Shoulder | Armpit

[NightSister]

I posted here back in December expecting to be APL by June, but in March I chopped to chin-length to get rid of the majority of the bleach in my hair. I don't regret it, though it was hard living through those awkward lengths again.

I've got about 4 inches of the bleach left, I'm 1.5 inches past shoulder, and about 3 inches to get to APL. I am being optimistic and aiming for APL in early March.

I have made a couple big chops since joining LHC, but I swear I'm leaving it alone until APL at least. The bleach I've got left is manageable, so I'm back on track (big sigh of relief).

I'm growing out some bleach too. You can do it! :blossom:

[NightSister]

Growth photo for October 2017. Next photo at the end of December, and will hopefully be APL by then. :meditate:

http://i64.tinypic.com/2j0e8sy.jpg

[Corvana]

I had hip-length hair until a few months ago, when I got an angled bob. Part of me really loves the ease and freedom of this length and cut. But as time goes by, I miss using my hair toys (thank goodness I didn't sell them!). And I miss making updos.

I think I'm going to grow it out, at least to BSL. Then I'll be able to do French twists and basic buns. I may decide to grow to waist again so I can make wrapped buns like the Neoma Knot, which was my "go to" do.

I am dreading the in between stage where it has no style and I can't really put it up to get it out of the way.

P.S. I just bought a few tiny barrettes from France Luxe to clip my bangs back. Buying new hair toys makes everything better! :)

Ooooh new hair toys! Welcome to the thread!


I posted here back in December expecting to be APL by June, but in March I chopped to chin-length to get rid of the majority of the bleach in my hair. I don't regret it, though it was hard living through those awkward lengths again.

I've got about 4 inches of the bleach left, I'm 1.5 inches past shoulder, and about 3 inches to get to APL. I am being optimistic and aiming for APL in early March.

I have made a couple big chops since joining LHC, but I swear I'm leaving it alone until APL at least. The bleach I've got left is manageable, so I'm back on track (big sigh of relief).

You can do it! I think I've got about the same left to grow as well.


Growth photo for October 2017. Next photo at the end of December, and will hopefully be APL by then. :meditate:

http://i64.tinypic.com/2j0e8sy.jpg

Oh wow! Super close!! You'll be there in no time, I'm sure.

[Eastbound&Down]

Growth photo for October 2017. Next photo at the end of December, and will hopefully be APL by then. :meditate:

http://i64.tinypic.com/2j0e8sy.jpg

Another 2 months and you'll be there, no problem!

[Neoma]

Growth photo for October 2017. Next photo at the end of December, and will hopefully be APL by then. :meditate:

http://i64.tinypic.com/2j0e8sy.jpgYour hair looks beautiful, NightSister! Congratulations on your growth! :cheer:


Ooooh new hair toys! Welcome to the thread!

Thank you, Corvana! :flower: I feel so happy now that I've decided to let my hair grow again.

[NightSister]

Thanks Corvana, Eastbound&Down and Neoma! :flower: Almost there!

[Eastbound&Down]

I know my hair is growing, I can see my roots coming in and my grays are getting longer. But I swear when I look in the mirror, my length hasn't changed at all! I hate this length when I'm trying to grow it out.

[Corvana]

I know my hair is growing, I can see my roots coming in and my grays are getting longer. But I swear when I look in the mirror, my length hasn't changed at all! I hate this length when I'm trying to grow it out.

I feel you sooooooo hard with this. I'll notice something like... All my hair stays in an english braid now, or less explosion from my buns. But then I go to look at actual length and it looks like nothing has changed at all.

Such a depressing length IMO lmao. I do think if my hair wasn't so thick (and it's not even a iii!) I'd have more fun at this length. I can braid it, but get barely 3 bumps past my scalp so doing anything with it is difficult. But if I leave it down it just catches on my clothes which is very annoying. It won't stay in a bun. I can do a peacock twist, and a ponytail, and that's about it? And it's so booorrrriiiiiinnggg. I'm so jealous of fred's flipped braids! I wanna do that!! They're so cute!! But nooooooo my tiny but fat braid will flip up but nothing will hold it there comfortably :laugh: And tucking the ends down? HA.

[Eastbound&Down]

I feel you sooooooo hard with this. I'll notice something like... All my hair stays in an english braid now, or less explosion from my buns. But then I go to look at actual length and it looks like nothing has changed at all.

Such a depressing length IMO lmao. I do think if my hair wasn't so thick (and it's not even a iii!) I'd have more fun at this length. I can braid it, but get barely 3 bumps past my scalp so doing anything with it is difficult. But if I leave it down it just catches on my clothes which is very annoying. It won't stay in a bun. I can do a peacock twist, and a ponytail, and that's about it? And it's so booorrrriiiiiinnggg. I'm so jealous of fred's flipped braids! I wanna do that!! They're so cute!! But nooooooo my tiny but fat braid will flip up but nothing will hold it there comfortably :laugh: And tucking the ends down? HA.

Girl, exactly me. I have pretty thick hair and i get tops 4 bumps if I do twin French braids. Updos right now are ponytail, sock bun and that's about it. I can't really even start to play with it until almost BSL. So for noe just have to fiddle my thum s and wait.

[Corvana]

Girl, exactly me. I have pretty thick hair and i get tops 4 bumps if I do twin French braids. Updos right now are ponytail, sock bun and that's about it. I can't really even start to play with it until almost BSL. So for noe just have to fiddle my thum s and wait.

I think I'll get APL and be ok? My circ is only 3.5", which is still quite thick at this stage but soon enough it'll really feel like a ii. But I may need to creep to halfway between, who knows! Back when I had longer hair I never paid attention to it and never did anything more than this:

https://i.gyazo.com/3141fafcfc9472512eba8089927a5ed2.png
(gosh look at that red :wail: )

Or like... full pigtails, half up pigtails, or just plain down. That's iiiiiiiiiiit.

So I have no idea how much length I need for anything fun, because I've never cared enough before.

[Kake]

Welcome Neoma and any other newbies I missed.

I've just reached APL! I'm not calling it yet, as I have just a few hairs brushing the towel, plus I had straightened my hair. But still, it's great to finally feel like I'm progressing. I think I'll leave it at least a month before I check again, I'm making a conscious effort to try to be relaxed about it.

[Joyful Mystery]

Neoma, welcome!

Nightsister, you're so close!

Kake, Congratulations! So exciting!

Alright, I'm going to call it. I've waited long enough. I've been convinced by DH, DS, shirt markers and the towel test. It's time for me to move on to the APL to BSL thread. Good luck to everyone!

[Kake]

Brilliant Joyful Mystery, see you there soon.

[NightSister]

Neoma, welcome!

Nightsister, you're so close!

Kake, Congratulations! So exciting!

Alright, I'm going to call it. I've waited long enough. I've been convinced by DH, DS, shirt markers and the towel test. It's time for me to move on to the APL to BSL thread. Good luck to everyone!

Congrats Joyful Mystery! See you there in a couple months :)

[Estrid]

Congrats, Kake and Joyful Mystery! I hope I'll join you soon, but it will probably take another month or two for me :p will see how it looks in a few days.

[Waveurly]

Congrats Kake and Joyful Mystery! And also welcome to everyone I've missed!

[Corvana]

Welcome Neoma and any other newbies I missed.

I've just reached APL! I'm not calling it yet, as I have just a few hairs brushing the towel, plus I had straightened my hair. But still, it's great to finally feel like I'm progressing. I think I'll leave it at least a month before I check again, I'm making a conscious effort to try to be relaxed about it.

Awesome!! You'll definitely be all the way there in a month.


Alright, I'm going to call it. I've waited long enough. I've been convinced by DH, DS, shirt markers and the towel test. It's time for me to move on to the APL to BSL thread. Good luck to everyone!

Woohoo!! I'll see you there in... Like 4 months LOL. But I'll try to pop in there before you leave muahahahahaha

[Joyful Mystery]

Brilliant Joyful Mystery, see you there soon.


Congrats Joyful Mystery! See you there in a couple months :)


Congrats, Kake and Joyful Mystery! I hope I'll join you soon, but it will probably take another month or two for me :p will see how it looks in a few days.


Congrats Kake and Joyful Mystery! And also welcome to everyone I've missed!


Awesome!! You'll definitely be all the way there in a month.



Woohoo!! I'll see you there in... Like 4 months LOL. But I'll try to pop in there before you leave muahahahahaha

Thanks so much everyone! :o

Corvana, I'll be in that thread for about 7 months so I'll definitely see you there!

[Neoma]

Welcome Neoma and any other newbies I missed.

I've just reached APL! I'm not calling it yet, as I have just a few hairs brushing the towel, plus I had straightened my hair. But still, it's great to finally feel like I'm progressing. I think I'll leave it at least a month before I check again, I'm making a conscious effort to try to be relaxed about it.Thank you, Kake!

Congratulations on reaching APL! A few hairs brushing the towel totally counts! Call it! :flower:


Neoma, welcome!

Thank you, Joyful Mystery! :flower:

[NightSister]

See you in the next thread Kake!

[Kake]

Aw, thanks you guys.

I'm definitely not calling yet; my wurly ends this morning made me feel I'd be cheating to claim APL, even though my straightened ends reach. I'm going to wait until it's more solid.


See you in the next thread Kake!

We'll both be there soon!

[NightSister]

I will never be able to do a cinnabun like this ever again. Also, wearing my first ever hair fork :)

http://i67.tinypic.com/2qk5ajc.jpg

[Neoma]

I will never be able to do a cinnabun like this ever again. Also, wearing my first ever hair fork :)

http://i67.tinypic.com/2qk5ajc.jpg

Wow, what a beautiful cinnabun, NightSister! And congratulations on your hair fork... It's beautiful!

[Corvana]

I will never be able to do a cinnabun like this ever again. Also, wearing my first ever hair fork :)

http://i67.tinypic.com/2qk5ajc.jpg

:thud: Gorgeous!!

[_anya]

I've been so busy lately that I seem to never had time to check in here, you've all gotten so far!

I received some things I bought on etsy and couldn't resist trying out the LI unicorn horn hair stick I got, I tried to do a "inverted cinnabun" (I can not remember if that's the correct name) and it worked in the first try! I really was not expecting it to stay up and feel secure at this length, and with only a hair stick! Maybe the design of the unicorn horn makes it better like that, I'm not sure but it's possible because it feels like I "screwed it in".

I think this might be a new go-to for now, looks almost like a big bun from the side as well, which I like :bluebiggr

https://i.imgur.com/vqx4X6b.jpg?1

So pretty! I love how carefree and effortlessly beautiful this looks. I agree with the other comment that your photo looks on par with an oil painting. Exquisite.

[Shanawavy]

Congratulations Kake and Joyful Mystery!
Welcome Neoma!
Beautiful hair, Estrid, NightSister,Fred, and Corvana!
Happy growing to anyone else I’ve missed.

I still have several months to go before APL. I’m still in a very flippy stage: the only thing that looks good is braid waves, but the next day my hair looks a mess again. The layers at the back are starting to blend in, and the longest layers are back at collarbone :D but the front is all different lengths and not co-operating at all. Thinking about getting a full fringe/bangs again. ��

[Renora25]

I feel like my hair hasn't grown much in the past month. Since June it has been growing an average of about 1"/month. Which I know is speedy. But I think the growth has begun to slow for the winter. :/. Either that, or the flippy stage has decided to hit full force.

Also I have noticed that my scalp has been getting a bit of build up. It isn't like dry flaky. More like a waxy-ish residue. Has anyone experienced this?

[NightSister]

Thanks Neoma, Corvana, and Shanawavy!

So, I broke my fork already.

:justy:

[cailinbee]

I still have several months to go before APL. I’m still in a very flippy stage: the only thing that looks good is braid waves, but the next day my hair looks a mess again. The layers at the back are starting to blend in, and the longest layers are back at collarbone :D but the front is all different lengths and not co-operating at all. Thinking about getting a full fringe/bangs again. ��

I feel you, I'm in the exact same place!

I told myself I wasn't going to get any cuts period after I chopped out the last of my hair dye, but given the cut I have was designed for a shorter length, it's looking a bit shaggy and strange...trying to resist losing length by getting it cleaned up!

[Corvana]

Congratulations Kake and Joyful Mystery!
Welcome Neoma!
Beautiful hair, Estrid, NightSister,Fred, and Corvana!
Happy growing to anyone else I’ve missed.

I still have several months to go before APL. I’m still in a very flippy stage: the only thing that looks good is braid waves, but the next day my hair looks a mess again. The layers at the back are starting to blend in, and the longest layers are back at collarbone :D but the front is all different lengths and not co-operating at all. Thinking about getting a full fringe/bangs again. ��

Well, are you going to want to grow out the fringe/bangs? Only get them if you'll keep them for awhile, or you'll just end up in a loop of cutting them everytime they get to the annoying spot and then growing them and then cutting them...


I feel like my hair hasn't grown much in the past month. Since June it has been growing an average of about 1"/month. Which I know is speedy. But I think the growth has begun to slow for the winter. :/. Either that, or the flippy stage has decided to hit full force.

Also I have noticed that my scalp has been getting a bit of build up. It isn't like dry flaky. More like a waxy-ish residue. Has anyone experienced this?

*sniff* I miss my 1"/mo... But I feel ya! I feel like my hair hasn't grown a lick in the last like... two or three months :/

As for residue, not really no. Any time my hair or scalp feels icky I wash it with my full strength shampoo (it has SLS and SLES and I find it much too strong for regular use undiluted) and then it's fine.


Thanks Neoma, Corvana, and Shanawavy!

So, I broke my fork already.

:justy:

Oh noooooo! I'm so scared of breaking forks, and I've only got two! I can't really use them right now anyway, but still! I'm also scared once I get some hair sticks that I'll break those... I'm very clumsy!!

[Corvana]

NightSister your bun inspired me! But I can't get a whole bun to hold yet with anything but a scrunchie (unless I wanted to get a million pins or something).

So here's my attempt at a half-up nautilus instead!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28882&d=1508832934

I don't think I got it right... BUT it's pretty comfy and feels real stable, even if that lil bit sticking out says otherwise.

[Neoma]

NightSister your bun inspired me! But I can't get a whole bun to hold yet with anything but a scrunchie (unless I wanted to get a million pins or something).

So here's my attempt at a half-up nautilus instead!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28882&d=1508832934

I don't think I got it right... BUT it's pretty comfy and feels real stable, even if that lil bit sticking out says otherwise.
Corvana, your bun looks great! And that fork is perfect for you.

[Corvana]

Corvana, your bun looks great! And that fork is perfect for you.

:o Thank you!! I'm surprised at how long it looks, it's only 5"! And I thought that my copper fork was my favorite, but so far I like this one way more... I like how the paler color in the wood is right about the same color as my hair. I can't believe I paid $2 for it on Wish :laugh:

[NightSister]

NightSister your bun inspired me! But I can't get a whole bun to hold yet with anything but a scrunchie (unless I wanted to get a million pins or something).

So here's my attempt at a half-up nautilus instead!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28882&d=1508832934

I don't think I got it right... BUT it's pretty comfy and feels real stable, even if that lil bit sticking out says otherwise.

Ahh! Excellent!! Both the style and fork suit you very well. :heart:

[Corvana]

Ahh! Excellent!! Both the style and fork suit you very well. :heart:

Thank you!!

On a similar note: Why is it when I've got my hair in a half-up it seems longer??

[Eastbound&Down]

https://i.imgur.com/9SphHme.jpg

[Twig]

I had an appointment at Enchantress Salon in Fairview Park, Ohio. I highly recommend going there, I splurged on the hour long treatment, and my hair is so much better...I could go on forever about how wonderful it was. Anyway, I have layers, and Lance talked to me about my hair goals (it's a very collaborative, thoughtful process, the least stressful hair appointment I've ever had) about how it would be beneficial to let those grow out and have a blunter hemline, which I'd always wanted, but didn't think I could have. So I lost a little tiny, tiny bit of length, which made me kind of sad, but I'm still growing out damage (I'm done with the hair color for real) and it's teaching me patience with my hair, and I'm still in the shoulder to APL category. It's not nearly as dry, which has always been a problem.

I really liked how he emphasized that it's a process and not a quick fix. Great learning experience. I still checked the "floor trimmings" (sorry, Lance) but lack of trust dies hard, but he didn't take off one fraction more than we decided. What's more, I guess I wasn't washing it often enough, and that's why the product wasn't absorbing. I walked out of there feeling like Miss America. I have put myself on a regimen of weekly deep conditioning treatments. If I don't have the length I do what I can for my hair and that helps. I feel like I have have some precious exotic pet in my care now, lol.

I might have to sell my house and quit my job since he's so far away. I'm going back next year on my way out to PA.

[Estrid]

Such beautiful and neat buns, NightSister and Corvana! :o Mine didn't look that neat till I was way longer than this, how do you manage that? :D

Thank you, _anya, for the kind words :o I've come to like that photo more and more, even thought about changing my profile photo to it, but I'm not sure!


Sorry that I haven't been in here for some time, been busy with life, I guess, I didn't even upload my monthly photo!

This was my hair on the 21st october, I had had a ponytail so ofc I had a bump from that!
https://i.imgur.com/0P5XpJi.jpg?1

I took another photo today just to get a better idea on how close I am, I am there if I stretch my hair, but I think I need another month before I'm truly APL, maybe two.
https://i.imgur.com/fZAPrQ6.jpg?1

[Corvana]

I had an appointment at Enchantress Salon in Fairview Park, Ohio. I highly recommend going there, I splurged on the hour long treatment, and my hair is so much better...I could go on forever about how wonderful it was. Anyway, I have layers, and Lance talked to me about my hair goals (it's a very collaborative, thoughtful process, the least stressful hair appointment I've ever had) about how it would be beneficial to let those grow out and have a blunter hemline, which I'd always wanted, but didn't think I could have. So I lost a little tiny, tiny bit of length, which made me kind of sad, but I'm still growing out damage (I'm done with the hair color for real) and it's teaching me patience with my hair, and I'm still in the shoulder to APL category. It's not nearly as dry, which has always been a problem.

I really liked how he emphasized that it's a process and not a quick fix. Great learning experience. I still checked the "floor trimmings" (sorry, Lance) but lack of trust dies hard, but he didn't take off one fraction more than we decided. What's more, I guess I wasn't washing it often enough, and that's why the product wasn't absorbing. I walked out of there feeling like Miss America. I have put myself on a regimen of weekly deep conditioning treatments. If I don't have the length I do what I can for my hair and that helps. I feel like I have have some precious exotic pet in my care now, lol.

