new thread
Okay, let's go through this again. Do you all think my hair will ever look sleek and neat? I just am not happy with the general choppiness of my hair. Please see photo and feel free to advise:) Also at what length do you think the choppiness will go away.
Ted
Yes I think it will. Once it gains some length to weigh it down
it will. but then even if it doesn't your hair will still look great.
Hi LHIA,
I appreciate your reply! I guess I just need to be patient. Really I guess my hair isn't that long yet. Maybe once it gets long enough to hang more it will look better. There just isn't enough hair hanging down to make it appear neater. Take care and great week to you my friend!
Ted
Exactly this! Give it another foot and it will look and feel totally different...except the ends which will continue to defy you and sproing this way and that. You should end up with some nice waves!
Hi trolleypup,
Very nice to get a reply from you! I am definitely going to try to get it to grow another foot! Hopefully my waves will be just subtle and barely noticeable. I would like them to be able to be combed out somewhat when my hair is wet.Please don't get me wrong. I do love my hair. I am just so anxious to get that other foot!
Just out of curiosity, did your hair lose wave as it got longer? I know some people lose wave and some get wavier with length. Hope you have a great week my friend! Thanks again for your kind words!
Ted
Correct me if I'm wrong, your hair looks to be more coarser than fine, so wet combing and more length is less likely to get it straight(er). My personal guess is long waves...the longer the better looking.
The grass is always greener...I'd love to have stick straight hair, but that isn't to be. Enjoy whatever you have!
Except when very short (a very long time ago), I had at most strong waves. However. My wash method makes a large difference. On Water Only, I have not very strong medium length waves, with shampoo and conditioner, I am almost straight with long very loose waves. Whatever shape my ends might have is masked by the accumulated damage of 6-8 years of wear and they are also loose waves
Hi Trolleypup,
You are correct. My hair is coarse rather than fine. I seem to be able to comb out some of the waves when my hair is wet. If I let it dry without any combing there seems to be more waviness. I am like you in that shampoo and conditioner makes my hair appear straighter. You can be assured I will enjoy what I end up with.
I really admire your hair and I appreciate your opinions of my hair. I am having fun with this journey as I never know what is going to happen next. Will keep you updated with what happens. Take care of yourself and your beautiful hair!
Ted
Hey Ted! I don't see any problem at all - your hair looks soooo great! But if you worry about that, I think, it will really change with length. Your hair is really thick (damn, wish my was at least a bit thicker than it is!), and the way it stays is going to change with length and weight of hair. Your hair simply doesn't grow too fast, so it seems as if this time would never come, but it surely will!
By the way, I'm also waiting for my hair to become longer :) I haven't had any trims yet, and my hair from the back is a bit longer than at sides and front. It can't be called a mullet already, and the difference is less noticable with length.
Good luck to you, Ted!
Serge.
Hi Serge,
Thanks so much for the helpful reply! I do believe you are correct things will change with more length. I guess it just has to get long enough to really hang down. Then the hairs will probably look like they should.
I am loving your hair! Please just keep it growing my friend! I can't wait to see your hair even longer! Hope you have a great week my friend!
Ted
Don't worry, Ted. Just take a look at some of the photos of guys in the archive, or of the ladies on LHC. I think in about 5 months or so you'll see a big difference.
Hi Septet,
I appreciate your reply! I do believe you are correct about waiting 5 months. You wouldn't believe how often I check the user's directory and archives for inspiration. I just can't wait to get to mid-back length!
Of course, I am also waiting anxiously awaiting your mid-back length update! I think your hair is going to look awesome at that length! Please keep it growing and flowing!
Ted
Hi Ted,
I guess one of the things you should do is browse the internet for long haired men pictures, and show us how you would like your hair to be or look.
Starting from there we can probably give you advise on what to do to make your hair look more like the picture you posted.
I know than right now your main worry may not be the hair lenght, but probably the texture.
So show us a picture of the kind of hair you would like to have and we might be able to help you my friend.
When I first started growing my hair it was pretty much a mess . I tried several things, several methos, treatments, styling products, until I found what was best for my hair and its been 5 months now - or 6 - that I am feeling a lot more comfortable with the way my hair looks.
Nice week!
