Hi all,
guess I need advice,words of wisdom and experience...in a nutshell, to date my hair (which is thick with a slight wave or two) is growing well. I can control my bangs and wings BUT the neck/back is another matter.
I think the problem is my hair is still growing out the "layers" from my last cut 4 months ago hence the hair at the back/neck varies between Shirley Temples curls and lank rats tails. I can live with that but my partner, boss, friends etc have a problem.
I know the "purists" amongst you will say never get a cut but to keep the peace and maybe my sanity do I get a back trim and a tidy up and let the rest of my hair grow down so that, I think, in theory, eventually it will all get to the same length.
Have any of your guys been in this situation, what have you done ??
Regards
Blue.
I'm in the "don't cut it, it will fix itself" camp. I had a "maintenance" trim at the three-month mark to take care of the back of my hair which had turned into a sort of mullet. The idea was to look more "corporate" while my hair grew out. Unfortunately the haircutter trimmed the sides back to the tops of my ears and I lost about six weeks of growth. As my hair continued to grow the mullet look immediately returned. I should have known. The goal of a haircutter is to keep you comming back!
What finally "cured" the back of my hair was letting it grow! I'm closing in on the nine-month mark (six months since my ill-advised trim) and the back and sides are starting to look balanced. Now I realise that when you have a *lot* of hair, a little unevenness here and there doesn't stand out like it does with short hair. The way to get a *lot* of hair is to stay away from haircutters! Yes I have some funny wavy bits of hair sticking out the back like some kind of wings but I have decided that the cure will be growing so much hair it will stay flat on it's own. I guess that makes me "purist" :).
I'm gonna play the devils advocate here for a sec and disagree with everyone thus far. I started growing from a shaved head. and at 4 months i was going good, but i had an "ace ventura" flip/total mullet happening. I was being harassed cause it looked utterly ridiculous. So i got it neatened up at the back, and I could go to work without worrying what the bosses think and I looked so much neater too. Both you and I don't have the luxury of looking really unproffessional at our jobs with a mullet, so getting JUST THE BACK of your hair neatened up a bit is highly recommended. Start growing out the back when you start getting some decent length happening everywhere else on your head, like Im going to be doing soon. It will look decent. I look great, feel great, and don't get any mullet jokes from friends and co-workers, and I escape the scrutiny of management too. Oh, at month 6, i got the back neatened up AGAIN, to get rid of the mullet. Because of my style of hair, I don't need to have it done anymore cause its totally unnoticable, though it is there if a comb my hair a certain way. Do it, cause YOU DON"T wanna be told to get a hair cut by management. Thats embarrassing and puts you in an awkward position. Neaten up the back, and keep growing hard. *hides and waits for flaming*
> Neaten up the back, and keep growing hard. *hides and waits for flaming*
No flames here, I agree. If you have to look professional for work or social reasons then maintenance trims may be required. I think I will be able to go another twelve months without a trim. If not it won't be the end of the world, it will just add another month or two to my awkward stage.
I have those huge "wings" coming off my neck too XD. But I am now at the 8 month mark without and trims whatsoever and am realizing those wings are going to be the basis of your long back hair. So don't cut them people! Don't trim your hair at all! I belive in 6 months (my 1 year mark) my hair will start looking good long all because I grit my teeth through the awkward stage. Keep it long. Cheers.
- Brian
The only way the hair in back is going to tame down is to let it grow. If you get it trimmed the only thing you will accomplish is keeping the problem longer and longer. Gel it, moose it, whatever, but don't trim it. Length is the key. It's an untamed head of hair's best friend because under its own eventual weight it will lay down and behave. That's why we need to indure this crazy thing we call the awkward stage. Good Luck!
cutting the back without cutting the front will make you look funny. it will be "normal" short length in the back but not everywhere else, kind of like the opposite of a mullet. one thing you could consider is going to a good stylist and getting layers in your hair, which might help tame it.
. I can live with that but my partner, boss, friends etc have a problem.
If you can live with it then don't do anything ! I've learned never to do anything with my hair just to please other people.
This sounds like an awkward stage that you maybe just have to live through.
Good luck and happy growing !!