new thread
After lurking a bit, here's my official first post! Just to give you a bit o' background, I'm a junior in college studying Molecular & Microbiology, I love to play guitar, my favorite music is metal, and I've wanted long hair for around 6 years. Nice to meet you all!
I started from a buzzed sides/back and about 0.5" on top and haven't gotten it cut for 3 months. Now that my bangs are down to my eyebrows though, I don't know what to do with my hair. Just let it hang there? Part in the middle? I've never used any after-shower haircare products (like mousse) so I don't know how to style hair at all. Any advice on what to do with it would be appreciated!
Also, my goal length is a bit past my shoulders, just so I can put it all into a ponytail efficiently. Will my hair naturally attain this style with how it's cut now (a bit long in the back compared to the front) or do I need to get it cut differently before letting it grow more? Thank you!
Welcome Katatonic
Glad you found us and your very first posting shows a great start towards long hair growth as well as a superb hair type to work with. You are indeed lucky. :-)
As to the growing-out process, all is really quite easy. Refrain from any and all haircuts for at least two years or more. Do not allow sissors in any way to try to "even-up" what you may think should be shortened along the way. Hair has a way of catching up all by itself left untouched and the end result will be arrived at the quickest, let alone look the best of all. In short, just allow your hair to do its own thing all by itself and just grow!
Hair will eventually (when long enough) part itself in the center. For now you may want to comb it this way, and if a little gel may be needed to help hold it this way, so be it.
For much info, please visit the "Links" where you will see several great hair tips for the longhair. Please be sure and read the excellent 4 part write-up by Bill Choisser. This will answer at least 90% or higher any and all questions you may have about how to grow your hair long and what to expect.
Again welcome. Great to have you here.
Justin~
Thank you so much for the advice. It will take some major will power to not have any maintenance cuts for over a year, but then again I didn't start this thinking it would be easy haha. I'll definitely seek more information from the links provided by this site.
Justin has it right. Two years before a trim at least. I waited three. Be aware of the awkward stage. Hats and bandannas are good for that too.
Welcome to the board, great you decided to delurk.
After such a long period I'm glad you are doing what you want growing your hair long!
I started with about the same amount of hair as you did. First I spiked my hiar like I used to do. After 2 months I quit using gel because it's bad for your hair. I used a center part, although I didn't really like the look it was the most easy way. And when it get's in your eyes the only way to keep it comfortable.
If you don't like the center part look you can keep it like now and wear you pony to one side. If you want to use a product only use mouse.
What also helps is a hat or bandana, I use the last one when doing active things.
Don't get any cuts until your at your goal lenght, else the akward stage will only take longer. I'm at 11 months of growth now and didn't have any trim at all. When you arrived at your goal lenght (2-3 years) you can get a trim to even it up if you want.
Hope everything is clear, looking forward to your future updates.
Welcome to the board!
Your hair looks promising already at 3 months, and the #1 rule to get long hair is not cut it. Trim it if you really need to, but it is not recommended since it will prolong the awkward stage (your hair will be a big hassle in the next coming months for a while)
I too, want long hair, and I've grown out my hair for 9 months, with the last official trim done in April.
Shampoo and conditioner is good to use for your hair roughly about once a week, while washing your hair in water whenever you shower. Experiment whatever shampoo and conditioner is right for your hair (for me it's Pantene Pro-V)
When you can put your hair in a full ponytail, the worst will be done, and your hair will be much easier to manage.
Good luck to the both of us getting long hair, I play guitar myself, and love metal music as well \m/
Patrick_R