6 year anniversary: knee --> ankle

[Lunnafindel]

I can't believe it's been 6 years already since I first found this place! Before LHC I had 2 styles: braid and knot (it was basically like the celtic knot without the hairstick)
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1563/25891971663_57df403d13_m.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1640/26428653571_6a9067ae5e_m.jpg

I prided myself on using as little conditioner and shampoo as possible. In fact I'm amazed my hair grew to knee with that regimen not-very-benign neglect.

But afterwards, I've branched out to lots of fun styles, bought way too many hair forks, started CWC washing and using oils, which has done WONDERS for the texture, but mostly had an awesome time with all you wonderful people...the only people who can match my obsession, and often the only people who understand when I complain about back-braiding and hair getting caught in car doors and stuff. ;)
Here are my chronological length shots:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1483/26355713216_9c84b30373.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1676/25776767064_eb393b9708.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1591/26289260032_4c1df59e7b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1533/26428861441_276e09c82b.jpg (forgot to take a length shot...this was the best I found) https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1677/25778860183_b04de04994.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1636/26495529205_f0fcd51951.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1641/25641418923_e0aef6679d.jpg


When I started here, I thought I was at terminal length - I had been at knee-length since I was 12 and there was a pretty serious taper, so I figured that was about it. But after I started treating my hair more nicely (and stopped cutting it for a couple years - S&D is my favorite pastime!) I slowly started to notice a change. My hair is starting to thicken towards the bottom, and it grew way farther than I ever thought possible - I'm at ankle-length now, and there's no sign of stopping.

So now I'm thinking of cutting it back to knee - it's gotten too much for even me to handle. It's nearly impossible to detangle since my hair is a good foot and a half longer than my arms, and it's started giving me neck-aches, which I'd never had a problem with before. The worst is that once I accidentally stepped on my braid and tore a tuft off the bottom - ouch! I'm going to miss having it swish around my ankles, but it'll be nice for it to be manageable again. Until I cut it, I'm going to make the most of having super-long hair and try all the elaborate hairstyles that need as much length as possible - any ideas?

Speaking of elaborate styles...

[Lunnafindel]

Here are some pics of the fun things I've tried thanks to you guys and youtube:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1445/25020957512_7568583568_m.jpg https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2850/10012362605_1533501c27_m.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1561/25890920424_82a8a49911_m.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8556/8707801249_cf8c6dafac_m.jpg

and I happened to get married in the interim, so I can't not post this:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1647/26289258952_e719a38348.jpg


Also 2 wonderful meetups, in Western Massachusetts in 2014 and in New York City at the GM Long Hair Salon last fall - both of them absolutely fantastic days with great new friends.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1491/26381592545_010afb2282_n.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1505/26402918422_255d64c410_n.jpg

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Just - WOW! :crush: :thudpile: You inspire us all.

Thanks for all the wonderful photos!

[Anya15]

Wow. Your hair is just...wow. I am speechless. :agape: :love: :crush:

You look like a fairytale princess in the photos, especially in the wedding photo! :)

[Sweets]

Your hair is thudworthy! Congrats on your success - it looks so healthy. It's amazing what proper care does - the effort you obviously put into is was so worth it. Good luck with whatever you decide in the future!

[diddiedaisy]

Wow, despite being on lhc for two and a half years I continue to be amazed that people can grow such long beautigul hair.

Congratulations :)

[Rhoward]

Wow - your hair is so beautiful, congratulations on your achievements, the photo of your hair on your wedding day is gorgeous, you're a true inspiration :applause

[Juanita]

Wow such beautiful hair. I think I remember your wedding photos from a few years ago. A woodland theme?

[jazzhands]

You're such an inspiration! Those photos are stunning, as is your hair. I LOVE those updos, and the wedding photo... Gosh, I'm speechless!

[lapushka]

Amazing hairjourney, Lunnafindel! And you can see that it is far less "fuzzy" with a good hair care regimen in place. You came such a "long" way (haha). Congratulations. :D :thumbsup:

[Horrorpops]

Amazing lengths, I am seriously in awe! :crush:

However with the neckaches and difficulties with detangling, a trim does make sense too. At least if/when you cut back to knee you can always grow it longer again with a fresh hemline :o I have no ideas for hairstyles unfortunately, although I loved those beautifully intricate braids!

[Vanilla]

Congrats on your new milestone! Ankle is amazing! It was wonderful meeting you last year at the GM meet. :).

[girlcat36]

Gorgeous hair! Thanks for sharing!

[gossamer]

:crush: Happy anniversary, Lunnafindel! I understand and empathize strongly with your final paragraph in the first post. You are seriously amazing in how you're still investing the time to do elaborate styles at your length. :bowtome: So impressed!

[stahil]

Just WOW!!

[Quasiquixotic]

:applause: absolutely amazing. I think you hair is beautiful and so inspiring.

[spidermom]

I love the 2014 photo. Happy anniversary.

[TatsuOni]

Your hair is amazing!:thud:

[Pinni]

Your hair is so long and stunning. Congrats at 6 year anniversary!:cake:

[Groovy Granny]

Congrats for your length and marriage ~ blessings on both for the future!
Your hair is gorgeous :thud:

[BrightEyes]

Happy anniversary. Your hair is gorgeous!! :D

[butterflybutton]

Your hair is devine! It's amazing how much the condition has improved whilst it's also grown so much!

[EdG]

Congratulations, Lunnafindel! :thud:
Ed

[hypersensitive]

Congrats! I absolutely loved your wedding pictures! Dream goal!! And I love to S & D, it's stress relief for me. Your hair is 200% thud worthy!

