new thread
With all the enthusiasm around here lately, I felt motivated to update where I’m at and my possible options.
To review: June 2012, my length is wrecked and I cut 7.5 inches off:
Through reasonably good care, I had obtained this length when I updated in April 2013. This was with only one trim during that time:
I had good intentions to treat it very gently and continue to use Ojon oil regularly. Honestly, I haven't put that much effort into its care. While I always wear it braided, a lot of abuse is still inflicted with outdoor activities. In addition to cycling lots, I have swum in salt water with no protection for it. I should have used jojoba oil as a shield. So, here I am four months later. It’s perhaps unusual, especially with my fine hair, but I rarely see split ends so I don’t feel it’s a matter of just doing S & D. It’s rather just a general wear on the hair.
So, I'm kind of torn if I should be doing trimming at this point or whether I should just leave it alone and go for terminal. I do have a real curiosity about where it is on me. Anyway, here is how it is currently. I'm not sure how much it has really lengthened in the last 4 months but I feel it is somewhat longer. What does everyone think?
Braided halftail:
I definitely agree that it loks *much* longer, and in my opinion your hair looks fine at the ends, and terminal length is definitely something you should try out! I mean, you wouldn't know how long can it reach without trying, right? :)
Always jealous at your hair condition and colour, good luck with the rest of your journey!
~Yoni
Thanks Yoni. I was quite surprised how fast I regained the 7.5 inches cut in June 2012. I'm not sure if I'm quite back to the pre-cut length but I think the ends are somewhat healthier this time around.
Jealous? That's me of your hair's incredible thickness! Yours is probably twice as thick as mine.
It's amazingly hard to deal with such thick hair, thankfully the buns I wear usually make it temporarily less thick, so it's manageable, but when loose, puf, all out, haha.
And your hair (especially the colour) is absolutely gorgeous! always been jealous at those with the light colour hair, and it grows fast and in a really good shape unlike mine I'd say! so you're in a way off better situation than me :)
~Yoni.
Jason, my dear friend... that mane is to die for! :)
Your hair definitely looks much longer to me as well, and I am still loving the braided look you're sporting, and have been for a while!
Do you braid your own hair each and every morning? How efficient have you become at it in that case?
Hair looks amazing and I absolutely love that length on you... jesus picture I would use as my profile picture, if you didn't already have that great shot with Rowan! :)
Keep that beautiful monster growing! :D
Yes, I braid my hair every morning immediately after waking up. With fine hair like mine, I feel it's more protected that way than in a ponytail and I also feel more comfortable. I sometimes find a pony tie at the nape of my neck restricts some movement of the hair making me uncomfortable and also creating friction and thus damage.
I don't wear the halftail braid like that to work. Perhaps I should as I really like the style but I prefer to keep a bit more of a low-key look there and the standard braid supplies that.
That 7.5 inch cut from 14/15 months ago was replaced very quickly. That's good BUT I also feel like it shows what is happening with my hair. Once it reaches a certain stage, it's either breaking off or stopping growing. From this point on, length will be harder to attain.
Haha, I do love my current profile photo with Rowan. What I'd like to do is get a decent "Jesus" picture with me holding him too!
Thanks as always my friend.
HOLY CRAP! Jason, no wonder you are one of our fearless leaders! You have awesome hair. Love the braided look and love the length and the texture of your hair. And, it looks like you are still working out or working hard, because you have great definition on the arms - and the strong back. Good for you. and, yeah, just a tad envious... just a tad...
Fitz
Thanks Fitz! I'm a bit under the weather right now but will get right back into the fitness routine as soon as I can. It's a huge help mentally and physically.
It's great to see your enthusiasm about your own hair journey and that you're embarking on something you've always wanted to do!
Hi Jason
It looks very good considering that you have not done a great deal recently.
I must admit I always think that your hair looks better when you have the ends under control as in June '12 after the trim. In April 13 they were not too bad although one or two wayward strands are emerging.
