I've lost a friend & my hair.....

[Country Cowcurl]

15 days ago, a friend of mine was killed in Afghanistan. traditionally, native americans cut their hair off to mourn the loss of a loved one. it was a hard decision, but ultimately i felt like cutting my hair off was appropriate to mourn Trevor's death.

my hair is now bobbed in an a-line....i actually had it trimmed up to look like kellie pickler's. it's cute & kinda sassy but i miss my hair. last year, i was able to go from collarbone to waist in one year (7" of growth) so i'm hopeful that it won't take long until i feel like my hair is back.

in the meantime, does anyone have any tips to grow it faster?? along the lines of vitamin regiments, or such?

thank you

[vindo]

I am sorry to hear about your loss ((hugs))

That tradition seems like a very powerful gesture.

Honestly there is nothing that will make it grow faster. But by maintaining a healthy diet and being in good health you will make sure that your hair will grow to its full potential.
Many here also take additional hair vitamins, which can assure that you are "fully charged".

I wish you all the best and that your hair will grow back in no time.

[manderly]

I'm sorry for your loss :flower:

If your hair grew that quickly once, it will grow quickly again.

Time heals all wounds, but will often leave a scar :grouphug:

[SimplyLonghair]

I understand your situation. When my mom passed I cut my hair. It is a hard decision, but it shows the honor that we do them. The loss of the joy of your hair is part of the gift.

Your friend must have been very special to have you as a friend.

My suggestion is take good care of your diet, eat healthy, and drink more water. Everyone that I know that got really fast growth, drank plenty of water on a consistent basis.

[RancheroTheBee]

I did the same thing a few years ago, except I actually went and shaved my head. I know how therapeutic it can be.

Just be patient, though. And I'm sorry for your loss.

[hanne jensen]

My deepest condolences on your terrible loss. For hair growth there are many threads here at TLC that are filled with good tips and advice.
Lady Aster SErios of the Calming Hands in the Order of Long Haired Knights

[MimiKeki]

I felt really sad to hear about your loss cowcurl. It's awful to lose a friend in that way, but I think keeping up with your tradition really shows a strength in you. I really respect that, and I think it's lovely that you did this for the memory of your friend.
I think your hair should be so much more beautiful in the future for it :) Besides, it sounds like you're a fast grower! You'll have that hair back in no time ;)
Your hair looks gorgeous in your sig though, the style really suits you.

[MountainGypsy]

I am so very sorry for your loss. And I agree, you look just lovely in your siggie, you have beautiful hair at any length.

[Aditi]

I am so sorry for your loss and i truly respect your courage and decision regarding cutting your hair for your friend. You have quiet a nice growth rate so be patient i am sure in no time your hair will again grow to its previous length or even more than that.

[ChloeDharma]

I'm really sorry for your loss, and i think what you did was a beautiful thing :flower:

It does sound like you have good growth anyway so you might not be able to increase it, but things to try would be drinking lots of water as has been suggested. A good diet with a good multivitamin, maybe one of the hair formulas. EFA supplement, MSM, biotin, zinc, maybe check out the borgello (sp) supplement plan. Scalp massage, and scalp oilings with something like mahabhringraj oil.
Good luck

[Country Cowcurl]

thank you all so much for the comments & suggestions!! this is indeed a beautiful community. and it really was the least i could do for trev......he was an american hero, that one. i guess i can think of it as my hair gets a little big longer every day, and hopefully i miss him just a little less. i know i'll never stop missing him, but i also know he'd hate me crying over him. lol. that just wasn't his style.

[LittleOrca]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. :blossom:

I give you props for cutting your hair for this reason. I am sure wherever Trevor is he is smiling on you.

My suggestions for your hair growing seem to be echoed throughout all these pages, so I will just say MSM and some scalp massages.

We're all here for you. :) :grouphug:

[Addy]

I am so sorry for your loss. My condolences to you, his family and friends and a thank you to Trevor for his service to my Country! :cool:

You are a very beautiful girl. I hope you can find peace and lots of patience in growing your hair back.

[DavidN]

I am so sorry for your loss, Country Cowcurl, and what you did in honour of your dear friend was a courageous and heartwarming act.:grouphug: My very best of luck to you in your new hair growing journey.

[Chrissy]

Blessings to you and I'm so sorry about your dear friend. As your hair grows you can just think of your friend and know you did this to honor him. What an unselfish gift. You are a very beautiful woman and your siggy is very pretty. You're hair will be back in no time.

[Unzadi]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. Trevor was a true American hero, and blessed to have you as a friend. I think your tradition is a lovely way to honor him.

