new thread
First of all, I think I might have found the winning combination for my hair, after reading the following article about the "curly girl method for long hair".
http://www.wikihow.com/Follow-the-Curly-Girl-Method-for-Curly-Hair
It basically entails a complete avoidance of harsh sulphate shampoos(which most are) and silicone-based conditioners. This essentially means very light or no shampooing and natural conditioner. Yesterday I applied a white vinegar rinse(in the absence of Apple Cidar, but it works all the same anyway) to remove any product residue and build-up from my hair. Then I rinsed it out and followed up with a "leave in" of natural silicone free conditioner(a cheap generic product). I found the conditioner at the supermarket yesterday and it was the only product that was cone free and only $2.50 for a whole litre!
I left it in my hair without having to worry about build-up or damage. My hair feels less dry and flaky now, and seems to have enhanced the natural shine. My hair is always dry and crying out for conditioning but in the past I made the mistake of lathering on copious amounts of silicone conditioner, and often, not rinsing, which was exacerbating the problem and drying(starving) my hair even more.
Thinking of abandoning my cone conditioning products and avoiding shampooing altogether, with the substitute of an occasional vinegar rinse, when necessary.
An observation - As my hair is getting longer and gravity continues to pull it down, it is tending to a natural centre part. My shorter bangs are also naturally separating to the sides of my head, whereas before they used to sit nicely on my fringe. They aren't much shorter than the rest of the length of my hair but I might need to decide now whether I want to keep them short or grow them out. Since I will be wanting to wear my hair out(rather than a ponytail) on most occasions when it's longer, coupled with the fact that I hate having hair in my face entices me to keep a fringe. Even now, I love to wear my hair out and dislike to slick it back with gel or hide it under a cap. I want to enjoy every moment of it and wear it out and proud.
Here is a lovely curly haired example of Marty Friedman who happens to sport a fringe/bangs. An excuse to upload a cool photo :)
Sounds like you have a solid plan on your new longhair journey and since my hair is dead straight who am I to argue.I will say that when I use product I rinse it out immediately otherwise when my hair dries its nearly like straw.Then I have to apply oils to soften it back up again and if I add too much my hair looks way to greasy.Its a delicate balance for me.
Wish I could wear my hair loose more often but when it gets as long as it is I'm afraid of having too many tangles to deal with at the end of the day.Of course if I'm indoors its not a problem as I'll leave it loose then:)
Mark
Oh wow. The guy you picked have super curls. His curls are a lot more intense than mine. I assume his curls are natural, since guys usually don't go in for a perm.
Matthew
Lol, Thanks. I aspire to have curls like him and I'm pretty sure it's attainable with my hair type. His curls are all natural and his guitar playing is wicked. You could say I'm a fan of Mr Friedman.
Here's another great pick to inspire you. He actually alternated between bangs and no bangs over the years, it seems. Obviously they were very fashionable in the 1980s glam metal era, but kinda out of place in early 90s alternative/metal music era. Just for the record, he currently sports a fringe, just like old times. Either way, his hair is truly superb.
I'm still not 100% sure whether I am going to keep short bangs or not. Long term hair goals might convey this to be a poor option because of the layering affect it will have on the hair(as being of varying lengths and not being able to tie a full ponytail, etc).
Thanks for posting this site. I have mostly followed this plan for a year or so now.
I use conditioner for "shampoo" most every day, and don't use any shampoo.
I agree about the care after the shower; I use only 3 drops of Jojoba oil, and after that, some gel. (small amount) It does a wonder for my hair (3 inches below shoulders) and my beard, 6 months on. The oil gives weight, and flexibility. You might add E Oil if you want too to the Jojoba oil.
I have wavy to curly hair, and this works great for me, in a very dry climate; freezing as well, and I am a skier in some very, very cold temps. (below zero)
Thanks for the article link, and let us know how it works for you.
-Daniel
Honestly its all a matter of taste when it comes to short bangs. I personally am not a fan of it in fact I advocate against having short bangs due to fact that they simply give off a weird look in contrast to the longer and volume of the other hairs since it does not blend in with the other lengths. I have wavy hair and my type of hair gets straighter as it gets longer, when my hair was shorter it would curl up if I were to cut my bangs it would look weird in contrast to my straighter waves. Another feature that is taken into account is the shape of your face some people fit bangs really well while others could REALLY go for normal/long bangs.
Pros: Short bangs in general have it way easier on your eyes, nose, and mouth since there are tendencies where you chew on your hair when eating.
Cons: Constant trimming to the style where you wanna keep your bangs, may cause problems in "formality" to the man whenever you are getting a job if ponytails are already a bad impression imagine having bangs which are considered by common people as effeminate
The choice is yours my friend.
It doesn't seem to be a very popular style. I have just taken a few inches off my bangs today and they are very short now. I thought long and hard about it. Last time I grew my hair they gave me hell in the awkward stage and I don't really like the "behind the ears" look. I could keep my bangs short and curly or longer and straightened out, which might look weird or just 80s metal(but i like, lol). I have an oval face but my forehead is normal height.
You mentioned the shortfalls in terms of employment and the effeminate appearance that it exudes. This is largely a moot point, simply because such a position would require me to conceal and/or restrain my hair. Instead of a full ponytail I would simply have to gel/hair spray(plaster) my bangs back(slicked back) and tie the rest of the hair into a ponytail. Either way, the style would be the same for employment - conservative and formal(well as formal as long hair can be anyway).