In the current views it is somewhat longer and I would suggest you trim a couple of inches.
Some will say that this is a heresy but I always feel that TIDY long hair is better and more accepted by others,. I know we should not consider others in a hair context but if you wear decent trousers and a short for an event rather than T and jeans the hair should compliment that. The view with the centre braid shows what I mean with far too many stragglers looking untidy.
Long hair is good but we should always keep it tidy t6o maximise the effect and not just be dismissed as scruffy.
Best
Duncan
I totally agree with Duncan. I think we guys need to keep our long locks looking good to increase the respectability and acceptance of our styles and lengths.
I highly disagree with this. We shouldn't have to do that in order to gain respectability, much less acceptance. Acceptance should be given to us anyway, regardless at how we wear our hair and I'm not going to try to gain the approval of others by doing this, because those that despise long haired men will still be intolerant towards us, no matter of our hairs condition.
Hi Michail,
You make some excellent points here. However, the reason I would keep my hair tidy is for myself. To heck with what other people think. If I did everything for other people, it wouldn't be my life. I don't think the intolerance for long hair on men will go away anytime soon. Onward and downward I say!
Ted
I agree, Ted.
With your thick hair, I imagine it will grow a long way before the ends start looking on the thin side. You'll have plenty of time to think of how you want your hemline!
Your hair also appears to be coarser than mine so you won the genetic lottery on two counts, you lucky guy!
Hi Jason,
I much appreciate your kind words sir! My hair is way more coarse than I would like. But it's better than no hair! My Dad had very fine straight hair and my Mom has straight coarse hair. I plan on growing to waist. With any luck, I will have nice ends at that length. We shall see! Thanks again for your very kind words!
Ted
It's funny how often the grass seems greener. I used to think I had a pretty even mix of fine and medium hair but I now realize, and Scott verified it with his microscope with shed hair I sent him, that I probably have 85-90% fine with just a few mediums mixed in.
Coarse hair seems ideal to me. It stays put better and is so much more durable. I'm curious, what is it about it that you're not such a fan of?
Hi Jason,
You are correct. It does seem to stay in place for me most of the time. And durable it is. I find that I like the way it looks after I wash with shampoo. I tried going some days without washing and just don't like the way it looks. I think the main thing I dislike about it is the feel. But I can always use good conditioner to combat that.
Ted
Hey Ted.
I'm glad you agree with me. And that's because your hair is your business only. Disgusting how some people think they have a say in this, by telling you what to do with it, like cutting it short or something like that. I will never understand why people just can't mind their own business.
Yeah, it will take a long time, but at least, most people are more tolerant towards it than they were 10 years ago.
Hi Michail,
I guess it's just human nature for people to mind other's business. I have way better things to do than that! I only do that if they ask me for help or something. Also, my parents taught me to be open minded and tolerant. I have no patience for such intolerance.
Ted
I echo what Ted said below. If (and probably when) I go back to the blunt cut, it will be because I want it that way not because of how society might perceive it.
I'm glad you agree with me!
Here is something I wanted to ask you for some time....does someone with such an awesome mane like yours ever get self-conscious about it? I mean, I see a lot of men with great hair, but somehow they still percieve it as "looking like sh*t". That's why I'm asking.
I've had long hair for a long time now and I really don't give it a second thought. I never pause before entering a place or meeting a person to wonder what they're going to think about my hair. It's just part of who I am and I'm not in the least bit self-conscious about it.
I agree that some people might think long hair on men doesn't look good but do you really think the men themselves that have nice long hair don't think it looks good? Or maybe I'm misinterpreting who you mean by "they". Maybe you're meaning society in general.
I actually meant the guys with beautiful long hair themselves think that their own hair looks bad, even though it doesn't. Maybe it's because they are insecure.
Hi Duncan,
Thanks for your honest opinion. At the time of the June 2012 major cut, I was firmly of the same mind. I guess I vacillate some because I'm eager to keep trying something new with my hair. For right now that means finding where terminal is so I'm more leaning towards leaving it alone for the time being. That could change! It's also possible that I'll go for the blunt and tidy look after I've satisfied my curiosity about my terminal length.
