I joined one year ago today! (Pictures)

[DecafJane]

My hair looked like this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2773628997_f440f4feb6.jpg?v=0

I was going through a really rough patch and took it out on myself by chopping it all off, for many complex reasons that my mind took out on my hair. Self-punishment, wanting to be somebody else, wanting to distract myself from how I was thinking and feeling - these were all a part of it. I also wanted to do something crazy and fun.

If I had hung around here a little more before taking the step I did, I would have found so many other ways to make myself happy with my hair. Oh well - sometimes these things happen, and we just have to live with them.

In September I chopped it all off, and got another trim in October.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2634843861_820f4e7519.jpg?v=0

The initial cut was cute, but the second one was awful, and that is when I realised how much I missed my hair. Fast-forward ten months, without any trims, friendly haircare and lots of happy hair toys:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2770230868_cf98d324a0.jpg?v=0

The damage has nearly been undone (plus I am a much happier person these days), my hair is completely virgin and in much better condition, and I am having so much more fun with it now than I ever did before.

A HUGE THANK-YOU to all of you on this forum (particularly those who run it, which can often be a thankless job) and I will be here for many years to come.
I really can't wait to see the photo in October to see how much it has grown in twelve months. I have also developed a shameless hair toy addiction, and can't wait to start using them in lovely and new ways when my hair gets longer.

You are all wonderful! :D

[Stagecoach]

Great progress, and lovely hair. It looks so thick and soft.

[Lamb]

TEN months?? :thud: That's what I call fast growth rate!
Congratulations, your hair looks wonderful!

[DavidN]

Congratulations on one full year at the LHC, DecafJane!:cheer: Also, your hair looks so much healthier these days, and the shine is amazing! Here's to many more years of happy growing!

[DecafJane]

Thanks, stagecoach. It is very thick and soft, so it needs to either be very short or very long to be happy. I'm on my way, and it is great having hair like yours around to inspire me. :)

Thanks, lamb, and DavidN! I sometimes suspect that if my hair didn't grow so fast, I wouldn't have been so willing to chop it all off.

[mellie]

Wow, that's a lot of length from a pixie cut!

Your hair looks very shiny and beautiful!!

[Haith]

Wow! Your hair is stunning. I can't wait to watch it grow over the coming months!

[jessie58]

DecafJane, that's great growth and your hair is very thick and healthy looking.

[DecafJane]

Thanks, mellie, haith and jessie! :)

[levelek]

Your growth is amazing! It's obvious that your hair is feeling happy :)
I've been admiring your dexterity with hairtoys, you can already do so much at your length! And your taste is fantastic, so do keep providing the photographic evidence ;)

[FrannyG]

Wow, your growth has been incredible, and your hair looks glorious. :flowers:

I know that many people, including myself, have done what you did in September. Don't be hard on yourself. :)

The important thing is that you're well and happy. Congratulations on a great year at LHC. :blossom:

[Islandgrrl]

Congrats, Jane, on your one-year anniversary here! You've made some really beautiful progress - your hair is so shiny and I love the curliness!

[suicides_eve]

Congratulations! We have been going through the same thing at the same time it's great to see the out come of a years worth of hard work and dedication!
your hair looks beautiful thick and healthy

[Morag]

DecafJane, I have done that more than once. I'll be feeling dissatisfied with myself and the next thing I know, I've marched into the privy and transformed myself into a pixie. I'm usually happy with it, too, but at some point I always become nostalgic for longer hair and want to grow it back out again. (You'd think I would learn, wouldn't you?)

You hair is looking terrific! It's growing so fast, and is so thick and shiny! Congratulations!

[Xandergrammy]

Beautiful!!!!

[Arctic]

Great progress! I'm happy for you that you are in a good place in your life and your hair most certainly reflects that! Congratulations of your anniversary!

[LadyMoon11]

Congratulations! :happydance:
Your hair looks wonderful. The thickness, color and the shine and.. I love the whurls! :inlove:

So glad you are happy with it! I look forward to seeing your hair as it gets longer, and seeing some of your hair toys in action. Soon you'll be able to use them. It seems you have a great growth rate, and are taking very good care of your hair. It is going to look even more stunning as it grows!

[sipnsun]

Congratulations!! I love your curls and your hair looks so healthy and shiny!

Amazing growth in such a short time!!

Happy LHC anniversary!

[JessTheMess]

Amazing growth!!! :thud:
Congrats!!

[Julesn]

Girl.....

Your hair grows F A S T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It looks AWESOME!!!!

Julie :)

[paper]

Happy Anniversary :flowers:

Your hair looks great, and thats alot of growth! Looking forward to see what the next yr brings you.

[Chamomile betty]

Your hair looks wonderful.
Such a pretty color and so healthy looking.

Congrats on your year anniversary at LHC!

[jojo]

Your hair is just lovely, I love the wave you have, i am thinking that you will get spirals as it gets longer.

I am also glad to have got to know you over the last year, you come across as a very nice lady xx

[nucleardelusion]

So shiney! And gorgeous curls!

[xrosiex]

Your hair has grown alot! And it looks so pretty and soft. Congradulations on your first year.:cheese:

[spidermom]

Fabulous growth! Your progress is going to be fun to watch.

