new thread
A very cool site here. I was searching for some info when it popped up on a Google search.
A little background...
I had fairly long hair in high school back in the early and mid 80's but got it all cut off at Parris Island when I joined the Marines. I got very use to the style and kept it after getting out as well. I tried twice to grow it but got uncomfortable and frustrated and shaved it all off both times...it hadn't gotten very long, just annoying.
I decided that I want to try again and that no clippers shall touch my hair for all of 2010. At that point I'm hoping I'm use to it enough that I'll want to keep it growing. At this point I'm only about a month out from my last haircut which was zeroed out on the sides and very short on top.
I work in a hospital laboratory and growing my hair out is fine from my employers (I work for the VA) standpoint, but I also want it to look decent while I'm at work. I purchased several things to try out in an effort to keep it slicked back...Vitalis, gel, Murray's pomade, and a couple others. I like the way a little of the Murray's allows me to slick it back and have it stay in place. I'm worried though that some of these may damage my hair in the long run and impede my hair's growth.
Will the judicious use of tonics and pomades be OK, or am I dooming myself from the beginning?
Gels and pomades are about the only way to make it through the awkward stages without wearing a hat. I used both mousse and gel and occasionally hair spray myself. The more toxic things to stay away from are hair colours, straighteners, and blow driers. Pick up some conditioner you like to keep your hair from drying out with regular shampooing and you should be fine.
Just stay away from scissors and by this time next year you'll have a mane to be proud of.
AndrewB
Welcome to the MLHH Board Kevin and thanks for the introduction..
Many of us never would have continued the journey to longhairdom without the support of the members of this community.
My best suggestion is to read our posts often, post your own frustrations, problems and especially your successes. The "awkward stage" depends so much on hair type....some folks just breeze right through it.
Looking forward to following your progress....and a Huge THANKS for serving our Country.
WWT (Walter White Tail)
Hi Kevin,welcome to the mlhh and isn't Google wonderful!That's great to hear that you want to try longhair again and I hope you can be successful on this go around.I'm the opposite of you where I had my hair long all my adult life so its very natural to me having it that way.It would seem absolutely foreign to have a short cut now just like having it longer was for you in the past.What will be in your favor is that growing out is gradual process so you'll have time to adapt to the feel if your willing to give it a chance.Please do keep us posted and do go for it this time:)Cheers
Mark
I never used them, but then again I "started" growing (I'll catch you up on those quotes once you've been here a while) when I was 13 and didn't, and still don't, have any NEED to have my hair back at any certain time.
Anyway, however you decide to keep it back, good luck and dont cut.
I just bought a CD for 4 bucks :D,
Jarvis
Likewise I wore my hair long before I joined the army in '81 and regrew it when I got out in '85.
It does take a getting used to and if you can make it through the "awkward stage" then it's a lot easier. I firmly believe longhair is easier to maintain... and cheaper! The savings from avoiding the barber shop more than makes up for any extra conditioner you might use. $$$
I believe you have a sound plan using the pomade. I use gel even now to get that slicked back look when it's in a tail. I have been considering pomade, the gel seems to break off some hair.
Good luck,
Paul