[DecafJane]

That is a wonderful gesture. I'm so sorry that you lost your friend.

It sounds like you have healthy hair, so the best thing you can do is stay healthy and it should take care of itself. Good luck.

[RavennaNight]

Tgat is a beautiful gesture and I am sorry to hear of your loss. Just keep to a healthy diet and hair vitamins and it will come back in no time:). Time heals. :flower:.

[Pixna]

My sympathies to you on the loss of your dear friend, Cowcurl. It took courage to extend that painful gesture of mourning. Your heart will heal as your hair grows back. My advice is simply to take good care of yourself, put the love into the care of your hair that you put into your relationship with Trevor. It will grow back again. We are both at the same length now, so let's grow together.

[Akiko]

I am very sorry for your loss. :grouphug: Your post made me cry... It is so difficult to lose someone so special, especially at such young age.

I respect your decision to cut your hair. I don't know any miracle way to expedite hair growth. But your hair grows fast. It will grow back rather quickly. Just keep a good diet and moderate exercise... Over all good health is the best thing I can think of...

[squiggyflop]

sorry to hear that.. um well i had extremely fast growth with natrol skin hair nails and centrum.. i was getting 2-3 inches a month.. but im thinking it would only give you growth that your genes would allow for.. my genetics make me capable of very fast growth so long as i get the proper nutrition.. why did i stop taking them.. well thats simple.. they raised the price from 6$ to 16$.. im not paying 16$ a month for vitamins just so i can get 3 inches a month.. but maybe you can afford it.. oh and eat tons of protein..

[Fencai]

I am so sorry for your loss, and your gesture speaks volumes, and is one from the heart.

Biotin is really working for me. As well as scalp massages.
A clean diet helps too.

*HUGGLES*

[Tressie]

I'm so sorry for your loss! Trevor is an American hero, and I like that you said he wouldn't want you to be sad. It sounds like your hair growns very fast, so in no time at all, you should regain your lost length. In the mean time, enjoy your swingy short hair! It looks great on you and you are lovely! (o:

[Comfrey]

Oh god, I am SO sorry for your loss. I actually dont know what else to say, except I really do feel your pain :grouphug:

[az_sweetie01]

For your loss, I send my deepest sympathies...for you, I wish the best. You seem to be as beautiful in the inside as you are on the outside. In no time, your hair will grow back (I second the vitamins and healthful diet :) )

Take care!

[Darkhorse1]

Let me just say I am SO sorry for your loss. (((hugs))). I think your culture has a beautiful tradition and what a selfless thing to do.

I found eating more protien helped when I was growing out my hair. So, lots of milk and cheeses/dairy etc. :)

[JamieLeigh]

I'm sorry for your loss, and I respect your decision to mourn your friend according to your own traditions. :blossom:

As for growing back, there really is no magic trick to growing it faster...just keep your body healthy and your hair will grow its best. :)

[Culdayne]

I just wanted to say I am deeply sorry for your loss. :flower:

[Coriander]

You have honored your friend in a way that was selfless and beautiful. I'm so very sorry for your loss. :grouphug:

I agree with the others about taking vitamins. Not only is this good for the hair, but it is also good for your body and mind when you're going through such an emotional time.

Much love :flower:

p.s. you do look lovely in your new photo :)

[NurseMama]

I am so sorry for your loss. I cut my hair from waist to my chin when my mom died as well. It was cathartic and a way to show externally how different being without her felt.

If you are interested in speeding up your growth, many people have had quite a bit of success with monistat. Check out the monistat thread to see more info.

[spidermom]

Sincerely condolences for your loss. I don't believe in doing anything to "force" growth because I fear a greater percentage of my hair would reach terminal length all at once and then shed out all at once, leaving me nearly bald. Yikes! Just take care of you - eat well, drink water, get exercise, sleep.

[Country Cowcurl]

thank you so much to everyone who replied!! your words mean more than you could imagine.....i honestly think it's going to be really difficult until the 24th, when he is put to rest at Arlington National Cemetary. maybe then i will feel some more closure. but all of your condolences and advice is so appreciated!!

and the compliments are so sweet. i think the same things of you all!!

luv,
b

[Silverlox]

My most heartfelt sympathies and condolences for your loss. I can only echo what others have already said. It is such a beautiful gesture and a great way to honour your friendship, as well as your culture.