I guess I could always grow them back if I ever changed my mind but it would take a long time and would prolong the awkward stage.
Some people like them. I do not! Mainly cuz I have been growing to put my hair back. However the fronts just not there yet. So bangs to me would just be prolonging my goal.
But yeah...what ever floats your boat I guess.
Honestly pro's outweigh the cons but deciding to regrow you bangs is the downside since its practically the awkward stage ALL OVER AGAIN
I agree bangs are so totally 80's
Don't worry, I've carefully balanced the pros and cons of my decision, thought about every possibility, especially in terms of long term hair goals and the difficulty of regrowing bangs.
I assume you're a fan of 80s metal?
I should check out that band.
I totally dig this look, as carried by Yngwie Malmsteen.
It seems many artists which had glam-style long hair with bangs in the 80s, that still have long hair today, style it without bangs and opt for the 'traditional' long hair style. Just an observation. I'm not concerned with following fashion trends though. Long hair is timeless, regardless of fickle fashion trends. Who knows, we might even see a resurgence in flamboyant 80s fashion and dress in this new decade?
How about a pic of yourself so that we may all observe what has been in your own observance?
psst, Justin! he already has: http://www.mlhh.org/messages/268086.html
Thanks! Slipped me mind. (What there is left of it.) LOL
Hi jm1987,
One of the nice things about MLHH is that most of us here gladly support ANY degree of longer hair -- so, if that means that in order for you to best enjoy the longhair experience you find you have to keep some shorter bangs/fringe in front, if that's what works for you, then so be it! I once knew a landscaper guy from down in the LA area who had a braid that went down to his mid-back; but kept his hair in the very front at only eyebrow-length. At first it looked a little odd to me, but eventually I got over it!
Another possibility is the "layered" look. I don't normally recommend it; but, occasionally I've seen such excellent styling in this manner that I have to admit that it can look way cool sometimes. For people like me with mildly wavy hair (instead of curly/wavy), the only famous male example I can think of is when actor Jan-Michael Vincent was younger, when he was in some silly Disney movie that came out in the early '70s, playing a modern-version Tarzan. The name of the movie was Jungle something-or-other, as I recall. His hair looked hands-down PERFECTION in that film, kind of styled similarly to Farrah Fawcett (only he looked VERY much like a male, thank goodness - LOL)....
The only problem with either bangs, or layering one's hair, is that BOTH require constant trimming.
As for me personally, though... I'd miss my long bangs if I ever decided to layer or cut it short in front. But hey, that's just me. As long as you're enjoying yourself and your hair however you choose, then more power to you!!
Take care, and happy growing, -- regardless of whether bangs or no bangs!
- Ken (with bangs in eyes in San Francisco)
Thanks for the encouragement, Ken.
I did actually cut them yesterday because they were getting much too long and were annoying me. I do like the style and will keep them, and it makes the growing phase much easier for me. Last time I tried the "tuck behind the ears" and "makeshift ponytail" styles and I really didn't like them at all.
Here is a recent photo after the trim. I just got the scissors out and took about 2 inches off. Meaning I have made my decision
Layered hair sounds like a fair bit of 'work' to maintain them. However, I don't think bangs are much trouble, as they curl up I will only need to periodically trim them every few months when they get too long. The only trick is to make sure that they look good and even, without taking off too much length. They feel kinda 'flippy' at the moment, hope I didn't cut them too short, and the spirals have disappeared. So yeah, for curly hair, It isn't "constant trimming", straight hair is probably a different story though.
Right on, I did the CG method for a little while. (I don't care for how it is called the "curly girl" method myself, so I personally abbreviate it.) But now I do a water wash only now a days. It really comes down to what works for you, and the best way to find that out, in my opinion, is to find what works best by a little experimentation and refining the process.
As to whether or not to go for the shorter bangs, it really is up to whether or not you like the look. I couldn't care less what is popular or not personally, but I like growing out my bangs longer. Even when all my hair was shorter, my bangs tended to be a little curlier, so if I were to sport shortened bangs it would be ALOT more curlier than the rest. I'd have banana curls in the front with wavy/curly ended hair all elsewhere. however, there is absolutely no reason you shouldn't keep your bangs shorter if you like, most men haven't been with more ladies than those guys in the eighties hair metal bands....so the ladies must like the look.
Sometimes I wonder if we need any hair products at all. So many different products to use and so much money. My sister has a bathroom cupboard FULL of haircare and personal products. The irony is that her hair is not in the best condition despite the 'best products' she uses. This is because she commits all the hair sins ; coloring, straightening, blow drying...etc, it is madness! I have tried to advise her about good hair care but she laughs at me and says that I know nothing about hair. I guess women feel threatened and block out advise by a male telling them about this stuff. They are supposed to be the experts on haircare, right?
For me, it's about finding the right balance and using a minimal amount of product in my hair, no more nasty cones and harsh detergents!
When I think of 80s bands like Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, and Motley Crue ; they all reek massive sex appeal. The music/lyrics/fashion etc. Obviously, I'm not growing my hair for this reason but having a likeable and attractive appearance(especially to the opposite sex) is a big plus :)
I've had women suggest that I highlight my hair, straighten it, or blow dry it! I'd rather have the more natural look, than become dependent on altering my hair on a daily basis just to be presentable. I'm sure all that abuse adds up over time.