Best,
Jason
My opinion is that damage is only a problem if it makes your hair difficult to manage. Most hair is going to get weathered with increased length, it's just the natural course of things. I'm also a bigger fan of natural tapered ends, rather than a thick blunt hemline.
I did a substantial trim on my hair almost a year ago to get rid of damage. It left me with a blunt hemline which I have been growing out ever since. I'm looking forward terminal length and natural tapered ends.
I truly see the appeal of both routes. I like the blunt cut and how healthy the ends feel with it but then there's the curiosity about terminal length too...
Looks good to me Jason! Bad ass hair as always sir. Maybe do like me and get a 1/2 inch trim every 3 months...that way you are growing more than you are trimming and keeping the ends healthy.
Thanks Mark. LOL, I wonder if we both vacillate a little bit. I think we were both talking about maintaining but now it seems we're leaning towards more length. Do you have an interest in determining your true terminal length even if it means enduring not so healthy ends?
I'd like to go to waist length, but past that not really, LOL.
Hi Jason,
I thank you for posting this wonderful update of your hair journey! I must say that I love your hair in all of the pics. You have the perfect amount of wave and I believe my hair will look similar to yours at that length. I am inspired! I also love the natural highlights in your hair! Ha! No stylist could replicate that!
As far as what to do, I think I would figure out if you want to go for terminal length. If so, then decide if you want to have blunt ends along the way. Of course, if you want a blunt hemline, trim a little off periodically to maintain that. And if you want fairytale ends, don't trim while growing to terminal. At any rate, your hair looks lovely and dammit I'm jealous! Hope you and your family have a great weekend my friend!
Ted
Hi Ted,
I truly think that you will experience the thinning and less healthy ends at a longer length than I have given your hair's coarse texture and greater thickness. I'm really enjoying following your journey and sharing your enthusiasm. It will be interesting to see what length you finally decide upon. It can tend to change during the growing process!
I might do some small trims but terminal seems to be calling me at present.
Thanks for the kind words and insight.
Jason
Hi Jason,
Thanks much for following my journey! I am aiming for waist length at a minimum. I will, however probably keep trimming the ends to try to maintain a blunt hemline. I don't particularly like natural ends in my hair. I am having a blast growing my hair. I love it when the nurses at the dialysis clinic take notice. Makes it fun!
There are 3 other guys at my dialysis clinic with long hair. One guy has a curly haired mullet. Another guy used to have butt length hair until it got tangled and he cut off about 7 inches. His hair is fine and straight. The last guy is an older guy with silver gray straight fine hair that he always keeps in a neat tail. Hie hair is probably just past shoulder length. So I do have kindred spirits at dialysis-a good thing I say!
Ted
Love the pictures Jason! Thanks for sharing, it really is inspiring to see all the possibilities that those of us "in process" have to look forward to.
I really like the blunt hemline around the shoulder blades look you had going after the trim, I'm sort of inspired to perhaps make that second goal after I hit my first goal of shoulder length!
-Tommy
Ignore the goofy handle name, stupid auto-fill snuck that in there on me!!
-Tommy
Thanks Tommy. I'm glad the photos could serve as a source of inspiration. I know I enjoyed poring over the photos others would share of their journeys when I was in the growing out process.
I look forward to following your journey as your reach your various goals. You have great hair to work with!
Hi Jason,
Thank you for sharing your excellent update, your hair looks good, and I do see an increase in length since April.
I would definitely be interested in seeing how long you can achieve should you try for terminal, giving the hair as much TLC (without trimming) as possible, just so that you will know. Then, once you have your answer, and if you don't like the ends, then you can trim back to a length with which you are happy with the thickness of the ends.