Take care. Time is a very good, but slow, healer. Given time, the hurt will subside and your hair will once again reach its former length.
:grouphug:

[Beloved]

Country Cowcurl, I am so sorry that you lost your friend Trevor. My brother is deploying to Afghanistan soon so it gives me a pang to hear about someone losing a person they love. You look stunningly beautiful even in the short cut. My advice is don't worry about vitamins. Let the sadness about your hair mix with your sadness for your friend, and let your mourning time take you in.

[YogaGirl59]

Cowcurl,

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. My son is currently serving a second tour in Iraq with the Army's 1st ID. Every loss in Iraq or Afghanistan breaks my heart.

As the others have stated, your culture has a beautiful and very meaninful way to express loss.

[HeatherMae]

I am so sorry that you lost your friend. ((((Hugs))))

I can't tell you how much I admire that you cut your hair for that reason. What a wonderful thing to do.

On the plus side, you are absolutely GORGEOUS with short hair & I'm sure you look amazing with long hair too. So at least you can look great while you are growing your hair back out. :)

I really don't have any good tips for you though. My hair seems to grow in spurts. Right now I am experiencing a SLOW spurt. I have only grown 2 inches since November.

Best of luck to you in your new growing adventures.

[Lady Verity]

Oh, I'm so sorry. A friend of mine just lost her cousin there, too.

God, I hate war.

[Redheaded Raven]

I am so sorry that you lost your friend Trevor.
and I understand why you cut your hair and it is a great way to honor your friendship, as well as your culture:grouphug: good luck

[s_tresses]

I am just happy people like you exist. What you did is priceless. You have a nice growth rate, I can only hope it grows back, really fast!:D

[Country Cowcurl]

i've tried to reply to all who posted, but if i missed you.....tell me, and i can!!

people like you are the reason i know there's hope for a better world

thank you

[Sissy]

I don't have any new advice that hasn't already been given here. Just wanted to say sorry for the loss of your dear friend Trevor. :-(

[arabidbutterfly]

I am deeply sorry for your loss.
One positive thing is that if you had any damage before, it has surely been cut off now, and your hair will be even healthier than it was before.

[Coriander]

I wanted to come by and see how the OP was doing.

:grouphug:

[Country Cowcurl]

thank you for your concern, coriander!! you're so sweet! i'm doing okay, i guess....some days are better than others. yesterday wasn't very good because i found a flyer from an extremely conservative church who believes that God Himself is killing soldiers and that it's God's punishment for America's sins.

apparently, they will be "peacefully protesting" at trevor's funeral on tuesday. this sickens & angers me. because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how you feel about war, politics, morality, or God Himself......it's about the sacrifice that military heroes make every single day.

i was actually thinking about getting a tattoo on my 21st birthday. i wasn't sure what it should be, but i wanted it to be meaningful. i think i may have found it......

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7433/00034c3x.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/00034c3x.jpg/1/w229.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img527/00034c3x.jpg/1/)

something like this, but with a yellow ribbon. and maybe a pink butterfly, because that's my favorite color.....

[LisaButz2001]

How are wack jobs able to protest at a funeral? Can't they be sealed to the public? It's bad enough that your friend has died without adding insult to injury. I am sorry for your loss. Cool tattoo. Breast Cancer Awareness?

[Country Cowcurl]

they're allowed to be at a "respectful distance" from funerals due to freedom of speech.....

and that's not my tattoo, it's an idea of what i'd like to get. it is for breast cancer, but i want to make it yellow, as it's traditionally "support the troops"

[LittleOrca]

It doesn't seem right to protest at the funeral of a fallen soldier. I was against the war, but it's not the troops fault they were sent there and not their fault they died. If they want to protest, let them sit on Bush's front lawn [or whomever they feel is at fault].

[WindowDressing]

thank you so much to everyone who replied!! your words mean more than you could imagine.....i honestly think it's going to be really difficult until the 24th, when he is put to rest at Arlington National Cemetary. maybe then i will feel some more closure. but all of your condolences and advice is so appreciated!!

and the compliments are so sweet. i think the same things of you all!!

luv,
b

Dear b,
Thank you for sharing your own courage to honor your brave friend's sacrifice. The gesture is a demonstration of the sharp loss and slow growth back that is one's mane and one's wounded heart of friendship.

My prayers and gratitude both go up for your Trevor, friends and family, and all those like him in the dangerous missions they choose to serve.

Love and Hugs,
WD :)

[WindowDressing]

BTW the clown who does those demon-strations is NO representative of any conservative or Christian that I know or ever would want to know.

JMHO. Our military follow orders, that is their sworn honor and oath to our nation. Bless their souls forever.

Your anger and disgust is completely justified, dear b. I hate what is being allowed to occur at a funeral of NO concern of these buffoons. :(