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I've been growing my hair now for about 16 months (pics will be coming soon). I've had 2 maintenance cuts to trim the ends and as the stylist put it "Let your bangs catch up with your back". I can't quite get it into a ponytail yet because my bangs are just about 1/2" to short. The back is getting long and I'm definitely in the awkward phase.
Now the dilemma - Do I get the back cut again to get my hair a more even all around length or do I just leave it (which is what I would prefer) and just let it grow as it will.
Just as a side note - Growing up I thought soemthing was missing in my life. About 18 months ago I decided it was time to grow my hair out - something I had never done. I'm now 36 and I've somehow developed an inner peace that I never new existed. Reading all your experiences is just such a great support. Thank You!
I would suggest just letting it be for two reasons:
1.) You prefer to leave it, so why trim it?
2.) The differences in length will be less noticable as your hair grows longer. If you take two locks of hair, one that is 1 inch and one that is 2 inches, then you're noticing a great deal of difference (one is 50% shorter); but if you take two locks of hair, one 9 inches and one 10 inches. . .what's the difference?
It is similar to how a person can distinguish between .5 ounce and 1 ounce, but not 10 ounces and 10.5 ounces.
Good luck and keep it growing!
You are absolutely correct.
I'm just approaching 18 months and I trimmed every 3 months during my first 12 months, for exactly the same reasons you have, now my bangs just about reach a ponytail.
The back is always a problem as it gets really messy when it hits your collar and shoulders, I struggled with a similiar dilemna, and I figured, that unless I wanted a kinda bob cut (even before shoulder length) I was gonna have to keep the back proportionally longer than the front and sides until it got past my shoulders.
So I decided to leave the back until it reached my shoulder blade length, sure it being awkwark at times but feeling your hair progress down your back is quite rewarding. The sense of achievement often outweights the fact that it might look a real state unless combed neatly.
Its been 6 months since my last trim and now I don't really want to get one. I've grown past the worst of the awkward stage and I'm continuing to grow until I reach my goal. At which point I'll start to even things up again, but nothing too drastic, 1 inch at a time.
Its a tough decision, only you can make it, I can only tell you what I did, what you choose will ultimately depend on whats most important to you.
Sorted.
Actually, after reading the responses it's become quite an easy decision. I'm going to wait till it gets to the length that I want and then trim it.
Yukon, I agree with you about the support you received. I started growing my hair in December, 2 months before my 37th birthday. It was a good experience. I grew it a very short time in comparison to many on the board. I got a haircut in June. It was much needed. I am now buzzed.
I miss the guys here on the board. Their encouragement was instrumental in getting me to the place I reached. If I could hide somewhere for 18 months I might come back with long hair again. The battle of experiencing peoples' comments especially my own family was very difficult.
Anyway you guys have a strong community here. Don't be bothered by those who don't want to understand why we would try to grow our hair out.
Diversity is one of the spices of life. My hair growth experience introduced me to different perspectives and for that I am grateful. I read Sorted's blog with earnest to help gain a different viewpoint.
That's what its all about.
Thanks for grace and keep growing.
Steve
Hi Steve
Wondered, where you'd got to, sorry to here you buzzed, but I'm glad you gained something from the experience and I'm pleased our community was and continues to be of support, its this kinda thing Victor needs to hear so he knows its appreciated. :-)
BTW I'm flattered your reading my site, its in need of update, but I'm a hopeless rambler and I dunno where the hell I'm going half the time. Glad you enjoy it anyway. Updates must be due soon... its the end of another month!
Sorted
use your newfound inner peace to burn down any invented problems/dilemas regarding your hair! dont worry about false issues :)
just let it grow, it's all gonna be okay!
-vincent
It's ironic that you bring the term "invented" up. I was just thinking that myself a couple of days ago.
how is it ironic?
You mentioned invented hair problems and I was just thinking about how others make up excuses so easily. More DejaVu I guess.
Hey there:
Sounds like we're in about the same place. The back of my hair makes a nice pony tail, but my bangs are a bit too short. However, I have to wear my hair back for two of my jobs and discovered the nifty hair clips pictured here, which are made by Goody and can be found at most stores that carry hair accessories. You bend them to snap them open and again to close them. They're inconspicuous and do a great job of keeping my hair held back most of the day. When I use them it looks like I have a full-fledged pony tail, and I like the look so much that I often wear my hair back even when I don't have to. (And these clips are easier to use and work much better than bobby pins.)
Good luck!
Jeremy
I'll have to see if I can find them. I've tried the regular elastic bands and they drive me crazy.
You'll still need a regular elastic band for the actual pony tail. But one of those combined with a few of these works wonders.
Cheers,
JBC
Go with your feelings - leave it for now, and have a trim if you decide you want one once you get enough to tie back everything.
Good luck! I know that inner feeling: I wonder how many there are out there who just need to grow to live.
I've felt like I've been in a coma for the past 5 years. I started growing my hair and nothing else has mattered. I've had my share of people that have busted me on having long hair and most of them are using rogaine. So I just smile and respond "jealous".
The one thing I didn't expect was having my life starting to revolve around my hair. It takes me a lot longer in the morning and I'm finding myself "preping" my hair for bed. It's almost like I have a new family member.