[Lunnafindel]

Thanks so much, everyone! You're the best :grouphug:

Nice to see you again, Sarahlabyrinth and Vanilla. I have such fond memories of our get-together in october!


Wow such beautiful hair. I think I remember your wedding photos from a few years ago. A woodland theme?
Yep. that was me! thanks for remembering :)

I'm looking forward to many more years here :)

[HoD]

Beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing those amazing photos

[jel]

Congrats on your anniversary! :flowers: Your hair is gorgeous at knee and ankle, and in between :D

[meteor]

Happy Hairiversary, Lunnafindel!!! :joy: WOW, your hair is insanely gorgeous! :thudpile: You are such an inspiration! :applause


And I'm in such awe at your ability to create incredibly elaborate styles even at such great length! Speaking of which, what is that gorgeous style (2nd from the right in your second post) that looks like 2 coronets and a ton of braids looped and somehow interwoven / braided together? :eye: It looks absolutely phenomenal! :bowtome:

[missmagoo]

Your wedding photo is gorgeous! Knee length is so pretty on you ☺️

[embee]

Lovely hair! Lovely pics. :)

[Beborani]

I cannot decide what is more impressive-- your hair or your braiding skills. Beautiful

[Lunnafindel]

Happy Hairiversary, Lunnafindel!!! :joy: WOW, your hair is insanely gorgeous! :thudpile: You are such an inspiration! :applause


And I'm in such awe at your ability to create incredibly elaborate styles even at such great length! Speaking of which, what is that gorgeous style (2nd from the right in your second post) that looks like 2 coronets and a ton of braids looped and somehow interwoven / braided together? :eye: It looks absolutely phenomenal! :bowtome:

Oh! That one's actually really easy: it's a woven bun (https://youtu.be/i3nJJ7a0KXA) but I did it with 4 rope braids instead of just lengths of hair so it looked cooler. glad you like it!

[meteor]

^ Wow, that's so incredible! Thanks so much for sharing, Lunnafindel! :D So that's what braids can do when they are woven at such great length! :thudpile:

[Anje]

Your hair tapers so gracefully! It's enough to make anyone want fairytale ends. :D

How did you get those graceful, even waves you wore for your wedding?

[neko_kawaii]

So many pretty pictures all in a row! Happy anniversary!

[papayatree]

Congrats on 6 years here. What's your favorite hairstyle you have learned from this place?

[papayatree]

I have somewhat of a question to your question. What is more important, trying to figure out what Terminal Is, or Having a happy length of healthy hair?

[uub]

Happy anniversary Lunnafindel -- your hair is amazing!

[Lunnafindel]

I have somewhat of a question to your question. What is more important, trying to figure out what Terminal Is, or Having a happy length of healthy hair?

Well...it's changed. When I first started S&D instead of trims, I was thinking it was about Terminal (mainly driven by curiosity - "can I even do this?). Now that I know that there are actually 2 "Terminal"s - the length my hair can grow to and the length that I can deal with my hair growing to - I've switched my priorities to "happy, healthy hair". Fortunately the two goals dovetail pretty nicely, in that when I cut back to knee my hair will be a lot healthier than if I had kept trimming it like before.


Your hair tapers so gracefully! It's enough to make anyone want fairytale ends. :D

How did you get those graceful, even waves you wore for your wedding?

Shh! don't tell anyone! I used... :couch: a curling iron.
I had my friend put heat-protector serum on my hair and then curl it with her iron, and it actually came out really well, and no damage that I noticed! It took forever though, so I wouldn't do it on a regular basis, but it's kind of cool to know what it looks like. In the run-up to the wedding I tried rag curls:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/60/af/09/60af09750a6b75e802600209829a9bac.jpg
but my now-DH said it was too curly and I was worried I wouldn't be able to control the results as easily. So, yeah. Don't ask me, ask my friend! I know nothing about how curling irons work...

[Lunnafindel]

Congrats on 6 years here. What's your favorite hairstyle you have learned from this place?

Favorite hairstyle...there's one I've been trying out recently that only really works with long hair, but it's super pretty so I like it a lot:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1511/26151645062_42da053d4e_n.jpg

and the spiral bun I put in my first post (the one with the lilacs in the background)

Although the most revolutionary buns for my life were the cinnamon bun (which I didn't think was possible on long hair until I tried it and now I wear it basically every day) and the nautilus bun.

[Anje]

Shh! don't tell anyone! I used... :couch: a curling iron.
I had my friend put heat-protector serum on my hair and then curl it with her iron, and it actually came out really well, and no damage that I noticed! It took forever though, so I wouldn't do it on a regular basis, but it's kind of cool to know what it looks like. In the run-up to the wedding I tried rag curls:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/60/af/09/60af09750a6b75e802600209829a9bac.jpg
but my now-DH said it was too curly and I was worried I wouldn't be able to control the results as easily. So, yeah. Don't ask me, ask my friend! I know nothing about how curling irons work...

LOL! If you're going to do a one-time heat styling, your own wedding seems like the time to do it! It looks great, and it probably did give you more consistent, lasting results. :)

[Lazy Loop]

Stunning:inlove:

[cat11]

Gorgeous hair!!! I love watching the pics over time and seeing it thicken up and grow.

[Lavendersugar]

Love the 2012, 2016 and of course the wedding pic. Beautiful!!

[dellad]

Congratulations Lunnafindel. It was so much fun meeting you at the GM meet last year. Your hair looks epic in person and in every single picture.

[Xan]

Looks beautiful cool to see your progress in the pictures.

[maborosi]

Congratulations- what awesome hair!! :D