Do you measure your hair dry or wet?

[CaityBear]

Do you measure your hair when it is dry or wet?

I've never really thought about it until last night. I always measure my hair dry though.

[Riot Crrl]

Lol I only measured it once so far. I just did it dry but I pulled it straight, so it should be about the same as wet.

[amaiaisabella]

I never thought to measure it when wet! I think that would give me a false sense of hope though, since my hair is longer when wet :)

My only problem is that I measure it myself, so unless it grows a full inch, I can't tell when there is a miminum amount of growth.

[AJoifulNoise]

Dry and pulled straight. Measuring it wet would give me a false reading.

[HeavenlyTresses]

I measure mine dry but I don't pull it straight. It's a little hard to do it myself--weird ways I have to twist my arms, tape measure is too short. I guess I measure it dry and don't pull it down because that is it's natural state. Hmm, I could probably get another inch or two if I could pull it straight :grin:

[Unnamed]

Both. Wet/damp/dry doesn't seem to impact the measurement; I guess from the 1a-ness. :shrug:

[Wanderer09]

Dry...that's the measurement that really counts for me.

[Cinnamon Hair]

I measure dry. I think measuring wet is a better idea for curlies than those with straight hair since it gives them a more accurate reading of their true length.

[Darian Moone]

Another "dry" measurer here.

[orangeeyecrayon]

i measure dry, and always on a day after i have worn it in a bun, this way it kinda calms down the curls, but it is still shorter than when it is wet

[AprilElf]

I measure my hair wet.
It's much easier for me to get consistent measurements that way because of my waves.

[Alley Cat]

I used to measure it wet but now I measure it dry . :)

[Guenever]

When wet my hair stretches about 1 cm -- so I always measure when it's dry.. After all, my hair's dry most of the time^^

[Meli]

I measure wet/damp hair. I always wear my hair up, so my hair, when dry, has always a lot of braid/bunwaves. And obviously I'm incapable to get consistent measurements with different braidwaves... :silly:

[Lizbot]

I had only measured it once when I joined this community, and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by the results! I measured it dried and pulled it straight slightly. My waves have a tendency to bounce.

[ilovelonghair]

Wet, that is the only way to stretch it out, dry it is too fluffy. But I never get proper measurements anyway.

[jojo]

dry for me and i dont pull straight

[sahiba]

dry measure for me too

[Michiru]

I also measure dry.

[harley mama]

I measure mine when it is wet. I get a lot of shrinkage as it dries.

[chelles2kids]

I always measure when dry.
I think it's a more accurate measurement since I don't normally walk around with wet hair.:D


Michelle

[yzkaloha]

I measure when it is wet, since I lose inches once it has dried. That is how I started measuring it, but I have started measuring both, when it is wet and dry.

[Elizabeth]

I measure when my hair is dry.

[Naluin]

Wet. It's easier to get a consistent measurement that way.

[XtinaXposed]

i can only repeat what chelles2kids wrote.

[joyful373]

I measure my hair when it is dry. It always makes me overly hopeful for growth when it is wet. We can all hope though :)

[OR Cowgirl]

Because my waves and curls are so inconsistent I always measure wet.

Mariah

[Florida Mom]

Dry. Maybe I should try wet LOL!

[HappyHaley]

Dry for me.

~Haley

[1nuitblanche]

I use a string and measure when it's dry.

[FrannyG]

I measure my hair dry.

[MoonSong]

Since my hair can be somewhat wavy, to get an exact measurement I have to measure it wet. Other wise my wave would vary the measurement a great deal I think.

I still need to find that cloth measuring tape though! This plastic doodad just isn't working for me.

[PatGear]

Dry, but pulled straight for repeatability. My waves generates 2"-5" shrinkage so it's not useful to measure without pulling it straight.

[socks]

I measure my hair when it's wet for consistency because its waves and curls can easily alter the length by half a foot or more.

[Druid of Alba]

I do it dry, but I have straight hair...

[Legend]

I have wavy hair, so I measure it while damp before it gets too springy. A bit of a compromise. ;)

[Stagecoach]

For official measuring I do it dry. When I need a bit of encouragment to keep on growing, I do it wet just! :D

[wintersun99]

Both, out of curiosity - but take dry as official length

[aney]

I measure it dry and stetch it straight!

[Teacherbear]

If/when I measure my hair, I measure it wet for consistency sake. My hair curls and waves up when it is dry and no 2 days give me the same length.

[flapjack]

Mine is about 1/4 inch shorter when it's dry so it doesn't matter, honestly. Haha.

[Saranne772]

Dry measurer but I do like to note mentally the length when wet as that is the true length even if its not seen that way when dry

[forgetmenotak]

I measure my hair dry and pulled down. But I think that I shouldn't because my hair shrinks up and it doesn't look 26 inches :(

[RavennaNight]

I measure dry. It seems longer when wet, but dry is what matters, to me at least.

