new thread
Some of you here may remember me.. I started posting here in 2007/08 several months into growing my hair out from a short military cut after getting out of the Marines. At one point after I stopped posting here I had the back trimmed to be more even with the front, then not long after that I had bangs cut into it, again after that I trimmed the back to be even with the front. This last trim was about the end of 08/beginning of 09...I honestly cant remember! I've been doing water-only washing for about 5 months now, and I have to say may hair has never felt and looked healthier! Giving up shampoo and conditioner is probably the best thing I did so far with my hair!
Heres a couple pics I just took to show my progress so far. I still really dont have a goal length in mind, but I have no intentions of cutting or trimming so we'll see where I end up!
Hi John,
Welcome back to the board and thanks for checking in again thanks for the the update picture. You have certainly made grea progess since the last trim and you certainly have impressive and healthy looking hair and in such great and shiny condition as well.
Do keep it growing and we lok forward to your next update.
Cheers,
John.B
Looking great man! Evidently the water only washing worked for you, I am curious how long did it take your hair to normalize and not produce so much oil, and also how often do you water wash your hair (and for what duration). Your hair seems like mine except a bit more wave at the ends so perhaps your routine would work for me.
I think it was around a month maybe 45 days that my hair started to get really, REALLY greasy and oily. It was nearly impossible to get it all out with just one washing so I washed it every day for about a week, along with a lot of brushing with my boar bristle brush (this is essential if your doing water only IMO). Not long after that stage my scalp started to get really itchy, but that only lasted for about 2-3 days. Now I wash with water every other day, try to do a good brushing a couple times a week, and if my ends get a little dry I oil them with a little bit of Jojoba oil after I wash while my hair is still wet. Thanks for the reply, and good lunk with your hair as well!
Great hair man, and you have fine genes to make this much progress after a standard military crew cut, buzz cut or whatever you may have had. Remember KEEP AWAY from barber shops, even if your just going for a wash they'll somehow try to mess up your beautiful hair.
John:
That is an impressive length for 2 1/2 years particularly since you have done some "maintenance trimming". Looks great !
Thanks for Sharing
WWT (Walter White Tail)
Hi John S,
That is an AMAZING amount of hair growth for just 2 1/2 years -- your mane must grow super-fast!!!
In any case, you look hands-down AWESOME with long hair. It suits you very well!
Re. having a "goal length" in mind, I like your approach and attitude about it all. Especially whenever someone is growing their hair out for the very first time, the longhair journey is definitely all about the discovery process. You definitely have the kind of quality hair, though, that could easily attain mega-long, if that's what you eventually choose to go for. My own discovery process has basically taught me that the longer my hair gets, the more I like it... Hence, even though I might be at (or near) what's called "terminal-length" (currently belt-length), if I can still eek out just a few more inches, I'll be happy as a clam in chowder (ummmm... let's make that instead: I'll be happy as a fisherman EATING clam chowder)!
- Ken in San Francisco
Impressive and beautiful progress! I'm interested in trying Water Only at some point, but I think I'll wait until I have a bit more length. I'm also interested in how the transition went for you.
--D
Not too sure I remember you from that time frame even though I was active on this board then.Regardless your hair looks fabulous and can only get better with more length should you decide to grow it longer.Just take it day by day and see how you like it over time.Thanks for posting your pics and returning to the forum here:)Cheers
Mark
Semper Fi! I've been out a while but have kept the same haircut. I'm just starting to grow it out. I see we have the same taste in facial hair as well...circle beard and long sideburns.
I look forward to my hair getting as long as yours...good job, Devil Dog.
Sounds like quite a few former Marines in here. Nice looking hair.
Good to hear that some other former marines are interested in growing their hair out! Usually our branch sticks with the high and tight long after they EAS. Good luck!
Awesome hair, have fun growing
~Jarvis~
Looking at your hair, it starts off going down straight, and then it stars becoming increasingly wavy. Chances are it may form curls at the very ends of the hair. I suggest you do not get any more trims, as they delay the growth of the hair and I am glad you thought the same thing. By the way, if I forgo shampoo and condition with my hair like you do, my hair can get really greasy (and the oil does not dissolve easily into plain water).
Matthew
-------------------------------------------------------
Welcome, John S. Your hair is gorgeous and seems to grow very fast. That is a lot of length for 2 1/2 years. Your hair care routine works very well for you.
I have tried water only and it has NEVER worked for me. I have too much oil which is very thick and it does not rinse away even in very warm water.
Scott
I'm pretty sure the reason for all the oil is a lifetime of shampoo. If you take it down gradually you can eventually get to water wash only.
I used to use, and have to use, shampoo everyday and for the past 2 months I've used it maybe 3 times.
-----------------------------------------------------
Nope, my hair started producing about 3 times as much oil starting 2 to 3 years ago. The most recent time I tried water only, 15% of my hair fell out. That was in 2008. I will never try this again. I don't want to end up looking like Gollum.
Our hair goes through major changes at certain ages. Age 36 and age 54 are two of those key years. Gee, I am nearly 57, I guess that is about right. I just went through a major hair change. (I will try to find that hair/age info. I saw it on the internet. I will see if I can retrieve it and paste a link.)
Scott
Hey John, great job with your hair, You are well along in your journey and doing great! great to see your progress and I hope things go well for you. Take care!
Hi John,
Thank you for sharing your outstanding and inspirational update with us. You have made excellent progress in a relatively short period of time, reflected even more so by the fact that you have had several trims along the way. With out thickness, and the fcat that your hair is in such good condition, growing it a lot longer should be easy!
Keep it growing,
David
YOUR HAIR LOOKS GREAT KEEP IT GROWING. TOM!
awesome post more pics if you can. maybe some of your progress over the last year and a half
Thanks for all the kind comments, guys! Sorrry I didnt get a chance to reply to you all individually. I've been pretty busy lately and am lucky if I get a half hour a week of time on the internet anymore. I'll try to post some progress pics more often and chime in when I can.