I might have to sell my house and quit my job since he's so far away. I'm going back next year on my way out to PA.

That sounds like a lovely appointment! Although I'll add that it may not be how often you were washing that made the product not absorb, but how often you clarified your hair of buildup.


Such beautiful and neat buns, NightSister and Corvana! :o Mine didn't look that neat till I was way longer than this, how do you manage that? :D

Thank you, _anya, for the kind words :o I've come to like that photo more and more, even thought about changing my profile photo to it, but I'm not sure!

Sorry that I haven't been in here for some time, been busy with life, I guess, I didn't even upload my monthly photo!

This was my hair on the 21st october, I had had a ponytail so ofc I had a bump from that!

I took another photo today just to get a better idea on how close I am, I am there if I stretch my hair, but I think I need another month before I'm truly APL, maybe two.

You should make it your avatar!! It's a lovely photo! Your hair looks so lovely! I think you'll be APL by the end of the year!

My bun is only neat if it's a half-up lol. And if I were to do cinnabuns like my avatar, I need a scrunchie to make it seem neat (but really the scrunchie's surface area is larger and can hold more of the shorter bits).

I also didn't take a picture of the fails before I got that one to work :laugh:

[Neoma]

Many thanks to everyone who welcomed me to the thread. Please forgive me for not thanking you individually. :flowers:


I had an appointment at Enchantress Salon in Fairview Park, Ohio. I highly recommend going there, I splurged on the hour long treatment, and my hair is so much better...I could go on forever about how wonderful it was. Anyway, I have layers, and Lance talked to me about my hair goals (it's a very collaborative, thoughtful process, the least stressful hair appointment I've ever had) about how it would be beneficial to let those grow out and have a blunter hemline, which I'd always wanted, but didn't think I could have. So I lost a little tiny, tiny bit of length, which made me kind of sad, but I'm still growing out damage (I'm done with the hair color for real) and it's teaching me patience with my hair, and I'm still in the shoulder to APL category. It's not nearly as dry, which has always been a problem.

I really liked how he emphasized that it's a process and not a quick fix. Great learning experience. I still checked the "floor trimmings" (sorry, Lance) but lack of trust dies hard, but he didn't take off one fraction more than we decided. What's more, I guess I wasn't washing it often enough, and that's why the product wasn't absorbing. I walked out of there feeling like Miss America. I have put myself on a regimen of weekly deep conditioning treatments. If I don't have the length I do what I can for my hair and that helps. I feel like I have have some precious exotic pet in my care now, lol.

I might have to sell my house and quit my job since he's so far away. I'm going back next year on my way out to PA.Twig, that sounds like a really wonderful pampering experience! It's funny, I was thinking of Enchantress this morning. I ordered a Madora comb from them years ago and they were so friendly and helpful.


Such beautiful and neat buns, NightSister and Corvana! :o Mine didn't look that neat till I was way longer than this, how do you manage that? :D

Thank you, _anya, for the kind words :o I've come to like that photo more and more, even thought about changing my profile photo to it, but I'm not sure!


Sorry that I haven't been in here for some time, been busy with life, I guess, I didn't even upload my monthly photo!

This was my hair on the 21st october, I had had a ponytail so ofc I had a bump from that!
https://i.imgur.com/0P5XpJi.jpg?1

I took another photo today just to get a better idea on how close I am, I am there if I stretch my hair, but I think I need another month before I'm truly APL, maybe two.
https://i.imgur.com/fZAPrQ6.jpg?1Estrid, your hair looks gorgeous! The color, the body, the waves... :thud:

[Shanawavy]

Cailinbee shaggy is how my hair looks too. Hang in there. I don’t want to cut back and grow out at all one length as I have already spent long enough getting it to this length.

[Shanawavy]

Corvana thanks for your wise words. :) After lots of consideration I have cut myself (very very slowly) a side fringe which looks nice and brings out my silver which I like. I can now leave the rest of my hair alone until it reaches APL.

[Shanawavy]

Estrid such pretty hair!
Twig that sounds like the ideal haircut experience.
Apologies for the lack of bold font as I’m typing this on my phone.

[Eastbound&Down]

So I got my measuring tape out for the first time ever today. Apparently APL on me is about 20 inches, does that sound about right?

[Corvana]

So I got my measuring tape out for the first time ever today. Apparently APL on me is about 20 inches, does that sound about right?

Honestly no idea. Everyone is different, so maybe! I measured like 4 times, and I'm still not sure it's right. But yet here I am, months and months later, still having not asked my husband to measure my milestones :laugh:

[Eastbound&Down]

Honestly no idea. Everyone is different, so maybe! I measured like 4 times, and I'm still not sure it's right. But yet here I am, months and months later, still having not asked my husband to measure my milestones :laugh:

Ha! Been been on this site for years and I've never even asked my hubs to take a picture for me haha. He would if I asked him to though.

[Eastbound&Down]

NightSister your bun inspired me! But I can't get a whole bun to hold yet with anything but a scrunchie (unless I wanted to get a million pins or something).

So here's my attempt at a half-up nautilus instead!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28882&d=1508832934

I don't think I got it right... BUT it's pretty comfy and feels real stable, even if that lil bit sticking out says otherwise.

1. Wow, I love your color, so pretty!
2. Where did you get your fork? I've been looking all over recent and haven't been successful and I'm iffy on ordering online.

[Corvana]

1. Wow, I love your color, so pretty!
2. Where did you get your fork? I've been looking all over recent and haven't been successful and I'm iffy on ordering online.

Oh! Thanks! I tend to think of it as kinda boring because, as my mother would say, "it's just kinda poop brown."

And I got it off of Wish actually LOL. I ordered it in like early June? And I got it maybe 3 weeks later or something, and it was like two whole dollars or so? It's very dark in person! Light, a touch bendy (I can push the tines together a little, but not all the way), and the tines actually thicken up a little about halfway down (you can't see it because that's the bit in my lil bun lol). I don't know if it's actual wood, to be honest with you, but it's incredibly smooth with no rough spots or anything. Seems very hair friendly!

[Corvana]

I've been feeling like my hair hasn't really been growing at all, it's in a bit of an abyss of "between CBL and APL". But I picked up my phone while fiddling with my hair a bit and caught my reflection in the black screen. So I took a picture because I remembered an older pic I took of when I was extra extra bothered by the shrinkage caused by my hair's flippiness.

This was taken back on the last day of August:

https://i.imgur.com/ts0FNag.jpg

And this was taken several hours ago:

https://i.imgur.com/BSxISzu.jpg

I tried to get about the same spot of hair, which wasn't too difficult since my hair has been parting itself about there for like a year now. I didn't get the exact same angle, but it's close-ish, and what I thought was funny when I went and looked for the first one, I'm holding my hair in pic 2 where the ends are in pic 1 (give or take a smidge).

My growth spurt stopped in about July, so having gotten used to that as "normal" (never measured before May!), length gains since have felt glacial. So it's nice to see concrete proof of growth! Besides the little things like all my hair making it to my english braid, and nothing falling out of my claw clip (unless I put it in too loose, of course).

I'm hoping that hitting APL for actual real will help this "my hair isn't growing :wail:" funk, but considering the other posts I see around the forums as a whole, I don't think it will ever go away :laugh:

[spidermom]

I figure I will be at APL by this time next year if I don't have to trim too often. My son has a new woodworking hobby and has made several sticks and spirals that I'd like to wear in my hair. I can put my hair up with them now, but it won't stay. I think my son fears it's his designs even though I tell him it's simply because my hair is currently too short. I want to prove it to him as encouragement.

[Shanawavy]

Corvana well I see shiny, healthy, well-moisturised hair that is growing. Just think - when you get to APL you'll be able to enjoy it even more. :flowers:

SpiderMom how lovely that you can have your own custom made hair sticks! Happy growing :D

I will have to wait for six months for my shortest layer to get to shoulder, so I will be in this forum for quite a while.
Yesterday I tried out a recipe from a book that I saw recommended on here: 'India's Beauty Secrets'. I put one tsp of aloe vera gel and two tbsps of shampoo, along with two cups of water, into a bottle and left it for an hour. Then I washed my hair with the mixture. It feels very light and bouncy today!

[Eastbound&Down]

Oh! Thanks! I tend to think of it as kinda boring because, as my mother would say, "it's just kinda poop brown."

And I got it off of Wish actually LOL. I ordered it in like early June? And I got it maybe 3 weeks later or something, and it was like two whole dollars or so? It's very dark in person! Light, a touch bendy (I can push the tines together a little, but not all the way), and the tines actually thicken up a little about halfway down (you can't see it because that's the bit in my lil bun lol). I don't know if it's actual wood, to be honest with you, but it's incredibly smooth with no rough spots or anything. Seems very hair friendly!

I hate when people say that. Brown hair has so much richness to it, so many various shades and it's usually so shiny! I love Wish, I need to splurge again here soon.

[Corvana]

I figure I will be at APL by this time next year if I don't have to trim too often. My son has a new woodworking hobby and has made several sticks and spirals that I'd like to wear in my hair. I can put my hair up with them now, but it won't stay. I think my son fears it's his designs even though I tell him it's simply because my hair is currently too short. I want to prove it to him as encouragement.

Aw that's so sweet!!


Corvana well I see shiny, healthy, well-moisturised hair that is growing. Just think - when you get to APL you'll be able to enjoy it even more. :flowers:

I will have to wait for six months for my shortest layer to get to shoulder, so I will be in this forum for quite a while.
Yesterday I tried out a recipe from a book that I saw recommended on here: 'India's Beauty Secrets'. I put one tsp of aloe vera gel and two tbsps of shampoo, along with two cups of water, into a bottle and left it for an hour. Then I washed my hair with the mixture. It feels very light and bouncy today!

Ah thank you! I love my hair in general, but I'm I guess dissatisfied? With the color. More because it used to be auburn and I loved it and now it's not and I'm sad :laugh:


I hate when people say that. Brown hair has so much richness to it, so many various shades and it's usually so shiny! I love Wish, I need to splurge again here soon.

I generally ignore it, but it's harder from her you know? NGL her saying that about my eye color my literal entire life probably has a lot to do with why I'm unhappy with how my hair has changed color.

Yeah Wish is great lol. I have to hide the app on my phone so that I don't open it all the time and add a billion things to my wishlists :laugh:

I found the exact fork, though! I thiiiiiink if you search "sandalwood two prong hair stick" you'll find it.

[Eastbound&Down]

Aw that's so sweet!!



Ah thank you! I love my hair in general, but I'm I guess dissatisfied? With the color. More because it used to be auburn and I loved it and now it's not and I'm sad :laugh:



I generally ignore it, but it's harder from her you know? NGL her saying that about my eye color my literal entire life probably has a lot to do with why I'm unhappy with how my hair has changed color.

Yeah Wish is great lol. I have to hide the app on my phone so that I don't open it all the time and add a billion things to my wishlists :laugh:

I found the exact fork, though! I thiiiiiink if you search "sandalwood two prong hair stick" you'll find it.

Thanks for the tip! Yeah criticism from parents is the worst, but we're here to tell you that you have beautiful hair, as it is!

[bunnybabe]

Same!! I feel like my hair isn't growing at all! it's taking sooo long!

[Corvana]

Thanks for the tip! Yeah criticism from parents is the worst, but we're here to tell you that you have beautiful hair, as it is!

:inlove:


Same!! I feel like my hair isn't growing at all! it's taking sooo long!

Yeah it's the worst! But I was chatting about it in the Random Thoughts thread, and for most people shoulder to APL is the longest stretch before like hip-classic area. And if my milestone measurements are correct, then my milestones are 2-4" apart until TBL, where it pops back up to 6" and stays in that area the rest of the way.

[Eastbound&Down]

I made a terrible mistake and went to look at my old pictures before I had to cut my hair. I was so close to waist and it was nice and healthy :( and now I'm so sad sigh.

[Corvana]

I made a terrible mistake and went to look at my old pictures before I had to cut my hair. I was so close to waist and it was nice and healthy :( and now I'm so sad sigh.

Well it'll get there again, absolutely. :grouphug:

[Corvana]

So I tried to hold a cinnabun with a fork... It held! For... like 20 minutes before it fell. But because it was slowly unwinding itself it looks huuuge lol. And I figured I'd use it as my updated avatar heheheh.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28960&d=1509663944

[Kake]

So I tried to hold a cinnabun with a fork... It held! For... like 20 minutes before it fell. But because it was slowly unwinding itself it looks huuuge lol. And I figured I'd use it as my updated avatar heheheh.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28960&d=1509663944

That is one huge cinnabun! I can easily do a cinnabun, but it is so teeny tiny it's laughable. Yours will be more stable soon, I'm sure.

[Shanawavy]

I made a terrible mistake and went to look at my old pictures before I had to cut my hair. I was so close to waist and it was nice and healthy :( and now I'm so sad sigh.

:flower: for you. Maybe take some new growth pics that show off your hair?

[Shanawavy]

Hi Corvana I know the feeling! I do roobois tea rinses sometimes to brighten up my dark brown hair and this makes me feel as if I am changing the colour a little, even if it is temporary.

[Corvana]

That is one huge cinnabun! I can easily do a cinnabun, but it is so teeny tiny it's laughable. Yours will be more stable soon, I'm sure.

A little cheatsydoodle lol. I think it will REALLY be that size at like waist or hip or something (but more coils). Or maybe longer! Idk!

[HairPlease]

A little cheatsydoodle lol. I think it will REALLY be that size at like waist or hip or something (but more coils). Or maybe longer! Idk!

Well it made for an awesome pic. It's something to look at every day to remind you what you're waiting for!

[Eastbound&Down]

:flower: for you. Maybe take some new growth pics that show off your hair?

Thanks for the flower :) I'm scheduled to take an updated pic in December. But I just need to be patient, it's going to get back to where it was and then some.

[Corvana]

Well it made for an awesome pic. It's something to look at every day to remind you what you're waiting for!

Thanks! My most concrete "goal" is actually double buns a little smaller than that! I think about the size of my last cinnabun pic in August. Actually, Rowdy on LHC's avatar is exactly my mental picture of the double buns I want.

I've wanted good sized double buns for... Probably half my life or more, and for some reason I thought it'd be impossible because I didn't have "thick" hair. I never once considered just... Growing it really long :laugh:


Thanks for the flower :) I'm scheduled to take an updated pic in December. But I just need to be patient, it's going to get back to where it was and then some.

My next scheduled pic is Jan 1st! We can be patient for that together! And patient for our hair to grow, too. Because HOT DOG I NEED THAT. I want my hair long, and I want it long now! :laugh:

[Corvana]

I was looking at my album of my general hair journey, and saw a pic from 12/2010 of my hair aboooooooout APL (it's from the front, so I'm guessing lol). I'd cut my hair to brushing shoulder in January that year. In August it was about where my hair is now, or maybe it's just the front layers. Hard to be sure :laugh: That haircut in Jan was suuuuper layered, but I did generally pull all my hair to either side so it would look thicker. But then in December it looks to be either at APL or real real close. September's picture is definitely longer than now, as my hair clearly almost hits my chest tattoo, while it's maybe an inch or so off now (I'm not going by stretched, as both now and then was clearly very flippy).

Jan 2010:

https://i.gyazo.com/d804bd284b11bf284ae3b6b555b7a7a2.png

Dec 2010:

https://i.gyazo.com/ac1a8f9eae6f36713a6f4d035222b87c.png

So I'm gonna conclude that my hair growth rate has slowed at some point in my life :laugh: But while it seems that the rate was cut in half (I found a pic in Feb 2011 of APL in the front, which takes longer), that's still putting me at "average" so like, it's not a big loss tbh. I just need to remind myself of that more.

Point this out to me when I whine, please :rollin:

ALSO! By getting overly curious, I went digging around REAL DEEP in my old facebook photos, and I found one taken before a few of the color-match photos were taken (where I was sad about the color) AND I'D DYED IT. I STRAIGHT UP WAS LIKE "DYED MY HAIR MORE RED" LIKE... PAST-ME COME ON. YOU MADE CURRENT ME REAL EFFIN SAD.

My color in the high school photo (both of these are somewhere in my blog here if you're super curious) wasn't dyed (except the black I was growing out of course). So that really was very auburn. I may have lost most of my red between then and having my kidlet, since it was still fairly auburn when I was pregnant.

Still probably maybe gonna henna next summer...

The other pictures I'm referring to aren't uploaded here as several of them feature my kidlet, and my boob in half of them as he was breastfed and I often photographed his shenanigans while nursing (like the time he was upside down and the time he stuck his big toe in my nose).

[Corvana]

Well this had disappeared for a bit!

I'm baffled by my growth... I'm not at APL yet, but... In the front I almost am?? Like when I stretch my hair so that it's lost the flip, I'm literally an inch from my towel with the towel test. I measured! It was a bit less than 3cm.

But from the back, I'm like 2.5" away?? :confused:

[Eastbound&Down]

Corvana, I just want to say I love that you call your DS kidlet, that's adorable!

[Corvana]

Corvana, I just want to say I love that you call your DS kidlet, that's adorable!

Lol thanks XD He's not so much a kidlet anymore... He's a full kid. :wail::laugh:

[Eastbound&Down]

Lol thanks XD He's not so much a kidlet anymore... He's a full kid. :wail::laugh:

I know what you mean, I have a full kid and a kidlet now lol!

[NightSister]

Messy topknot! Almost all my hair is in there! Held with copper sticks.

http://i68.tinypic.com/fjnubo.jpg

[H o n є y ❤]

Messy topknot! Almost all my hair is in there! Held with copper sticks.

http://i68.tinypic.com/fjnubo.jpg
It's gorgeous!

[Corvana]

Messy topknot! Almost all my hair is in there! Held with copper sticks.

THAT'S SO CUUUUTE!! I love your color, and that little pop of blonde in all that dark :crush:

This reminds me that I never posted the like 4 or 5 styles I did and uploaded! Spam time? SPAM TIME.

Bun (barely) in a four prong fork! I think if I can get the ends to actually tuck under, it'll hold a little longer and will last me a bit longer for full buns.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28967&d=1509772596

Very plain half-up, but classy and nice!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28965&d=1509693161

Twisty stick! I love how it holds.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28964&d=1509692833

Half-up with the four prong fork, and you can see how tiiiiiny it is! Once I outgrow it 100% for full stuff, it'll be a half-up fork!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28963&d=1509692823

Half-up bun with a flexi this time!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28962&d=1509692815

[Eastbound&Down]

Messy topknot! Almost all my hair is in there! Held with copper sticks.

http://i68.tinypic.com/fjnubo.jpg

Very pretty, I like those sticks!

