new thread
Hey guys! I have been checking out this site for a while because I have been attempting to grow out my hair for about 6 months or so. I started from a buzz cut, and have gotten this far. I just am beginning to think I have terrible hair. My bangs seem to go whereever they want and I have extremely thick hair. Should I just cut it, or what are some suggestions for maintaining and controlling my hair?
I'd grow it out for another 6 months before getting a trim. At your length it's too soon to get an idea yet of where you're at. Let's see what others think.
also, in this pic, i have had a hat on all day! lol my hair isn't quite as bad as it looks!!
hey there!
Glad to hear you're growing your hair out! About having "bad" hair? Don't worry so much, its probably gonna look like whatever it wants to until you begin to exit the awkward stage anyway. Mine looked like crap for the first while, but once I had the first year under my belt it started to look a lot better.
I have pretty thick hair myself with a slight wave to it, so my awkward stage was pretty painful, but once it started to get longer it really started to come together nicely.
Now that I have gone through that stage twice in the past seven years, I hope never to have to repeat it! But if I did have to, the feeling you get when you realise you're truly becoming long-haired is quite amazing!
Good luck in your growing!
-Kif
Becoming a "Longhair' is great patience training. Hair grows at it's own pace. Average is half inch per month. And as you have read on this site. there is an "awkward' stage to get through. Trimming it just lengthens the time and not your hair. Your hair is in good shape, not as bad as you may think. we are always our worst critics. It may take some time. but you will see the cajnges and be more comfortable. There is a wealth of info and support in this group. welcome and happy growing.
Hi Sean, and welcome to the board.
Your hair type is almost exactly the same as mine, if not identical. To lay any worries to rest, scroll down to my two year update (posted on 12/28/10). That's what your hair will (most likely) look like in less than 2 years. I have neither trimmed my hair nor bothered controlling it while it was growing out. I put it in a ponytail for work and that's it.
Resist the urge to do anything with your hair at this point. Set your mind to the future and ignore any rude comments (you will get them!) Other people will just see your unkempt hair as it is now, but you'll see it as just a stage on the way to awesome long hair. Avoid mirrors.
To control your hair, you can try:
- slicking it back with gel or something similar
- wearing hats/beanies
- wearing bandanas
- using hair clips/barrettes (though you may get unwanted criticism for wearing "feminine" products)
Good luck,
-Dan H.
Thanks for all the supportive comments guys. I know I am my worst critic, so I will attempt to stay strong and just let it grow!
@Dan H - do you happen to have any pictures of your hair throughout the growing process? I would be extremely interested in seeing that!
The picture in your ten month link isn't working for me. I believe that would be close to the length I am striving for!
Ah, that was the post that I forgot to post my picture in the first message. Scroll down to the responses; there are two pictures that I posted in separate messages.
-Dan
Awesome! Thats exactly the length I am going for in the back. I would like my bangs to be a little longer than that though. Do you flat iron your hair?
No need; my hair is naturally straight. You'll find that if you have any slight waviness it will straighten out with added length. As you can see, the "flip" in the back of my 10 month picture has straightened out in my 2 year picture. This is due to the added weight of the hair.
Even so, flat irons are extremely damaging to hair. I would strongly advise against using one if you were considering it.
-Dan H.
I was just wondering because you said your hair type was like mine and my hair definately isn't straight! lol
Just from looking at your picture, your hair looks exactly like mine did when it was short. That's why I assumed it was straight. I still believe you have straight hair, you are just going though the "awkward stage" and during that time your hair with be anything but straight. It will curl out at the sides, poof everywhere, etc. Trust me, though, it will straighten out.
Well it is extremely thick, and its not curly. I also have a bit of a receding hairline, and if you look at my picture you can probably notice it. My bangs are straight when they are short, but they seem to be flipping more and more the longer my hair gets. My hair is also beginning to flip in the back, especially when I wear a hat.
My hairline is also receding a bit at the temples, but it has not progressed since my early 20s. My dad has the same thing so I assume it's genetic. The hair does a good job of covering that up, so, no worries.
The whole "flip" thing is unavoidable short of flat-ironing your hair every day (and I already went into that). It's just a stage you have to go through. All the guys here with great hair went through it, and if you're dedicated, you will too, and it will look great!
I wish you the best of luck,
-Dan
Wow! That is a little weird! My hairline hasn't receded any since I noticed it at 16, and I am now 22. Also, my father has always had a hairline like mine, and he is 56 years old.
I think your hair looks nice. Thick is good when it gets longer. It ALWAYS goes all over the place when it's short, until the weight pulls it down. Just play with it & have fun. Find things to do with it that you're comfortable with & make it so it doesn't annoy you, so you can not cut it for one to five years.
I hated when mine was bobbed all one length at my jaw. I thought I looked like a effing wierdo! It would turn up & out at the ends like a boufant. haha! arrrrrrgh! ;D I liked it better another time when it was all natural different lengths & past my sholders in the back. I was in a choir & someone said I looked like an angel! heh. ;p When the front was between my eyebrows & chin, waiting for it to be long enough to put behind my ears was the worst time. A cap is a handsome answer, though not always comfortable. Oh well.......huh? ;)
Well I typically wear a hat pretty much every day! lol I guess I have to fight my insecurities if I want to reach my goal. Also, I forgot to mention is that my goal is achieve a look similar to this picture of Emile Hirsch. I saw a picture of him and knew that was exactly what i wanted for myself! My hair grows at a normal pace, so based on where I am right now, how long do you guys think it will take me to get to this point? Also, should I get trims or layer my hair?
Sean,
You have awesome hair!
It will take time for it to grow out to the length you want; I'd guess about toe (2) years. Don't cut it. Don't get it trimmed. Just let it grow! After two (2) years it should be at the length Emile has his hair, however, I think that once you reach your goal you will want to just let it keep growing.
Don't worry about how it looks. It will be well worth the patience and the wait. Enjoy playing with your hair. Keep posting pics of your hair each month so that we can see your progress and give you encouragement to keep going.
I agree with Raymond. Just don't cut it for a long long time.
Enjoy! ;p
- John.
Saw your pic of Emile Hirsch and wanted to share the first pic of him that I came across. Thought you might like to see another view. I liked his hair because it's a length I think I could live with. I have rarely posted anything here - I'm primarily just lurking, watching, and reading.
I have seen that one as well! I have viewed NUMEROUS pictures of his hair because I like it so much!
Welcome aboard Sean!
At this point, just good old fashioned time and patience is what you get through these awkward stages. They will pass.
Happy growing and Onward and Downward into 2011!
- Oren
Hi Sean,
You've already gotten some excellent advise from all of the others that have already posted prior to me; so I doubt that there's much I can add at this point -- other than maybe to say the following: the process of growing one's hair out is VERY MUCH worth it in the end, even though at the moment the many temporary annoyances and the current ordeal of having your patience and perseverance constantly tested and re-tested seems to be the reality for many on-going months right now ... Just hang in there!! Also, if this happens to be the very first time that you've ever attempted to grow your hair out, rest assured that the first timers always have it the hardest.
As the old saying goes, while you are busy growing your hair on the outside of your head, you are also growing on the INSIDE of you as well. In proportion as you gradually reach your hair length goal and start to feel like a genuine longhair, I think you'll enjoy both the inside and the outside person that you will have become!
"Onward & Downward!"
- Ken in San Francisco