new thread
First, thanks for all the advice and support from my last thread. I definitely did not make this decision on a whim. It's really been more than two months. The idea of a big cut occurred to me a year ago when I first expressed dismay at my hair's condition.
Thanks to my wife for what I feel was a very precise cut followed to what I wanted exactly. I asked her to ascertain where the damage completely ended and the silkiness began. *gulp* 7.5 inches but you know, I'm happy with it. It is a thrill to run my fingers and a brush or comb through it without snaps and to feel no roughness at all.
I do miss the length, no question, but I haven't given up on trying to get that length again but this time with healthy hair. I'm going to be more conscientious about oiling it and doing maintenance trims. I might even try going back to more regular documentation of the process to see if I can achieve better results. I'm way under terminal length now so I look forward to the excitement of month by month lengthening and hopefully to see healthy new growth. So, the results:
Notice the difference with the halftail braid! The rest of my hair now looks good with it IMO compared to how it was before.
Who knows? Maybe by this time next year, I'll have close to those 7.5 inches back and they may just be healthy!
Jason your hair is even better than ever! Even better than 2007 I think because it looks even more shiny, and your hair color looks even more vibrant. Thanks for sharing your update! It is extremly benificial as to what action(s) I need to take when I start confronting when my hair will thin out. You are the best!
cheers,
rowie
Wow, I can see a big difference now. Your hair looks very healthy and full to the ends! Even though you had to cut off 7.5 inches, you are still at mid back length hair which is still pretty long! Mine is only like two inches longer than yours now, but we are close in length for once LOL! And I had a nice one inch trim off my dry ends this morning and my ends are fuller now as well! Incredible update and beautiful mane to show for it! :)
Looks perfect to me! Nice one!
Damon
---------------------------------
Looks great Jason - well done.
- Oren
Looks great Jason ! All now the same length and mighty healthy looking to the ends. Very nice.
Cheers,
Duncan
Your wife did an outstanding job with the trim, Jason... it looks great. In my opinion, a definite improvement. You seem to be keeping quite fit, as well. Nice work on all counts, my friend! Best regards to you and yours.
Cheers,
Val
Thanks Val. As for fitness, I've been continuing with the paleo lifestyle to the degree I can. I eat about 85% paleo. I've had to modify it somewhat as I do extended cycling and need more carbs than I would otherwise for that. I've found the book The Paleo Diet for Athletes to be helpful. Even on long rides though, I always mix in high intensity training.
Hi Jason,
I also use a physical conditioning regimen, with a minimum 10 hours per week of heavy weight lifting, I especially enjoy the feel of long hair over my shoulders and back on bare skin wearing cut off jeans. The feel of long hair draped over the back is the most surreal thing. I have to spend more time on the physical conditioning than with hair.
My wife also trims my hair. She tells me when it looks awkward and needs a shaping trim. Hair can make a nice intimate marriage. She wears waist length hair. The ends are maintained by light routine trims at the hair salon, taking about one half inch on the ends by going in every two to three months. Then a dry application of leave in conditioner is applied on the ends to keep them soft. The leave in conditioner is only available at the salon, not at the drug store, Different types of conditioners, even combinations, are applied depending on how dry and frizzy the ends are. This keeps the trimming cut length down to as minimum as possible.
Taking 7.5 inches off sounds a bit much at one time. I don’t think the hair salons maintain very long hair with heavy once a year cuts. Just very small trims every two to three months, then doused with conditioner sold by the salon to the hair recipient.
Don
Hi Don,
I do strength training as well but only with body weight and using comparatively light weights. I don't want bulk as that would negatively affect my cycling.
I agree that 7.5 inches was a lot. The last time I had a comparable length (6 inches) cut was 2008. I felt the need to get rid of all traces of the damage.
That's great that you and your wife have a good system of maintaining each other's hair. It does add a nice component to a marriage.
Best,
Jason
Congratulations! It looks great. I'm glad it turned out as well for you as mine did for me. It's been a year and I've surpassed the length I initially lost, so you could definitely regain what you lost in a relatively short time.
Your wife did an amazing job. The cut is very uniform and she didn't take off more than necessary.
