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A question as a first time grower....
Do you have your neck hair shaved at all whilst growing or do you jut let it grow first?
Also, how often should one go for trims once the hair is long? My hair is far from long and I plan to grow it for a year...Could I do that uninterrupted without trims?
Hi Mr. Hair,
I don't see any reason to shave the neck hairs because these are usually covered up by the longer hairs. Of course, I guess if you want them shaved you could do that. The only thing I do is trim my sideburns off even with my ear. I do this because it works better with my eyeglasses.
I would not trim your hair until you reach your goal length. It depends on what length you want to keep your hair. You could grow for a year and see how long it gets. If you like that length, then you would trim it only when it gets past that length.
Yes, you could grow your hair uninterrupted for a year without trims. If you trim you may be growing for far longer to reach any kind of long hair goal. Read trim=prolong growth. Of course, if you are mainly concerned with looking "perfect" along the way maybe regular trims are for you. However, if you are going for maximum length gain, then trims are out of the question. Different methods for different people. I hope this helps and wish you much success in growing your hair! Have fun and please keep us updated! Have a great weekend my friend!
Ted
Thanks guys. I'm going for under my shoulders length--long enough to pull into a decent ponytail (think John Travolta in Pulp Fiction)
Like this?
A little longer, actually. Like a bit past the shoulders.
Trimming neck hair is a personal preference thing. If you plan to ponytail your hair you may want to have your neck line cleaned up a bit. In my case I have some shorter hairs that grow out at odd angles and just looks unkempt when my hair is up, so I trim them.
As for getting trims along the way, again it's personal preference but any trims will prolong the wait. I've had maybe a 1/4 inch taken off every 6 months just to even things up. Hair doesn't always grow at the same rate all over one's head, so it can end up looking rather uneven after a while. A slight trim can correct that imbalance. However, if you do go for a trim be sure that your stylist understands you only want the absolute least amount taken off. Unfortunately, many stylists get carried away with the scissors and take off far too much, which is why most of us shy away from trims.
--Dale
There's a point where the more you trim, the more you lose the 'perfect natural' look that makes the awkward stage the least awkward... at least that's my perspective. Better to grow it out without trimming; your ends will have a tapered look (instead of having that nasty blunt look). Also your neck will get covered quite quickly if you don't have any trims along the way. Besides, you'll hit the shoulders (in the back) very quickly if you don't trim at all.
Neck shaving is up to you, but beware that doing so may invite the possibility that whoever is giving you a neck shave gets overenthusiastic about cutting (read: undo all the growth!).
I don't trim the neck hairs, my hair is always much longer than the neck.
I have my hair in a tail for business and down otherwise. It is preferable to shave your neck regularly as it looks far better. I do so every 3/4 weeks.
Im still debating this because I usually put up my hair in a ponytail or bun and all the unkempt side hairs look weird. I think I'm planning to wait until I'm 3 years into growing it till I decide.
Let it grow out first so you can see which ones will grow and which ones won't.
If and when you decide to shave the neck, the easiest way to not mess it up is to learn to do it yourself. Stylists will always mess it up because they are taught how to make hair shorter, not how to keep it looking good and long.
You've not doubt seen guys who have cut heir neck hair so short, so often, an messed it up that it almost looks like they have an undercut going on back there. Technique is everything.
Tail your hair low, then pull your tail up out of the way. (I use a hat to hold it on top of my head.)
Using a hand mirror, look in back and pull up any hair that isn't quite long enough to go into your tail, but probably will be given time. Use water or gel or something to hold it up away from the area to be shaved.
Then when you shave, work on one side at a time. Start at the bottom and pull the shaver up. This prevents longer hairs from above from accidentally being cut. This is key.
It takes some patience and practice to basically shave upside down and backwards while doing it in a mirror. Just take your time, stopping to cool down if you get frustrated. But this way you'll keep your established "long hair" hairline in the back, withing getting a creeping undercut.
I tail my hair at work and have to wear collared shirts. The neck hair drives me nuts if I don't shave it. After I figured out this technique, I've been able to keep the same hairline for years.
Hope this helps!
... (IMHO) - never, never shave neck hairs & never trim hair: (only if absolutely warranted & necessary) - just keep it healthy & it will reward you '10' fold ... cheers CEM. :))