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View Full Version : 1 year Trimming Anniversary and 6 year LHC Anniversary. Ghost Hair Trimming Progress



cathair
July 22nd, 2018, 09:07 PM
Hi :waving:

It's my one year trimming anniversary and my 6th LHC anniversary all at once, so I thought I'd share my progress. Or lack thereof.

I also thought it would be fun to show some thin (not fine, my hair is coarse) hair photos. 'cause I know they get shared less often because people are often less comfortable posting them.

If we haven't met before, hi :)

This is a little bit about my background if you need it. Pre-LHC, I use you straighten my hair on the hottest setting every day. I didn't trim my hair very much, but it didn't really grow either.

I joined LHC in 2010. I wanted to know how to grow my hair and when people thought long hair really needed to be trimmed. (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=99364) I didn't take the great trimming advice I was given for 5 years, in true cathair style. I am very stubborn. I soaked up everything I could about looking after hair better though and my hair did start to grow.

I didn't trim for 7 years (that's the official number. It may have been more like 9 or 10. I didn't know the exact date and didn't want to over estimate). I grew from shoulder to classic/thumb length with no trims and some S&D.

See-through ends

The length was great, but my ends are completely see-through. I know that the vast majority here would not consider keeping ends that look like mine. For along time I was unable to cut them, but eventually I won that mental battle.

Deciding to Trim

Last July I started self trimming for the first time. My hair feels long at this length. I know they say you get LHC-itus and it's never long enough. But at classic I felt like it was long enough. I'd been told many times by different people it was impossible for me. I wouldn't say no to longer, but I think I need to focus on quality over length now. I intend to maintain, as long as it stays about at classic, I will be happy enough.

I still wonder if there is straightener damage hanging around in there which has made the ends so thin. Trimming will be the only way to find out.

The first trim was really hard. It took me a day to work myself up to do it. Then I was quite flustered even so. Eventually I just had to stop thinking and lop some off and hope it was alright. Just to make that first cut.

Up until now, I haven't taken any photos and tried not to look to much, I didn't want to get disheartened. Now it been a year, I thought I should be allowed a peak.

How Often I have Trimmed

It hasn't been regular, but I have trimmed eight times in the last year and 9 days. More than I thought. I was stunned when I added up the total length trimmed. Makes me wonder what my actual growth rate is and how much would normally crumble away!

If I didn't have photographic evidence of each trim in the microtrimming thread, I wouldn't have believed I had recorded it correctly. Each post is linked below. They were not-so-micro-trims after all.

Trim 1 13/07/2017 - 1.5 inches (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=75468&p=3435567&viewfull=1#post3435567)

Trim 2 13/08/2018 - 1.5cm / 0.6 inches (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=75468&p=3447825&viewfull=1#post3447825)

Trim 3 22/10/2018 - 1.5 inches (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=75468&p=3472200&viewfull=1#post3472200)

Time 4 06/01/2018 - 2 inches (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=75468&p=3496207&viewfull=1#post3496207)

Trim 5 25/02/2018 - 0.5 inches (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=75468&p=3515771&viewfull=1#post3515771)

Trim 6 12/04/2018 - 1.5 inches (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=75468&p=3535366&viewfull=1#post3535366)

Trim 7 13/06/2018 - 1 inch (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=75468&p=3560769&viewfull=1#post3560769)

Trim 8 22/07/2018 - 1.5 inches (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=75468&p=3576393&viewfull=1#post3576393)

Total: 10.1 inches !!!

2017 vs 2018 Photos During the Trim

Each stage of the trim, I take a photo to document what I did. So when I doubt myself, I know where I was at. Here are the photos from the first trim vs yesterdays trim.

I measure how much to cut off by holding it up to a ruler. Then I cut the hair right next to my thumb and finger. You can see in the first picture it is pretty much pointed. It was all fairytail ends, if there was even enough to call them that. All of my hair came to one tiny point when bought together.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1784/43580001231_25e49249c5_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/29p1U4z)


This is how much hair came off are each trim. It's noticeable when I trim now, the hairs in the bit that come off are more often the same length as each other. It was very random when I started.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/860/29709162208_f4d00918dd_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/MgidSC)

Ends after the trim.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/837/43580004531_47da42b439_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/29p1V3t)
2018-07-22 - 2017 vs 2018 - Ends After Trimming (https://flic.kr/p/29p1V3t) by Cat Hair (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132137951@N03/), on Flickr

Another view of the ends.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1767/43580007611_2d306e4730_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/29p1VXz)
2018-07-22 - 2017 vs 2018 - Ends After Trim Looser (https://flic.kr/p/29p1VXz) by Cat Hair (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132137951@N03/), on Flickr

I think there is a modest improvement. They look more blunt when held together and there are more of them.

Lengths Shots

This is where results start to get murky and very subjective. There's two things I am trying to measure. Whether the ends are getting any thicker and whether or not the thicker part of my hair is travelling downwards.

I choose to compare to photos from 2016, because the July 2017 ones weren't so clear. I put on the same clothes (even though I hate them) for science.

