3 Year Growing Update - PICS!

[OleanderTime]

Hi lovelies! I have been growing my hair since a Big Chop three years ago. The first picture was taken when I got home from a fancy salon visit, in April 2012. In April 2013, I cut the bottom layer to start evening out the harsh gradient of the angled bob. By April 2014, my hemline was even to about 1" (I like those long layers for when I wear my hair wavy - which is hardly ever because it's up and away in a bun most days). The last four pictures are from this month, April 2015. Looking at these pictures, two things are abundantly clear to me: (1) perhaps my hair does grow more slowly than some (I get maybe 5" a year?), but... (2) it has grown! What do you think?

APRIL 2012: the last Big Chop (angled bob): the front is about chin-length, the back is about 4" above the nape of my neck:
http://s24.postimg.org/50bci72oh/2012_04_3.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/50bci72oh/)

APRIL 2013: officially shoulder this year - evening out the harsh gradient, growing out layers:
http://s24.postimg.org/5r42nz51t/2013_03_4.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/5r42nz51t/)

APRIL 2014: officially APL this year - one even length, starting to gain length
http://s24.postimg.org/68z83tump/2014_5_2.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/68z83tump/)

APRIL 2015: officially past BSL - now, onward to waist, aiming ultimately for hip! My hair has never been this long in my life, so I have no idea how long these next two milestones will take, or if it's even possible. I am confident that if I keep treating it the way I do and keep this strange patience I've developed, that I will be able to do it.
http://s24.postimg.org/8nr3o9avl/2015_03_01.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/8nr3o9avl/) http://s24.postimg.org/tlx9mcaq9/2015_03_4.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/tlx9mcaq9/) http://s24.postimg.org/6hwstr7f5/2015_04_1a.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/6hwstr7f5/) http://s24.postimg.org/45osw5utt/2015_04_1b.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/45osw5utt/)

I'm getting married in January (so 8 months from now). Given my growth rate that you see here, is it possible I could be at waist by then? A girl can hope! :rolleyes:

Thanks for looking! I read the site every day and swap often, but otherwise I'm not a super active poster (PhD life...), but I love the fun obsession and support I find here, you guys are great! :blossom:

[yahirwaO.o]

Love those waves that came along with lenght!!!! Congratulations :happydance::happydance::happydance:

[gustavonut]

Oh soooo beautiful! :p I love the waves as well. Good job, OleanderTime~! You are an inspiration, and I hope I can reach this length someday..:pray:

[divinedobbie]

Great progress! I think you could definitely be brushing waist by your wedding, congratulations by the way!

[OleanderTime]

Thanks!!! I like the waves, too. This is how my hair normally looks, but if I scrunch a little curly gel in and leave it down, it's quite wurly. I like it a lot, too bad I never wear my hair down!

[YvetteVarie]

Congratulations. I think you may be waist by your wedding. Fingers crossed for you

[Begemot]

Congrats for your progress and the wedding!! :blossom: I too think that you will make it to waist by January or at least very close. Either way your hair is long and beautiful :)

[Yarrow]

Your hair looks fabulous. It doesn't look that far away from waist, I think your hair will be along waist till then. Love those waves as well.

[MintChocChip]

Oooh, it looks gorgeous!

[MINAKO]

Yay amazing!! Your hair grew so beautifully, looks really healthy and thick. Congratulations!! :flower:

[Kina]

Very nice progress. About .5 inches a month is normal, so I don't think you're behind the curve.

[lapushka]

APRIL 2015: officially past BSL - now, onward to waist, aiming ultimately for hip! My hair has never been this long in my life, so I have no idea how long these next two milestones will take, or if it's even possible. I am confident that if I keep treating it the way I do and keep this strange patience I've developed, that I will be able to do it.
http://s24.postimg.org/8nr3o9avl/2015_03_01.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/8nr3o9avl/) http://s24.postimg.org/tlx9mcaq9/2015_03_4.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/tlx9mcaq9/) http://s24.postimg.org/6hwstr7f5/2015_04_1a.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/6hwstr7f5/) http://s24.postimg.org/45osw5utt/2015_04_1b.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/45osw5utt/)

I'm getting married in January (so 8 months from now). Given my growth rate that you see here, is it possible I could be at waist by then? A girl can hope! :rolleyes:

Yes, I think you would be just about there, if you don't trim it until that time. If you do think on trimming, you will not make it.
Anyway, you made great progress in just 3 years' time, congratulations! :D

[Elly May]

What lovely hair! But aren't your hands on your hips and your waist (where your torso narrows at the bottom of your rib cage) a bit higher up? If that is the case, I think you will definitely make waist.