[Nevermore]

Dry and pulled straight, generally. I usually stick my arm behind my back, fingercomb the longest part of my V and find the absolute longest part, while my tape measure is chilling from my hairline to my ends, then hold my hair against the tape measure and travel down until my hair ends, mark the measurement with a fingernail and look at it. I need to pull straight or I'd never get consistant measurements. I did measure dry and wurly though and discovered that it's about 2 inches shorter that way *shrugs* I'm more interested in true length than apparent length.

[Marysmirth]

I measure both wet and dry. It shrinks up, like, an inch and a half! But the wet measurement keeps me encouraged.

[Gladtobemom]

I measure dry.

[Dulci]

I measure wet, easiest way for me to get consistency.

[Patrycja]

When I do measure(its been more than quite awhile)its always dry.Maybe I should measure wet....

[Forever_Sophie]

I measure wet, easiest way for me to get consistency.

I've been meaning to measure (haven't before!!), keep forgetting to, but yes, this is how I'd measure it and why :)

[Islandgrrl]

I measure dry. It never even occurred to me to measure it wet.

[Fillette]

I always measure my hair dry. I wish my hair could look as long when dry as it does when wet. Oh well, the joys of being a curly! Hehe!

[flapjack]

What the crap, my first post in here is not true, apparently. I've been measuring about ten minutes out of the shower and then later when it dries and I lose a full inch of length. I don't have any wave, though. It's been consistent for ten days, though, according to my little experiment. It is what it is, I guess, haha.


So I guess I'll measure dry from now on. Since, well, most people, including me, are only really going to see it dry.

[squiggyflop]

i think im going o start measuring wet because i get too many inconsistencys with dry hair.. my hair is definatly longer looking while wet but i want to go by the true length of the hair

[eadwine]

Dry and pulled straight. When wet the hair can stretch and that doesn't give me a correct value.

[teeleigh]

I always measure my hair dry and laying naturally, not stretched. I guess I measure how long it "looks" since if I stretched it out, it would be an extra inch or so. (That's how long it would look to other people)

[PrincessColene]

I am really curly so I measure wet. That way I know how long the hair actually is. After reading some of these posts, I think I'll measure dry too and see just how much difference there really is.

[JamieLeigh]

I measure it dry, and don't pull it straight. I figure that'd be cheating, since it doesn't lay straight naturally. LOL. ;)

[paper]

I measure my hair wet. It likes to bounce up when dry so it's hard to take a good measurement. Unless I had someone to pull it straight for me.

[gmdiaz]

I've only had my hair measured once with a tape measure. . .when it was towel-dried and damp but pulled straight. I've got lots of ever changing waves.

I don't think it matters how you measure your locks, as long as you do it the same way each time. . .supposing you're measuring to see how much growth per month or some such.

But what I really look to, are the benchmark lengths. . .waist, tail-bone, classic etc.

[AcadieAnne]

I mesure dry; wet seems almost cheaty. :p

[Aditi]

I measure my hair when they are dry and i don't pull them keep them as it is.

[Alaskanheart]

dry and recently washed.

[kdaniels8811]

Yesterday glanced at myself in the mirror and I am at BSL when wet. A full inch shorter dry. So I measure wet, want every inch I can get! Smile...

[Teazel]

I always measure mine dry, after washing.

[Finoriel]

I also measure mine when it just has dried after washing. Not every wash though :gabigrin: still washing more often than every other month.

[dulce-de-leche]

I measure dry.I have wavy hair so by the time hair wash comes around my hair has become super straight with oil.This is the only time I will measure. :)

[Johanna64]

I measure my hair dry,I pull my curls straight :)

[LadyLongLocks]

I measure mine when it is dry. I pull slightly. Now my significant other does it for me.I measure it about twice a month.

[rags]

I measure dry, but with 1A hair I wouldn't think it would make too much of a difference!

[Morningglory]

I take my measurment with dry hair. But, I will pull out the tape measure,
and measure wet once in a while for fun!

[mugglemomof3]

Always dry. But usually when it's been a few days since washing or when I've "straightened" it in some way. I'm a 2b/2c, so there's a difference betwen "natural curls" and straight as far as length goes.

[spidermom]

My hair wants to curl up when it's wet, so I blow-dry it straight.

[Chamomilemaiden]

If I measure then only when the hair is wet... The wave pattern is always different for me

[marzipanthecat]

I only measured it dry - it's a few inches longer when it is wet, and it feels like cheating for me to measure it then!

[BlackfootHair]

I measure mine when it's dry. If it's curly I just pull the hair straight.

[Oskimosa]

I've done it both ways, but I find damp or wet to be most consistent. My wavy layers just like to BAM! out when dry, and one side might curl up while the other side is laying down, making one side look longer.... Blah.