[girlcat36]

Fast growing and healthy!!! Keep it up!

[SchnauzerMom]

Wow your hair is growing like crazy, looks very pretty too!

[Patrycja]

Congrats on such awesome progress! You are doing a wonderful job and it's paying off big time.
Your hair is simply gorgeous :flowers:

[feralnature]

Your hair looks so healthy. It may be a good thing that you started over. Looks beautiful!:)

[tomm]

Congratulations on your one year anniversary and on how well your hair is doing, it looks to be in fantastic condition. Best wishes on many more years of growth to come.

[DecafJane]

Thanks, everybody, for your lovely comments! :) You are all so kind. :D

[TammySue]

Congrats! Your hair looks beautiful! :blossom:

[GreenGables]

Wow, that seems to have grown really fast!! And it looks really thick and healthy :) Good luck in the future, I bet you will reach your goal in no time with that speed:p

[DecafJane]

Thanks. :) It seems to be taking forever, but that is because I see it every day. I'm genetically blessed with fast-growing hair. ;)

[Aqua Gal]

I also took the express bus out of "pixieland". Your hair looks fantastic. Congratulations!

[Amara]

Very nice growth! It looks cute, by the way. :D

[DecafJane]

Express bus - I like that. Thanks! :D

[whatevergirl]

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc263/whatevergirlspix/congratulations.gif On 1 Year DecafJane !
Your hair is reallly coming along nicely, happy growing!:)

[intothemist1999]

TEN MONTHS??!! Holy COW!! I wish my hair would grow that fast!!

I loved your cute cut, too! :)

[DecafJane]

Thanks! I liked the short cut at first, but love it longer and ADORE my hair toys, so I am happy that it is getting long. :)

[Soniasonia]

Love it! Its so shiny!

[beyondcute]

Good JOB!:cheese:

[Gumball]

Happy anniversary, DecafJane! Wow. The last picture of your hair (fast forward ten months) looks great. I love the waves and curls. It's looking fabulous! Here's to many more years!

[utdesertrunner]

That's some quick growing! So shiny too!

[DecafJane]

Thank-you! The flash really helps with the shine, to be honest. I really should get around to taking a picture of it in natural light. Hey, I should do that right now. :)

Edited to add: I took one shot outside, realised that overcast skies don't make for good hair photos, and then the battery on the camera ran out anyway. :p Maybe tomorrow.

[Nyghtingale]

wow, amazing growth!! very healthy looking. way to go!

[skay]

Lookin' good. Looks like great growth!

[DecafJane]

Thank-you all very much! It has been growing quickly lately, possibly because I am eating more healthy foods and exercising nearly every day. Hair growth is great motivation to be healthy! :D

[danacc]

Congratulations! It looks so healthy and the shine is amazing. I love the curling ends.

[DecafJane]

Just a quick update - it has now been a year of growing since my massive chop, so I thought I would put up pictures to compare lengths:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2634843861_820f4e7519.jpg?v=0http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2985582341_64970015e0.jpg?v=0

Thanks again for all of your comments. :)

[tiny_teesha]

Wow DecafJane you have made a LOT of progress, and look how sleek and shiny your hair is!!! wow!!!

[cindy58]

Looks great! I'm not sure if it is just the photo lighting or actually a different color, but I like the color of the more recent photo.

[littlemiss]

I love your shine and great growth!! all that in a year WOW!! thats great

[DecafJane]

Thanks, everybody!


Looks great! I'm not sure if it is just the photo lighting or actually a different color, but I like the color of the more recent photo.

I haven't coloured it, but my hair lightens really quickly, so it is a bit lighter, plus the flash is stronger. :)

[MissHair]

10 months of that growth??! IM SHOCKED. WOW your hair grows fast, I wish I wouldnt have to worry so much, I chopped my hair few months ago and its growing so slow.

[Nic's]

Wow, your hair is looking great. I love the curls. Well done.

[Sammybunny711]

Bravo!!! It looks GORGEOUS! That is a lot of growth for ten months! Props to you! Way to grow!!!:hollie:

[lawyermom]

awesome growth and your hair looks beautiful :)

[girlcat36]

All I can say is---WOW! Your hair is so healthy and you gained significant length.

[JustAgirl0030]

you have a very beautiful natural hair color! :)

[AngelInDisguise]

Wow.... such beautiful hair and so fast-growing. You really make me envy you ;-)

[DecafJane]

Thanks guys. :) That latest pictures (from yesterday evening) were of 12 months of growth. I'm relieved that you can still see progress from month to month past shoulder length. We are at the beginning of summer here, so cross fingers for some more great growth. :)

[Indigosails]

You have beautiful, healthy hair. I'm glad that you are in a happier place than you were a year ago. Your hair reflects your happiness.

[Robinlyn]

Great Growth! Your hair is beautiful!!

[Elphie]

What bouncy and shiny hair! It looks great!

[chloeishere]

Wow, amazing growth rate! It looks beautiful, can't wait to see it when it's even longer!

[rileysmama32208]

beautiful! thanks for sharing :)