[NightSister]

Thanks H o n є y, Corvana, and Eastbound&Down! :)

Corvana you have so many beautiful hair toys! The half ups are especially lovely. How does the four prong feel? I was tempted but IDK if my hair will slip out at this length.

[Corvana]

Thanks H o n є y, Corvana, and Eastbound&Down! :)

Corvana you have so many beautiful hair toys! The half ups are especially lovely. How does the four prong feel? I was tempted but IDK if my hair will slip out at this length.

Ah thank you! Several of them were a birthday gift, actually!

The fork feels really nice in a half-up, and either too loose or too tight in a full bun. Mostly because I have to make the bun real tight so it doesn't fall apart like crazy. I NEED THEM COUPLE INCHES. It has a short FPL (like 3") so it won't last me super long with all of my hair. I like how it spreads the weight out, though! Really nice.

I also managed to keep a full bun up with the spiral stick, and it may have stayed all day (and it was a headachey day for me, and I had no additional pain) had I not been like "well this one bit is sticking out, let me redo the whole thing" and THEN I COULDN'T REDO IT AT ALL. I was so mad at myself :laugh:

[fhairyqueen]

I don’t think I’ll reach my goal of APL by Christmas :(
I thought my hair just isn’t growing but I just realised when posting in the mini milestone thread that actually my fringe has grown from reaching my lips to just past my chin so it MUST be growing .... but the back looks the same length ... I have trimmed the back and it’s not been by much but it must be more than I think it is
On the plus side it appears the back of my hair looks in much better condition ..... I think so anyway
It looks fuller and getting close to all being one length rather than chunks missing here and there. It’s not perfect far from it but the condition has improved imo
I just wish it was longer it feels like I have ridiculously slow growing growing hair
I took a break from here hoping I would stop obsessing g about it but nope lol

[Corvana]

I don’t think I’ll reach my goal of APL by Christmas :(
I thought my hair just isn’t growing but I just realised when posting in the mini milestone thread that actually my fringe has grown from reaching my lips to just past my chin so it MUST be growing .... but the back looks the same length ... I have trimmed the back and it’s not been by much but it must be more than I think it is
On the plus side it appears the back of my hair looks in much better condition ..... I think so anyway
It looks fuller and getting close to all being one length rather than chunks missing here and there. It’s not perfect far from it but the condition has improved imo
I just wish it was longer it feels like I have ridiculously slow growing growing hair
I took a break from here hoping I would stop obsessing g about it but nope lol

1. I'm glad the condition is improving!!

2. I feel you on the "front is definitely growing but the back doesn't look any longer??" thing. I think I just posted about it, too. From the front, my hair has clearly grown like 1"+, but from the back it just looks exactly the same. I'm trying really hard to focus on other milestones, like "all my hair makes it to my english braid" and "I can just barely touch it when I reach up behind myself". Because I got nothing else :laugh:

But that sort of thing is why these length threads exist! We're all in a similar boat!

[H o n є y ❤]

OMG That is actually how I have been feeling for the past two months! My hair in the front has clearly grown. It went from being at my lips to being half way down my chin. However, to me, the back looks the same length it has been. It's funny we've all been feeling this way and around the same time too. But I'm happy y'all mentioned it because now I'm convinced it's all in our heads lol.

Maybe this is just one of the obstacles that come with the territory of trying to reach APL? Like you, fhairyqueen, I thought I would reach APL by Christmas but it looks like that's not gonna happen. I'm so close though and it's aggravating.

[Corvana]

OMG That is actually how I have been feeling for the past two months! My hair in the front has clearly grown. It went from being at my lips to being half way down my chin. However, to me, the back looks the same length it has been. It's funny we've all been feeling this way and around the same time too. But I'm happy y'all mentioned it because now I'm convinced it's all in our heads lol.

Maybe this is just one of the obstacles that come with the territory of trying to reach APL? Like you, fhairyqueen, I thought I would reach APL by Christmas but it looks like that's not gonna happen. I'm so close though and it's aggravating.

I think it's definitely part of it. And I think some of that just comes from it not being long enough to do a whole bunch of "up and forget it" kind of styles. At least it is for me! I can do a couple things, and it gets a bit boring!

[Kake]

I agree, I think it's a rite of passage. So annoying.

[Eastbound&Down]

SL to APL is pretty much the worst stage, and it's the stage that many of us agree to as "the awkward stage". I've been from pixie to hip, and this is by far my least favorite few months of the growing out process.

[Bluecardigan]

Urgh, I'm FINALLY back at shoulder lenght! Had to cut of some centimetres to slightly above my shoulders in the middle of September because of a Trich relapse.
But yes, I completely agree with you guys that the shoulder to apl-phase feels like it takes forever (hair growth, what is that :p?) I usually get bored, and do a big chop before reaching apl. And then regret it and tries to let it grow out again,, and gets bored, and it's a bad cycle going on.

But this time, I'm determined. I have found a highly motivating goal to keep going (growing) and to not cut my hair when I get bored:
my dear bf has promised me that he will not propose until I have reached apl. So I'll better go and lock them scissors away! ;)

[Renora25]

SL to APL is pretty much the worst stage, and it's the stage that many of us agree to as "the awkward stage". I've been from pixie to hip, and this is by far my least favorite few months of the growing out process.

I always feel so burnt out from the SL to APL stage that I have never been longer than BSL. It is the worst possible stage because the goal is hip.... Hopefully this time around it will move past BSL before I get annoyed with it....

[Eastbound&Down]

I always feel so burnt out from the SL to APL stage that I have never been longer than BSL. It is the worst possible stage because the goal is hip.... Hopefully this time around it will move past BSL before I get annoyed with it....

BSL is where I felt like I was in the clear. Good luck!

[papillon]

OMG That is actually how I have been feeling for the past two months! My hair in the front has clearly grown. It went from being at my lips to being half way down my chin. However, to me, the back looks the same length it has been. It's funny we've all been feeling this way and around the same time too. But I'm happy y'all mentioned it because now I'm convinced it's all in our heads lol.

Maybe this is just one of the obstacles that come with the territory of trying to reach APL? Like you, fhairyqueen, I thought I would reach APL by Christmas but it looks like that's not gonna happen. I'm so close though and it's aggravating.

Me too! Me too!

I thought I would hit APL by the end of the year but I don't think it's happening. Is APL really that far away from shoulder? Or is it because I have wavy ends? I can't tell. It's driving me nuts.

[Eastbound&Down]

Me too! Me too!

I thought I would hit APL by the end of the year but I don't think it's happening. Is APL really that far away from shoulder? Or is it because I have wavy ends? I can't tell. It's driving me nuts.

SL to APL can take quite a long time, it's about 4.5 inches on me, so roughly 8-9 months.

[Corvana]

SL to APL is pretty much the worst stage, and it's the stage that many of us agree to as "the awkward stage". I've been from pixie to hip, and this is by far my least favorite few months of the growing out process.

It's torture and I hate it lmao.


Urgh, I'm FINALLY back at shoulder lenght! Had to cut of some centimetres to slightly above my shoulders in the middle of September because of a Trich relapse.
But yes, I completely agree with you guys that the shoulder to apl-phase feels like it takes forever (hair growth, what is that :p?) I usually get bored, and do a big chop before reaching apl. And then regret it and tries to let it grow out again,, and gets bored, and it's a bad cycle going on.

But this time, I'm determined. I have found a highly motivating goal to keep going (growing) and to not cut my hair when I get bored:
my dear bf has promised me that he will not propose until I have reached apl. So I'll better go and lock them scissors away! ;)

Woohoo! Welcome back! That's a really cute prize for hitting the APL goal!


I always feel so burnt out from the SL to APL stage that I have never been longer than BSL. It is the worst possible stage because the goal is hip.... Hopefully this time around it will move past BSL before I get annoyed with it....

I'm hoping the same. Before I didn't really care, but now that I do I really hate it :laugh:. I'm wanting just a few more inches so that I can actually put my hair up and forget it. I can use a claw clip and scrunchies now, but sticks and forks only hold for a handful of hours before my hair slips out due to length.


I thought I would hit APL by the end of the year but I don't think it's happening. Is APL really that far away from shoulder? Or is it because I have wavy ends? I can't tell. It's driving me nuts.

SL to APL on me is like 6.5"! I remeasured my top half milestones, with assistance, and was pleasantly surprised that I was right when I did them on my own. Of course I was also annoyed because that meant the 6.5" trek from SL to APL was correct and I want to die. At least I'm only like 2.5" away now?

[spidermom]

I've been thinking of my hair as shoulder length for months, but I noted a couple of days ago that it's actually past collarbone length now. I'll post a picture when the seasonal hair growth thread revives. I took a picture on the first day of autumn, so I'll take a picture on the first day of winter and post them both.

[Corvana]

I've been thinking of my hair as shoulder length for months, but I noted a couple of days ago that it's actually past collarbone length now. I'll post a picture when the seasonal hair growth thread revives. I took a picture on the first day of autumn, so I'll take a picture on the first day of winter and post them both.

Oh nice! I hope to soon have a "oh wow I hit APL" moment lol.

[Bluecardigan]

Thanks, Corvana! It's only a half-serious promise (I wouldn't complain if he asker earlier :p ) but it still work as a great motivation for me lol :).

[fhairyqueen]

I feel like I will never reach APL . I’ve always had really long hair but since I bleached it so much it all broke off I’ve been growing it out for 2 years and it’s just past collar bone length and the fringe is just past my chin. The back of my hair seems to not grow as I said but I’m relieved to know I’m not the only one so maybe it’s either an illusion or just part of it .
I’m thinking of getting one of those tshirts with lines on to compare length each month but don’t know how accurate a tshirt would actually be

[Corvana]

I feel like I will never reach APL . I’ve always had really long hair but since I bleached it so much it all broke off I’ve been growing it out for 2 years and it’s just past collar bone length and the fringe is just past my chin. The back of my hair seems to not grow as I said but I’m relieved to know I’m not the only one so maybe it’s either an illusion or just part of it .
I’m thinking of getting one of those tshirts with lines on to compare length each month but don’t know how accurate a tshirt would actually be

I don't think they're super accurate, but they could help anyway. Like a stripey one or something. I'm tempted to start taking a photo with a towel just for myself for when I'm like "but it's not growing at all" :laugh:

Sometimes when I catch a glance out of the corner of my eye it already looks APL. And then I go to take a pic and NOPE A MILE AWAY. It's the worst LOL. I've got 6.5" between SL and APL! I haven't remeasured my milestones between waist and floor, but I think everything is about 4" apart until TBL! So no more big gaps for awhile, at least. According to my spreadsheet, once I hit APL I'll have a blissful two years of faster milestones lol.

[cailinbee]

Argh, I forgot how interminable shoulder to APL can feel! At least my hair is finally a length that I consider "workable," that is, it no longer quite registers with people as "short hair," (except for LHC'ers) as it's below shoulder, and I can style it in limited ways. I was about to give in and get it cut, but the hem line actually still looks very tidy and I'm happy with how it looks, so I canceled my appointment.

There's a huge difference in texture. Last time I was at this length (Collarbone+) I was really unhappy with the stringy, shabby bleach-damaged ends. Now I love the natural variation in color and I'm enjoying it more.

[Shanawavy]

Argh, I forgot how interminable shoulder to APL can feel! At least my hair is finally a length that I consider "workable," that is, it no longer quite registers with people as "short hair," (except for LHC'ers) as it's below shoulder, and I can style it in limited ways. I was about to give in and get it cut, but the hem line actually still looks very tidy and I'm happy with how it looks, so I canceled my appointment.

There's a huge difference in texture. Last time I was at this length (Collarbone+) I was really unhappy with the stringy, shabby bleach-damaged ends. Now I love the natural variation in color and I'm enjoying it more.

Go you!:cool: The change in texture sounds great.
I think I have finally broken the habit of microtrimming. My last haircut was in September and I am not going to make a new appointment this year. I'm enjoying having below-shoulder hair.

[Neoma]

I don't have much online time during the week, but I have been reading this thread for inspiration. It's really wonderful to watch everyone's progress.

It's been about nine weeks since my last haircut. Now my graduated bob is looking rather shaggy. I have layers in the back.

I can barely scrape my hair into a peacock twist. I have a ton of nape hairs that won't cooperate. But I'm happy to be able to put my hair into any kind of an updo again.

I'm pleasantly surprised that I'm able to use a medium Ficcare to secure my little peacock twist. As you can see from my avatar, I used a medium Ficcare to secure my then waist-length hair in a flipped bun.

I will not cut. I will not cut. I will not cut...

[victorian girl]

Four months after the 5th big chop in my short 21-year-old life... got from chin length to SL (collar bone if stretched or wet). Another four month to CBL and then another four to APL would be just fine. Telling myself to focus more on the process over the result, because at my previous attempt to grow my hair past BSL I was really inconsistent with my diet, stress levels and haircare, the result - dryness, breakage, lots of split ends and total disappointment overall. Hoping to make it to the waist for the first time of my life... but as for now, I can only make the smallest ponytail ever (more like a rabbit-tail really) and wear a headband to stop my hair getting into my eyes. But this length is still quite flattering for me, so there are some upsides to it. Waiting for a real ponytail now :)

[Corvana]

Four months after the 5th big chop in my short 21-year-old life... got from chin length to SL (collar bone if stretched or wet). Another four month to CBL and then another four to APL would be just fine. Telling myself to focus more on the process over the result, because at my previous attempt to grow my hair past BSL I was really inconsistent with my diet, stress levels and haircare, the result - dryness, breakage, lots of split ends and total disappointment overall. Hoping to make it to the waist for the first time of my life... but as for now, I can only make the smallest ponytail ever (more like a rabbit-tail really) and wear a headband to stop my hair getting into my eyes. But this length is still quite flattering for me, so there are some upsides to it. Waiting for a real ponytail now :)

Well, welcome to the thread! It's... the longest until like hip to TBL for me, so I hate it now LOL. I'm tired of being here (not the thread, the thread is great)! I want a MILESTONE! It's been forever! Since MAY! Unless you count CBL, I suppose, then that would've been like June or July (biiiig growth spurt for me!). And I'm set to not get another one until like March lol.

[Corvana]

You guys.... You guys... I don't just have very persistent flippies. I'm a wavy in disguise.

I went on a long rabbit hole expedition after finally getting around to searching LHC about how my hair is VERY wavy when wet but straight when dry. I found:

1. Most people with that problem are 1c-2b. Super rare 1bs, and they may not even be 1b anyway.
2. The genes for curls are dominant, and do what's called incomplete dominance with the genes for straight hair (so two curl genes = curls, one = waves, none = straight).
3. My dad has curls, my mom has waves. Genetically it's impossible for me to have actually straight hair.
4. My stupid waves are just DELICATE BABIES that need to be handled like gossamer silk, apparently.

I was able to coax a couple with wet scrunching and a heavy leave-in, though! They fell out today (washed Tuesday night)! That's longer than I expected.

BUT!! That explains #1 the atrocious frizz I get, especially right after washing (talk about a poof ball lmao). #2 the fact that I can never ever get my hair orderly for longer than two seconds?? Sig pic: taken literally right after I brushed THE **** out of it. Brush was still in my hand. #3 my hair's super need for moisture, all the gosh darned time. It's so thirsty! I thought it was just quirky, but nooooooooooooooope. Apparently that's a wavy/curly thing.

I think my waves don't start until my hair is longer, for the most part, though. Like, they start about shoulder, but I have less "trouble" making my hair "neat" until APL+.

OH! OH! LOOK AT THIS:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=27370&d=1495413765

My hair in like 2011? I was all "gosh my hair sure is messy, I need to brush it more" then, and later I was all "ugh my hair wasn't neat at all, shoulda run a brush through it", and NOW I'm like "waaaaaiiiiiit a minute."

Sure I've always secretly been like "but what if I've got wavy hair", but it's never been with any real conviction because LOL OF COURSE NOT THAT'S SILLY. But now I'm like "HOLD ON A SECOND" because no, I was right, I was just conditioned to think I was wrong by society and **** and now I've got my proof (genetic impossibility muahahaha) and I'm holding onto that for dear life :laugh:.

It feels a bit like when I look back on my childhood through my adult lense of "I like all the peoples in that way" and remember things like watching Hook and wanting to be Peter when the gorgeous mermaids were giving him breath so he didn't die. Or just really, really, really loving Xena a whole lot. Now I'm like "oh das gay", but then I didn't catch on. And now I'm looking back at all my hair problems, and looking with a more clear eye at old pictures like "**** das wavy!"

[wispe]

Girl! We have so much of the same sort of experience! Brushed straight I can pass for 1b except around my face, which nearly always waves at at least a 1c (and probably because that starts to dry wavy before I get a chance to brush it out). If I want a straight "neat" length shot I have to brush it as it dries and then immediately before pictures, just like you. I always brushed or fingercombed it, and it was always flippy and unruly past chin until maybe APL? I always just thought I had straight hair with body, but I really suspect I'm at least 1c/2a if not 2a. I remember 5 or 6 years ago after moving to an area with higher humidity that I was totally shocked to see some straight up ringlet curls around my face when I failed to finger comb it while I air dried it! But I don't think I'll see for sure until I'm back past APL or BSL again, because I think whatever wave I do have needs length in order to emerge. I was seeing some waves come out before my haircut but the bottom half was stringy and straighter, so I'm not sure if that was just how badly damaged the ends were or not, so.

FWIW I had some success getting waves to stay using a combination of Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie scrunched into damp hair, plopping, and silicone/sulfate free shampoo/conditioner. My hair is fine and not as thirsty/more easily looks greasy with product, so we're not total hair type twins, but it seems like we may both have sneaky waves and that's cool! B) I think my hair at APL or BSL used to look a lot like your picture above does!