Although soaking wet it's longer; all over my bra strap. But it doesn't look like that dry because of all the flipping and waving, so I won't update my length as BSL yet.

[steph in tx]

I'm measuring it wet for the same reasons. My hair is never the same when it's dry, especially since I'm usually putting it up in a french twist while it's damp so I get twist waves that aren't ever the same. So I comb it out wet and have my daughter measure it for me in the back. I am using a strip of 1/4" binding that she is marking on so that I can see the growth as it happens. ;)

[Jules diamond]

Another dry once here. I never thought I should measure it wet, but it might be nice for a confidence boost.

[Phalaenopsis]

My hair is straight, so I just measure it when it's dry :)

[steph in tx]

I measured mine dry last night to see if there was a difference, and there didn't appear to be. Since my hair is pretty straight, I suppose it doesn't make a difference for me.

[MadPirateBippy]

I measure dry, it's longer wet.

[winter_star]

Always when my hair is dry.

[Nanni]

I measure it towel dry. Then I can comb it pretty straight and get a correct reading

[Noctifer]

I measure when its dry

[Carina]

I have never measured my hair at all.But if I would measure it would be on dry hair.

[zanne]

I measure it dry and natural rather than pulled straight. Wet throws me way off with my
2cishness.

[camirra555]

My hair is super curly so I do it when it's wet and even then I still have to stretch it. It does kinda feel like cheating but my hair loses around 5 inches of length when it dries

[wahmof9]

Hum...I measure dry and pull it to take out the curls...now I am starting to think maybe I should not...but then my hair is shorter and that would make me sad...sigh!

[shayly-fyanna]

I measure both ways. once after washing, combed and damp. then i measure dry the next day after brushing with a BBB to detangle. I do both to see the length when damp and when dry. i rarely measure monthly, i can go for about 3 months or more without measuring. most of the time when i measure is right before a trim and then after a trim to make sure the hair was trimmed as i asked.
Last time i trimmed and measured was January 7, 2009. due for a trim to even out the hemline.

[janeytilllie]

I measure with my hair dry and pulled straight :)

[HotRag]

I measure when wet. When dry I almost always have had it in braid and sleep cap, and the created waves, especially at the ends, shorten the hair.
I guess I could measure right after it has dried, but I would surely forget or be too tired.

[KajiKodomo]

I always measure dry, but I stretch the hair that I'm measuring, because my hair springs up and out, so I pull it down to get a good measurement.

[Henrietta]

I measure my hair dry. I have waves, so maybe there would be a difference. But I wouldn't believe it then:D And I am really trying not to pull the strands down. Really.

[tinti]

Dry because my measurements are allways totally weird when I measure my hair wet.

[MaKenna90]

I measure wet since my hair is somewhat curly.

[Becky Safari]

I have wavy hair, so it's easier to measure when wet because I don't have to stretch it out

[Loreley]

I measure when it's dry and I pull it straight.

[LissaJane]

Dry, my hair doesn't have many waves or curls, so it's roughly the same either way.

[soapstone]

I measure it wet and pulled straight.

[KLin]

I measure damp and pulled straight due to waves.

[IcarusBride]

I usually measure wet. My hair is naturally pretty strait, but when I haven't washed a few days, it picks up whorls and kinks from being bunned most of the time. I do trimming and measuring right after a washing.

[BeccaAngel]

i had a question about the measuring thing, my hair is layered. so do i measure by layer or from the top to the bottom?

[ooo]

I measure wet. Dry my hair curls differently every time. There would be no way to compare the measurements.

[Khiwanean]

I measure dry and pull my hair straight when I measure. Not that I measure that often...

[Braidy]

I measure dry and the way my hair falls naturally. For me it's about the lenght that people see.

[CaityBear]

i had a question about the measuring thing, my hair is layered. so do i measure by layer or from the top to the bottom?

Personally, I would just measure from the top to the bottom. Worrying about all the different layers would just be confusing. lol

[2peasinapod]

My hair is wavy, but I measure dry anyway. The shrinkage isn't that bad, and I don't wash my hair that often. It's solid APL when dry, and maybe 1/2 - 1 inch longer when wet. That's OK though, I love my waves! :D

I also have annoying layers, but I measure from the top to the bottom. The shortest layer is just a little under my collar bone, the longest is APL, and the rest are somewhere in between. I'm sure you can tell I'm very precise! ;)

[ddiana1979]

I've tried both ways. My hair is so straight it doesn't really make a difference for me.

[spoonshine]

I measure dry pulling any slight waves straight.

[Vapunzel91]

I usually measure it dry, but that is a good point. If I style my hair when it's wet, why don't I measure it when it's wet? It would seem to be more accurate.

[JulietCapulet]

I haven't actually measured it yet. I guess I go more for the way it looks rather than actual numeric value. However, I visually give it the mental measurement when I step out of the shower with it wet.

