new thread
Hey Guys,
I haven't been on this board in like 3-4 years and it hasn't changed a bit!
Most of the 'old timers' still appear to be around which is good.
For those that don't know me I used to post much too frequently under the avatar "80s_metal". I hope you have all been achieving your life(and hair growth) goals!
Well I cut my hair in the past and have been loving as a short haired man for a few years now. There is no denying the convenience and ease of having short hair, not to mention the social compliance that it conveys.
About a year ago I said to "hell with this, I want to grow my hair back long!" and so here I am and my hair is growing back fast and healthy. My hair is almost the length that it was previously. I peaked at around 9-10 inches pre-cut and it is approx 7 inches at the moment. I'm largely evading the "awkward stage" even though I'm theoretically in that stage. This is due to making the conscious decision to style my hair with a short fringe/bangs at the front. I really like this style and it means I don't have to worry about hair constantly being in my face(which drove me mad last time).
Virtually all my hair care knowledge and tips/advice has been thoroughly acquired from my time on this board. I bought a premium conditioner and apply a deep conditioning to my hair about once a week to stop it getting dry and keep the curls vibrant. I rarely need to shampoo, it seems unnecessary, almost counter productive to me.
For me , having long hair is so liberating and is a true reflection of my identity(albeit one that has been repressed, due to social norms and standards, the hair that is :p )
My current aim is to grow shoulder length hair or longer. I've just graduated from university and am in the process of applying for business/corporate jobs. I'm a little concerned that my hair might hold me back from getting that dream job. I recently had a job interview and since my hair is not long enough to tie into a ponytail I slicked it back with a copious amount of gel and hairspray and tried to make it look as neat and presentable as possible. My major lifeline is that I've been told once you land a job then you might be able to get away with growing it longer, albeit with compromises, especially with the style.
It will be nice to catch up with all the old timers and see how y'all are doing. I won't be posting as frequently as in the past but I'll provide growth updates every now and then and let you know how I'm doing. I just want to let it grow and not think about it too much or obsess over it, which is where I went wrong before. If I have modest expectations about my hair growth then I have nothing to loose!
Before I go I will provide some status photos:
Photo dated 26/2/09
OK, 10/1/10 Side shot - looking good
10/1/10 Side/back shot - making progress
So have I missed anything during my extended leave of absence? :)
80's! Good to see you, and your curly mane, back!
- Oren
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Oh I'm sure you missed a ton since your departure some time ago but it's cool you are regrowing your hair:)So what took you so long!LOL.I'm sure there are several here who will remember you like I do being you were a very active member back in the day.It was a sad day when you departed but hey,that's just part of life.So are you back for good or are you just stopping in to say Hi?Well as I can see you still can grow a mean head of hair.Anyway welcome back to longhairdom my friend!
Mark
Time to scale the archives then, lol.
I'm thinking that I probably won't be as active as before but I will drop in occasionally. Even just for the moral support of growing hair, it's well worth it. Well, I originally cut my hair because of social pressures and then I told myself it was a "phase" and thus went short haired. The urge to regrow my hair was suppressed for a few years. It was largely circumstantial, my reasons for cutting. Incidentally, I did even apply for the military after the cut. Call me an opportunist if you will. I'm just happy to have made a good decision to regrow my hair and I'm very pleased with the progress to date. Thanks for the comments, Mark. :)
You have missed my arrival. Since I was only here for two years, I have never seen you before. But I looked at your pictures and you have lots and lots of curls. I enjoy seeing pictures of guys with really curly hair, especially those that forms loops near the ends. It is tons of fun to seek out and look at individual curls, especially when they are all natural.
My hair has significant curls, although it is probably not as intense as yours, since my curls was not as noticeable when my hair is at your length. Your statement about short hair is probably true, but being a long hair makes us feel rather special.
Curls tends to intensify the awkward state of hair growth, as length of the hair gets incorporated into curls. As a result, the awkward stage lasts a lot longer. Cutting your bangs is a decent idea until you get pass the awkward stage, but there are alternatives too. You can use bobby pins to hold your bangs back so you can keep your hair out of your face without having to cut your bangs.
Having long hair is your choice, and no one should ever pressure you to cut it. For job interviews, weddings are other events that requires you to dress nicely, putting your hair back and in a bun should suffice (providing your hair has the necessary length). Use some gel in your hair to reduce fuzziness but not too much.
Matthew
Thanks for the compliments. It's good to see other curly heads on here. I see my curls as a blessing and the outcome will definitely be worth the trouble of growing it.
True. Curls also hide the real length of your hair, making it appear shorter than what it is, which plays a big part in the whole psychological aspect of growing hair and getting a result. Curly hair tends to go afro style, which I have fortunately, passed that phase. My biggest annoyance/problem last time I grew my hair out was the constant annoyance of hair in the face. I was always wearing hats, bandanas, tucking it behind my ears, tieing a small ponytails, etc. Basically, fighting with my hair, being frustrated, and not enjoying my mane and wearing it freely. The short bangs at the front style works beautifully and I can honestly say the growing phase is much easier this time around. I also know volumes about hair care and maintenance which dispels any uncertainties or worries about how I'm doing it and making sure I'm doing everything 'right'.
Only in a perfect world :p
Even my own parents have a degree of resentment in regards to me having long hair. Not so much the long hair per say, but what it symbolises and their, I'd say misconception of it; as being immature, lazy, a dreamer, ambitionless, unemployable...it gets worse! They equate applying for jobs as presentation and neatness, but they believe I must have clean neat SHORT HAIR for it to happen. I am just waiting to prove everyone wrong.
Hey jm1987,
It's great to see you back here again -- and your pics look OUTSTANDING!
Re. your question about whether or not you've missed anything during your "extended leave of absence", here's my answer:
As long as you've been living life to the fullest, then I'd say no, you really haven't missed much. Coming back to MLHH is kind of like coming back to a favorite hobby, regular TV show, or great radio station... It's always there for you whenever you need it and/or want it to be a part of your life again. Yes, in a way you've "missed" something, in that time has passed and many interesting things have come & gone; but, life is full of constant interruptions, anyway. You can always look back in the Archives section here, if you genuinely feel the need to check out any details of past posts. But, for the most part, to me it just sounds like you are ready to come back here because your timing perfectly matches your decision to grow your hair back.
WELCOME BACK!!!
- Ken
I vaguely remember you during my lurker days and welcome back.
I hope you don't regret cutting those bangs....I've known several people that ended up regretting cutting their bangs during their awkward stage.
I remember you! Welcome back!
Bruce