I am growing out a very short, pixie-like hair cut. I've been growing it for a year now and it is roughly shoulder length - 19/20 inches - but with some front bits still too short to go in a ponytail and needing to be tucked behind my ears. Last time when I was growing it out from short (will I ever learn?) I grew it without any trimming until it was about 21 inches and then began to get my husband to trim it bit by bit over the next year or so, until it was all the same length, in a blunt cut. This time I am thinking of just leaving it to grow naturally in what will be a u-shaped hem line with layers. The advantage will be that it will get long much quicker (no trimming) but I wonder whether it will look very messy and thin at the ends. It is healthy, natural, dark brown hair with God-given silver highlights that is not very thick and almost totally straight.

What have your experiences been? Any thoughts and advice would be appreciated.