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View Full Version : 22 months of growing out damage [pictures]



askan
November 22nd, 2013, 03:51 AM
Ok, so almost two years ago I decided to go from dark red to blonde. I bleached my hair 4 times in one night. It turned out blonde. It looked quite allright, this is before and after bleaching incident in January 2012:

http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz173/askansphotos/blek_zps77a42f41.jpg (http://s825.photobucket.com/user/askansphotos/media/blek_zps77a42f41.jpg.html)

...but this is how it felt (I was growing out my bangs btw) in February 2012:
http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz173/askansphotos/27feb_zps5fe315a7.jpg (http://s825.photobucket.com/user/askansphotos/media/27feb_zps5fe315a7.jpg.html)

Don't know if you can tell what the structure felt like. A bit like straw! I did CO-wash and wash with eggs and I never used heat, but I constantly wore my hair in a ponytail and I wasn't terribly careful with it.

...and it didn't really get any better: March 2012

http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz173/askansphotos/26mars_zps5885d0dd.jpg (http://s825.photobucket.com/user/askansphotos/media/26mars_zps5885d0dd.jpg.html)

I didn't trim until June 2012 when I went crazy with a kitchen scissor. I started to dye it coppery and did it again about every 6 weeks. In August I had a big trim (at a salon, haha).

I mostly CO washed during the following year. I did my last year at art/painting school and did nothing but paint, I was often in school 12-13 hours a day, then took the bus to boyfriend on fridays, and it was a good year.

Jumping to May 2013. I had dyed my hair for the last time a month before. Those poor ends had been through much, altough this is right after a major trim:

http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz173/askansphotos/123majh_zpsc3b787cc.jpg (http://s825.photobucket.com/user/askansphotos/media/123majh_zpsc3b787cc.jpg.html)

In August my ends were terrible, like steel wool. The old bleach damage was still there, although I had cut a lot of it off. I went to a salon and asked the hairdresser to cut off all that was needed. He did, and I think almost everything that was once bleached was cut off. This is a few weeks later:

http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz173/askansphotos/97sepkopiera_zpsa8c13125.jpg (http://s825.photobucket.com/user/askansphotos/media/97sepkopiera_zpsa8c13125.jpg.html)

..and since then I've stopped using thin elastics for ponytails, I've sewn a satin pillowcase and scrunchies, I've made friends with hairsticks, I've NOT dyed my hair and...well, generally been babying it. And because I'm having a good hairday I thought I would show how it looks like today:

http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz173/askansphotos/CIMG5759_zpse67f96f8.jpg (http://s825.photobucket.com/user/askansphotos/media/CIMG5759_zpse67f96f8.jpg.html)

The copper colour has faded, and I've got a few inches of medium blonde new growth, but it doesn't look too bad, and it doesn't even show in pictures from behind.
My hair not longer than two years ago.. but it will be! I have no plans of ever bleaching again because it's been super boring to have to cut off all new growth. Had I taken more precautions against damage I would maybe have been able to grow it longer while growing out the damage, but today it feels all shiny and perfect and it feels so good to be rid of that mess! :D

So if you're growing out damage I guess my advice is: Care for your hair in the meantime! Don't mess around with kitchen scissors thinking you can cut a perfect bob if you've never tried it before! And if the hair is superdamaged...it's a nice feeling to get rid of a couple if inches. =)

martyna_22
November 22nd, 2013, 04:04 AM
Wow! That's nice growth, and your hair looks so healthy! Good job! :)

askan
November 22nd, 2013, 04:07 AM
Now, my hair isn't perfect quality. I'ts very frizzy sometimes and I'm still figuring out what products it likes. But since it happens to feel all silky and nice today I'm enjoying the fact that it has improved! :D

martyna_22
November 22nd, 2013, 04:11 AM
It'll obviously have better and worse days.. but if you continue to care for it, its good days will be even better than now :) Have patience and don't mess around too much (like I tend to do) and you'll be satisfied with the results :)

