new thread
First to say that I repent for how stupid I was to cut my past shoulders- hair in August 2008: I used to wear a stunning curly, 26 cm-long ponytail, until I submitted to the criticism that I was not maintaining it (split ends, etc.) and that my father's friends thought I was gross... To avoid misunderstandings, I cut it because of the first reason; what my father and his acquaintances think of my hair couldn't touch me less.
I want to regrow it partially because I think the current emo-haired version of me doesn't suit me now (no offense to the emo-likers, it's just my taste), and partially because I will stop feeling bad about my weakness of attitude and its consequences(let alone the hair, being gullible brings all other sorts of dissatisfaction).
The point is (!), I want my old length quick, but I know the decision not to take trims will result in poor quality and surly comments. Your suggestions?
Finally, I plan to spend my next college year in the US (arriving in August this year), and I want to bring my mane with me. Still not knowing for sure if I'll pass the students' competition and go, though.
Nikola
Hi Nikola,
All I have to say is if you truly want to grow your hair, simply let it grow. Curly hair does tend to be drier and to have more split ends, but as long as you take good care of it - it should not be a problem. If you begin seeing a lot of splits, use the "search and destroy" technique instead of cutting a few centimeters off. I have successfully grown waist-length curly hair without any trims.
I recommend checking out the links page, where you can find tons of useful information.
Eleanor
Those that criticize you hair only do that to have you keep it short. Just let it grow! Listen to Eleanor, that's good advice.
Bruce
If it's any consolation, back in Y2K I impulsively cut my then waist-length hair short on the first day of summer, 2000. What took me 9 years to grow was all gone in about an hour, and totally devastated me, once the full impact hit me what I had done.
The interesting thing is that I then got to experience TWO totally different "awkward stage" experiences, --- the first one being when I first grew my hair out long in the early '90s; the 2nd time being right after that Y2K haircut...
During the first time (the early '90s one), I had many different trims along the way, including several decisions to re-style it, --- which explains why it took me 9 long years for my hair to get to waist-length!
During the 2nd time growing it out (after the Y2K cut), I just wanted to get my long hair back ASAP. So, although I went in to see a very expensive stylist about once a year at first just to trim off any split ends, I only allowed him to cut off no more than one half inch each time, --- something that cheap hair salons and/or stylists / barbers don't seem to know how to clean out their ears well enough in order to hear correctly! In addition, over the past 4 or more years I've recenly mostly used the "Search & Destroy" method now of hunting down individual split ends, trimming them carefully off myself...
Method #1 (my early '90s experience) was to me, fun at the time; but, it took quite awhile for my mane to get truly looooooong, because at first I was too trim-happy.
Method #2 (my 2nd experience of growing it out, after that devastating Y2K cut) got me my goal of having looooooong hair much faster (my hair is now at belt-length, a good 3 or 4 inches longer (or maybe even more than that) than iy was in late '99 and early Y2K, --- and yet I'm only into my 8th and a half years of growing)
The good news is that EITHER method will get you your goal of long hair, --- just one method will get you there quicker than the other... it really all will depend on how badly your hair might get splits, etc. But, rest assured, BOTH methods work, --- it's really just a matter of choice of what is most important to you along the way. Although it's true that my 2nd time around I wanted my long hair back FAST; it still wasn't worth it to me to have absolutely NO trims along the way, because i wanted my hair to look its best and be as healthy-looking as possible while growing it out, --- in otrher words, I didn't want to have to "wait for 9 years in order to return to happiness"; but, instead, find happiness even during the so-called awkward stages and medium lengths along the way.
Hope this long-winded answer helps (lol)!!
- Ken in San Francisco
We have many schools of thought on trimming and some joke around a bit on the subject. Most will agree don't trim because you think you have to to make it grow faster, I fell for that once and it's a myth. Trim if you have a compelling reason usually excessive split ends or other damage. Or if you want a continuous look throughout the growing process you could trim regularly.
I have a standing appointment to get my hair trimmed every 12 years.
Good luck and if I may ask, which part of the US are you going to school in?
Kevin
I really felt helped by your replies, thank you all. Well, I don't know exactly where I will go, the committee in charge for interviewing the students will decide. We will meet someday, don't worry :-)
"...I have a standing appointment to get my hair trimmed every 12 years..."
I bet your stylist is just giddy with the retirement income you supply !! HA!
ROFL! We'll have to remember that one!
Bill
Hi Nikola,
I just sent you an e-mail, so look for it.
It's good that you are going to college far from home. A man can more easily grow to become himself without pressure from family and old friends. He can make new friends who like him the way he has become.
Some U.S. colleges and locations are much more friendly to longhairs than are others. Ask for advice on MLHH about any colleges you are considering before committing to one. There are some religious colleges, for example, that do not allow longhairs at all, and this may not be readily apparent to someone from afar whose only information is what the school has put on line.
Bill