I reached TBL... And then I did a HUGE chop!

[PixieP]

So a few weeks ago I finally reached tailbone, which had been my goal for a long time. Unfortunatley I don't have any very good pictures, these will have to make do:
https://i.imgur.com/GyrxPt6.jpg

But I wasn't happy. On those pictures my hair look very nice, but it really wasn't. Some might have noticed too that I've been posting very little for a long time; I really haven't been happy with my hair. I tried to deal with it by ignoring it, but the problem wasn't mainly a visual one. My hair had turned really really difficult to deal with. I had lots of old damage, and the bottom 20 centimeters or so of my hair was just a mess of tangles. I could detangle it and brush it oh so carefully and thoroughly, turn around, and it was all tangles again. One of my main loves with long hair are braids, but braiding it was a nightmare. I timed it and I spent close to 20 minutes on a simple french braid, because it took so much time to detangle my hair. Serums, oil, change of S&C, deep treatment, protein, clarifying, nothing helped. This was taken yesterday, and shows how my hair looked most of the time.
https://i.imgur.com/4FhTo5F.jpg

Matte, frizzy and just not nice to look at or deal with. I am disabled with several chronic illnesses, and dealing with my hair just started to take too much energy. I stopped brushing it for days at a time, which then of course lead to a snarled tangly mess. I hated washing it. Basically everything about it was bothering me.

So after having spent a couple of months thinking about it... I cut my hair today.
https://i.imgur.com/PEuJ3V5.jpg

It did get slightly shorter than planned, but oh well. YOLO! It will grow out again. And I'm excited for the journey! I have decided that I'll pick major milestones and treat myself to my most wanted hairtoys when I reach them. My hair is at a MUCH better starting point, I won't need to fight old damage the whole way. I can grow it the whole way with good LHC habits. And I actually love this length! I've been flipping my hair around all day, haha. It's too short to bun just yet, but I can do a peacock twist with a ficcare, and a super cute little ponytail with scrunchies, and it's long enough for french braids I think. And I can wear it loose when I want to. My head feels SO light. I am super happy with the result ^_^

It looks slightly ragged in the pictures, that is my waves starting to manifest due to super high humidity XD

Here's a link to a video of the movement, I LOVE IT
https://imgur.com/a15N1mM


ETA: Picture spam to be found here:
https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=146698&page=2&p=3565121&viewfull=1#post3565121

[njrb]

Congrats! It looks great! I did the same thing 1-2 months ago, though I only cut from hip-ish to APL and have been really pleased with the decision. Sometimes change is nice, and like you said it grows back, if slowly. And the movement is the best is it not?

[Lanalavallama]

That is a big chop! It looks beautiful. I hope you have lots of fun with your new haircut.

[Groovy Granny]

I thought you were joking as others have....but nope....you cut it :thud:

It looks awesome and feels awesome too I bet; I love the movement video :).

You look happy and I am happy for you (((Hugs)))

Enjoy the journey to whatever length you decide upon; I have no doubt it will be as beautiful as it always has been :cheer:

[Arciela]

Nice cut, I like it! My hair is in a similar state to the one you described before you chopped...I am thinking of doing the same thing, I bet it feels so nice and free ^^

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Wow, what a huge chop! Enjoy your new length! I bet it feels wonderful and free! :D

[spidermom]

I love that length, too. When I wanted mine completely up and out of the way, I'd make 3 buns down the back of my head, one above the next. There was no way to get all my hair back to one point on my head and twist it into a bun, but I could do it with 3.

[Kiiruna]

It looks amazing! I've been thinking about chopping to ~cbl to get rid of some damage and this is certainly not helping ;)

[lithostoic]

Bet it feels a lot lighter!

[lottiealice]

Lovely! Your hair looked gorgeous before the chop but then, I can see how sometimes photos can hide damage and we do tend to notice our own flaws more. That said, your hair looks beautiful now too. I also have multiple physical and mental illnesses so I can see how long hair can really be difficult to deal with.

Having a new, fresh, healthier starting point to your growth journey will surely do a lot of good - hopefully you enjoy growing and hitting those milestones! :)

[wispe]

It looks amazing! We’re at a very similar length now, and only in the last 1/2” of growth have I been able to bun again, so I suspect you won’t be far off from it either, if you’re inclined to try again soon. Seashell buns would hold before anything else would, for reference. But this length is also so fun to wear down (especially with the waviness! You definitely rock it!) and halfups, bangs pinned back, and braids are just so fun too! I totally get needing to start fresh and without the damage at the ends, since that was my reasoning too. You’re gonna enjoy it so much! (:

[Milady_DeWinter]

Looks great PixieP! :D So happy that you are happy with the cut :) I think wispe is at a similar lenght now, she might be a neat inspiration for hairstyles!

PS: I promise I didn't saw your comment just before mine wispe :lol: I just read the first post!

[C_Bookworm]

Congratulations on the milestone, and congratulations on the new haircut! It looks delightfully thick and healthy. I wish you much joy on your next growth journey. :flowers:

[school of fish]

Wow, that is a huge chop!! It looks fantastic - so glad you're feeling good about it and enjoying the change :D

[Dark40]

Wow! I love your new haircut! Sometimes change is good. I bet it does feel good and free. :)

[pili]

It looks great PixieP, and the most important thing is YOU love it.

[Aredhel]

As I said on Instagram, I love it! :) I've been wanting to buy a wig lately just to "experience" short hair for a change...

[Beckstar]

That's a fun length. Short enough to swing and be bouncy but long enough for braids and cool styles. It looks so healthy.

[Stray_mind]

You took a big step and i am Glad you're happy with the result :)

Your hair looks amazing both long and short.

Happy (re)growing :flower:

I guess i'll see you in shoulder to APL thread? Hahaha!

