Hi Everybody,
I found this sight about a month ago, and did alot of researching in the archives, links, etc. about growing long hair. My last haircut was May 16th of this year (I know, I'm probably the only one who knows the exact date of his last haircut! lol), so I'm coming into 6 months. Right now, my bangs reach the top of my lips, the sides around my jaw, and the back almost to the top of my spine (the bone that you can feel at the base of your neck if that helps).
I wash every third day, and I think it's coming along ok, but my wife suggests that I make an appointment with a stylist to "shape" my hair the right way to grow it long. At first she was reluctant with the idea of me growing long hair, but when she saw that I was willing to take care of it, she claimed she was ok with it. She also used to work in the beauty industry, and also takes pride in her hair as well.
I guess what I'm wondering is, is she right about styling my hair a certain way to promote long hair on me? I could understand maybe the neck hairs, but she's making me think she means alot more than that.
It's not that I don't trust my wife's knowledge in this area (I have not choice but to trust her opinions, as I don't have any experience in growing out long hair myself), but can someone give me a better idea of what she might be advising me to do?
Thanks ,
Chris
Ignore this so called advice.The ponly way to grow long hair is avoid scissors entirely. The time to consider some form of maintenance trim is after about two years when you may have the odd problem with layers growing out (depending on your previous style) which need some evening up.
Until then..... There is no such thing as the cut she describes.
In the meantime, read the FAQs and good luck
OK, thanks guys. I'm away from home at the moment, so I couldn't send a pic (which would have helped I'm sure). I agree with everything that was said thus far, and yeah, I'm kinda against the idea of a trim at this stage of the game. I did read the various FAQ's, tip pages, etc. from not just here but other sights on the web by the way, and also agree with the idea of "not chopping a tree down to help it grow". I don't think my wife was insenuating that my hair would grow faster with a trim, but more to "establish" if you will early in the growing phase, what I want it to look like (probably doesn't make sense to any of you guys who've been there...done that. lol) Basically, I want my hair to fall all one length, but right now, alot of it is "uneven", due to my last cut.
Well, I appreciate the feedback you all gave thus far. Thanks again for the support!
Chris
Hi Chris, and welcome to the mlhh.
Most people on this site, including myself, would not recommend any sort of trimming or shaping at this point. Doing so will only make it take longer to achieve your desired length and will extend the awkward period you're currently experiencing. Only time will help keep hair in place due to gravity. Posting a picture of yourself would help us make a more accurate assessment, though I'm sure your hair acting quite normal at this point.
It's not surprising that your wife would recommend styling hair at such an early stage. Many stylists insist upon regular trims and shape-ups; after all, how would they make money if everyone decided to just grow their hair out naturally? Almost every woman I've talked to still believes that hair will grow faster if you trim it often, but it's simply not true. There is no better way to grow long hair than to just leave it alone!
Good luck with your long hair journey,
-Dan
Very well said Dan!
All trims do is extend the time it takes to grow your hair.
Let's face it, it's not going to look great most of the way through the awkward stage regardless of what you do to it, so it's best to just get that over and done with as quickly as possible.
A woman asked me last night how long I'd been growing my hair for and was shocked that I had reached waist length in under five years. She used to have mid-back length hair and it took her over five years to reach that length. My advice would be not to cut it at all until you reach your goal length, whatever that may be. (And if your wife uses the split ends argument, the best way to deal with them is to sit down with a pair of scissors for half an hour once a month and cut the individual hairs above the split.)
Good luck with your journey.
Hello and welcome. :) It would be nice to see a pic of your hair so we can see and suggest you better. But from what you said, I think it's WAY too early to have a shaping trim or any kind of trim. All women think trims help, but they really don't.
-Andrea
1st off, a grand and most hearty welcome to you. Glad you found us. :-)
As for the "shape" suggestion, just what is the "right way?" If left to grow on its own (as nature intended) hair when long ALWAYS assumes the best natural shape of all.
I would LOVE your wife (or a stylist) to tell us exactly what is the "right" shape. This secret(?) info would be of tremendous value for all of us to know.
Again, welcome.
All the best-
Justin~
Welcome to the board,
At this point I'm just here to reiterate what everyone else said. There is no certain combination on lengths or hair that makes it grow faster (and if there happens to be, I wanna know). Trimming hair doesn't make it grow faster and it doesn't make sense that it would. You don't chop down a tree because you want a bigger tree. So dont get the cut.
Also, my last cut was feb. 15 2007 ;) some people remember
~Jarvis~
Welcome Chris! It's way too early to trim. My wife still prefers short hair but has groan used to it long (groan/grown...lol!) In the beginning, at about the point that you are at, she was saying that I needed to trim regularly or it was going to look bad. I did not trim (it's not even shaggy at that point!) My hair did not turn out bad! I think if I messed with it continuously, I would have been unhappy.
I think all women have been "trained" to think you have to get a trim every 6 weeks in order to have "perfect" hair.
So, leave it be!
Bruce