One year anniversary with photos

[Annushka]

Hi all,

I’m not a big poster, I really just come here to read about the different hair care routines, to learn new hairstyles, and to check out the inspiring photos.
But since today is my one year anniversary, I thought I’d open up a bit and share my hair progress.

The beginning: although I used to have about 1 inch hair in the early ‘90’s, due to college laziness I let it grow out to APL. And since I’m too poor to get haircuts very often, I usually let it get to BSL before cutting it back. I would shampoo, condition, and blow dry on hot every single day, because I didn’t know any better.

Last summer a friend suggested that I get it cut short, that women “our age” shouldn’t have long hair, and she pointed out women on the street with long, stringy hair. So I thought about cutting to chin, but decided I wanted to try to grow longer. I googled around and found the LHC, and have been happily growing my hair out ever since.

A year ago I had a major shed from stress, plus I think I normally shed a lot this time of year anyway. The last ~1/3 of my hair is damaged from highlights from several years ago, so there’s a lot of taper and damage there. Also, my hair was ridiculously faded at the ends so I box dyed it dark, which has stayed bound to the ends but has faded a little in the middle and top. The biggest improvement in my hair has come from stopping blow drying.

My goal is classic, although I might stay at tailbone awhile until the ends thicken up. I should be at tailbone in about 6 months.

Here’s a photo from a year ago that shows my starting length, I think between BSL and waist.
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/81508_2.jpg
This shows the condition of my hair better, although the length isn’t accurate due to the angle:
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/82908_2.jpg
My hair at 6 months, it’s looking much better:
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/22809_1.jpg
And here it is today, a bit past hip:
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/82909_4.jpg
I took this one today just to compare with my hair from the 2nd photo:
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/82909_5.jpg
And finally, if anyone could help hairtype me, that would be awesome. I put 1c, but I think it might be much wavier than that. I had to comb my hair out post-shower or else it would be one big mat, but then I let it air-dry:
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/082909a.jpg

I just want to say thank you for all the advice, articles, photos, and inspiration.
It’s been a fun year!

[keight425]

Awesome pics!!! What a great story!! That is so good you found LHC before you went and cut it to chin level.

The pics of your "before" hair and then the 6 months after you can REALLY tell a huge difference, your hair looks simply beautiful!!!

[ericthegreat]

Your growth is coming along great! I love the third photo you posted the best in terms of picture quality.

[Roseate]

Very pretty! And yes, if all of those pictures are combed, it is probably wavier than 1c. At least in the 2's, but exactly where I couldn't say. Congrats on a good year's growth!

[spidermom]

I can't hair-type you; combing makes a huge difference in some hair types.

Congratulations on your progress; your hair looks great.

[ericthegreat]

With your hair combed out, you appear to be a 1c as you've mentioned. I think naturally air-dried without any combing out, you should be a 2a or 2b.

[Annushka]

keight425 - Thank you! I really think that not using the blowfrier is the best thing I've learned here.

ericthegreat - Thanks, and lol about the picture quality, it's been a year and I still haven't come up with a good setup for taking my picture by myself. Or maybe it's just the cheap camera!

Roseate - Thank you!

And spidermom - Thanks, and your photos have been very inspiring. Maybe someday I'll get the guts to not comb after a wash, I'm just afraid I'll end up with one big tangled mat. shudder:

[Garnet66]

Wow, your hair looks wonderful. Congrats on your anniversary.

[ericthegreat]

keight425 - Thank you! I really think that not using the blowfrier is the best thing I've learned here.

ericthegreat - Thanks, and lol about the picture quality, it's been a year and I still haven't come up with a good setup for taking my picture by myself. Or maybe it's just the cheap camera!

Roseate - Thank you!

And spidermom - Thanks, and your photos have been very inspiring. Maybe someday I'll get the guts to not comb after a wash, I'm just afraid I'll end up with one big tangled mat. shudder:

Well maybe just this once you could do a wash and then resist doing any combing afterward, just this once so we can give you an accurate hairtyping? :) After you've been accurately hairtyped, you could always drown your hair in the richest conditioner you own and then comb it out after. :p

[Sissy]

your hair is looking very, very nice :)

[patience]

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! :cheese:

You've had some great growth.

[wahmof9]

Hi all,

I’m not a big poster, I really just come here to read about the different hair care routines, to learn new hairstyles, and to check out the inspiring photos.
But since today is my one year anniversary, I thought I’d open up a bit and share my hair progress.

The beginning: although I used to have about 1 inch hair in the early ‘90’s, due to college laziness I let it grow out to APL. And since I’m too poor to get haircuts very often, I usually let it get to BSL before cutting it back. I would shampoo, condition, and blow dry on hot every single day, because I didn’t know any better.

Last summer a friend suggested that I get it cut short, that women “our age” shouldn’t have long hair, and she pointed out women on the street with long, stringy hair. So I thought about cutting to chin, but decided I wanted to try to grow longer. I googled around and found the LHC, and have been happily growing my hair out ever since.