[Corvana]

Girl! We have so much of the same sort of experience! Brushed straight I can pass for 1b except around my face, which nearly always waves at at least a 1c (and probably because that starts to dry wavy before I get a chance to brush it out). If I want a straight "neat" length shot I have to brush it as it dries and then immediately before pictures, just like you. I always brushed or fingercombed it, and it was always flippy and unruly past chin until maybe APL? I always just thought I had straight hair with body, but I really suspect I'm at least 1c/2a if not 2a. I remember 5 or 6 years ago after moving to an area with higher humidity that I was totally shocked to see some straight up ringlet curls around my face when I failed to finger comb it while I air dried it! But I don't think I'll see for sure until I'm back past APL or BSL again, because I think whatever wave I do have needs length in order to emerge. I was seeing some waves come out before my haircut but the bottom half was stringy and straighter, so I'm not sure if that was just how badly damaged the ends were or not, so.

FWIW I had some success getting waves to stay using a combination of Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie scrunched into damp hair, plopping, and silicone/sulfate free shampoo/conditioner. My hair is fine and not as thirsty/more easily looks greasy with product, so we're not total hair type twins, but it seems like we may both have sneaky waves and that's cool! B) I think my hair at APL or BSL used to look a lot like your picture above does!

It's really relieving to know! Both that I'm not alone, and that my hair isn't just thirsty and messy and frizzy and untameable. It is tameable, to a point! One can't fully tame waves, wurls, and curls lol. They tame you ;)

I posted a bit of a curl on a high humidity day, and was like "excuse you! I have straight hair what are you doing!" but no, I don't, and it was just like "OH MOISTURE OM NOM NOM".

I do think I need more length for them to really come out, which is why I'm not gonna bother worrying about changing my products until I use up what I've got. I've added to my amazon wishlist the SM coconut and hibiscus (which is the same line as the curl enhancing smoothie) shampoo, conditioner, styling milk, and of course the CES :laugh:. $40 on amazon for the whole set, but the CES and shampoo would last me ages I think, along with the style milk. Just the conditioner ($9) would need to get purchased a bunch. That price seems to be about average, with the conditioner only being $9 looking like a pretty nice deal (as at Sally it's $10, it's $12 at Walgreens etc).

I did scrunch a bunch after my most recent wash, and a few waves (I think? I still assume that any wave is just from my hair drying on my shoulders lol) have stuck around. I remembered to use my leave-in and oil this time, and scrunched that in, too.

[Eastbound&Down]

I broke my foot and have had to sleep on the couch the last few days so u can elevate my foot. The fabric of my couch is causing some serious tangles :( it was almost matted this morning when I woke up. I'm going to do a heavy oiling tonight and see if that helps.

[Corvana]

I broke my foot and have had to sleep on the couch the last few days so u can elevate my foot. The fabric of my couch is causing some serious tangles :( it was almost matted this morning when I woke up. I'm going to do a heavy oiling tonight and see if that helps.

Oh no! I hope it heals fast!

[patienceneeded]

Joining this group now. My pixie is finally all the way grown out and my hair is firmly at shoulder length. Onwards to APL! Hoping to be able to use all my hairsticks again soon. Another 2 inches and I think I can do it. My hair is super thick (even with an undercut in back!) so I need more length. My goal is to get back to waist again and then maintain there.

[Corvana]

Joining this group now. My pixie is finally all the way grown out and my hair is firmly at shoulder length. Onwards to APL! Hoping to be able to use all my hairsticks again soon. Another 2 inches and I think I can do it. My hair is super thick (even with an undercut in back!) so I need more length. My goal is to get back to waist again and then maintain there.

Woohoo! Welcome! Welcome back? :laugh:

[Eastbound&Down]

Oh no! I hope it heals fast!

Me too, thank you!

[Arctic]

I broke my foot and have had to sleep on the couch the last few days so u can elevate my foot. The fabric of my couch is causing some serious tangles :( it was almost matted this morning when I woke up. I'm going to do a heavy oiling tonight and see if that helps.

Can you spread a sheet between you and the couch fabric? If it's stay put all night it might help. I hope your foot will heal very fast!

[_fred_]

Hi all, long time no forum - offline life got super busy.

Eastbound&Down I'm sorry about your foot. I hope it heals soon, and I hope your hair will be better after the oiling!

Welcome, patienceneeded! And corvana congrats on the growth, your hair's looking so great!

I've been stuck in that ARGHHH IT JUST ISN'T GETTING LONG phase for a few months. It's definitely getting longer, but ugh. So frustrating! I'm tall, and have a million miles to go before APL.

Did the towel test this morning:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IHUC4mHDxKzs0BHD5Kf5hZjQEhw02kHJTYn8Ngm18pzuRWwbvP XWXLDSbwLiE2w1DzfyCU9HHo0FnWkTMTs4V1AxHD1igyqLkRoj rnKFuHD75hv5AECyobB2DbPS9mOZqJBew5Vr-ew_TJxHss0FsYjV5JhwjcZrR2dFpC9VQ6d181NvS7vNOe_gcO_ FYmEhbW1KqD9Whs401eiGvFZuQvl0Rl3A2RYEfGALJT9OWiQ1_ 5N-lR2lNkh083Hj_7wSHf6uaFqooDTO0I9jlsznOLoMC5Ixn-fFaLCaV14kabTSOEOAobSb5iM1PKqScFspSKztKmINkyWuQanv v8_idAEWMZ5v65ukUhbIpHCHL8x7SKwkmSxifNE3jmErnxGmsP tb1tG7ffn-aigKKv5sNtbPkATLmJMwgmtgDTw2ootordqSOlzFlwHJ6JACpm Nunah2XHvbEIhlFxaaV2f-bvDPP_k0-ZCdAdQoraxkaQzRxYiWRFiStuDY_TiuWeAAkBhHeRySISYq75O NGeL8GBCZ1LgR5eQP3q6vdCwrEVkIoQIM4EHXrqULhMF8qZ-4FHSgvpnPwhES_e1fAt8ieMiyRMI9HX53V7QMzz5gmsQh4nmYD wIMRz5Lfj6RnT8vNSnsigwIQRqcqzkjuLZPNhUSizhRkGMvO6A z=w350-h467-no

It looks longer from the front! But at least the condition's OK. I've been using a heavy duty moisturising mask, doing S&D, and drying it to maximise shine and smoothness (mostly leaving it to dry naturally, but with the front clipped back. Then clipping it all back and oiling to get it smoother). It's behaving quite well today as a result. Dyed the tips lilac, although it doesn't really show in the pics. Need to pep up the colour again soon.

Last summer I calculated that it would take until June or July 2018 for me to hit APL because of the sheer bloomin distance involved. I like being tall in general, but this is kinda annoying.

Oooh also, I made a few sets of hair pins for friends (bent over double-ended knitting needles spray painted silver), and one of my longhaired friends has started wearing that flipped up English braid thing I do :D Only her hair is BSL+ so it looks really impressive on her. Still looks a bit stubby on me, but my colleagues are impressed so there's that!

OK, I'm going to wallow in frustration for a few mins about it's going to be summer before I hit APL, then I'm going to go do something with my day. How are you all doing? :blossom:

[Eastbound&Down]

Can you spread a sheet between you and the couch fabric? If it's stay put all night it might help. I hope your foot will heal very fast!
That's a really good idea! I didn't even think about that. I'll give it a try, I'll have my DH help me put it on.

[Corvana]

Hi all, long time no forum - offline life got super busy.

Eastbound&Down I'm sorry about your foot. I hope it heals soon, and I hope your hair will be better after the oiling!

Welcome, patienceneeded! And corvana congrats on the growth, your hair's looking so great!

I've been stuck in that ARGHHH IT JUST ISN'T GETTING LONG phase for a few months. It's definitely getting longer, but ugh. So frustrating! I'm tall, and have a million miles to go before APL.

Did the towel test this morning:

It looks longer from the front! But at least the condition's OK. I've been using a heavy duty moisturising mask, doing S&D, and drying it to maximise shine and smoothness (mostly leaving it to dry naturally, but with the front clipped back. Then clipping it all back and oiling to get it smoother). It's behaving quite well today as a result. Dyed the tips lilac, although it doesn't really show in the pics. Need to pep up the colour again soon.

Last summer I calculated that it would take until June or July 2018 for me to hit APL because of the sheer bloomin distance involved. I like being tall in general, but this is kinda annoying.

Oooh also, I made a few sets of hair pins for friends (bent over double-ended knitting needles spray painted silver), and one of my longhaired friends has started wearing that flipped up English braid thing I do :D Only her hair is BSL+ so it looks really impressive on her. Still looks a bit stubby on me, but my colleagues are impressed so there's that!

OK, I'm going to wallow in frustration for a few mins about it's going to be summer before I hit APL, then I'm going to go do something with my day. How are you all doing? :blossom:

Thanks!! I can't see it too much, but I can feel it and I'm trying to be good with that lol. But I wanna SEE a difference :( :laugh: I did a towel test recently, too, and idk if I mentioned it here? BUT it turns out my tattoo ends either right at, or 1/4" at most above APL according to the towel test! So it's actually a great length progress marker!

I'm not jealous of your height, considering the stretch to milestones LOL. Sometimes I wanna be tall, so I can like... reach stuff, but I think I'd hate it a little?

And I'm doing amazing. Not in general, that's just "fine" or "ok" and occasionally "could be worse", but I'm so happy about my hair that it's causing my mood to be very good! Did you notice? :Will Smith poses at hair type: :eyebrows: Look who's not 1b anymore.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29287&d=1511684626

[Arctic]

That's a really good idea! I didn't even think about that. I'll give it a try, I'll have my DH help me put it on. I hope it'll work for you!


Corvana, have you taken hair typing pictures yet (is the one above a typing photo?)? I'm happy for you for finding waves!

[_fred_]

Thanks!! I can't see it too much, but I can feel it and I'm trying to be good with that lol. But I wanna SEE a difference :( :laugh: I did a towel test recently, too, and idk if I mentioned it here? BUT it turns out my tattoo ends either right at, or 1/4" at most above APL according to the towel test! So it's actually a great length progress marker!

I'm not jealous of your height, considering the stretch to milestones LOL. Sometimes I wanna be tall, so I can like... reach stuff, but I think I'd hate it a little?

And I'm doing amazing. Not in general, that's just "fine" or "ok" and occasionally "could be worse", but I'm so happy about my hair that it's causing my mood to be very good! Did you notice? :Will Smith poses at hair type: :eyebrows: Look who's not 1b anymore.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29287&d=1511684626

LOL woah, turns out you're wavy! Nice one! Amazing how your hair can surprise you :D Also very cool how your tattoo is in just the right place to help measure.

This weekend I found out I can make a bun stay with just one small claw clip, that was pretty cool (mostly because I was feeling lazy and only had one small claw clip to hand). It's a tiny bun, but it'll grow. It's just so frustrating how long it takes to get from shoulder to APL. But hey ho, at least we can tie it back!

[_fred_]

Also, wispe, just saw that you're in this thread now too! Congrats on the chop - your hair looks so healthy now. It was gorgeous before (and it still is), but I can totally see why you'd want to get the damage off and done with. :cheer:

[spidermom]

I broke my foot and have had to sleep on the couch the last few days so u can elevate my foot. The fabric of my couch is causing some serious tangles :( it was almost matted this morning when I woke up. I'm going to do a heavy oiling tonight and see if that helps.

You can put a sheet over the couch.

[Corvana]

Corvana, have you taken hair typing pictures yet (is the one above a typing photo?)? I'm happy for you for finding waves!

Thanks! I'm ecstatic about them tbh. I was looking for information about "finding out you've got wavy and not straight hair" and one of the videos I watched was like "don't be sad that your hair isn't straight!" and I was like "WHY WOULD I BE SAD?! THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY EVER!"

And I don't think I'd count that as a proper hair typing picture. There's no product or anything in it, but idk if my scrunch-to-dry counts as manipulation? I didn't touch it after that, of course (so hard lol), but I think I still touched it "too much"? But if it's good enough, it's still just 1c/2a! I do think it'll creep over into full 2a, though, judging by older photos that I've been looking at with new eyes lol.


LOL woah, turns out you're wavy! Nice one! Amazing how your hair can surprise you :D Also very cool how your tattoo is in just the right place to help measure.

This weekend I found out I can make a bun stay with just one small claw clip, that was pretty cool (mostly because I was feeling lazy and only had one small claw clip to hand). It's a tiny bun, but it'll grow. It's just so frustrating how long it takes to get from shoulder to APL. But hey ho, at least we can tie it back!

It's so exciting! XD And of course I immediately dropped all cones and lost so much frizz? Frickin A man, I coulda been way less frizzy a million years ago! And yeah, it's nice that I don't need to grab a towel every time I walk by a mirror with no shirt on LOL. I can just glance and see ;)

Oh that's good! I've got a mid-sized claw clip and it's too big to hold the side of a bun, and too small to hold the whole thing.

Yeah being able to put it up in any way really really helps.

[NimbleNut]

Sooo...I haven't checked in in a while because life is crazy. It's made for some good benign neglect though and I'm finally solidly at APL. However, I'm going to wait to call it because I plan on trimming an inch or so after the new year and I think that may bring me up short again. I s&d pretty regularly so I don't think my ends are too terrible as far as splits go but I know they are a bit dry and have some old damage so I think the trim is necessary. I already dread losing that bit of length though.

[Eastbound&Down]

I was able to put my hair into a half up with a stick today! No picture because I had to keep packing but yay!

[Corvana]

Sooo...I haven't checked in in a while because life is crazy. It's made for some good benign neglect though and I'm finally solidly at APL. However, I'm going to wait to call it because I plan on trimming an inch or so after the new year and I think that may bring me up short again. I s&d pretty regularly so I don't think my ends are too terrible as far as splits go but I know they are a bit dry and have some old damage so I think the trim is necessary. I already dread losing that bit of length though.

Congrats!! And I bet you'll regain that trimmed bit in no time, as well. And you've got another month before the trim anyway, and you might be able to hit just on it instead!

[Corvana]

I was able to put my hair into a half up with a stick today! No picture because I had to keep packing but yay!

Congrats!!

[Estrid]

Hello everyone, sorry for being away for a long time again. I moved to a new place directly after the very time consuming internship I had, then I had an exam and also a foreign visitor, so my life has been all over the place. I finally had some time today to take a monthly photo, I'm 6 days late, but it'll have to do.

https://i.imgur.com/monyhUs.jpg?1

I've gotten to the point where my hair feels like it is apl, but I am not sure if I should call it yet since my hair still "curls up" a bit and isn't always touching that invisible line between the armpits. I think I might wait a few weeks more, or even to the very end of this year, before I call it.

[Corvana]

Hello everyone, sorry for being away for a long time again. I moved to a new place directly after the very time consuming internship I had, then I had an exam and also a foreign visitor, so my life has been all over the place. I finally had some time today to take a monthly photo, I'm 6 days late, but it'll have to do.

https://i.imgur.com/monyhUs.jpg?1

I've gotten to the point where my hair feels like it is apl, but I am not sure if I should call it yet since my hair still "curls up" a bit and isn't always touching that invisible line between the armpits. I think I might wait a few weeks more, or even to the very end of this year, before I call it.

:thudpile: Estriiiiiiiiiiiid your haaaaiiiiirrrrr. It's so gorgeous I want to steal iiiiiiiit.

[victorian girl]

Estrid, wow, I really like everything about your hair, it is gorgeous already! And you're sooo close to APL, you will certainly be there by the New Year!

[Estrid]

Thank you, Corvana and victorian girl :o I do believe I will be there pretty soon, and I do think I called it at this point last time I grew out my hair, but I'm not in a rush, I can wait. APL would only mean that it's time to start microtrimming my hair again, all those funny layers needs to go. I'm still not sure how I will go about it, maybe 1 cm every month or so, we'll see!


I really should try to make it a habit to come on here every day, this place really makes me happy. Maybe I should share my braiding progress, progress I have not had yet since I totally forgot about trying to braid my hair every day :couch: not sure how fun that would be for you others to see, but it would probably make me come online more often, so why not try, for my own sake :o

[GalaMoon]

Hello everyone, sorry for being away for a long time again. I moved to a new place directly after the very time consuming internship I had, then I had an exam and also a foreign visitor, so my life has been all over the place. I finally had some time today to take a monthly photo, I'm 6 days late, but it'll have to d

I've gotten to the point where my hair feels like it is apl, but I am not sure if I should call it yet since my hair still "curls up" a bit and isn't always touching that invisible line between the armpits. I think I might wait a few weeks more, or even to the very end of this year, before I call it.


I see a hair strand already brushing APL, my guess is you'll get there before the end of the year. By then you will probably have some extra length to trim off and still be at APL (if you really want to trim).

[OhSuzi]

Clawed my way here through the depths of the super shorty pixie, made it past a hairdressers over zealous trim, through chin to shoulder, now ready to make a 6 month / 1 year? pit stop at the world of Shoulder to APL.

Im super excited whenever I think about it, as my hair is about to boldly grow where its never reached before.
Although getting excited about APL hair is like getting excited about the thought of Christmas, then remembering it's currently March.

Grow grow grow!

[victorian girl]

Clawed my way here through the depths of the super shorty pixie, made it past a hairdressers over zealous trim, through chin to shoulder, now ready to make a 6 month / 1 year? pit stop at the world of Shoulder to APL.

Im super excited whenever I think about it, as my hair is about to boldly grow where its never reached before.
Although getting excited about APL hair is like getting excited about the thought of Christmas, then remembering it's currently March.

Grow grow grow!

Welcome to our club! I've been through growing out a pixie too once upon a time - and it's quite a challenge, so you've already come a long way, congratulations!

[Corvana]

Thank you, Corvana and victorian girl :o I do believe I will be there pretty soon, and I do think I called it at this point last time I grew out my hair, but I'm not in a rush, I can wait. APL would only mean that it's time to start microtrimming my hair again, all those funny layers needs to go. I'm still not sure how I will go about it, maybe 1 cm every month or so, we'll see!


I really should try to make it a habit to come on here every day, this place really makes me happy. Maybe I should share my braiding progress, progress I have not had yet since I totally forgot about trying to braid my hair every day :couch: not sure how fun that would be for you others to see, but it would probably make me come online more often, so why not try, for my own sake :o

Oh yes!! I'd love to see your braiding progress! And maybe it'll motivate me to braid too...


Clawed my way here through the depths of the super shorty pixie, made it past a hairdressers over zealous trim, through chin to shoulder, now ready to make a 6 month / 1 year? pit stop at the world of Shoulder to APL.

Im super excited whenever I think about it, as my hair is about to boldly grow where its never reached before.
Although getting excited about APL hair is like getting excited about the thought of Christmas, then remembering it's currently March.

Grow grow grow!