[growing2shine]

I also measure my hair when it's dry.

[Mina83]

I always measure dry

[Anywhere]

I measure my hair dry but I stretch it.

[Meridon]

I measure my hair dry but I stretch it.

Same here, well I've only measured it twice so far, lol, but because my waves vary day to day depending on how I've styled I figured pulling it straight is the best way to get a more accurate reading of growth.

[MandaMom2Three]

Dry. When my hair is dry and brushed out, it's clearly APL, but when it's wet it curls up to juuuuuuuust past shoulder :p

[Avvoltoio]

i measure it only after a wash and dry

[rosek]

I measure it wet and dry. I always get a slightly longer length when I measure it wet, because my hair holds some body from however I'm wearing it before I measure.

[Lianna]

I measure wet for inches (the strand is streched), but dry to body parts (sl, apl, etc). My inches vary a lot if I measure dry because my wurls are in a different place everyday.

[Hiriel]

I measure when it's damp and brushed straight, because I feel it gives more consistent results, but at the same time it can hardly be called "cheating", since my hair is pretty straight anyway.

[Cupofmilk]

Dry and with braidwaves .
I measured mine stretched today at 36. It's not 36 as its is just past waist - so the 33 is much more accurate.

[indiana]

Definitely measure when it's dry. That's a more accurate measure of what you actually see.

[Ostelot]

Dry. And definately without any waves, because I want to have measurement when my hair is in its "natural position". The result would be maybe 1cm longer if I measured it wet.

[Amber_Maiden]

I measure it dry, because I figure it's better to know where it falls when it's dry. When wet, it's way past waist. When dry it's a little tiny bit past waist.

[BrownEyedBeauty]

I measure my hair when it is dry on wash day. Wet hair can stretch and may give me a false reading. I also strive for consistency when measuring.

[DancingQueen]

Dry hair pulled out straight. :)

[KwaveT]

I measure it dry and try to make it lay flat. Wet hair gives false measurements.

[melusine963]

I measure mine dry. My hair is wavy/curly, so I 'lose' length that way, but measuring it wet would feel like cheating.

[Lostsoule77]

I measure mine dry and when it's pulled straight. I won't call a length though until it reaches it wavy.

[Tisiloves]

Dry, wet, damp, makes no difference to me. :shrug:

[Dandelion6]

I measure when it's dry but right before a wash when it's been oiled and at it's most lank.

[Coolcombination]

I measure it dry but I stretch it, when I'm measuring for my profile I wait for wash day and then dampen it with water so it lies straighter and measure it as it hangs.

[letdownyourhair]

I measure it when it's dry. :)

[Achlys]

Dry and pulled straight. It's usually messy when it has just been washed.

[Audhumla]

I measure my hair wet because even though my hair is only 1b the dry measurements vary too much and it does my head in randomly gaining or losing inches depending on texture variations. I prefer to have a consistent number that only changes with hair growth so I can monitor how lifestyle/diet changes are affecting my hair.

[Dr. Girlfriend]

I measure when it's dry, and pulled straight.

[Kittykins]

I measure my hair dry.

[RavennaNight]

I measure dry.

[Sillage]

Dry always :)

[Garnetgem]

Dry as your never going to get the true length when its wet as its weighed down.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

I always measure mine dry. Dry and stretched to get the actual length.

[lapis_lazuli]

Dry mostly but to keep my sanity I will measure when wet once in a while :p

[TheGray]

Usually dry for me, especially since it makes it easier to see the layers in my hair and how far those are as well

[Dessi]

Usually when dry, but I sometimes measure when wet, out of curiosity. And I actually get the same numbers when I measure wet and when I measure stretched.

[lapushka]

Dry. Wet is such a hassle! I don't even have it cut wet.

[parkmikii]

Always dry, I never tried measuring it while its wet, hmm :shrug:

[Kake]

I measure wet, as there's too much variation otherwise, due to my hair texture. I'm not very good at it anyway, so I don't expect accurate results.

[Groovy Granny]

I just go by landmarks...not numbers....and usually wet to be accurate, because my hemline is usually wurly.

[papayatree]

Dry, because it is more accurate than when it is wet.

[LongCurlyTress]

Only dry and when brushed out and stretched straight. Otherwise it is not an accurate measurement due to the irregular curliness. ;) My curls when dry are very inconsistent lengths due to weather, hairstyle, if it was just in a bun, if it is damp etc. so I straighten out my curls for a more consistent length measurement.

[Longhairgrowing]

I also measure dry because when it's wet, it is longer due to the weight of the water. For me, only the length of my dry hair counts.

[Annalouise]

I measure wet because I can't get a consistent measurement on dry hair.

[Cg]

Dry, using body markers. On the rare occasion I actually think to look.