new thread
Alright, so I know I haven't really been around here as often as I'd like to... you can blame some tough times in my personal life for that, but the good news, is that despite having met and still meeting daily opposition to me growing my hair out, tomorrow will mark my 7 month anniversary, and I am proud to say that I am more determined than ever to get back to my former glory, and surpass it! :)
I will also mention than in the picture above, my hair is slightly straight-ironed. Now I know that is a huge no no, and that sort of behaviour is heavily frowned upon around these parts, but I need to make two important points:
1. I use a heat protective serum before straightening it, to try to protect it as much as possible against the heat.
2. If I do not straighten it, and I usually only straighten the bottom back, and leave pretty much everything else as natural as possible, my hair curls upwards and sideways and I get a look I really dislike at this length. So... this will have to do for now.
Here's a comparison pic, 0 vs 7 months, as well as another pic of my current hair. Lets hope I don't screw this upm using tinypic and the board's link service.
Hi Raul,
Congrats on such a great update, your hair is coming along very well indeed, and I look forward to seeing where you will be with another 7 months of growth!
Of course I am sorry to hear that you have been faced with difficult times recently, and you can be assured that my thoughts are with you for better and brighter days ahead.
Take care, and keep it growing,
David
Hi David!
I appreciate the kinda words and the warm wishes! You should know that I hold this great group of people in high regard and I really appreciate all the support during the groth proccess.. be it hair, or as a human being :)
In another 7 months it will be over a year, something I really can't remember the last time I did... probably even more curls and shagginess to overcome, but boy, I can't wait! :D
Hi Raul
Your hair is looking fantastic at seven months and have to admit liking
the slightly straightened look even though its potentially damaging.As long
as your taking precautions against "frying it" I'm sure you'll be fine.
Have to add your tiny pics kinda crack me up. Honestly it looks like mug shot
pics just the way they are presented!lol. Maybe we'll learn someday you are another info leaker;) Sorry but couldn't resist as you have to cut me some slack
being I suffered a work injury yesterday:/Cheers my friend.
Mârk
Hi Mark!
Thanks for the compliments!
Yeah, I guess those little mugshots are indeed funny, but I find them to be really nicely revealing of the entire proccess, as they show everything from every angle, and there is nothing to be hidden ;) Usually a law abiding citizen, so no real mugshots in the near future for me :D
Nice, a big difference for sure. I am just 1 month ahead of you so I love seeing your updates, if anything just for a close comparison to my own progress.
I have been tempted to do the straightening myself as my hair is really thick and right now when it's clean it just poofs out all over the place!
I had a job interview last week and I finally broke down and had my wife straighten it for me. I have to say I was much more pleased with the results than I expected (yes we did use the protecting stuff too). Even so I am going to resist for now!
Looking forward to next month!
-Tommy
Hi Tommy!
Yeah, I've seen your great pictures, and even though your hair is much straighter than mine, they seem to be both of the thicker kind, which enables us to share experiences together, seeing as we have almost the same time of growth as well :) Lovely hair you've got!
I am not yet 100% sure about what I will do when my hair gets really long, I guess I will have to see how much of the curl at the bottom remains at a greater length, but if worst comes to worst, I will definitely be straight ironing the bottom a few times a week, and god help me, I will make my hair look great and healthy as well while doing it!
Used to love the Joico K-PaK reconstructor back in the day, and it really does miracles (as it should, seeing as it costs a small fortune!) with dried and damaged hair.
Either way, keep on the good work, dude!
Aye, there's always going to be folks that can't get over other people expressing themselves *le sigh*
It's looking great, keep on keepin' on!
-That "Ball" Guy
P.S. Righteous body mods
Heya TBG!
Thanks, and yeah, as a dude into body modification for the last 12 years or so, I have gotten so many comments on both my ink, my lobes and anything else, that some comments about my hair sure ain't going to make me budge.
What is less fun is working as a modell on the side, and hearing your agency wanting you to cut your hair... not going to do it. They will either cast me as the long haired dude, or I will have to stick to teaching. The kids love my hair, tattoos, lobes and the entire thing, so I am happy being myslef there :)
Great lobes btw, and believe it or not, I love your hair! Very Chris Cornell-ish!
Hi Raul,
You have to love the kids for their unjaded view. And you have to love teachers!
Ted
Hi Raul,
Thanks for the wonderful update! I am dismayed to hear you have had some tough times. But I know you will overcome the adversity! Your hair is looking fantastic for only 7 months! I probably wouldn't even straight iron your hair if I were you. I like your hair the way it is. It looks great straight ironed also. Does your hair really curl a lot when it gets to ponytail length? I can't really remember how it looked in that pic you posted a while back. Would it straighten out some with added length?
Thanks again for the awesome update! Hope you are having a nice week my friend! Please keep it growing despite the opposition! It's what we wnt, not what they want! I have never understood why some people feel the need to run other's lives. Take of yourself!
Ted
Heya bud!
Thanks for the kind words, appreciated as always!
My hair tends to grow rather heavy, thus making the top very straight, while the bottom gets these "bottle curls" as we call them in norwegian, really REALLY curly and heavy.
Here's a picture of me at my max length back in 2008 or so. As you can surely tell, the bottom gets not quite as fine looking, but that might have to do with it laying on the shoulders and "gathering up" there :) We shall see regarding the straight ironing!
Thanks again, and thanks for following on facebook! Always nice seeing you dropping by with a kind word! Have a GREAT GREAT weekend!
Hi buddy,
Now THAT is what I am talking about! That looks awesome and I cannot wait to see you with long hair again! I am inspired man! If you just let it grow those curls at the end will look great! I hope you have an awesome weekend as well my friend!