[Lady Katherine]

Congrats on the growth and the wedding! I hope you make it to waist by then. :flowers: Do you have any plans for your wedding hair yet?

[OleanderTime]

Congrats on the growth and the wedding! I hope you make it to waist by then. :flowers: Do you have any plans for your wedding hair yet?

No! I just made a pinterest account and am gathering ideas. I love making beaded hair combs with pearls, and I'd like to wear one of my own creation. But I honestly think I look more formal with my hair up (and I've gotten pretty good at it).

On the other hand, this is one day that I'd be willing to go all out on and do some heat curls (for the first time in like 5 years). Hey, if I'm paying for professional photography, I might as well have the best hair day of my life!

Any recommendations or advice?

[OleanderTime]

What lovely hair! But aren't your hands on your hips and your waist (where your torso narrows at the bottom of your rib cage) a bit higher up? If that is the case, I think you will definitely make waist.

Hmm, interesting point! I think the top of my hands are at the narrowest part of my torso, and the bottom of my hands are resting on the top of my hipbones. I do have a long torso, in terms of measurements (no off-the-rack one-piece swimsuit has ever fit me). The bottom of the ribcage is maybe an inch and a half up from where my hands were. I wish I had a full-length mirror!

[Auni]

You look very pretty with long hair! Congrats!

[Puffer Fish]

Oooh, this is helping me stick to the no-trim challenge. Last May I had the same haircut you had in your starting photo! It's so cool, seeing how much progress you made from that every year since.

Congrats on your fluffy, fabulous length, and congrats-in-advance on the wedding!

[Lady Katherine]

No! I just made a pinterest account and am gathering ideas. I love making beaded hair combs with pearls, and I'd like to wear one of my own creation. But I honestly think I look more formal with my hair up (and I've gotten pretty good at it).

On the other hand, this is one day that I'd be willing to go all out on and do some heat curls (for the first time in like 5 years). Hey, if I'm paying for professional photography, I might as well have the best hair day of my life!

Any recommendations or advice?

Well, if you do want to curl, I would recommend experiment with heatless curl first, like rag curls. But if you would prefer using a curling iron, many people use that kind of thing quite often and are fine, so using it once would not be a problem. Experiment and see what you like before the big day! I think a half-up would look nice with the combs, I know there are lots of different styles on the Game of Thromes hairstyle thread. Maybe looking at that can give you some ideas. Good luck and have a happy wedding! :blossom:

[OleanderTime]

Well, if you do want to curl, I would recommend experiment with heatless curl first, like rag curls. But if you would prefer using a curling iron, many people use that kind of thing quite often and are fine, so using it once would not be a problem. Experiment and see what you like before the big day! I think a half-up would look nice with the combs, I know there are lots of different styles on the Game of Thromes hairstyle thread. Maybe looking at that can give you some ideas. Good luck and have a happy wedding! :blossom:

I love the GoT thread, thanks for pointing it out!

It's funny about heat, I don't own a curling iron or anything but I'm open to going to a salon the morning of my wedding to do curlers under the bonnet dryer. I am actually really stressed that I might be pressured to do heat as a bridesmaid soon (I will say no, I just hope it doesn't actually come up), but I'm fine doing something really out of my ordinary for my own wedding. :)

[Arwenlily]

Wonderful growth, OleanderTime! Congratulations on your growth and wedding and I wish you the best of luck in pursuing your PhD (that should be me soon as well :)).

[bluebreezes]

Inspiring growth and beautiful waves!

[OleanderTime]

Inspiring growth and beautiful waves!

Yay, good luck, and early congrats! :) What's fun about it to me is that my goal was to not even thinking about cutting (more than small trims) until I graduate. Just as a FIRST goal. And, for my field, that's 7 years-ish, so plenty of time to grow long and healthy!

[Mammasaurusrex]

Im happy for you! My hair is just a bit shorter than your 2012 hair. I am anxious to see where Im at in two years. Your 2014 hair is as long as my hair has ever been so I would love to surpass that within in two years. Congratulations on the wedding =] I am sure you will get significant growth within the next 8 months.