: I'm actually quite a loser when it comes to haircare, I suppose.
Since my hair grows back so quickly, I've been considering the thought of just letting it grow long, as I could finally manage a look all my own. But as I've said, it's never gone beyond the shaggy/Ringo Starr phase, and so I'm really dumbfolded when it comes to what I should do: Should I trim the bangs since they take awhile to grow long enough for me to comb out of my face, or am I to let it all grow without any modifications at all? I am concerned that it's growth will leave me looking like a "mullet"-head.
Since my last cut was styled as a Caesar cut (The style which most yuppies get so they can look "cute" by gelling the front of their hair to stick up), is my hair currently growing too disproportionately for me to look decent while my hair grows long? I mean, would I be better off starting from scratch by shaving my head and letting it grow long from there?
I know my question and the information following it is probably the stupidest thing you've ever heard, but like I said, I've never had anyone to teach me about this stuff. Your help would be much appreciated.
Let it grow. No question.
Your length now can't possibly have become injured yet. It's too short. Where do you live? I assume the United States...if so...where in it do you live?
I live in Maine, whatever difference that is supposed to make. Thanks for the reply, but I'm still unclear about some of the concerns I mentioned in my original message.
Also, what did you mean by "injured" (Your length now can't possibly have become injured yet)? Were you referring to the comment I made about whether it'd be better for me to shave my head and let my hair grow long 'from scratch', so to speak?
Would I have to alter my hair with the way it's styled presently? I mean, my hair's been cut very short all around, but the always leave some extra hair where the bangs are, just so one can do that silly gel-spiking thing (which I don't). I'm just worried that letting it grow straight will leave me with some undesirable hearstyle (like a mullet) until it can grow to the extent which I want so I can have my hair go all behind my head, down my back.
When growing long hair you have 2 options regarding your transition. Short hair is one thing and long another, between we have... "THE AWCKWARD STAGE". Your choices are either to hang in there and make your hair longer, faster, with few or no trims, however looking, for a not too long period, with weird hair. Or trim frequently, minimize your weird looking when you just cut, however, you'll be in a very long cycle of trims and weird looking that can double up your time into becomming a longhair. My advice, just trim split ends and don't even up until you reach desired length.
Santiego, thanks for the advice. I would also like to thank all others who posted replies, but I cite Satniego in specific because I found his advice to be the most direct in response to the details I'd given (not to pick favourites or anthing... Sorry).
I was also worried about the "mullet" effect if I just let everything grow at once. I started out with maybe 1.5 inches on top and the back and sides cut very short. What I did at least was to keep the back trimmed (and the sides at the beginning too) until the very top reached down around the top of my ears, then I just let everything be. I've been growing it about 1 year now, and it looks more or less like a crappy version of the Tom Cruise MI2 hairstyle. I also still have to put tons of gunk (which I seriously hate) in it too to not have it really puff out all over. But I'm gonna try and tough it out for the next few months until I will hopefully be able to tie it back if I so choose.
Yeh, the akward stage is horrible.
But, honestly, the best thing is just let it all grow out, people will get used to it, if anyone gives you any crap, just ask them if they are a supermodel. If they aren't, sod off.
Bill put together an excellent informational document that you may find helpful. I strongly reccommend that you read it. It will answer many of your questions. I have linked it below for you.
Mike, if you would like some in-person assistance I have a very longhair-friendly men's grooming center in Portsmouth NH. Email me. I'd like to be of assistance.
Some friendly advice: You need to chill a bit and just let your bangs grow! Don't worry if the bangs should hang in your face! And if you aren't worried, no one else should worry. That's it, pure and simple. Hope all goes well with you.