More like twelve year, with how long it seems to take LOLOL.

Welcome to the thread!!

[Estrid]

Welcome, OhSuzi!

GalaMoon, yeah, I do have a few strands that seem to touch apl however I stand, but I guess that's just the nature of having that flip, it they all straightened out in the end I would be apl for sure :p I'll just wait some more, nothing wrong with waiting.



I will try to post a braid photo every day starting tomorrow. It is a bit of a high aim, to do that every day, but why not try? ^.^ It will mean a lot of poorly made braids in this thread, I hope you all are OK with that :silly:

[GalaMoon]

Welcome, OhSuzi!

GalaMoon, yeah, I do have a few strands that seem to touch apl however I stand, but I guess that's just the nature of having that flip, it they all straightened out in the end I would be apl for sure :p I'll just wait some more, nothing wrong with waiting.



I will try to post a braid photo every day starting tomorrow. It is a bit of a high aim, to do that every day, but why not try? ^.^ It will mean a lot of poorly made braids in this thread, I hope you all are OK with that :silly:

Well, I'm so impatient to get to APL that I don't understand the waiting part ��.
Please do post pictures, I know I could use some inspiration. When it comes to braiding, I'm stuck at the French braid

[NightSister]

I will try to post a braid photo every day starting tomorrow. It is a bit of a high aim, to do that every day, but why not try? ^.^ It will mean a lot of poorly made braids in this thread, I hope you all are OK with that :silly:

Please do, like GalaMoon I am stuck with what to do at this stage braid wise :)

[cailinbee]

You guys.... You guys... I don't just have very persistent flippies. I'm a wavy in disguise.

I went on a long rabbit hole expedition after finally getting around to searching LHC about how my hair is VERY wavy when wet but straight when dry. I found:

1. Most people with that problem are 1c-2b. Super rare 1bs, and they may not even be 1b anyway.
2. The genes for curls are dominant, and do what's called incomplete dominance with the genes for straight hair (so two curl genes = curls, one = waves, none = straight).
3. My dad has curls, my mom has waves. Genetically it's impossible for me to have actually straight hair.
4. My stupid waves are just DELICATE BABIES that need to be handled like gossamer silk, apparently.

I was able to coax a couple with wet scrunching and a heavy leave-in, though! They fell out today (washed Tuesday night)! That's longer than I expected.


That's so neat! I had no idea of the genetics.

I think I have a similar setup to my hair texture; out of sheer curiosity one time I tried the curly girl plopping thing and it was like bam!
Amazing waves! It's too much work and too much grease for my thin hair to actually treat it like it's straight-up curly, but it's fun to know I can bring out that texture if I want! I use non-silicone conditioner just to encourage the natural shape nowadays :) Have you tried that yet?

/apologies if you've mentioned it in previous posts, I'm catching up with this thread, and it moves fast!

[Corvana]

Welcome, OhSuzi!

GalaMoon, yeah, I do have a few strands that seem to touch apl however I stand, but I guess that's just the nature of having that flip, it they all straightened out in the end I would be apl for sure :p I'll just wait some more, nothing wrong with waiting.



I will try to post a braid photo every day starting tomorrow. It is a bit of a high aim, to do that every day, but why not try? ^.^ It will mean a lot of poorly made braids in this thread, I hope you all are OK with that :silly:

If you do it, I'll do it!!

I'm debating now when to call APL. I've been measuring stretched, and will likely call stretched APL when it happens, but if it waves up enough to have actual shrinkage should I wait? Or should I call stretched and just get on with it... I'm also thinking to call stretched for APL, but wait until wavy for BSL. I've already been waiting twelve billion years for APL, but BSL is much shorter (if I grow .5"/mo I'll hit it by like June) and so waiting there wouldn't be as torturous.


That's so neat! I had no idea of the genetics.

I think I have a similar setup to my hair texture; out of sheer curiosity one time I tried the curly girl plopping thing and it was like bam!
Amazing waves! It's too much work and too much grease for my thin hair to actually treat it like it's straight-up curly, but it's fun to know I can bring out that texture if I want! I use non-silicone conditioner just to encourage the natural shape nowadays :) Have you tried that yet?

/apologies if you've mentioned it in previous posts, I'm catching up with this thread, and it moves fast!

It is really neat lol. And quite the relief, that all these things I hated about my hair were just because I wasn't treating it for its proper type.

I've got some shea moisture shampoo, and a huge bottle of suave essentials (used to be naturals) conditioner, plus suave daily clarifying because I needed an actual clarifying shampoo, SM manuka honey deep treatment (gotta DT after clarifying!), and a tiny 2oz pot of cantu curl cream (it was less than $3, and has really good reviews here and elsewhere) all on its way to me (no time to go to the store to get it, and we needed to order another thing anyway). I am ALL SET for some real effort to get these here waves to stick for realsies. I could've gotten the SM conditioner, but the suave is nice enough and was $3 for 30oz :laugh: SM was $10 for like 12oz?

Idk if I'd updated in here, but I'd washed Saturday and used a silicone free conditioner and scrunched everything in. Waves held on until yesterday in the back, but the front is now loose S waves like the ones in my signature. The front is more wavy I think, or because I don't sleep on my face they're just stronger :laugh:

[Estrid]

Well, I'm so impatient to get to APL that I don't understand the waiting part ��.
Please do post pictures, I know I could use some inspiration. When it comes to braiding, I'm stuck at the French braid

Haha! I guess I'm so preoccupied with other things atm that I'm not too concerned with my hair. I was very impatient last time I grew my hair and called it as soon as a few strands touched it, but now? I know that it's growing, it looks quite a lot longer than it did last month, which is weird since it hasn't moved that much length-wise, but it feels long, so I'm happy with that :o

I'm not very good at braiding either, but it's one of those things where practice really helps, so i'm hoping I'll make some killer braids in the end! Might take some time, and with all my layers atm the braids may not look that great, but hey, got to start somewhere.


Please do, like GalaMoon I am stuck with what to do at this stage braid wise :)

I am not too sure what to do myself! but I think I will try some of those cool braids and probably more simple ones as well, as long as I do one style every day. I should probably do them in the morning and see if they last for the rest of the day. Now, it wouldn't surprise me if they fall apart after a while since my hair isn't very long, but we'll see!


If you do it, I'll do it!!

I'm debating now when to call APL. I've been measuring stretched, and will likely call stretched APL when it happens, but if it waves up enough to have actual shrinkage should I wait? Or should I call stretched and just get on with it... I'm also thinking to call stretched for APL, but wait until wavy for BSL. I've already been waiting twelve billion years for APL, but BSL is much shorter (if I grow .5"/mo I'll hit it by like June) and so waiting there wouldn't be as torturous.

-

Yes! Join in! :D


I understand what you mean. I am definitely APL when I stretch my hair, but in my head that doesn't count since that's not how it looks normally. I can understand the will to just move on to the next wait though, waiting for APL isn't the most fun thing to do.
I know that I got to BSL (top of the bra strap) 6.5 months after I reached APL last time, and then I reached WL 8.5 months after BSL (went into those threads just to check).
Now, I will slowly trim away about 15 cm of my hair this time around, so all this will go slower, but rather that than end up with split ends all over my hair like I did last time. I may be able to reach BSL a year after I reach APL with the trimming counted for, but it might take longer than that.

[Estrid]

I suppose today will be the first day then! I initially tried to do one single french braid down the back of my head, but I failed and decided to do two instead. Turned out better than I thought it would, but more practice is needed.

https://i.imgur.com/xqmMD2X.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/cDJZbIZ.jpg?1

[Corvana]

I suppose today will be the first day then! I initially tried to do one single french braid down the back of my head, but I failed and decided to do two instead. Turned out better than I thought it would, but more practice is needed.

They look really good!!

I lost the plot halfway through

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29331&d=1511981892

But I knew I wouldn't redo it, because it's frustrating and also I'm lazy :laugh: so I bunned the rest and left it at that! It looks better in the back than I expected, and the front ain't too shabby either.

[NightSister]

Estrid well done! The strands look nice and even, and your wispies are lovely.

ETA Corvana I simply cannot pull off a low bun! looks great~

[Corvana]

Estrid well done! The strands look nice and even, and your wispies are lovely.

ETA Corvana I simply cannot pull off a low bun! looks great~

Ah thanks! I've never really thought about if I can pull them off or not :hmm: I just do them anyway :laugh: They're so comfy!! The only thing I don't like about them is they're always tinier LOL.

[Estrid]

Thank you!
It looks great, Corvana! I don't know why I didn't think of a bun, it was the last part of it that I completely messed up. But I don't think I will be doing any french or dutch braids down the back of my head until I learn how to do a normal english braid down my back first, my hands are soooo not used to doing that sort of things when they're out of sight :lol:
I think I will do that today, one simple braid down my back. I expect that will be the braid I do most days, because 1. it is a braid I really need to practice and it shouldn't be hard, and 2. because that's the braid I expect I will want to wear the most in the future, better get used to doing it!

[GalaMoon]

Estrid, you actually did a good job, I can't do double braids, can't get them to look the same. And I have the same problem with english braids, they always come out twisted somehow. Did your braids lasted the whole day?
Corvana, your braid looks thick, and you did a good job with that low bun, it looks neat and not as tiny as you think it is.

[Estrid]

I took my braids down a few hours after I made them since it got uncomfortable to have them under a beanie (should've thought of that), some of the layers were poking through, but other than that they lasted those few hours.
I understand what you mean, my braid easily twist when I can't see what I'm doing, and they're almost never even, one side turned out better than the other.

For today I just did a simple braid down my back.

https://i.imgur.com/UIv3pke.png?1

It didn't take as long as the dutch braids I did yesterday, but it's so tricky not seeing what I'm doing. The first time around one of the three ran out of hair before the other ones, I decided to try again after some photos. I can't say it's perfect in any of them, and my braids will probably look prettier when my hair is longer, but for now I'm pleased. :o

[GalaMoon]

Oh yes, the joys of updo's during the cold season! That little twist at the base of the braid in the first try photo looks familiar lol. Your braid looks so thick and the ends look so healthy...I'm getting a bit of hair envy here (in a good way).

[Arctic]

Estrid, have you measured your pony lately? It sure looks like it'd be in the iii category! At the very least in the ii/iii region.

[Corvana]

Corvana, your braid looks thick, and you did a good job with that low bun, it looks neat and not as tiny as you think it is.

Ah thank you! :o I've still got it in my head that my hair is very thin, but it's not! I used to dye it and bleach it and rip at it with a paddle brush and so of course it wasn't at its best! But I'm very thankful (almost) every day about its thickness! (Some styles I can't do because it's not long enough to negate the thickness :laugh:)


I took my braids down a few hours after I made them since it got uncomfortable to have them under a beanie (should've thought of that), some of the layers were poking through, but other than that they lasted those few hours.
I understand what you mean, my braid easily twist when I can't see what I'm doing, and they're almost never even, one side turned out better than the other.

For today I just did a simple braid down my back.

It didn't take as long as the dutch braids I did yesterday, but it's so tricky not seeing what I'm doing. The first time around one of the three ran out of hair before the other ones, I decided to try again after some photos. I can't say it's perfect in any of them, and my braids will probably look prettier when my hair is longer, but for now I'm pleased. :o

I did the same today!! I missed a little bit, as you can see on the left, but that's all tucked in now. I was surprised at how neat and nice it looked otherwise, as usually they're lopsided and loose! I'm very proud of myself today :o

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29347&d=1512069221

Yours looks so lovely and long! Granted I do have to take my photos over my head so I lean forward a bit. But you've still got a full bump on me anyway hehehe.

[Corvana]

Estrid, have you measured your pony lately? It sure looks like it'd be in the iii category! At the very least in the ii/iii region.

Yes! It looks thicker than mine, and mine's a 3.5"!

[NightSister]

Nice flexi Corvana! What size?

[Corvana]

Nice flexi Corvana! What size?

It's a small! I think... crap... uuuuuhh... Yes! A small! It says on the end, that's amazing. It's too small (heh) to hold my hair as a ponytail, but works for pigtails, half-ups, and to hold the end of my braids! And only barely for the braids, it's a bit of a tight fit but not in a bad way.

[_fred_]

I took my braids down a few hours after I made them since it got uncomfortable to have them under a beanie (should've thought of that), some of the layers were poking through, but other than that they lasted those few hours.
I understand what you mean, my braid easily twist when I can't see what I'm doing, and they're almost never even, one side turned out better than the other.

For today I just did a simple braid down my back.

https://i.imgur.com/UIv3pke.png?1

It didn't take as long as the dutch braids I did yesterday, but it's so tricky not seeing what I'm doing. The first time around one of the three ran out of hair before the other ones, I decided to try again after some photos. I can't say it's perfect in any of them, and my braids will probably look prettier when my hair is longer, but for now I'm pleased. :o

Your hair is so gorgeous! The braids looked great, and this single braid looks so lovely too. I'd totally be pleased if mine came out as good as any of those :)


Ah thank you! :o I've still got it in my head that my hair is very thin, but it's not! I used to dye it and bleach it and rip at it with a paddle brush and so of course it wasn't at its best! But I'm very thankful (almost) every day about its thickness! (Some styles I can't do because it's not long enough to negate the thickness :laugh:)



I did the same today!! I missed a little bit, as you can see on the left, but that's all tucked in now. I was surprised at how neat and nice it looked otherwise, as usually they're lopsided and loose! I'm very proud of myself today :o

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29347&d=1512069221

Yours looks so lovely and long! Granted I do have to take my photos over my head so I lean forward a bit. But you've still got a full bump on me anyway hehehe.

That's looking great! And the flexi 8 is a lovely touch.


It looks like braid season, so here's a braid comparison :blossom:

11 September contrasted with today! I didn't realise my braid had grown. I'm loving how the flipped braid thing looks at this length, and it's beginning to get a fair bit of attention from my colleagues. Today one colleague asked for a demo of how to make it happen, and when I did it in 30 seconds she was like O_o Always nice!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Et_9QIRyqiFJZrAs-sbRBk_msB8rnnAtXYvjP7YdQsDrlRkzbztE66iLQgfxkjevmcn PHKzVaxvattAOdYiYT7GPdKOv69aQhvNasM8Tn_0iaTboAbwxm 0CK1AT5rNYAge1Suh0w2Z-obZlkHwOOMhjpAxTs3R0yc06veQ6rDrkAWlA_YTwo1FIN5cfRN KZQoNBn-9UBReTxAQ-JfU-jVE5RzSt6LYgpMqzLDmNVKOKNtQU828-Luu2wdRgorY0aBDeV-JKNqRTsg5laALQHqLFuoCG8Jyo1CL9H9V5fGwnnMt1r5D_yROF wUlmktjhJj5Ft_s9rQbpMif9kh0sCT0FdsxfEr853DRaSsQ3GK TZBhKTARpQFMK-rS9ljwS4GoAYKrRroeD91zQWN4BYBPnZndbanGcJrFUi2jV_wo U7Mbxwjwhm_FKYwKi5i72kUYNDFQ2f4YCwvbO6R1gruYkW7B-uW29gpHhqCtSQR1Dgw-6nf_ksKprFui-3HsdXRE2QVBHx-4iw9BU6fiZbs7B45qJv8SoDxL5kLeYhBwXvcerJBo0IiZxmeMv mHPyu2cSFpJDR8DCfe6rV_vfXLf5p4mhaXXQsUskcbNJLCSfNG oM5FsrTEkfnFqnsmKmkqXbiAunjHV1NTJHjXVdSwPNqiuLZdKL 0ZFKR6=w624-h468-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2u4rmhnkjQdXtDlwUGJr6Zb2tPP0jxtdLszNVpGMbG764NMcSN VCDSXgO0PkKMbztY8d7yyosePAdhXPsKW_K2aawSWldPNtpWBv xsmnpSzjIiqV7SDlfLiy9ZoC2fhbzdNQVBLP9xZn5wzM627a-FhHWVlRW-ugk41bKUBFic4MEDLHiMek0NBiXkuQ1jbE2y4f5lxskVvU8L1G VOvjoK4vM1ezUX5P9yZwq2sdbRctMCLfpDa2Nie9xz4LEsVYIh pv1gpuNs5KtWdzd3gol8mYMia_psiOdNXdwHsdI5PrHtZJaASg UdXwURGKqD2I7uOgn-xovFpAPnQGtusutXPZHKv0rCdW8UF8CKfI9U5UWeRD53sHFNJC 7B6JE4aB4hXun-L7O9wjiAqbPkdKI3zPDe2lcXx4iUF3TxbAjFnj4NSwucz3EnC_ 9Jw319TKnlc0r6gmSfQNrg0m70IYFh4rwz3wVA3YRICnseTG-z8bbDNe9LXptXDtW2uhWPxDsF1x6EIw5-A6PTeqeM93FbaWkJc8zvQ3Y4iNY8AAGv2DG4JOq1CGn__0Hgds O4h08Aoc1x4denM2wGL4xE--wjtFEqC3pHx7sQoi6I1L28RB2UueN1V97Jd5ZDMpQAvncx5Xx0-2x-CVrqY7xJArsOoiRT4UQ3Dbzzje=w439-h585-no

[Corvana]

That's looking great! And the flexi 8 is a lovely touch.


It looks like braid season, so here's a braid comparison :blossom:

11 September contrasted with today! I didn't realise my braid had grown. I'm loving how the flipped braid thing looks at this length, and it's beginning to get a fair bit of attention from my colleagues. Today one colleague asked for a demo of how to make it happen, and when I did it in 30 seconds she was like O_o Always nice!

Quite the growth!! I think sometimes styles are a better way to see growth than a standard length shot is.

And thank you! I couldn't find a hair tie and I was like "aw man I'll have to redo it... WAIT I GOT A FLEXI!" :laugh:

[Estrid]

Thank you everyone, I should probably have sticked to the first braid I did, the other one got so close to the ends that the elastic band glided off after less than 2 hours, but I wanted to make it as long as I could!

My ponytail is ~8.8-9 cm, so I guess we got the same thickness, Corvana! It might be that my head is on the smaller side that makes it look thicker?


Moving on, your braid looks great, Corvana :o I had completely forgot about flexis, I think i still have some somewhere.

I can definitely see the difference, _fred_! You've had quite a lot of growth since september, and your current braid looks really nice (got to say that I love that style as well, do you just call it 'flipped braid'?) :) How do you make it stay up? I can see something metal-looking in the older photo, but I can't quite tell what it is.