Ted
Thanks, man! I really hope they would straighten out as much as possible with time! Glad I could inspire you a bit, as you are an inspiration to me as well :)
Raul, I have to say that I am definitely impressed with your hair growth progress -- I can really see a big difference here, and am envious of your hair color and fullness / thickness, it's just a great head of hair to work with! Your mane is looking shaggier and shaggier with every update you post (which I think of as only a total compliment whenever someone say it - LOL)!!
No worries about whatever you feel you need to do to get you through the awkward stages. There's an old saying from back in the late 1960s and early '70s: "Whatever gets you through the night, it's all right!"
Just enjoy the growth process and the journey, and don't sweat over the little things. Before you know it, you'll have that mane that will be the envy of all who see it!
"Onward & Downward!"
- Ken in San Francisco
Heya Ken,
Thank you for being so kind! I don't really know whether I have a quick or normal hair growth rate, but I can tell you that my longest hairs (the one on the front and top of my head) are 4" long, and that is a rather satisfactory rate! The ones on the sides and back are closer to 3", but they will get there eventually :)
Shaggy... that is definitely what my current look would be called! Definitely prefer that to Scooby ;)
Looking great Raul!
- Oren
Thanks Oren! Working on it! :)
Awesome to see, my friend. I like how the hair is starting to jut out in the back. It's a sure sign you're making very noticeable progress. It's so good to hear you're being true to yourself and ignoring the naysayers.
Heya Jason!
Thank you, my friend!
Yeah, if only you'd see it in it's natural form after a shower, you'd realize just how much "jutting" is going on, hehe
It seems much shorter than it really is, seeing as the hairs on the back of my head seem to grow sideways and upwards, and definitely not downwards! Can't wait for mother nature and gravity to kick in and lend me a helping hand! :)
As for the naysayers... well, ex is gone, friends are simply forced with the fact that they need to accept it, and model-agency... well, they will either see me for my other features, and my great hair after a while, or drop me and stop using me.
Either way, I am happy being me... more so than in a very long time! Thanks for the support, bro.. appreciate it.
That is a good length for 7 months.....and looking good.
Thanks for Sharing
WWT
Thank you, White Tail! :)
Hey Raul,
Very nice progress you're showing. I know what you mean about the way hair tends to stick out in unwanted ways during this phase. I'm just about to be reentering the awkward stage myself.
Heya Kris!
Yeah, sometimes it's really mind boggling just how unruly the hair can seem, so often I just let it be. Other times I really want a more neat look, and straighten it to make it actualyl look as if it's growing towards my ass and not towards the sky :P
How long have you been regrowing your hair, and what length were you at before your cut back in the day?
Before I reply to everybody here, here's a picture from today at the world's greatest working place... the kindergarten! ;)
Two of my 4 year olds and a colleague decided to mess with my hair and braid it a bit. It ain't much, but I can already tell I am going to fall into the "dude with long hair that is fun to mess with" archtype all over again REALLY nicely! :D
Hi Raul,
As usual, a wonderful pic of you! Your hair is looking great in this pic. I still think it's cool you are a teacher with long hair. Nothing cooler than that mt friend! Keep it growing and keep smiling bud!
Ted
Looks great. Keep it growing. Nice facial hair too!!
Thanks, bro!
It's the Beckham facial hair I am sporting right now. Easy to emulate, and needs minimum maintenance :)
Hey, Raul! I'm so glad to see your update! Your hair looks great, and I hope to see you with a great mane soon :) Your pic from a kindergarten is just awesome and soo fun!
It's sad to hear about your problems in personal life. Hope and really wish you to move through all the problems "unhurt".
Was really glad to hear from you again, and hope to see your another update soon ! :)
Serge.
Hey Serge, my good friend :)
Thanks alot, man! I am constanly both jealous and inspired by your hair, so please do update us soon on your own proccess! Love your hair! :)
Yeah, it's been a rought patch in the last few months, but I feel I am really starting to break away from the negativity and start being ME again, you know? I love life right now, and things are only going to get better again in the future, I am sure :)
Not much to braid yet, and yet, just managing having some sort of a brain in my hair is exciting! Small goals, right bro?
Thanks for the kind words, and keep safe!
Hey Raul! :-)
Just consider the source of this opposition and really, what makes them so great? Nothing at all. Not even worth the time to respond to.
Your hair is looking GREAT and I am really thrilled for you Raul. Keep going. The kids aren't going to give you any troubles at all. They know how to be polite and are not judgemental educated(???) idiots as are the big mouth hecklers.
Congratulations on your progress so far.
Justin~
Hey Justin!
Thanks, bro.. in sort of a way, you've been with me through this entire journey, back when I was watching your youtube videos back in Oct-Nov 2012 and really getting inspired by you to re-enter this journey! Appreciate your comments here, my friend :)
It's not as much cruel comments as much as people being honest and saying I look much better with short hair, in THEIR eyes. Which I know they mean... but at the same time, I want to be me, even at the cost of looking "less attractive", as at the end of the day, I know I will be able to rock long hair like nothing ;) It's all about putting the right amount of time and work into it, and making it look great, and not just having an unkept mop on my head, hehe
Looking good, Raul. I like this look better than your "bed-head for Ted" thing!!!
Thanks Tony! Had to mess my hair up a bit to make Teddy boy feel better, and letting him know he is not alone ;)
I am a cheater here, using both gel, oils and the dreaded hair straightener (hot iron) when needed, so I dont usually sport the "just went through a tornado" look, hehe