I was frankly very disappointed. My hair appeared to have got worse not better and the thickness didn't seem to be travelling down at all.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/836/29709164158_8598d92b49_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Mgiesf)2016 vs 2018 Light Clothes (https://flic.kr/p/Mgiesf) by Cat Hair (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132137951@N03/), on Flickr

But, I realised since my hair has got so much more white now roughly 30% white. Wearing a white t-shirt was probably not a fair way to look at white hair. It was when it was darker. So I changed clothes.

It's a struggle trying to find something that will contrast with tri-coloured hair. I probably need to buy myself a pink or orange dress or something. But I did my best.

There was some improvement:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1784/29709167768_e3cb098a0f_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Mgifwu)
2016 vs 2018 Dark Clothes (https://flic.kr/p/Mgifwu) by Cat Hair (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132137951@N03/), on Flickr

Most of the underside of the back of my hair is white now. There is also a white streak you can just about see coming in straight down the middle of the back. Everything around ears is blue. Not sure a blue top was great either, but I have a limited number of coloured clothes. I am quite unsure that the thickness is travelling down, which is what I really hoped for.

Ghost Hair

If I remove all the colour, suddenly hair appears! Or it looks a little better anyway.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/915/29709150208_7f7aab92b3_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/MgiaiJ)
2018-07-22 - Found the Hair (https://flic.kr/p/MgiaiJ) by Cat Hair (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132137951@N03/), on Flickr

Proof that Hair Exists and Isn't a Figment of my Imagination

A length shot is not very representative of how it is usually worn. I will usually pull it together or put it over one shoulder. If it's not up, which is most of the time. I like my length shots to be as accurate as I can make them, no fluffing them out.

Nicer pics:

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/918/43579996461_c23600291b_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/29p1SDk)
2018-07021 - Proof of Existence of Hair (https://flic.kr/p/29p1SDk) by Cat Hair (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132137951@N03/), on Flickr

cathair
July 22nd, 2018, 09:08 PM
Silliness

I had a little headbang to cheer myself up. It revealed a gaggle of nape hairs that I really wish would catch up with the rest.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/839/29709148428_c4a1ddf57e_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Mgi9M3)
2018-07-22 - Headbanging Nape Hairs (https://flic.kr/p/Mgi9M3) by Cat Hair (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132137951@N03/), on Flickr

I'm pretty sure that most people would prefer to have the hair in the 2013 picture. I don't want to go any shorter though. I have no desire to stop trimming at least.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/930/29709146828_ba1778f62f_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Mgi9is)
2018-07-22 - Long Hair Dont Care (https://flic.kr/p/Mgi9is) by Cat Hair (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132137951@N03/), on Flickr

[Man I hate that 'long hair do care' shampoo advert. I feel like they came here and are trolling us. Have you seen it?]

I will keep on keeping on and hope to see some more improvement next year. Maybe :)

sophia_
July 22nd, 2018, 09:17 PM
Looks gorgeous! The progress is visible! I myself am maintaining at my length and I find my own ends are doing much better than they ever have after a chop.

Jas
July 23rd, 2018, 04:29 AM
I haven't seen you around for a while! It's great to see the trim progress - there's definite improvement, a lot more hairs in the 2018 shot at the end so it's doing its job. 10 inches! That's pretty amazing and you're still past classic :D

I love the blue in your hair too, it's so vibrant and that white streak on the underside of your hair looks so cool! I bet it's really visible when up in a bun.

I wonder how much thicker another year will make the ends ;D Hopefully if you maintain at classic you'll see thicker ends which will show there's some hair thickness moving down.

What did you change about your haircare routine from 2013-2018? Apart from the heat use.

lapushka
July 23rd, 2018, 05:13 AM
You are classic length, girl, and... hey, you've proven to all of us that you can have fun with your hair (headbanging). :)

I think it looks great.

veryhairyfairy
July 23rd, 2018, 07:18 AM
I see definite progress, and whoa that hair quadruples on a grey background! Love that you took pics of the ends- that's a much clearer indicator of how many hairs reach the hem.

Love your color and texture and perseverance! :flowers:

Arciela
July 23rd, 2018, 09:24 AM
I love the color!! So pretty :) You've made some great progress!!

spidermom
July 23rd, 2018, 10:08 AM
It looks like you're on the right track.

Lilac Ghostpops
July 23rd, 2018, 10:21 AM
Your hear looks great, love the colour! So jealous of the length lol been stuck at APL for years it feels like lol.

Jo Ann
July 23rd, 2018, 10:24 AM
My hair fades from about WL on down, Cathair. I just rock it!

Nice headbanging, BTW :face:

MusicalSpoons
July 23rd, 2018, 11:40 AM
Oh wow taking the colour out makes a HUGE difference - you can really see the thickness has travelled down well! And your white streak is awesome :D

Dendra
July 23rd, 2018, 12:06 PM
Congrats on your anniversaries, cathair! I really enjoyed reading what you wrote, I love how detailed you've been with documenting your journey :)

Also the ghost photo is cool and you can really see your progress! Keep on with what you're doing and keep us updated :thumbsup:

lithostoic
July 23rd, 2018, 02:28 PM
Looks great!

embee
July 23rd, 2018, 03:31 PM
Yes, the thickness have moved down! How you managed to trim some 10 inches and still have classic is beyond me! :)

cathair
July 24th, 2018, 03:03 PM
Thanks sophia_ :flower: I'm pleased to hear you ends are doing better.