[Corvana]

Thank you everyone, I should probably have sticked to the first braid I did, the other one got so close to the ends that the elastic band glided off after less than 2 hours, but I wanted to make it as long as I could!

My ponytail is 9 cm.


Your braid looks great, Corvana! I had completely forgot about flexis, I think i still have some somewhere.

I can definitely see the difference, _fred_! You've had quite a lot of growth since september, and your current braid looks really nice (got to say that I love that style as well, do you just call it 'flipped braid'?) :) How do you make it stay up? I can see something metal-looking in the older photo, but I can't quite tell what it is.

Heck that's the same as mine! Twins lol. Was your hair clean? Mine was all oiled up, so I think it was very compacted. Made sectioning easy as pie, though! I kinda never want to braid clean hair again it was so nice LOL

And yeah go find those!! I had to take my braid out because I got a migraine and the flexi was too heavy and having my hair confined hurt (and I just washed it because it being oiled made it too heavy too), but if I hadn't it probably would've stuck around all day! They're pretty versatile and I loooove them. Tomorrow I'm gonna use my gold one!

And I think _fred_ uses one of those modified knitting needle forks!

[Estrid]

Heck that's the same as mine! Twins lol. Was your hair clean? Mine was all oiled up, so I think it was very compacted. Made sectioning easy as pie, though! I kinda never want to braid clean hair again it was so nice LOL

And yeah go find those!! I had to take my braid out because I got a migraine and the flexi was too heavy and having my hair confined hurt (and I just washed it because it being oiled made it too heavy too), but if I hadn't it probably would've stuck around all day! They're pretty versatile and I loooove them. Tomorrow I'm gonna use my gold one!

And I think _fred_ uses one of those modified knitting needle forks!

Oh, haha, you replied to me right when I added some text! I misunderstood the measuring tape at first, long time ago since I used one of those, but yes! it seems that we have the same thickness :) Or well, my hair is not clean, and it is very brushed through so I guess it is as compact as it will be without oil, but yeah, it's not oil-compact :p I should wash it today but I probably won't because I will be away, cleaning. I'll try to make somekind of braid/s before I go, will probably be a bit of a change since there won't be any daylight, but as long as I get my braid/s done! :bluebiggr
I think I know where my flexis are, I don't think I'll use them today due to the cleaning, but tomorrow might be the day!

That's a shame, that you had to take it down, but at least you made it! (and that's the practicing part ;) ). I don't know if I've ever seen a modified knitting needle, but I can picture what that would look like, like a big pin? I've thought about buying something like that but never got around to do it.

[Corvana]

Oh, haha, you replied to me right when I added some text! I misunderstood the measuring tape at first, long time ago since I used one of those, but yes! it seems that we have the same thickness :) Or well, my hair is not clean, and it is very brushed through so I guess it is as compact as it will be without oil, but yeah, it's not oil-compact :p I should wash it today but I probably won't because I will be away, cleaning. I'll try to make somekind of braid/s before I go, will probably be a bit of a change since there won't be any daylight, but as long as I get my braid/s done! :bluebiggr
I think I know where my flexis are, I don't think I'll use them today due to the cleaning, but tomorrow might be the day!

That's a shame, that you had to take it down, but at least you made it! (and that's the practicing part ;) ). I don't know if I've ever seen a modified knitting needle, but I can picture what that would look like, like a big pin? I've thought about buying something like that but never got around to do it.

Hahah of course! It could be head size, and even just hair color!

If my migraine doesn't go away tonight, then I'm skipping the next braid. There's a 50/50 chance, but it feels bad right now. I thought it was fine until I stood up :laugh: It was not fine.

Knitting needle forks are like giant U pins!

[Estrid]

Hahah of course! It could be head size, and even just hair color!

If my migraine doesn't go away tonight, then I'm skipping the next braid. There's a 50/50 chance, but it feels bad right now. I thought it was fine until I stood up :laugh: It was not fine.

Knitting needle forks are like giant U pins!

Oh, yes, I guess it could be the hair colour too. May just be that you're better at braiding too, I'm way too preoccupied with trying to get my fingers to move the hair "right" than to make it sit tight, haha.
I would love to see another braid from you today so I hope your migraine pass soon, I'm lucky I don't have those, I've heard how painful they can be! Get well! :o

These will be my braids for today, fishtail ones! Almost easier to do when I'm not looking, might sound odd, but that is because whenever I pull another strand, and I can see the three that I'm holding, my fingers get the urge to do a normal braid :silly:

https://i.imgur.com/m7ZyUZI.jpg?1

This was the best photo I managed to get in this bad light, I'm doing something weird with my mouth, but I'm going to assume that it's because the camera shut off between every single photo (need to charge it), it was irritating! :redgrin:



ETA: I just noticed that these braids reach apl :silly: I kinda like that

[Corvana]

Oh, yes, I guess it could be the hair colour too. May just be that you're better at braiding too, I'm way too preoccupied with trying to get my fingers to move the hair "right" than to make it sit tight, haha.
I would love to see another braid from you today so I hope your migraine pass soon, I'm lucky I don't have those, I've heard how painful they can be! Get well! :o

These will be my braids for today, fishtail ones! Almost easier to do when I'm not looking, might sound odd, but that is because whenever I pull another strand, and I can see the three that I'm holding, my fingers get the urge to do a normal braid :silly:

This was the best photo I managed to get in this bad light, I'm doing something weird with my mouth, but I'm going to assume that it's because the camera shut off between every single photo (need to charge it), it was irritating! :redgrin:



ETA: I just noticed that these braids reach apl :silly: I kinda like that

Oh ho! Proof you're really at APL!

I've never done a fishtail braid before! Maybe that can be tomorrow's (today's for you hehehe) braid if I'm feeling better! I just had some pain killers and a little coffee (caffeine helps!), so I'm feeling better, but whether it lasts or not is totally up in the air lol.

And it could be that! I've been braiding, english only, for years and years and years. My only problem is keeping the sections tight, but usually even that's fine. On myself I always go a bit crooked, but I've never really practiced on myself in a single braid until LHC! Actually, I've done french braids a lot on friends, too. But never on myself!

[OhSuzi]

estrid - your hair is a lovely colour & looks like its healthy & in great condition in those braid pics.

[Estrid]

Thank you, OhSuzi :o

You really should start doing fishtail braids, Corvana! I really like them, they look nice and are easy to do. They're not as secure as a normal braid when you got layers. I've been cleaning all day and the braids are still there, but they do not look as good as they did 7 hours ago. There is something quite charming about braids that are falling apart, though :p
I've never done braids on others, but that should be quite a good thing, I mean, it does mean some sort of practice, even if it isn't on yourself! I'm not sure how much it would help though, I guess you know how to do it a bit better than me, but other than that... it's quite different braiding someone else's hair than to braid your own.

I hope you're feeling better by now!

[Corvana]

Thank you, OhSuzi :o

You really should start doing fishtail braids, Corvana! I really like them, they look nice and are easy to do. They're not as secure as a normal braid when you got layers. I've been cleaning all day and the braids are still there, but they do not look as good as they did 7 hours ago. There is something quite charming about braids that are falling apart, though :p
I've never done braids on others, but that should be quite a good thing, I mean, it does mean some sort of practice, even if it isn't on yourself! I'm not sure how much it would help though, I guess you know how to do it a bit better than me, but other than that... it's quite different braiding someone else's hair than to braid your own.

I hope you're feeling better by now!

Better, yes, migraine all gone, no. I'm gonna eat and then take a nap and hooooooopefully that'll do me!

Yeah my front is the same length as my back, but like... when I pull it back it gets shorter :laugh: But I think braid shred is so cute! A little damaging, but soooo cute. Like I LOVE how messy a sleep braid is in the morning :crush:

Braiding on others gets your fingers going right, but then you've gotta "translate" it to doing it backwards on yourself.

[_fred_]

Quite the growth!! I think sometimes styles are a better way to see growth than a standard length shot is.

And thank you! I couldn't find a hair tie and I was like "aw man I'll have to redo it... WAIT I GOT A FLEXI!" :laugh:

With you there! My length shots aren't showing much at all right now, but it feels way longer and I'm amazed about that extra braid length!

BTW, I hope you recover from your migraine soon.


Thank you everyone, I should probably have sticked to the first braid I did, the other one got so close to the ends that the elastic band glided off after less than 2 hours, but I wanted to make it as long as I could!

My ponytail is ~8.8-9 cm, so I guess we got the same thickness, Corvana! It might be that my head is on the smaller side that makes it look thicker?


Moving on, your braid looks great, Corvana :o I had completely forgot about flexis, I think i still have some somewhere.

I can definitely see the difference, _fred_! You've had quite a lot of growth since september, and your current braid looks really nice (got to say that I love that style as well, do you just call it 'flipped braid'?) :) How do you make it stay up? I can see something metal-looking in the older photo, but I can't quite tell what it is.

Those fishtail braids are lovely btw! I adore that style. I'm looking forward to when mine's long enough to do that in a single braid over my shoulder.

I use these to pin up my hair. Like Corvana said, they're double ended aluminium knitting needles gently bent in half. I bought these on the swap board, but since getting them I've made loads more and given a few sets to friends. They're so useful!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bD03-wO0CED96F2emKRNrSFmXZL0IKyq1-KqUCVa5rhnx7PUG81sxRDh9P0TCGFZve5Duvwf8eDXQa74exdT-Mzg9WQ27L0OZIC-X5eDAdDGFfbUlwuPMGMB_3nU93I6s8X2ks-E5PJiyavL0ScSoVIoZh-Kmwe36sRYBmcPjHz_R8nv4LuSOA1G-Zt-k4orQ5ZM1z_KDmOfXdbnfAJ4iiF8yF4U4bqLEQS6lO7h2g4cu2 5IJyoXdsmgILUBstWn4i3vjb_FrQz0d1h0IjglKKP8GKQiNs2O HPv8PlLXaqRYADEX_4m4zQwRFXCmtLAoa50VWFZlDSA-0zFLBNIruM1va7Po3chmmFIFvEDkjIGYat8uyYKvoGK-d9GMkM8wZuBLLHvlAPawlcF-Y9a6Q4j6kX6UDkDiLhJMEDUNXAPGF78uYORF0P__Si1v9OhHl-rcptiFwmuooQ-8hyawlxM4Jr6kMiaY0-PKFEPyoUCAd-rtU_7xBPLp_TVYKncm9__VUoaaj3VHw72w7SSJlzr_g5TSuYts H2_zVKpXa57Fn3v3HehA9EPWY_01jC5pqW9NLbYFDM1mAqnNDe woX-mIlgUkjnDY1o_QHL05dTtvmRtkCeovoojfaCWFSQr5UxMG32oM hzsUiIpG6MPnfKYpaKW0CxK-goyR=w621-h466-no

If I'm lucky, I can get them completely hidden so it looks like the braid's up there by magic, but often they end up poking out the side. Also, I'm sure the style has a name somewhere, but I've been calling it a flipped braid. And thank you! :blossom:

[Estrid]

Better, yes, migraine all gone, no. I'm gonna eat and then take a nap and hooooooopefully that'll do me!

Yeah my front is the same length as my back, but like... when I pull it back it gets shorter :laugh: But I think braid shred is so cute! A little damaging, but soooo cute. Like I LOVE how messy a sleep braid is in the morning :crush:

Braiding on others gets your fingers going right, but then you've gotta "translate" it to doing it backwards on yourself.

Did the nap work? :) I agree, it is cute, and a bit romantic imo. I saw a person with a thick tailbone-length braid today, can't wait until I'm there too!


-

Those fishtail braids are lovely btw! I adore that style. I'm looking forward to when mine's long enough to do that in a single braid over my shoulder.

I use these to pin up my hair. Like Corvana said, they're double ended aluminium knitting needles gently bent in half. I bought these on the swap board, but since getting them I've made loads more and given a few sets to friends. They're so useful!
-
If I'm lucky, I can get them completely hidden so it looks like the braid's up there by magic, but often they end up poking out the side. Also, I'm sure the style has a name somewhere, but I've been calling it a flipped braid. And thank you! :blossom:

Oh, it would be neat to just have one braid like that, will take some time before my hair is long enough, I remember that I thought it was too short for it when I was at waist length too, which isn't very encouraging to think about now.

Those look nice! Maybe I should try to get some someday, I do like my hair toys that show, but sometimes it's nice for it to be a bit more "magical" :o




I've been very busy this morning. I didn't do my braids until I got home. I wasn't sure what type of braid to do, so I made 4 strand ones! (for the first time too, I'm didn't check any tutorial before, though I have watched them a few years ago, but it worked and looks fine so I guess I did it alright)
I'm not sure how well it shows, I had a hard time taking photos of them, at least photos that didn't know my face. I haven't been able to find any chargers for the two cameras I have that are dead atm, so I had to use my webcam, meaning I stood there with my laptop trying to take a decent photo :bluebiggr

https://i.imgur.com/exs1HxV.jpg?1

I think I prefer the look of normal braids and fishtail braids, but it was fun to do!

[NightSister]

_fred_ your pins are very clever!

Very cute Estrid!

[NightSister]

Some front growth shots from July 2017 and November 2017 :

http://i66.tinypic.com/2dl9pwm.jpg http://i65.tinypic.com/2wmgep3.jpg

Length shot from today:

http://i64.tinypic.com/15rxh1z.jpg

Pretty sure it's APL, but I'd like to wait till mid December to officially call it.

[ponine]

Hello everyone! I was lurking here couple months ago maybe and then became blissfully unaware of my hair and forgot but that wore of and I am here again. And decided to actually write something and join the growing. :)

I've been growing my hair out for two years-ish maybe, from ear length, and I'm at shoulder length now. And to complain a little: I can't really do anything apart from a small ponytail with my hair yet, so I'm getting impatient and bored with it.

[NightSister]

Welcome ponine :) I know the frustration well! But lately this group has been posting great styles so hopefully you get some ideas. Happy growing!

[_fred_]

Did the nap work? :) I agree, it is cute, and a bit romantic imo. I saw a person with a thick tailbone-length braid today, can't wait until I'm there too!



Oh, it would be neat to just have one braid like that, will take some time before my hair is long enough, I remember that I thought it was too short for it when I was at waist length too, which isn't very encouraging to think about now.

Those look nice! Maybe I should try to get some someday, I do like my hair toys that show, but sometimes it's nice for it to be a bit more "magical" :o




I've been very busy this morning. I didn't do my braids until I got home. I wasn't sure what type of braid to do, so I made 4 strand ones! (for the first time too, I'm didn't check any tutorial before, though I have watched them a few years ago, but it worked and looks fine so I guess I did it alright)
I'm not sure how well it shows, I had a hard time taking photos of them, at least photos that didn't know my face. I haven't been able to find any chargers for the two cameras I have that are dead atm, so I had to use my webcam, meaning I stood there with my laptop trying to take a decent photo :bluebiggr

https://i.imgur.com/exs1HxV.jpg?1

I think I prefer the look of normal braids and fishtail braids, but it was fun to do!

They look so smooth! <3 I'd definitely recommend trying out the bent knitting needles - I got a pack of six for a few pounds, and just bent them with me hands (gently and slowly!), and they work perfectly. I'm thinking of getting some silk flowers or other ornaments to fix onto the top of the bend, so they make more of a decoration.

The other day at work I saw a lass with a fishtail braid in deep red, laying over her shoulder, it was so pretty. I think her hair was around BSL. It looked really impressive, even though it wasn't massively long. Her hair definitely didn't look too short for it, and I hope waist won't feel too short for you this time around!




_fred_ your pins are very clever!

I'm so impressed with them! The swap board has the best hair toys :heart:


Some front growth shots from July 2017 and November 2017 :

http://i66.tinypic.com/2dl9pwm.jpg http://i65.tinypic.com/2wmgep3.jpg

Length shot from today:

http://i64.tinypic.com/15rxh1z.jpg

Pretty sure it's APL, but I'd like to wait till mid December to officially call it.

Congrats, it looks brill! And it's so encouraging to see such beautiful growth in only a handful of months.


Hello everyone! I was lurking here couple months ago maybe and then became blissfully unaware of my hair and forgot but that wore of and I am here again. And decided to actually write something and join the growing. :)

I've been growing my hair out for two years-ish maybe, from ear length, and I'm at shoulder length now. And to complain a little: I can't really do anything apart from a small ponytail with my hair yet, so I'm getting impatient and bored with it.

Hi and welcome! And congrats on reaching shoulder :D That's such a nice milestone to get to. Have you had a look on Youtube for tutorials for updos with shorter hair? At shoulder length there's a massive variety of styles you can achieve.

[lapushka]

Joining this group now. My pixie is finally all the way grown out and my hair is firmly at shoulder length. Onwards to APL! Hoping to be able to use all my hairsticks again soon. Another 2 inches and I think I can do it. My hair is super thick (even with an undercut in back!) so I need more length. My goal is to get back to waist again and then maintain there.

Good on you for reaching this milestone. Yay! :cheer:

[papillon]

My longest layers are just skimming APL! Maybe I will hit APL before the year ends. :)

[Corvana]

With you there! My length shots aren't showing much at all right now, but it feels way longer and I'm amazed about that extra braid length!

BTW, I hope you recover from your migraine soon.

I hate this staaaaaaaaage. I want either: visible length progress OR enough length to be able to do a couple full styles that'll hold with a fork or stick.

And I hope so too ;A; It's only have here, now... Like... 50% power LOL. But that's still too many.


Did the nap work? :) I agree, it is cute, and a bit romantic imo. I saw a person with a thick tailbone-length braid today, can't wait until I'm there too!

Oh, it would be neat to just have one braid like that, will take some time before my hair is long enough, I remember that I thought it was too short for it when I was at waist length too, which isn't very encouraging to think about now.

I've been very busy this morning. I didn't do my braids until I got home. I wasn't sure what type of braid to do, so I made 4 strand ones! (for the first time too, I'm didn't check any tutorial before, though I have watched them a few years ago, but it worked and looks fine so I guess I did it alright)
I'm not sure how well it shows, I had a hard time taking photos of them, at least photos that didn't know my face. I haven't been able to find any chargers for the two cameras I have that are dead atm, so I had to use my webcam, meaning I stood there with my laptop trying to take a decent photo :bluebiggr

I think I prefer the look of normal braids and fishtail braids, but it was fun to do!