Your hsir looks super, Jason. All the damage is gone. It is quite a hassle to do, but maybe going back to henna treatments will stop the damage and allow you to reach waist length without damage.
Mark has done this with great results.
Scott
Thanks Scott. I've never tried henna though I've always been tempted to.
---------------------
I thought you did do henna. I remember the plum color you did awhile back. I thought that was henna. It looked great.
Scott
I've dyed my hair plum a few times but it's always been with a temporary 28 wash commercial dye.
Hi Jason
Congratulations - that was a good decision and the result is superb, nay perfect. Your wife also had done a good job in cutting. It now looks perfect and is FAR tidier than before which is good for appearances - work etc, even in a tolerant society.l
Whilst it would be good in one way to be able to grow back to it former length, I do wonder if we all miss a point about the way hair grows.
Does every hair grow out in the same way and even when it does grow out , does it change its characteristic before the last few inches? I rather think that it changes and your experience proves that whilst terminal is one thing quality over the last stretch is another.
In turn that begs the question of whether ANY treatment is capable of changing that fact. By all means try oiling etc but I would not be at all surprised if it only makes minimal difference and this arises again. I doubt simply cutting will make a long term difference, I also doubt we can change the last stages of hair growth. It will be interesting to see how this goes but I suspect that like David, regular trimming of the ends to where you are today is the only way to maintain appearance and feel.
And good it is.
Best Duncan
Hi Jason,
Your wife did a remarkable job with the trim -- your hair definitely looks very smooth & well cared-for!!
Nothing can look worse on a long-haired person (whether male or female) than to see lots of dry frizz, split and damaged ends, etc.... In my opinion, your hair never looked anything other than in excellent condition at all times that I've ever seen your pics of it; but of course, when you touch your own hair you can tell the difference (as can I with my own mane when I neglect it for too long).
Job well done, Jason! And now, for a word from our sponsor...
"Onward & Downward!" (LOL)
Take Care,
Ken
Hi Jason,
What a fantastic job, and a big thumbs up to Amanda for doing it. It really does loook good, nice and thick to the ends, and how has me thinking VERY seriously about doing some sort of self trim on mine.
Good luck with the future growing too!
David
Hi Jason,
Well this is one way to celebrate Memorial Day I suppose!LOL.Thankfully no buzz cut for that occasion;)Seriously I can see the improvement and feel you made the correct decision based on how you'd like your hair to appear.That is what makes being a long hair so special as we can tailor our manes anyway we like which certainly ain't gonna happen with a buzz cut.I imagine you'll likely maintain that length,such as Mark S.,especially if your ends start getting like they were before your trim.Regardless your hair is still fabulous Jason, and I wish you many years of enjoyment from it my friend:)Cheers and Happy Memorial Day!
Mârk
Jason, you have a fantastic mane and you still have many years ahead of you should you decide to go longer again.
This length works really good for you, looks great!
Looks great! I wonder if you notice the "feel"--when I cut back from ragged ends to a nice line like that a few years ago I could feel the ends on my back, something that didn't register before the cut.
Yes, I can definitely feel the difference against my skin. There's a silkiness now rather than a roughness.
Great result, I did something similar as well last year going from fairytail ends to a straight across hemline. The difference is amazing :)
Hi Jason
That shot from the front is awesome, that is the perfect length in my opiinion and looks great on you. That's the length that I am going to stick at ( I am approx 3 inches off).
Cheers Dave
Looks wonderful Jason.....I would say exactly what you were going for...to be honest, it really does not look that much shorter....the fullness make up for it.
Well done and Kudos to your wife !!
Walter
Thanks very much everyone! I passed on your compliments to my wife for her hair cutting acumen.
There's been a bit of an adjustment period. I used to be able to braid my wet hair and have it stay without a tie but that no longer works. When braiding it while it's dry too I have to be more careful as it wants to pop out when I'm almost done.
It feels great though to have the sharp, fresh ends. I have no regrets.
Hi Jason,
Your hair looks great - superb! It almost looks like a brand new head of hair again :p ! So the journey starts anew again, huh ^_~ ? Enjoy the ride ^^ !!!
Sincerely,
Eric
Jason,
Your hair looks really healthy. The trim turned out really well.
Darrin