One Year Anniversary (pic heavy)

[Elphie]

Little more than a year ago I decided it was high time I learned how to french braid my own hair. Armed with hair a little past shoulder length and a keyboard, I set out on a mission. What I discovered was so much more than some simple braiding instructions (which weren't always so simple!) but a whole host of very dedicated people with an abundance of knowledge to share. I didn't realize it at the time but I was missing the longer hair I had when I was younger. As many do, I stuck around because it's a great board. :D

My first length shot, Sept. '08, very layered and deeply U-shaped. (cringes)
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/cutter_106/hairkitch.jpg?t=1252356499

Later that month with fresh braid waves.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/cutter_106/hair2.jpg?t=1252357162

October '08

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/cutter_106/hair10-20.jpg?t=1252357280

November '08, I had about an inch and a half trimmed to even out the hemline and make it less deep. It also brought the layers closer to the hem.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/cutter_106/hairnov.jpg?t=1252357445

December '08
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/cutter_106/hairdec2.jpg?t=1252357590

January 2009 The joys of bunwaves and hair that's long enough to put into a bun!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/cutter_106/hairbunwaves.jpg?t=1252357752

Skip a few months to May 2009 to the hairstyle I call the rubberbands from hell-do
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/cutter_106/hairmay.jpg?t=1252358167

July 2009, my most recent photo
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/cutter_106/hairjuly.jpg?t=1252358256

Onto Year Two!

[GlassEyes]

YAY, ELPHIE! :D

Your hair looks great, as I've said before, and I'm really glad you're a member here! :D

[Elphie]

:blossom:(((glasseyes))) Really big grin here, thank you!

[patience]

Happy Anniversary! :cheese:

Your hair is so shiny! Very very pretty.

[Feng-Shui]

Happy anniversary.

Your hair is so wonderful.
I love the gloss.

That is very good work. :flowers:

[little_acorn]

Wow you have great hair and its cool to see your progress pics :D

[RoseRedDead]

Wow, your hair is blindingly shiny. <blinks a bit.> Congratulations on your anniversary. You're doing great! :flowers:

[Elphie]

Patience, Feng-Shui and little acorn, I'm going to go into blushing overload. Thank you very much for your kindness.

[feralnature]

Nice! I'm gonna have to break down and trim a wee bit to even up layers so mine will look as good as yours :)

[Elphie]

Aww, RoseRedDead, blame the coconut oil. I had nothing to do with it!

Feralnature, it hurt to do it then, too. I can remember feeling like I had just gotten started and it all disappeared. Glad I did it though.

[maskedrose]

Really beautiful progress...and the shine! Holy moly girl! Congrats :flower:

[Eryka]

I'll trade you my length for your smooth as glass texture and shine.

Truly outstanding.

[pepperminttea]

Wow, that's some shine! Excuse me while I grab some sunglasses... :D

[whiteisle]

WoW! It's just beautiful! Congratulations!:)

[flyfaraway]

Beautiful hair, congrats! :D

[Elphie]

Maskedrose, happy anniversary to you as well. Thank you :-)

Thanks pepperminttea, Eryka (might take you up on that!), whiteisle and flyfaraway :-)

[serious]

Wow,...awesome hair!
I'd like to get rid of my layers too, but I don't have the courage... from now on, your photos are going to be my inspiration...

[Sammybunny711]

Happy Anniversary!

[spidermom]

Oh Elphie - so much progress, and your hair is lovely in every way.

[rags]

Happy Anniversary! Your hair is so shiny and lovely!

[Elphie]

Oh my, serious, that's high praise indeed. Thank you!

That's the best thing about photos, spidermom, you really don't realize how much progress there is until you see it all at once.

Thank you, rags and sammybunny :-)

[Addy]

Your hair looks great! Congrats on a year! :)

[cocolover]

Amazing shine, I don't believe that that is all coconut oil!!!! Happy Anniversary :D

[Elphie]

Thanks addy and cocolover! :-)

[Liluri]

Congratulations on your progress and the lovely healthy looking hair

[Ryanne]

Happy Anniversary. Your hair is so shiny!

[manderly]

Your hair is blindingly shiny!!! :D

[FaeryTails]

Your hair looks amazing! Happy Anniversary!

[Aditi]

Happy Anniversary :cheese: You have gorgeous healthy shiny hair :flower:

[LutraLutra]

Woah, that's some serious shine you've got going on. Great progress. :cheer:

[Garnet66]

Your hair is so shiny. Great growth. Congrats on your anniversary.

[Monsterkitti]

Congrats on some great growth, I really like your colour! :)

[JamieLeigh]

What lovely, shiny hair! Those layers are growing out nicely. Thank you for sharing, and happy anniversary! :flower:

[Elphie]

Liluri, Ryanne, Manderly, Faerytails, Aditi, LutraLutra, Garnet66, Monsterkitti and JamieLeigh, thank you for your kind comments. :-)

[MissManda]

You have such beautiful, shiny hair! lol, I like your 'Rubber Bands From Hell' style! I would like to try that one sometime! :D

[Elphie]

Thanks MissManda! Welcome to LHC...I learned that one here. It's fun!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=23541

[yellowchariot]

Elphie,

Your hair has progressed very nicely! It's silky smooth, and you have shine that only a few could rival! The rubber-band styles is cool and creative! It almost reminds me of a spiderweb, it's awesome!

[kam984420]

Looks awesome Elphie! You've had some awesome growth!:)

[Barbie Diamond]

Absolutely lovely. Your hair is stunning. The color, shine, and length are beautiful!

[mellie]

Wow!!! :thudpile:

That's some gorgeous shine you've got there!! Happy Anniversary!

[GoddesJourney]

Incredible shine. And I definately love the rubber band thing. It's got a cool "cage" look. Nice work. You should post instructions for how to do that one.