They're really lovely! I'm scared to do more than a three strand, to be honest. The fishtail seems easy enough, and I could probably get that down in no time. But 4 strand? 5 strand? 6 STRAND?! Nope, no way.

I skipped today, I just couldn't bring myself to disrupt the delicate pain balance my head had. For most of the morning it was more of a pressure I could feel but no pain, but now it's back to some pain. Not as much, and the nap did help a little (along with some food hehehe) yesterday! But this one is one of my rare long-haul migraines. Usually I'm good in about 36 hours or so, with maybe 3-4 times a year getting ones that stick around for 48-72 hours. I was about due anyway.


Some front growth shots from July 2017 and November 2017 :

Length shot from today:

Pretty sure it's APL, but I'd like to wait till mid December to officially call it.

Oh yeah, I think that's definitely APL!! Congrats, even if you're waiting a bit!!


Hello everyone! I was lurking here couple months ago maybe and then became blissfully unaware of my hair and forgot but that wore of and I am here again. And decided to actually write something and join the growing. :)

I've been growing my hair out for two years-ish maybe, from ear length, and I'm at shoulder length now. And to complain a little: I can't really do anything apart from a small ponytail with my hair yet, so I'm getting impatient and bored with it.

Welcome!!

Definitely start learning to french and dutch braid now, while it's easier! Plus that's something you can definitely do! Even if it's just double braids, with them ending as ponytails! I also did a lot of pigtails and double half-up buns at that length (and who am I kidding I do that now LOL).


My longest layers are just skimming APL! Maybe I will hit APL before the year ends. :)

Woohoo!!! Congrats!!

[Corvana]

I'm pretty sure I'm still a good bit from APL... I'm measuring tomorrow after another easy co-wash (my hair doesn't hate it, and nor does my scalp, so woohoo!), so I'll know more then! Still gonna measure stretched, which doesn't help too much with the visual growth :laugh: But I'm pretty settled on calling milestones as they're seen instead of as they're measured once I've hit APL.

Also! I'm APL in the front! :laugh: Maybe the front of my hair is a liiiittle longer than the back.

[_fred_]

My longest layers are just skimming APL! Maybe I will hit APL before the year ends. :)

Congrats! And I hope so :cheer:

Corvana

I wish you visible length progress soon - and to get it all up with a stick. Congrats on getting to APL at the front!

[Estrid]

Thank you, NightSister! Your hair surely looks apl to me, but you're more than welcome to stay with us for a bit longer if you want to :)

Welcome to the thread, ponine! I know it isn't easy, this stage (shoulder length to apl) is the stage I've failed most times in my life. It's an awkward stage, at least for me, when you're right at the shoulders, then it gets a bit better when you've passed the collarbones. It is a long wait, a long annoying wait, to get to apl. As long as you don't cut it, you'll eventually get there!

Thank you, _fred_! I will see if I can find any knitting needles in the store tomorrow. I'm sure it wasn't actually that short, but I think I probably turned a bit length-blind last time around. Looking at myself in the mirror, and realising that I actually had hair down to my waist, is crazy to me today, I don't feel like it ever was that long, but it was!

Sounds great, papillon! It seems that we are quite a bunch that are about to reach apl any week now :o

Thank you, Corvana, the 4 strand braid wasn't that hard! I had to readjust the hair with my fingers a few times, but it was the first time I tried and it went well, I didn't have to re-do it.
I hope you're feeling better today, but it is definitely better to be safe than sorry in moments like that. One or two days without a braid isn't that much really, this is just for fun :p

[Corvana]

Congrats! And I hope so :cheer:

Corvana

I wish you visible length progress soon - and to get it all up with a stick. Congrats on getting to APL at the front!

Thanks! Today was measurement day, and I'm ~2" from APL, stretched. So growth is happening!


Thank you, NightSister! Your hair surely looks apl to me, but you're more than welcome to stay with us for a bit longer if you want to :)

Welcome to the thread, ponine! I know it isn't easy, this stage (shoulder length to apl) is the stage I've failed most times in my life. It's an awkward stage, at least for me, when you're right at the shoulders, then it gets a bit better when you've passed the collarbones. It is a long wait, a long annoying wait, to get to apl. As long as you don't cut it, you'll eventually get there!

Thank you, _fred_! I will see if I can find any knitting needles in the store tomorrow. I'm sure it wasn't actually that short, but I think I probably turned a bit length-blind last time around. Looking at myself in the mirror, and realising that I actually had hair down to my waist, is crazy to me today, I don't feel like it ever was that long, but it was!

Sounds great, papillon! It seems that we are quite a bunch that are about to reach apl any week now :o

Thank you, Corvana, the 4 strand braid wasn't that hard! I had to readjust the hair with my fingers a few times, but it was the first time I tried and it went well, I didn't have to re-do it.
I hope you're feeling better today, but it is definitely better to be safe than sorry in moments like that. One or two days without a braid isn't that much really, this is just for fun :p

I do feel better! I need to try out them fishtail braids, but I'm putting it off LOL. I'm suspicious of relapses for daaaaays after a Long migraine because it's happened before.

And I know it's for fun, that's why I'm sad about missing days! I was having fun with it lol.

[Estrid]

Good that you feel better, Corvana! :o You'll be able to try out doing a fishtail braid eventually!

I forgot to do a braid yesterday (oooops... :couch: ).

Today I attempted to make a single dutch braid down the back of my head, I thought I was making it easier for myself to not start that high up, but the result? well, it is a dutch braid, but somehow, don't ask me how, I ended up starting it on the right side of my head just to have to go to the center and then down... This is the reason I need practicing ._.

https://i.imgur.com/oIimC4i.jpg?1

Adding one taken with help from a mirror, just to show how not-straight it is

https://i.imgur.com/nNLw8Cx.jpg?2




ETA: Whyyy do I keep mixing up french and dutch braids? Oh well, edited!

[_fred_]

Estrid Congrats on another lovely braid! Doesn't matter that it's not symmetrical, it still looks really cool.

If you do find the right kind of needles, I'd love to know how you get on with them.

[Mafmi]

Hi guys, I'm a new member, I've been growing my hair out from a little less than chin length for the last year. I think I'm at about collar bone length now. It's nice to be able to do things with my hair again, although 95% of the time I'm lazy and just clip it back, haha. Anyways I'm excited to reach APL! Hopefully I will hit it by next summer :cool:

Here's where I'm at now:
https://i.imgur.com/i8oWsBy.jpg?1

[Corvana]

Good that you feel better, Corvana! :o You'll be able to try out doing a fishtail braid eventually!

I forgot to do a braid yesterday (oooops... :couch: ).

Today I attempted to make a single dutch braid down the back of my head, I thought I was making it easier for myself to not start that high up, but the result? well, it is a dutch braid, but somehow, don't ask me how, I ended up starting it on the right side of my head just to have to go to the center and then down... This is the reason I need practicing ._.

Adding one taken with help from a mirror, just to show how not-straight it is



ETA: Whyyy do I keep mixing up french and dutch braids? Oh well, edited!

Eehehe I get crooked ones all the time, too! I was shocked that my french braid bun thing the other day was actually in the middle!!

I finally did them!!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29386&d=1512421590

I didn't take a picture of the other one because it was terrible and I had to redo it, but still! As long as I made sure to not try to english braid when I had that third piece, it was easy peasy!!

[_fred_]

Hi guys, I'm a new member, I've been growing my hair out from a little less than chin length for the last year. I think I'm at about collar bone length now. It's nice to be able to do things with my hair again, although 95% of the time I'm lazy and just clip it back, haha. Anyways I'm excited to reach APL! Hopefully I will hit it by next summer :cool:

Here's where I'm at now:
https://i.imgur.com/i8oWsBy.jpg?1

Welcome! We're about at the same stage, and I'm also hoping to get there in the summer. Happy growing :D


Eehehe I get crooked ones all the time, too! I was shocked that my french braid bun thing the other day was actually in the middle!!

I finally did them!!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29386&d=1512421590

I didn't take a picture of the other one because it was terrible and I had to redo it, but still! As long as I made sure to not try to english braid when I had that third piece, it was easy peasy!!

Congrats! That looks gorgeous :D

[Mafmi]

Welcome! We're about at the same stage, and I'm also hoping to get there in the summer. Happy growing :D

Yay hair twins! I can't wait to get out of this stage, I didn't realize how awkward it looked on me until I was taking pictures of it :laugh:

[Corvana]

Hi guys, I'm a new member, I've been growing my hair out from a little less than chin length for the last year. I think I'm at about collar bone length now. It's nice to be able to do things with my hair again, although 95% of the time I'm lazy and just clip it back, haha. Anyways I'm excited to reach APL! Hopefully I will hit it by next summer :cool:

Here's where I'm at now:
https://i.imgur.com/i8oWsBy.jpg?1

Oh you posted after I opened the thread (and then left to make the kid a snack LOL) and I missed it! Welcome to the thread!! I think we're at about the same stage or so, as well.


Congrats! That looks gorgeous :D

Thank you! I'm pleased they came out well after only one crappy first try lol. The flexis slipped off after a few hours, though, so it's up in a claw clip now!

[Estrid]

Welcome to the LHC and this thread, Mafmi! Shoulder to apl is one of the most annoying stages to go through (in my opinion), this thread is great for support! Your hair looks great now and will look amazing when longer! ;)

Thank you, _fred_! I'll try to aim for the middle the next time around though, hopefully it will be more successful :p I will update on the needles once I find some!

It looks really good, Corvana! Fishtail braids are so cool, I wonder why they're not more popular. I mean, they're just as easy as normal braids! I can relate to the braids looking different, usually when I do two braids one turns out a lot nicer than the other x) at least at this length.
I totally forgot to use my flexi last time around, I'll see if I could use it today. Not sure if the ones I have are small enough for my braid ends though, so I might have to do something a bit different, but I'm looking forward to it! It's been more than a year since I used these!

[Estrid]

_fred_, how long are your modified knitting needles? How thick are they? I never knew there were so many different lengths and thicknesses! (looking around the internet now)

[_fred_]

Yay hair twins! I can't wait to get out of this stage, I didn't realize how awkward it looked on me until I was taking pictures of it :laugh:

I feel you there! From the outside perspective yours doesn't look awkward at all, but I know things always look different to yourself. Mine's just like that. I've managed to make it feel less awkward by dying the tips bright pink at the weekend though, so there's that! Thank goodness for updos.


_fred_, how long are your modified knitting needles? How thick are they? I never knew there were so many different lengths and thicknesses! (looking around the internet now)

I've got two thicknesses, 3mm and 4mm, and they both work fine. I got the shortest needles I could when I bought some, which were abut 20cm long (difficult to measure when they're bent!). Bent over they're as long as my middle finger. I'm trying to find some shorter and slimmer ones so I can make smaller pins that are easier to hide, but I've not found any that fit the bill yet.

I don't know if you can get Pony brand where you are, but anything like this should do fine: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pony-Knitting-Pins-Double-Ended-20cm-Set-Of-4-Mixed-Sized-Knitting-2-0mm-10mm/282250192786?var=581287490725&epid=1111733570&hash=item41b76c2792:m:mNX_7hk0L_A7cyFQfYk5tvA

I'm now thinking of getting the really slim ones and seeing about bending something a little more decorative. I find that regular spray paint for modelmaking works well on them (although I did end up with silver fingers...).

[Estrid]

-

I've got two thicknesses, 3mm and 4mm, and they both work fine. I got the shortest needles I could when I bought some, which were abut 20cm long (difficult to measure when they're bent!). Bent over they're as long as my middle finger. I'm trying to find some shorter and slimmer ones so I can make smaller pins that are easier to hide, but I've not found any that fit the bill yet.

I don't know if you can get Pony brand where you are, but anything like this should do fine: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pony-Knitting-Pins-Double-Ended-20cm-Set-Of-4-Mixed-Sized-Knitting-2-0mm-10mm/282250192786?var=581287490725&epid=1111733570&hash=item41b76c2792:m:mNX_7hk0L_A7cyFQfYk5tvA

I'm now thinking of getting the really slim ones and seeing about bending something a little more decorative. I find that regular spray paint for modelmaking works well on them (although I did end up with silver fingers...).

Alright, thanks for the info! I just remembered that I have a knitting needle, one that I probably forgot to bring back to school when I was in my early teens. I bent it now and it works quite like a hair fork, but it was 20 cm when straight and I do find that to be a bit long to look invisible. I didn't manage to bend it symmetrically, so it looks a bit weird. I think I would aim for slimmer ones if I see them in the store, and probably a bit shorter as well, but it works :p

[Estrid]

I really wanted to use a flexi today, so I tried to come up with something where I could use it.
I ended up doing a half up with two robe braids. I do like rope braids, but they are one of those styles that I think will look a lot better when I can do them properly.

https://i.imgur.com/ecayNYV.jpg?1



ETA: I think I'll try out having this photo as my avatar, I don't think I have ever had myself there!

[GalaMoon]

I really wanted to use a flexi today, so I tried to come up with something where I could use it.
I ended up doing a half up with two robe braids. I do like rope braids, but they are one of those styles that I think will look a lot better when I can do them properly.

https://i.imgur.com/ecayNYV.jpg?1



ETA: I think I'll try out having this photo as my avatar, I don't think I have ever had myself there!

Just... WOW!

[Corvana]

It looks really good, Corvana! Fishtail braids are so cool, I wonder why they're not more popular. I mean, they're just as easy as normal braids! I can relate to the braids looking different, usually when I do two braids one turns out a lot nicer than the other x) at least at this length.
I totally forgot to use my flexi last time around, I'll see if I could use it today. Not sure if the ones I have are small enough for my braid ends though, so I might have to do something a bit different, but I'm looking forward to it! It's been more than a year since I used these!

Thankie! I honestly think it's just because it looks complicated, and overall it does take more time. When my hair was longer and I could do a longer braid, an english braid took me all of four seconds. Part of that is practice, but most of it is it's just the three strands looping around each other. Dutch and french add an element of complication and time, but minimal because they're also still just looping the three bits. Fishtail adds another couple steps and takes one out. It's just two bits mostly, but like the dutch and french you need to separate hair and move it to another bit. But that's the whole braid, separate a bit move it, separate and move it, so it takes a bit more time.

Still only a few minutes, but compared to seconds it's a lot!


I really wanted to use a flexi today, so I tried to come up with something where I could use it.
I ended up doing a half up with two robe braids. I do like rope braids, but they are one of those styles that I think will look a lot better when I can do them properly.

ETA: I think I'll try out having this photo as my avatar, I don't think I have ever had myself there!

:thud:

[Corvana]

Half-up today, too! Couldn't think of anything LOL.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29394&d=1512518779

[Estrid]

Thank you, folks :p

It looks good, Corvana ;) I should probably focus on mainly braids on the back of my head since that's what I need to practice the most. I was considering that type of half up as well until I realised that most of my weird layers are in the top portion there, so I don't think mine would have ended up looking that pretty x)

It's true, fishtail braiding does take a little more time than a normal braid, but I'm 100 % sure I myself will sacrifice that time many times in the future, because I like them a lot :o



Fun fact about my flexi history: back when I was buying flexis quite a lot I thought my hair was warm toned, and ended up buying a gold coloured flexi because I thought that it was like the skin undertones, gold goes with warm and silver with cool.
That was probably the first time ever what I realised that my hair is NOT warm toned, or at least does not go with gold at all. I keep to silver-toned jewellery now!

[_fred_]

Alright, thanks for the info! I just remembered that I have a knitting needle, one that I probably forgot to bring back to school when I was in my early teens. I bent it now and it works quite like a hair fork, but it was 20 cm when straight and I do find that to be a bit long to look invisible. I didn't manage to bend it symmetrically, so it looks a bit weird. I think I would aim for slimmer ones if I see them in the store, and probably a bit shorter as well, but it works :p

You're welcome! :blossom: 20cm is a bit long for me as well to keep hidden, but I couldn't find anything shorter. I'm still on the lookout for shorter needles, so if you find a brand that does them, I'd love to know :)


I really wanted to use a flexi today, so I tried to come up with something where I could use it.
I ended up doing a half up with two robe braids. I do like rope braids, but they are one of those styles that I think will look a lot better when I can do them properly.

https://i.imgur.com/ecayNYV.jpg?1



ETA: I think I'll try out having this photo as my avatar, I don't think I have ever had myself there!

That's so pretty!


Half-up today, too! Couldn't think of anything LOL.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29394&d=1512518779

Looking good there!

All these lovely flexis definitely make me want to shuffle over to the swap board...

[Corvana]

Thank you, folks :p

It looks good, Corvana ;) I should probably focus on mainly braids on the back of my head since that's what I need to practice the most. I was considering that type of half up as well until I realised that most of my weird layers are in the top portion there, so I don't think mine would have ended up looking that pretty x)

It's true, fishtail braiding does take a little more time than a normal braid, but I'm 100 % sure I myself will sacrifice that time many times in the future, because I like them a lot :o

Fun fact about my flexi history: back when I was buying flexis quite a lot I thought my hair was warm toned, and ended up buying a gold coloured flexi because I thought that it was like the skin undertones, gold goes with warm and silver with cool.
That was probably the first time ever what I realised that my hair is NOT warm toned, or at least does not go with gold at all. I keep to silver-toned jewellery now!

I've avoided gold toned jewelry almost my entire life due to it always giving me a yellow cast to my skin, and not in a pleasant way. But I'm surprised that it looks nice in my hair! I still prefer silver overall, though.

And if you look closely, you'll see that about halfway down my shorter bits start shredding out of the braid :laugh:


Looking good there!

All these lovely flexis definitely make me want to shuffle over to the swap board...

Thank you!! And you should get some ;) ;) They're heavy, though, if your scalp is sensitive. I can only wear them for maybe half the day before I need to take them out. I can go longer if I'm doing a bun, though!

[Arctic]

These halfups with flexie look great on you guys!

[Estrid]

You should definitely try to get hold of a nice flexi, _fred_! They're pretty and easy to use :o and thank you, and Arctic too, half ups sure are nice-looking, we all should do them more often!

I've been pretty much the same, Corvana, from my young teens I pretty much knew gold didn't go with my skin tone, but I really did think my hair was warm toned for the longest period of time.


Todays braid was just a normal braid down my back, I think I did it worse this time around :silly:

https://i.imgur.com/KBG3d4C.jpg?1

[Arctic]

Ever since I've become more relaxed about my hair, I've been wearing it down more - but for work I like halfups, they show the length, my waves and keep my hair off my face. Win-win-win! My favourites are a cinnabun halfup, spock bun halfup, knot bun halfup, and fistail braid halfup.