Isilme
November 22nd, 2013, 04:43 AM
Looks good today! Keep up the growing and pampering and you will have even more beautiful hair. And buy yourself some real hair scissors :lol:

Flossy
November 22nd, 2013, 04:54 AM
It looks so lovely and soft. Go you!

lapushka
November 22nd, 2013, 04:59 AM
That turned from (dare I say) a fried mess into a shiny new hairdo! :D

Nekomanta
November 22nd, 2013, 06:26 AM
I'm crazy about this kind of stories, with pictures of course :) Your hair looks beautiful now, I can't imagine that you dyed your hair, its color is excellent now.

earthybee
November 22nd, 2013, 06:39 AM
Wow that's a great transformation! Your hair is so shiny now. Great job.

BrightEyes
November 22nd, 2013, 06:46 AM
Your hair has improved so much!! It looks very shiny and soft. Great job! :)

Almendra
November 22nd, 2013, 06:57 AM
Your hair looks so much better! It's so shiny. Love the waves :)
Congratulations!

jacqueline101
November 22nd, 2013, 07:15 AM
Your hair had done a huge turn around. It looks better and healthier keep up the good work. Please keep us posted on your progress.

schnibbles
November 22nd, 2013, 07:25 AM
Wow, looks great. Healthy + happy!

Skade
November 22nd, 2013, 08:58 AM
Good work Askan. It looks soft and healthy now! Keep on taking care of it! What is your goal length by the way?

spidermom
November 22nd, 2013, 10:21 AM
good improvement

Anje
November 22nd, 2013, 10:26 AM
Ooh, it's turning around nicely! Great evidence of what pampering can do on already-damaged hair.

Lirona
November 22nd, 2013, 11:06 AM
I want to add to the congratulations! The way you've been taking care of your hair REALLY shows in that last photo. A really dramatic change. I'm still trying to figure out which products/routines my hair likes too... Some days it feels like my hair just rolls the dice and laughs at me! :D Enjoy your beautiful hair!

Katrine
November 22nd, 2013, 12:11 PM
Drastic improvement - you have beautiful hair. :)

Tini'sNewHair
November 22nd, 2013, 06:02 PM
Looks amazing now :)

LauraLongLocks
November 22nd, 2013, 06:40 PM
Wow, it gives me hope for my daughter's hair. I just want to reach through the computer screen and touch the silky soft hair that you have now! It looks lovely. Great job in taking care of it.

swearnsue
November 22nd, 2013, 06:47 PM
What a dramatic change, very inspiring! You have beautiful hair now.

GrowingGlory
November 22nd, 2013, 07:00 PM
Congratulations! Your persistence paid off. Your hair is gorgeous and it looks fabulously healthy.

endlessly
November 22nd, 2013, 07:32 PM
Your hair has improved drastically, wow! It looks so much healthier and I'm sure you're so much happier with its condition!

TrapperCreekD
November 22nd, 2013, 08:09 PM
What a huge turn around, it looks amazing!

raej
November 22nd, 2013, 09:02 PM
Your hair looks amazing! Way to go!

askan
November 23rd, 2013, 06:06 PM
Aww, thanks guys, you're so sweet! I think I'm going to get hybris, haha.
I'm glad if this can be inspirational to someone :)



Looks good today! Keep up the growing and pampering and you will have even more beautiful hair. And buy yourself some real hair scissors :lol:

Haha, I did! Only use it for S&D though, I hope I can get a friend to trim my hair when it's time. I have finally learned not to trust myself with cutting off more than one strand at the time ;)

askan
November 23rd, 2013, 06:18 PM
Good work Askan. It looks soft and healthy now! Keep on taking care of it! What is your goal length by the way?

Hihi, thanks, I will! It'd be cool to get to waist! That feels so far away though, I suppose APL is my first goal and then long enough to be able to make proper buns and braids =) When I had nipple length hair before I remember feeling like it was starting go get long and not just some middle lenght, so that's a goal too :)

Lostsoule77
November 24th, 2013, 05:01 PM
Looks like the condition of your hair has vastly improved. Good choice in cutting it off. :)