Hi Dave,
I appreciate your reply! That is a great idea, though I know my wants must be realistic. In other words, I will never be able to get my hair to look really curly or kinky. I will have to look for a picture for comparison.
I am not really worried about it, but I just hope the weight of my hair makes it look neat. I do believe when my hair becomes all one length or close to it, it will be different.
As far as your hair goes, you look great! You just have to keep it growing and that's it! Thanks again for your helpful reply my friend!
Ted
Would not worry about it. Seems like it takes forever to get it where you want it. You've got good volume and it's gpmma look great the longer it gets.
Steve
Hi Steve,
Much appreciation for your nice reply! I am sure my hair will look fine with more length. I just think I am getting excited about reaching mid-back length. Sometimes I wish I didn't have so much volume. But I am happy with it. I will try to remain patient and let it grow. Take care!
Ted
Hello Ted,
Your hair is looking great and I think in another year or two it will begin to look really awesome. I believe your hair texture is very similar to the legendary Joao David's. You appear to have a lovely good thick head of hair happening and it looks from the photo's to be very healthy looking too in great condition.
Best,
Duncan
Hi Duncan,
Thanks a bunch for the nice reply! I do believe you are correct. I'm sure a year will make a huge difference in how my hair looks. And yes, my hair is very thick and sometimes I don't find it too lovely! Just kidding:) I do try to take care of it so I can get more length. Hopefully one day I can become Joao David's true hair twin. I sure hope he doesn't read this! Hehe. Those are big shoes(follicles?) to fill! Great week to you my friend!
Ted
Your hair has great waves and volume. As it grows you will see this more and more. You well know it takes time, however, you will (and do now) have a fantastic head of hair. It will happen.
Hi Jason,
Thanks so much for your kind remarks! I just hope my hair doesn't get too unmanageable with added length. Hopefully the volume doesn't kick into overdrive and frustrate me. Pretty sure the weight of my hair will make it look presentable in most situations. It's just hard to imagine at this point. Time will tell.
Hope your week is going great my friend!
Ted
Your hair looks shiny and amazing! I had to get out of the shadows just to say this. :) I think your hair looks smooth and shiny already.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by smooth. Do you mean "smooth and silky" like fine straight hair? If so then that requires lots of work. If you mean smooth as in not rough feeling, you can always try a heavy cone routine if you do CO.
I have wavy hair like you, and on top of that my hair is frizzy and coarse that feels like horse hair. If I want my hair to feel less rough, then I use cones. In fact, i'm in a heavy cone routine as of this moment, and i'm glad i'm the type that would take a long time before I would need to clarify (if at all). If your hair is similar to mine, then expect to do lots of work to it...(you'll have to find out a routine that will way down your hair such as using cones, and coney serums, etc... As you can see in my picture, my hair feels heavier now. It is getting harder for me to wear buns at a mid position without getting a headache. Also my hair gets really poofy on a really humid day. I don't think i've reached a point where my hair feels tamed and relaxed. I'm guessing i'll have to reach classic length in order for my hairs to feel tamed, relaxed and a little more straight? I'm like you with your question, "Will my hair ever be smooth or even looking?
best,
rowie
[URL=http://s82.photobucket.com/user/shyboyfriend/media/a9714ba9-e2ea-464e-9bae-c3a5171d9c97_zps0c0cc0c6.jpg.html][/URL]
Hi rowie,
Wow,your mane is to die for my friend!The last time you updated I'm not sure it looked this long but certainly was full with volume!You look like you ain't anywhere near close to terminal length you lucky guy;)I'm very impressed!Cheers:)
Mârk
Thanks Mr. Mârk! :-) It's so good to see you and can I have your straight fabulous red hair or I think your hair was originally blond. Anyways, I'd trade with you texture wise at least since lighter hair won't look good on my skin type.:-P
I know the grass is always greener on the otherside, but one can certainly wish for someday to have hairs that won't act up so bad on a humid day. I hope all has been well with you.
Best,
rowie
Hello rowie,
Thanks for your very nice reply! I appreciate you delurking to respond! First of all, your hair is looking absolutely amazing! That is some of the most luxuriously thick and rich black hair I have ever seen! You are definitely doing something right.