Jas, I lurk a bit, but don't have much to post about these days. I'm glad you can see some improvement. I see it in the trimming photos, but not so much in the length ones. The white streak is very prominent when it's up! It's turning whiter all over especially at the front soon, so I guess I should enjoy the dark bits while I have them. If my hair turns out like my Dad's side of the family, there won't be any brown left my the time I am 40.

What have I changed? Everything I guess! More than once :) I did all the usual things, stopped using hair elastics. I found that I can't tie braids off at all otherwise my ends split in seconds. But I don't need to tie them off. I bun mostly now. I've been using mostly sticks, but switching to forks now I have some. They hold better and I find I can bun much more loosely. I am hoping that will have some positive effect. I think sticks may put more strain on the ends, at least the way I do it.

I went from sulphates and cones to sulphate and cone free curly girl, then back to sulphates and cones. My ends need the cones and I don't so much care about the curls because I rarely wear it down.

I was using Ultimate Blends Honey Treasures of years, but it's not working so well now. I've been looking for a replacement but haven't found one that does everything I want yet. Experimenting is a pain, I've lost the enthusiasm for it and it's harder without strict requirements, weirdly.

I've tried a lot of oils. Coconut pre-wash still works best, but I still hate the smell. I was doing that every wash, but slacked off. I should do it more.

I did the sleep cap and satin pillowcase thing, but I don't sleep well like that. I sleep braided for a while, a side braid but that did cause breakage at the opposite side. That's my biggest regret. So I use slumbernets with hair loose underneath now. Keeps the tangles away enough, even if it falls off and it's not restraining anything enough to cause breakage. So far.

I can't think what else to tell you. I was worried my VR headset would ruin my hair, but it seems fine. It hasn't caused breakage at the top.

Thanks lapushka :flowers: I'm really happy to be at the same milestone as you, even if only for a moment :) It has to be fun right, or else what's the point?

It's weird isn't it veryhairyfairy? I'm not sure if that's real thickness in the grey photo or a trick of shadows looking like hair. Either way it make me giggle :) I'm glad I took the trimming photos, or I'd be feeling quite disheartened now.

I love your profile photo :heatbeat it's super cute.

Cheers Arciela :blossom: wishing you all the best on your journey to knee.

Thanks spidermom, I hope so :) Hopefully slowly and steadily it will improve.

Thank you Lilac Ghostpops :flower: I felt like that too when I joined, it never seemed to grow. I'm sure you'll get there too with a bit of persistence. Trying to only check it's length once a year helps more than you'd think!

cathair
July 24th, 2018, 03:03 PM
And there was too many emojis for one comment...

You sure do rock it Jo Ann! :rockerdud I have a feeling you might not being a stranger to a little headbanging either? :D

Cheers MusicalSpoons :blossom: I hope it has travelled down some, but I remain a paranormal sceptic :lol:

I'm glad my post was a little entertaining. Thanks for the kinds words Dendra. I will keep the Microtrimming and Maintaining thread (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=75468) updated with progress. Until next year... :)

Thanks lithostoic :flower:

embee it's completely beyond me to honestly. I guessed before I added it up and through maybe 4 or 5 inches. My jaw hit the floor at that figure.

The best I can guess is that I started beyond classic at thumb. Which is equidistant between fingertip and classic on me, 2 inches either way. Or if I say maybe I fluffed the measurements in the photos by half an inch (I don't think I did, but the hair does curl on the ruler a little) that would be 8 trims x 0.5 inches. Which would give a total of 6 inches. Still respectable, but more like what you would expect from a year.

Time will tell how it goes next year! After the next 3 inches or so, every inch feels significantly thicker. It would be nice to see more substantial progress, but I'm well prepared for that to take another 3 or 4 years or trying. It's lovely to hear you see some progress in it travelling down :)

Thanks for sharing my journey with me all, it's much less arduous when you're not alone :heartbeat

Jo Ann
July 24th, 2018, 03:41 PM
You sure do rock it Jo Ann! :rockerdud I have a feeling you might not being a stranger to a little headbanging either? :D

I'm not :p Sometimes it embarrasses my boys, but what the hay--I'm MOM :rockerdud

Rowdy
July 24th, 2018, 06:10 PM
Congratulations on one full year of trimming! I love how meticulous you were with the photos. The difference between the first and last trim photo is huge!

Garnetgem
July 24th, 2018, 09:16 PM
Great progress and i really can see the thickness travel down the length..i have a very sharp eye,i love how you go to detail on explaining it makes reading a post interesting..

squirrrel
July 24th, 2018, 11:39 PM
I loved seeing the progress of your hair over the last year. Agreeing with everyone else, it’s really benefiting from the changes you have made.

ravenskey
July 25th, 2018, 10:03 AM
Congrats on both your anniversaries and I can really see the thickness traveling down :)