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Hey everybody,
I’ve been thinking about growing my hair out, and I need some advice. I grew it out once before, but I eventually cut it because my parents kept ragging on me that I looked better with short hair.
Anyway, when I grew it out before, I got trims every two months, and in two years time, my hair only grew 6 inches or so all over. I chuck it up to all the trims. So what is the general consensus, are trims really necessary (to avoid split ends, etc) or should I just avoid the clippers entirely for a few years?
Thanks for any advice!
Austin
Hi Austin, welcome to the board.
Avoid trims for a few years.
Trims are not nessesary when growing your hair, they are optional. You probably remember your hair looking bad, somewhere around medium length, not short, but still not long?
We call it the awkward stage, here the hair begins to curl and doesn't look even, really bad hair days, mullet look, and most people who dont know better cut it at this point fearing long hair will never suit them. That's the worst thing to do! Trims make hair neater when it's growing out, for example trimming the back gives the front (bangs) time to catch up to look even. But hair grows about 1/2 inche a month, so if you were having an inch or something taken off you, that's 2 months growth lost. If you can stick it out, the best way is to grow WITHOUT ANY TRIMS AT ALL for at least 1 1/2 years. Then when it's about shoulder length, a trim might be in order, otherwise your hair will naturally even itself out if you wait longer. It might look bad in the awkward stage, but hang in there, and you will have a completely different look!
I'm 7 months into growing, hair is now just over 6 inches, and I feel it's not looking so bad now comparing to 2 or 3 months ago, there is light at the end of the tunnel lol.
>there is light at the end of the tunnel lol.
Let's hope it not a train! :p
Trims cause more disagreements than almost any subject other than religion and politics.
Some say they are essential, others are completely against them.
I would suggest that you try to avoid trims for at least a year or two after starting growing out. You hair will look a bit untidy, but it will take less time to get to your first goal.
Looking ater your hair well will help: don't be too tough on it: as it grows you will have to be more careful not to damage it. You'll get lots of advice and support from this board if you need it, and in the meantime, just enjoy yourself and keep growing. Good luck.
Trims are a means of keeping your hair shaped whilst you grow your hair out, but as you know they have a negative impact, they reduce length.
My Advice with trims is that you a) Trim no more frequently than every 3-4 months, (2 months is not long enough) b) Only trim the back and sides, take nothing off the top. This is where you need the length most.
As for split ends etc. A good conditioner (rinse out and leave-in) together with gentle detangling and combing will all but eliminate split ends, you'll be able to grow for 12 months at a time with no real damage to worry about.
So if you want to trim, do so no more often than every 3 months, and have 3/4 of an inch taken off the bottom of the back/sides and nothing off the top. The stylist should cut the hair inbetween so its layered in. This will keep the hair looking neat. Also it means that the top layers will progress twice as fast as the back and sides, so you avoid a mullet and over the course of 18-24 months gradually you will gradually removed your layers and finish with an even cut.
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Or you could just let your hair grow for 12 months or more, maybe have a trim to tidy up then (again nothing off the top) and continue growing until you reach your goal length, then get it all gradually evened up.
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Or you could just let your hair grow untouched and enjoy "natural" long hair.
Hope that helps explain the options.
Sorted