[Anastasia Hope]

wo! You're new hair length looks lovely. Congrats and best wishes on your hair growing journey :)

[ravenskey]

Wow, huge chop but it looks fantastic and I'm glad you like it!

The movement video is awesome.

And of course Happy (Re)Growing!

[ExpectoPatronum]

As some others have said, it looks good! That length is a great starting point because it's short enough to not be in the way the entire time, and it's wayyyy easier to maintain, but it's also long enough to put it up. Happy growing!

[nycelle]

It looks great!!
Totally understand wanting to start fresh too. I remember when I cut mine back in December, I was doing hair flips for a few months..lol

Oh, is that your natural color? It's gorgeous .

[lapushka]

The most important thing is whether or not you're happy with it. Nothing else really matters. :)

When regret kicks in you're kind of screwed, but if that doesn't happen, yay! :happydance:

I, myself, went from classic (hit goal September 2015) to hip (November 2016) in a bit of an impulse and regretted it the day after. Not right away, but just about the day after. I've stopped all trims as of that point on and just reached classic again June 2018. It was a major milestone for me.

I'm guessing every milestone you hit after this will be doubly as nice, if that is your goal. :flower:

Good luck!

[browneyedsusan]

It looks great!
It's important that you keep it how you like it best. :) If you're fighting health troubles, you certainly don't need to fight your hair too! Ideally, hair makes you feel nice inside, not a constant bother. Keep it how you like it PixieP.
The color and texture are divine! *covet*:grnbiggri

[Kat-Rinnè Naido]

Congratulations on your new length. The most important thing is that you are happy with your hair again and are able to celebrate your journey what ever route or destination you choose. Good luck and thank you for sharing your hair growing journey with us.

[wo]

It looks great! I can see myself cutting back eventually too. It really is a lot of work.

[Alissalocks]

Glad you are loving it, and it feels so good to lose the old damage, and quit worrying after it constantly. Enjoy :blossom:

[wispe]

Looks great PixieP! :D So happy that you are happy with the cut :) I think wispe is at a similar lenght now, she might be a neat inspiration for hairstyles!

PS: I promise I didn't saw your comment just before mine wispe :lol: I just read the first post!

Haha :lol:

[Kake]

It's very nice. Light and swishy.

I'm a firm believer in enjoying your hair, not hating it it now, and hoping to like it at some mythical end point in the future.

[PixieP]

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments! :grouphug: I’ll be back on Sunday with some more detailed replies and probably more pictures; I’m going to a wedding tomorrow and I’m gonna wear my hair LOOSE and CURL IT :D I’m ridiculously excited haha XD

[melesine]

That's exactly why I chopped my hair a few years ago when I reached TBL. My hair now is in a lot better condition at waist since growing it back out.

[Dendra]

Congrats PixieP, you look so happy in the video it's great! And I like your idea of treating yourself to exciting hair toys for every milestone :)

[lucid]

Looks great and glad you're happy with your decision!!! I have been thinking of cutting back to hip for a while. Leaning towards cutting atm :p

[Suze]

Your hair is beautiful, at any length. Really glad you are so happy with it!

[vpatt]

Your hair looks great, but the happiness on your face is what really got my attention!

[MusicalSpoons]

You look so happy! I'm glad it was a considered chop and that it makes you as happy with your hair as you hoped. Enjoy it, and happy regrowing to wherever you feel most comfortable :flower:

[PixieP]

Picture spam time! :D

https://i.imgur.com/PDLRGW6.jpg
Terrible picture, but it's the only one that kinda shows the pretty glam waves I had

https://i.imgur.com/wuOIudo.jpg
Day after with leftover waves; yay I can get a fork to hold in a half-up cinnablob!

https://i.imgur.com/vsISEro.jpg
Dutch braid showing of my light streaks nicely

https://i.imgur.com/BICjJba.jpg
Aaaaalmost all my hair in a bun! Yassss.

https://i.imgur.com/CjsjpA2.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/th6zZaE.jpg
Double braid time!

https://i.imgur.com/6GQJUNQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/MGfX9ET.jpg
Airdried but windblown XD

https://i.imgur.com/pj8f0A2.jpg
New fork!!! It won't really hold one bun (fell out like 3 seconds after the picture) but I think it will hold a sectioned bun ^_^

https://i.imgur.com/iJixnmS.jpg
And I can juuuuust about make a tiny LWB half up to hold with a stick XD I'm gonna take inspiration from Booky and get myself some leather 8's to use my sticks with :)

[Serimel]

To new beginnings! :toast: Your mane looks glorious!

[C_Bookworm]

:thudpile: Those waves! Those streaks. Sooo pretty :crush:

Hehe and yay! Love the leather 8s. So easy peasy and great for getting the front volume.

[Ardyn]

Your long hair was amazing, but your short cut really suits you and it looks SO healthy. Like, you can really see the difference, it's thriving for having the damage taken off.

And like you say, hair grows. And it's growing from a great foundation now.

I chopped my waist length to a pixie two months ago and I'm growing it healthier this time. Sworn off dye and all that, as I'd murdered my length with bleach and dyes. It's gonna look so much better for it. And, yes, the weight off is so weird, isn't it? My neck CRACKED when I got mine cut!

[Robot Ninja]

It looks really cute, and I'm glad you're happy with it. The important thing is to enjoy your hair.

[Alissalocks]

I am so envious of your French inverted braids, and twisted braids. Your hair is SO thick, you have more hair one one side of your head than I do on my whole scalp :cloud9: Totally inspirational, enjoy it!

[illicitlizard]

Wowza, taking off that amount of length :agape: it does look healthier though, and hair always grows back :) Hope you're still enjoying the super light hair! Sometimes you just have to get the literal weight off your shoulders(/head)