A year ago I had a major shed from stress, plus I think I normally shed a lot this time of year anyway. The last ~1/3 of my hair is damaged from highlights from several years ago, so there’s a lot of taper and damage there. Also, my hair was ridiculously faded at the ends so I box dyed it dark, which has stayed bound to the ends but has faded a little in the middle and top. The biggest improvement in my hair has come from stopping blow drying.

My goal is classic, although I might stay at tailbone awhile until the ends thicken up. I should be at tailbone in about 6 months.

Here’s a photo from a year ago that shows my starting length, I think between BSL and waist.
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/81508_2.jpg
This shows the condition of my hair better, although the length isn’t accurate due to the angle:
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/82908_2.jpg
My hair at 6 months, it’s looking much better:
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/22809_1.jpg
And here it is today, a bit past hip:
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/82909_4.jpg
I took this one today just to compare with my hair from the 2nd photo:
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/82909_5.jpg
And finally, if anyone could help hairtype me, that would be awesome. I put 1c, but I think it might be much wavier than that. I had to comb my hair out post-shower or else it would be one big mat, but then I let it air-dry:
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/082909a.jpg

I just want to say thank you for all the advice, articles, photos, and inspiration.
It’s been a fun year!
I love it! I am sooo happy you did not cut it! It is just beautiful! Can't wait to get there!

[Tressie]

Congratualtions on your anniversary!! You have made great progress and your hair is lovely! I especially like the little curls at the ends on the last pic! (o:

[OhioLisa]

Happy anniversary! Your growth is looking beautiful. :) I would guess you're about a 2b. Lovely curls at the ends. :flowers:

[FaeryTails]

Happy Anniversary! Your hair is gorgeous!

[Liluri]

Congratulations on your anniversary and your progress :)

[Schnail]

Congratulations on your anniversary! Your hair looks lovely :)

[melikai]

Amazing growth, and your hair is looking great.
As others mentioned, it is impossible to hairtype you accurately if you comb it out, but you look like your ends have quite defined curls, so if I had to guess I'd say somewhere around 2b or even 2c.
Also, have you tried combing out your hair before washing, or while conditioner is in it (gently)?

[LutraLutra]

Happy anniversary. :toast: Looks like you've had some really good growth. :)

[Ryanne]

Happy Anniversary! Great progress.

[mellie]

Very pretty!

[Annushka]

Thank you everyone! This is the nicest forum.

wahmof9 - Thank you, and I'm so happy I didn't cut it either. I've learned a good lesson from this experience: I should do what I want, and not be pressured by a friend's opinion of how things should be.

melikai - My hair is *so* tangly that I finger-comb before, during, and after I wash, and also throughout the day. I think today I'll CO, finger-comb and rinse it, then let it drip dry. I'll just have to tough it out for once.

ericthegreat - Your idea of soaking it in conditioner afterward is great, I'll definitely do that!

[Annushka]

Okay. I finger-combed pre-wash, CO'd and finger-combed then rinsed it out, and did not touch it again until after I took pictures.

It started out as three wet clumps, and I thought it would just dry like that, all stuck together. But fortunately the clumps came apart as they dried, and I am totally shocked that my hair looked great and wasn't a big tangled mess! :cheese:

Here is my hair, no product and totally untouched, if someone could pretty please suggest what my hair type is?
Without flash and with flash (clickable):
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/th_withandwithout.jpg (http://s496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/Porkala/?action=view&current=withandwithout.jpg)
Years ago I thought it was stick-straight, but then it's never before been this long and this babied.

[rags]

Congratulations on your anniversary! Your hair is beautiful!
I'm not the best at hairtyping, but I think you're a 2b.

[Robinlyn]

Happy Anniversary...beautiful hair!!

[Redheaded Raven]

Congrats on your anniversary :cheese:

[little_acorn]

Wow, your hair looks in great shape, massive improvement, fantastic growth and I'm so happy for you that you didn't cut it!

I reckon about shiney 2c

[Lady Mary]

I love the little waves at the tips, very pretty. Your hair looks great :flower:

[JamieLeigh]

Your ends look like mine. I'd say 2b. Congrats on the growth progress! And Happy Anniversary! :flower: It looks gorgeous! :)

[aahavaa]

Congratulations!! beautiful hair..Id say a 2a or 2b..:)

[DavidN]

Congratulations to you, Annushka, on your one year anniversary!:cheer: You have made outstanding progress, and your hair is thick and healthy. Thank you for sharing.

[Maddy25]

So long <3 Great progress!

[melrose1985]

WOW! that really looks great!!!

[Bianca]

Happy Anniversary :) You have beautiful hair...

[redneckprincess]

great pics, Congrats on your growth ♥

[Barbie Diamond]

Gorgeous hair and congrats!

[hennaphile]

Gorgeous!! Happy aniversery! :cheer: :happydance: