Way back in the spring of 2002 I decided I'd try to let my hair grow out a bit. Then I did a show and got it cut. But I tried again. Then I did another show and had to get the back cut way back (I was able to slick the rest back so it just looked shorter.) But I tried again. Then I did yet another show where I got the back trimmed just a tad but had the rest of it brought more in line with the back. At least now, I thought, it's less helmet-looking. I tried yet again. I grew impatient. Some of you may remember last summer, as soon as the show was over, and inspired by Hugh Jackman on the Tony Awards, I got extensions. Ugh. Nasty. You can't wash your hair and your scalp itches. I lasted about two weeks with them before I finally used half a bottle of conditioner and took them out in the shower. Eww. And of course, the stylist who put them in kept doing little trim things to make them blend in with my hair.
That was just before my birthday last year. I vowed "No more. Nothing for a year." My goal was to make it to my birthday this year. Well, that's coming up on Saturday, and for what it's worth, I haven't touched my hair (as far as cutting goes) in a year.
I'm frankly amazed. I really empathize with Sorted, using hair growth as a way to deal with OCD. I'm a chronic hair-messer-wither. It astounds me that I've made it a year without doing anything to my hair. No cuts, no color, no nothing. Not even much styling. Oh, I've wanted to. I've tried. But somehow, I've done it.
So now, my reward is that I'm allowing myself the luxury of getting these crappy split ends cut, and maybe a nice color job. I've got a friend who has a salon, and he's been warned and warned that if I go visit him, he has to play by my rules. I believe he will. (If I didn't, I wouldn't go.) I like being able to pull my hair back into a ponytail (even if it still doesn't completely get caught in the band) although I've also been toying with the idea of getting the back cut back to the bottom of my collar (leaving the front long.) At the risk of inciting the wrath of the anti-"anti-mullet" brigade, I've always thought that was a great look (as worn by, say, Rupert Graves in "A Room With A View" and Steven Grayhm on the season opener of "Dead Like Me" a couple of weeks ago.) We'll see how it goes first with just getting the split ends trimmed.
I'll bring a camera and get some before and after pix. I've said before there's no point for me in having long hair if it's simply long and without any style. I almost prefer that shaggy, over-the-ears-and-collar thing to just Jesus-long hair. On some people it looks really good. Not on me. (It probably would if my hair would decide between straight or curly, rather than half and half.) And there's no guarantee that if I *do* have some of the curl cut off, that it won't just start curling higher up. It's going to be an experiment but at least I know I've been able to make it a year, and if I so decide, I could do it again.
Hope this isn't offending anyone. I just wanted to check in. :)
Chris
Dude, you look like a total hippie man, that's dank.
Well, I'm pretty happy. I had maybe an inch cut off - just enough to clean up the ends. I also got a really good finishing creme that seems to make a BIG difference as well when I'm prepping my hair. (And just for fun he used a chi iron to flatten it a bit too.) It's a little windy out when these were taken, but you'll get the idea. Here (if this works) is my birthday hair. :)
I have a photo of the back-ish too, but this one is probably way too big already. If you really care, ask me and I'll send you the back photo. :)
Chris
Let's try it again. :)
Wow! That's really great hair - post again further up... the rest of the board needs to see this.
Sorted
Cool hair and beard, you've got something of a viking look going :)