I know that I have neglected, and not given my own hair as much thought as I should lately, with essentially no lengthening for the past year or two. I feel a bit guilty that even though I bought the Ojon oil when you mentioned it all those months ago, I have never done the trim, or tried the treatment yet to see if it would help in my situation in achieving better ends. Perhaps, when the summer winds down and I am not spending so much time on the golf course, I will buckle down and do it.
Take care,
David
That sounds like a good plan to me. What I'm thinking is that when I do find terminal, I could gradually trim at that point to get a better hemline. Or I might do a more drastic cut but in either case my pesky curiosity will have been sated!
I fully know what you mean about summer. I'm usually very active and spend as little time as needed on my hair. It's really only with me being under the weather this week that I've turned my attention back to it to do this update.
Maybe with the cooler weather, you'll be more inclined to get that trim and then start using the oil. I believe it really did help me and I wish I had been using it more consistently this summer. I plan to reintroduce it fulltime immediately.
Thanks David! We appreciate your never-failing support for our community here.
Hi Jason,
As always your updates are very comprehensive and well documented. I'm a bit unsure about your 2012 before and after pics being one is with your hair partially braided while the after the trim pic is totally loose.So with that said its hard for me to gauge whether or not that trim last year was of help to you.Your current pics are all the same with your hair loose and of course it looks fabulous:)I kinda wonder if you had not trimmed that 7 1/2 inches last year what might have been especially since your contemplating maybe going for terminal length.Your current hair is grand but I still prefer the natural V shape as opposed to the blunt cutoff.Certainly it's your decision and I would support you either way. Anyway in spite of your lack of maintenance your hair has held up well:) I'm sort of the same way as I never trim or S&D my hair since the ends are generally good. I just love the henna touch ups even couple months as that suits me fine. Good luck with whatever you choose to do hair wise as I know you'll keep us all posted:) Cheers
Mârk
Hi Mark,
I agree with you that the trim/post trim photo from June 2012 isn't the best for comparison sake. Unfortunately, I neglected to take a photo at the time with my hair all down so I only have the braided halfup one to compare the cut to.
I'm pretty sure, though, that my ends were worse then than they are now. That was before I was using Ojon oil. I admit I've wondered too how long my hair would be presently if I didn't cut the 7.5 inches off 14/15 months ago. I don't regret my decision though.
For now, I feel I'm quite firmly in the camp of going for terminal length. I love the glossy feel of fresh ends, I can't deny it, but in my quest to do something new and different, the option of trying for terminal length seems best. As I've mentioned in other posts, once I've established terminal length, I'll likely reconsider things.
Thanks for the kind words about my hair and the update, Mark.
Jason
Thank you for such an update! You're one of my greatest inspirations on this resource, and you're definitely the one who motivated me to let my hair grow at least till the midback length. I really love those braided hairstyles of yours - you sport those halfbraids just perfectly! I can't recommend anything concerning the length. Mine is just at the level of shoulderblades as my last update (a month ago) shows. I just think that your hair at the last pictures looks great.
I'm also leading an active life, huh. I love mountain hiking (with huge heavy bags loaded with tents and other travelling stuff), and I just wonder how can I keep my hair in such a good condition as yours is.
Thanks!
Serge.
Thanks a lot Serge! Anytime someone mentions that I've served as an inspiration for them to grow their hair in the first place or longer than originally planned, it brings a big smile to my face.
Most of my cycling is done on the road but my experience I'm sure would apply to mountain biking. Once your hair is long enough, I strongly recommend braiding it when you go cycling. Having it in a ponytail will most likely leave it very tangled. My hair remains mostly untangled when I get back home. If you really want to protect it, I'd recommend doing an oiling before you go. This could be either spreading over your existing braid or, even better, re-braid it after oiling it loose.
I know Scott does a lot of cycling too and he's had success using multiple ponytail ties so that could be another option.
I look forward to following your continuing journey towards your goal!
...as usual !!
Thanks for Sharing
Walter
Thanks Walter!
