I want to start the long process of growing my curly/thick hair out. My question is, how should I start the process? Should I leave it a little long on top and trim the sides and bottom, or just shave my head and start from there? Any help is appreciated thank you.
Joe B
Start right where you are now: NO trimming, NO shaving. For the next ten+ months just GROWING! Good luck!
Definitely DONT shave your head!
It takes (On Average) 24 months to grow 12 inches of hair, the amount generally necessary to reach shoulder length and be considered "long hair" (1/2 inch a month.) That is of course if you start from a shaved head. Naturally if you have any hair to start with then great the growing time is gonna be much shorter. So even if you only have 2 inches to begin with, thats 4 months worth of growth. That means it'll only take 20 months to grow "long hair".
(Does this sound like I teaching you to suck eggs? - Yeah it does... but anyways...)
If you want to trim the back and sides to keep it looking more "neat n tidy" then thats up to you, do what feels right. Just don't touch the length on top.
Good Luck!
I agree with the posts below; go from where you are now. If, along the way, you feel you need a maintenance trim here and there, follow the two-week rule, then go to a stylist who empathizes with your plight to become a long-hair and who won't take off more than is absolutely necessary.
I, too, have thick, curly hair, which I've been growing out for a year-and-a-half. I've had two or three maintenance trims to keep me from having a mullet, but I think it's balanced enough now that I won't have to have any more.
Good luck!
JBC