I am not sure if our hair is the same type. But I know we both have thick coarse wavy hair. Believe it or not, I can get away with washing my hair with sulfate shampoo every day. My hair seems to get oily the days after washing. My hair also loves conditioner. I do always make sure my products contain sulfates and cones to encourage smoothness and anti frizz. Also, I think the biggest help to me is always doing a final rinse under very cold water before I get out of the shower. This has definitely helped my hair to be less frizzy and rough.
I think if I just let it keep growing to an even length it will look great. Your hemline looks lovely and appears to be one length. If my hair can look somewhat like yours, I shall be happy. I hope you have a wonderful week my friend! Please keep your awesome hair growing and flowing!
Ted
Thanks Ted! :) Well i'm glad washing everyday helps you. I used to be that way a long time ago, but now I wash my hair only on Sundays (Once a week). My hair takes forever to dry since I don't use hair dryers or towels cause I simply let my hair drip air dry. I don't even let the towel touch my hairs since I found through experience that it was part contributing to making my own hair frizzy and dry, hence the "drip air dry", mind you my back is soaking wet half the day. If I do this, it helps cut back on the frizzies and dryness, but still humidity is my worst enemy.
I started going CO since my last update on here since my scalp gave me bad flaking from the sulfates. So, to compensate not having sulfates to help relax my hair, I had to resort to using coney conditioners. I use Wen, but now i'm looking at trying stronger ones than Pantene. I recently bought the Herbal Essences "Hello Hydration" conditioner. I haven't tried it yet since it is not Sunday yet, but hopefully I'll get good results with it from people who swear by it.
It looks like you are almost there as far as length, once you pass below shoulder length (close to APL) you'll probably be able to bun your hair, and when you do you'll be able to just oil your hair, bun it, and forget it, that's my method of benign neglect. :)
Have a wonderful week!
- "The light at the end of the tunnel is almost near."
best,
rowie
It's interesting that you do this. I have found that my hair is often markedly different in appearance if I have the patience to let it dry this way. Even blotting it with a towel has a negative effect.
The downside, of course, is how long it takes to dry and it's harder in the colder weather too. With warmer temperatures here, I hope to use this technique at least part of the time.
I find this method worth the effort. Depending on how straight I want my hair to dry, I'll either bind the entire length with silk ribbon, and on days that I want loose waves then I'll just do one big segmented ponytail. I'm glad you occasionally do this method. This method I find especially refreshing during the summer months. I forgot to mention that I don't leave my hair loose, and I bind it with different methods depending on how much more relaxed I want my hair to dry.
It's a great way to keep cool in the summer. I'll often end my shower with very cold water and then let my hair drip dry all over me. I hadn't thought of trying to bind it during the drying process. That's cool how you can create various waves patterns by doing so though I suspect it further lengthens the time it takes to dry.
Don't know about this "smooth, even, sleek and neat" thing, but you've got a mighty fine looking head of hair as it is now, Ted!
Onward and Downward!
- Oren
Hello Oren,
I really appreciate the kind words! I have to come to terms with the type of hair I have. We are never happy with what we have I guess. I am glad to not have any thinning or baldness.:Knock on wood: I am just going to keep pressing on and see what happens. I will probably look back and wonder what I was worried about:) I do visit your hair progress pics for inspiration often. Thanks for the inspiration! Your hair is pretty awesome as well! Hope your week is going great my friend!
Ted
Hi Ted,
Not sure what you mean about your hair as it looks very neat to me:)Also not sure what you mean about the choppiness either.Maybe you are just over analyzing your hair as that can happen if your looking at it too much day to day;)Looks fine to me my friend:)Cheers
Mârk
Hello Mark,
Thanks so much for the very kind words! I must admit my hair does seem to be getting less unruly with the little bit of length. It probably will get flatter and what I call neater looking at longer length. I just make the mistake of looking at pics of people with longer hair that looks nice and smooth. I am thinking it looks like this all the time. This may or may not be the case.
You are most likely correct that I am overanalyzing the situation. I just need to press on and keep it growing. One of these days my hair will hang nice and I will be satisfied. Heck, when I really think about it, my hair isn't even long yet. Thanks again for the nice reply my friend! Great week to you!
Ted