Hi Jason,
I believe your ends appear to be a bit thicker then prior to your hair trim. Your hair definately seems from the photographs to be thicker further down your back to the ends so possibly the trim you did strenghthened the hair ends somewhat by removing the damaged bits and also I am guessing your greatly improved Paleo diet may have improved the overall condition and quality of the hair.
I have changed my diet too in the last 6 months drastically adopting a diet rich in greens, fish, and unprocessed foods and have noticed the quality of hair growth improving greatly, and nails, beard is growing noticeably faster then before. I have kicked the refined sugar habit and been off the booze for a number of months now.
I am currently following your lead as just after my Feb 2013 60th month hair update i cut off about 6-7 inches of hair which were still in layers and never regretted the decision to thicken up the ends. I got rid of the last of my straightened hair bits and now am pretty much 100% natural hair texture to deal with and surprisingly after cutting off the thin ends the hassle of dealing with two contrasting hair textures is gone and the frizz and puffiness reduced a lot.i have now regrown 3 inches and have noticed that like your hair the thickness has travelled further down my back.
Jason, it would not hurt once in your life to grow your ends out to terminal just to satisfy that curiosity otherwise you will always be wondering about it.......
My best wishes to you,
Cheers,
Duncan
Hi Duncan,
Thanks for your comprehensive reply.
I agree that I think my diet improvements translate into better hair growth. I regrew that 7.5 inches that were cut quite quickly. If I can just overcome my allergy problems, I can say that my body and mind have become quite fit and the improved hair quality is a nice ancillary benefit.
I'm happy that you too have noticed the benefits of an improved diet. Fish and lots of greens are exceptionally good for you and avoiding processed foods in general too. I also have quit booze entirely and feel better for it.
Terminal length tends to shorten with age so if I'm going to go for it, I might as well do so now. I'm going to be patient too as I know sometimes growth can stall and a person can think they're at terminal when they're actually not. It will be interesting to see what the next two years brings with me doing minimal trimming.
It must feel good to have all one texture hair now and the layers gone. Have you thought about perhaps trying for terminal yourself? You must have quite the potential with the thickness of your hair.
Best,
Jason
Your hair is in so much better condition now. As I mentioned on Facebook, you might want to try for waist length now.
Scott
Thanks Scott. I'm hoping that I can at least reach waist before conceding that I've reached terminal length.
Gotta say Jason, YOU my friend are many of OUR inspiration for growing and continue to make good or better decisions about the care and growth of our hair. I never have to ponder why i have long hair...it was just who i was meant to be, an innate program, if you will. All my life i "felt' pain when i got a haircut because it wasnt supposed to be cut...now at 52 i have felt self actualized by having my mane and by reading what you have done and seeing update pics you post i am always interested in what you say...none of us are 'experts' but we can share our experiences and i feel yours are always honest..you sometimes publicly punish yourself for being 'bad' to your hair but i appreciate that other things in our lives are much more important than our hair but that our hair is also important part of who we are....hope you are enjoying our unusually pleasant summer weather here in the northeast this year..only that one week of wicked humidity....looks like a great fall to come...hope all is well with you and your family..take care..Gordy
Hi Gordy,
Thanks for the kind words and as a fellow innate longhair, I know that we can relate to each other. How I hated the haircuts I used to be forced to get!
What you say is true. We do the best we can to take care of our hair but we still live our lives and do the activities we enjoy.
Of course, your incredibly thick mane is a source of inspiration to all in the community here. You're really blessed to have it and it's wonderful that you are growing it to its full potential!
Best,
Jason
Jason,
Your hair is amazing. Wow! You've put so much into it that going for terminal seems logical. But, I'm saying that knowing I wouldn't have that level of dedication. Yolo.
Tony
Thanks Tony!
You'd be surprised how goals change during the growing process. They tend to lengthen!
Jason
WOW - amazing update = LOVE IT !!! = go for terminal or at least 'tickle-da-butt-crack' at the very least ... remember hard to grow / easy to cut cheers CEM. :))
Thanks! I sincerely doubt my hair could reach that length but I'm up for trying!