BTW Estrid, I often braid my dutch/french brain diagonally on purpose, I really like how it looks!

[Estrid]

Ever since I've become more relaxed about my hair, I've been wearing it down more - but for work I like halfups, they show the length, my waves and keep my hair off my face. Win-win-win! My favourites are a cinnabun halfup, spock bun halfup, knot bun halfup, and fistail braid halfup.

BTW Estrid, I often braid my dutch/french brain diagonally on purpose, I really like how it looks!

I will try to do a half-up cinnabun when my hair is a bit longer, I've always liked how those look! I don't think I'm capable of doing a pretty one now though, or well, I guess I could try.

I guess it does look good if you continue in the direction you're heading, like an Elsa braid or Katniss braid (really not sure what to call them!), I guess I could try that as well someday. Something tells me that I won't do too good, but hey, I can be quite stubborn!

[Corvana]

These halfups with flexie look great on you guys!

Thank you! I love half-ups heheh. Mostly because it thins my hair out so I can do more thiiiiings. But it's also very pretty!


I've been pretty much the same, Corvana, from my young teens I pretty much knew gold didn't go with my skin tone, but I really did think my hair was warm toned for the longest period of time.

Todays braid was just a normal braid down my back, I think I did it worse this time around :silly:

Lovely!! English braids are my go to because they're so easy to do lol.

My braids today were pigtail rope braids and... I'm super bad at them??

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29399&d=1512595313

That's the best I got, and it's not terrible (finally), but it's not... amazing. I think part of it is that it's wash day so my hair is very clumpy. I will retry with cleaner hair! But I also kept getting confused with the twisting.

[_fred_]

corvana Thanks for the heads up about the weight of flexis. I think I might try a small one and see how I get on. I'm not one for heavy things in my hair - I get paranoid about ripping it out by accident.

[Corvana]

corvana Thanks for the heads up about the weight of flexis. I think I might try a small one and see how I get on. I'm not one for heavy things in my hair - I get paranoid about ripping it out by accident.

The small ones are the ones I've got!

[Fairyxlights]

I really wanted to use a flexi today, so I tried to come up with something where I could use it.
I ended up doing a half up with two robe braids. I do like rope braids, but they are one of those styles that I think will look a lot better when I can do them properly.

https://i.imgur.com/ecayNYV.jpg?1



ETA: I think I'll try out having this photo as my avatar, I don't think I have ever had myself there!

So look pretty! Rope braids are beyond my ability, your's are gorgeous. Defiently a good avatar pic 😊

[Estrid]

Thank you, Fairyxlights :o

Corvana, rope braids that are not "on" the head are probably really hard to do in a nice-looking way until the hair is quite long, so I think you did a good job! I won't try until my hair is a bit longer than now, I feel that I might need around 20 cm more, at minimum, to do a nice looking rope braid. My layers would probably have to be pretty much gone too, at least if I want to keep them from ruining the braid.

[Corvana]

Thank you, Fairyxlights :o

Corvana, rope braids that are not "on" the head are probably really hard to do in a nice-looking way until the hair is quite long, so I think you did a good job! I won't try until my hair is a bit longer than now, I feel that I might need around 20 cm more, at minimum, to do a nice looking rope braid. My layers would probably have to be pretty much gone too, at least if I want to keep them from ruining the braid.

Yeah I figured that'd be the case! But I was happy enough to get them to work for the first time ever lol.

[Corvana]

ALSO!!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29401&d=1512632530

This is 100% dry hair, my signature was about 80% dry because I was terrified of my waves disappearing and feeling like a wavy-fraud :laugh:

But LOOK! THEY DO EXIST! :insert Santa from that M&M's commercial here:

Sadly they're gonna die in a bit when I go to bed lmao. Gotta start washing earlier... AND I'm pretty sure I'm gonna invest in a diffuser... I finished my shower at about ten my time, and it's past 130a and my hair is just now dry. That is... A very long time lmao. If I can keep the heat suuuuper low, then I'll be fiiiiiiine! But I might also try clipping my hair up? I doubt that'll help the time it takes, but it will help my desire to TOUCHY.

[GalaMoon]

ALSO!!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29401&d=1512632530

This is 100% dry hair, my signature was about 80% dry because I was terrified of my waves disappearing and feeling like a wavy-fraud :laugh:

But LOOK! THEY DO EXIST! :insert Santa from that M&M's commercial here:

Sadly they're gonna die in a bit when I go to bed lmao. Gotta start washing earlier... AND I'm pretty sure I'm gonna invest in a diffuser... I finished my shower at about ten my time, and it's past 130a and my hair is just now dry. That is... A very long time lmao. If I can keep the heat suuuuper low, then I'll be fiiiiiiine! But I might also try clipping my hair up? I doubt that'll help the time it takes, but it will help my desire to TOUCHY.

Look at them waves! They are much more defined than in the sig, is that from the new products?

[Estrid]

Your hair is veeeery similar to my how my hair was the last time I grew it out, so maybe you are in fact a 2a, Corvana! Only length can tell, though.
This time around my waves show up more than they did last time I grew my hair, I'm not sure why that is.


I did two simple braids today, never got around to taking a photo while there was still good natural light, so here is a photo taken with a webcam with light from the laptop and a lamp nearby:

https://i.imgur.com/rOEarJ7.jpg?2

I think that I, in the weekend, might do some other hairstyles that are not braids, just to get some variation. (I really want to try to do a half-up cinnabun now that Arctic mentioned it)

[Fairyxlights]

ALSO!!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29401&d=1512632530

This is 100% dry hair, my signature was about 80% dry because I was terrified of my waves disappearing and feeling like a wavy-fraud :laugh:

But LOOK! THEY DO EXIST! :insert Santa from that M&M's commercial here:

Sadly they're gonna die in a bit when I go to bed lmao. Gotta start washing earlier... AND I'm pretty sure I'm gonna invest in a diffuser... I finished my shower at about ten my time, and it's past 130a and my hair is just now dry. That is... A very long time lmao. If I can keep the heat suuuuper low, then I'll be fiiiiiiine! But I might also try clipping my hair up? I doubt that'll help the time it takes, but it will help my desire to TOUCHY.

My hair won't stand to be blow dried, it frizzes out in protest 😂. But I'd imagine a diffuser on low heat would be relatively safe for your hair. Do report back if you decide to take the plunge. Your hair is gorgeous by the way :-)

[NightSister]

So wavy Corvana!!

Good job in keeping up with the braids guys! I am taking notes :)

[fhairyqueen]

After being inspired by your posts about braids at our length I just attempted to do braids in my hair and yay I can manage two braids one on each side like pigtails :) thank you for the idea I didn’t realise it was long enough to attempt yet I’ve been too scared to attempt it for fear on realising just how too short my hair is

[Corvana]

Look at them waves! They are much more defined than in the sig, is that from the new products?

Yes!! I clarified FOR REALS THIS TIME with an actual clarifying shampoo (suave daily clarifying, it smells SO GOOD??), and then I deep conditioned 100% silicone free using Shea Moisture Manuka Honey DC. AND THEN I did a baby LOC with the water from my shower, my usual coffee-scented oil (I like it both because my hair likes it, and because the coffee scent helps downplay strong product scent so my sensitivity isn't triggered as often), and Cantu Coconut Curl Cream!

Definitely helped a ton, but I think I miiiiiight need to get some gel anyway. But that's fine! I'll first try with the last of the Living Proof Style Extender I've got, because I know that works pretty good and it's silicone free tooooooo!


Your hair is veeeery similar to my how my hair was the last time I grew it out, so maybe you are in fact a 2a, Corvana! Only length can tell, though.
This time around my waves show up more than they did last time I grew my hair, I'm not sure why that is.

I did two simple braids today, never got around to taking a photo while there was still good natural light, so here is a photo taken with a webcam with light from the laptop and a lamp nearby:

I think that I, in the weekend, might do some other hairstyles that are not braids, just to get some variation. (I really want to try to do a half-up cinnabun now that Arctic mentioned it)

Ok so... Is that your hair in the 2a section of the hairtyping post? I keep seeing it and feeling it's familiar, and then I think it's you, and then I see your pictures now and I'm like "no it's not her..." And now I'm like "wait if her waves were weaker then..." so I'm just gonna ask LOL.

And I think it is 2a? Especially looking at the big ol S waves in one of my older photos with BSL-ish hair. But for noooooow I'll baby them and call them 1c/2a lol.

And hey! Double braids are a classic. I almost did them today, and then I remembered that I just washed my hair and should take this opportunity to do a pretty half up :laugh:


My hair won't stand to be blow dried, it frizzes out in protest ��. But I'd imagine a diffuser on low heat would be relatively safe for your hair. Do report back if you decide to take the plunge. Your hair is gorgeous by the way :-)

If it doesn't work out, I'm 100% sure my roommate would use the thing so it'd be fine lol. But I know that some wavies and curlies here use a diffuser on low to get their hair closer to barely damp, especially when it's cold out lol. It's so tempting because 3+ hours is murdeeerrrr!

And thank you!! I for once agree with you :laugh: I've found so much love in my hair now that it's not a poofy weird mess because I thought it was straight but just ugly. It's wavy! And wavy hair is gorgeous which means my hair has to be gorgeous! HA SELF-ESTEEM. I TRICKED YOU. :rollin: But really, thank you! I've been getting many hair compliments the past few days, and I feel like I'm on cloud nine from them!!


So wavy Corvana!!

Good job in keeping up with the braids guys! I am taking notes :)

Thank you!!


After being inspired by your posts about braids at our length I just attempted to do braids in my hair and yay I can manage two braids one on each side like pigtails :) thank you for the idea I didn’t realise it was long enough to attempt yet I’ve been too scared to attempt it for fear on realising just how too short my hair is

Yay!! I've found double braids and half-ups the best for the majority of this milestone trek. By splitting your hair you can change the ratio of length:thickness more in your favor!

-----

And now for my braid picture of the daaaaaayyyyyyy!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29402&d=1512676027

I suspect the flexi will fall out soon, but whateverrrr. I tried to use my Ficcare beak clip, but honestly that thing hates holding my hair in any way! I might toss it up on the swap board at some point, because I can't figure out how to get it hold. But I'll first look into more tutorials and shizz.

[Fairyxlights]

Corvana I remember that phase with my hair. For years all I wanted was straight hair. Then all I wanted was truly curly hair. Just this year I finally decided I liked my wavy hair

[Fairyxlights]

Me and quick reply are officially not friends :mad: As I was saying, I've come to love my wavy, crazy hair, even if it does make me look like an extra from the musical Cats every so often :lol:

I apologize for the double post, I'm not able to edit yet :(

[Corvana]

Corvana I remember that phase with my hair. For years all I wanted was straight hair. Then all I wanted was truly curly hair. Just this year I finally decided I liked my wavy hair


Me and quick reply are officially not friends :mad: As I was saying, I've come to love my wavy, crazy hair, even if it does make me look like an extra from the musical Cats every so often :lol:

I apologize for the double post, I'm not able to edit yet :(

See I would've been happy with wavy hair my whole life (or at least from about 7 on), because it's always been a dream to have wavy or curly hair. I thought I just had straight hair for thirty years, but it was straight hair that was never neat, and always frizzy, and needed to be brushed all the time.

But nope, it's wavy, and since I've wanted it for so long I'm so so happy about it. To the point of no longer wanting henna! Which is a big thing, because the #2 thing I've wanted to change about my hair since after high school was how red it was!

[Estrid]

Ah, that looks great, Corvana! I kinda want to do a half up today as well, but I will wash my hair today, meaning whatever I do today my hair will shape with until I wash it again.

I do not have any photos in the visual hair typing guide, if that's the one you mean :p The person with the auburn brown apl-ish length hair does resemble how my hair looked last time I grew it out, though!
I don't know if your hair is 2a, it might be, but it's hard to tell at this point. I asked for help three (!) times to get my hair type right, and it went from 1c to 2a (first thread: 1c, second thread 1c/2a, third thread: 2a)

I think that I, for fun, will do a hair typing photo today, wash my hair and let it air dry without manipulation, just to see if it looks different from what it did in march 2015 (I have hair typing photos from that time). Looking at that old thread I made, my hair looks waaay less wavy than I feel that it is now, so yeah, I really want to see if there's a difference.

[Corvana]

Ah, that looks great, Corvana! I kinda want to do a half up today as well, but I will wash my hair today, meaning whatever I do today my hair will shape with until I wash it again.

I do not have any photos in the visual hair typing guide, if that's the one you mean :p The person with the auburn brown apl-ish length hair does resemble how my hair looked last time I grew it out, though!
I don't know if your hair is 2a, it might be, but it's hard to tell at this point. I asked for help three (!) times to get my hair type right, and it went from 1c to 2a (first thread: 1c, second thread 1c/2a, third thread: 2a)

I think that I, for fun, will do a hair typing photo today, wash my hair and let it air dry without manipulation, just to see if it looks different from what it did in march 2015 (I have hair typing photos from that time). Looking at that old thread I made, my hair looks waaay less wavy than I feel that it is now, so yeah, I really want to see if there's a difference.

Thank you!

You totally should, I think you might even be 2a/b!!

[Estrid]

Thank you!

You totally should, I think you might even be 2a/b!!

Now I'm sitting here with my freshly washed hair, and it's all over my face since I'm trying to avoid touching it. I hope my hair dries before I have to go to the bus, but I don't think it will x) I'll share a photo later today.

I'm not sure if my hair type has changed again, I don't think so, maybe it just shows the 2a pattern better nowadays.

[Fairyxlights]

I'm not sure if my hair type has changed again, I don't think so, maybe it just shows the 2a pattern better nowadays.

Is that a thing? I think my hair is more wavy/wurly as it ages, but I figured it was wear and non-benign neglect 😂. When I was a kid it was almost straight. Now it's allllmost curly. Admittedly as it gets longer the weight usually straightens it a bit, but this time around who knows 😁

[Estrid]

Is that a thing? I think my hair is more wavy/wurly as it ages, but I figured it was wear and non-benign neglect ��. When I was a kid it was almost straight. Now it's allllmost curly. Admittedly as it gets longer the weight usually straightens it a bit, but this time around who knows ��

It's common for hair texture to change over the years, usually with hormonal changes I guess, such as puberty and menopaus. ;) What cause it to change during other periods I'm not sure, but it happens.


Here is my hair typing photo for today, my hair wasn't dry when I had to run (literally run) to the bus, so I took the photo when i got to the destination :p maybe it was a bit abused by wind and me throwing my outerwear on, but I think it's quite accurate. This is how my hair looked last time I was at this length (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=130250), so clearly something has changed!

https://i.imgur.com/m07YrAq.jpg?1

[Renora25]

It's common for hair texture to change over the years, usually with hormonal changes I guess, such as puberty and menopaus. ;) What cause it to change during other periods I'm not sure, but it happens.


Here is my hair typing photo for today, my hair wasn't dry when I had to run (literally run) to the bus, so I took the photo when i got to the destination :p maybe it was a bit abused by wind and me throwing my outerwear on, but I think it's quite accurate. This is how my hair looked last time I was at this length (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=130250), so clearly something has changed!

https://i.imgur.com/m07YrAq.jpg?1

Wow! Your hair looks so much healthier in this picture in comparison to the one from before. Congrats!
Your texture seems similar to mine. I have a mix of 2a/2b depending on the day.

[NightSister]

Looks great Estrid! :hifive:

[Corvana]

It's common for hair texture to change over the years, usually with hormonal changes I guess, such as puberty and menopaus. ;) What cause it to change during other periods I'm not sure, but it happens.


Here is my hair typing photo for today, my hair wasn't dry when I had to run (literally run) to the bus, so I took the photo when i got to the destination :p maybe it was a bit abused by wind and me throwing my outerwear on, but I think it's quite accurate. This is how my hair looked last time I was at this length (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=130250), so clearly something has changed!

https://i.imgur.com/m07YrAq.jpg?1

See, I'd call that 2b!

[Estrid]

Wow! Your hair looks so much healthier in this picture in comparison to the one from before. Congrats!
Your texture seems similar to mine. I have a mix of 2a/2b depending on the day.

Wow, thank you! I don't think my hair is healthier now than it was back then, but I do use a better shampoo, maybe that makes a big difference? :p Whatever is causing it I guess I should be thankful, having it look healthier than it maybe is is a plus, right? :bluebiggr Fun that we're similar in texture! I'm a bit sceptical if I could be more than 2a, but my mothers hair type has changed as she's aged, so I suppose mine might as well.


Looks great Estrid! :hifive:

Thank you!


See, I'd call that 2b!

I'm sooooo not sure if I would ever dare to call myself a 2b after one photo :p I do look and feel wavier now than I did before, I think I might make a new hair typing thread when I'm BSL-WL when it's easier to tell if my wave pattern really has changed (as in: if it still looks like it has changed when I reach that longer length).
I do feel silly making threads like that, it would be the 4th in total if I did. I think I might post that photo in that other thread (what is it called? "put photos here because you want to"?), maybe they got some ideas :p

[Fairyxlights]

:swoon: Estrid your hair is gorgeous!! My natural hair color, when I don't add red to it, is about that color, maybe a shade or too darker. I agree with Corvana, I'd call that 2b too.

[Eastbound&Down]

I'm doing my length comparison photos this evening, I will post them once I have them! I feel like I've had some really good progress, it'll be nice to see it in pictures.

[Fairyxlights]

Hairdo https://imgur.com/a/koQ7w

My weird braided updo-eque bun from Tuesday. 4 braids all clipped up together. It ain't the prettiest but it stayed up through a 16hr shift of lifting and tugging on patients :grin:

[Fairyxlights]

Drats I don't think I can post images yet :sad:

[NightSister]

So funny how different us wavies can be - when I let my hair be its natural wavy self, it is NOT pretty. Limp, non uniform, weird parts. I purposely braid my hair every night so that I have nice waves, lol

[Eastbound&Down]

Ok, on the right is 7 Aug 17 and on the left is today. I've had some pretty decent growth in the lastf 5 months, it's nice to be able to see it. I think I'll try to do bi-annual pictures to keep track and remind myself how far I have come.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29411&d=1512793669

[Estrid]

:swoon: Estrid your hair is gorgeous!! My natural hair color, when I don't add red to it, is about that color, maybe a shade or too darker. I agree with Corvana, I'd call that 2b too.

Thank you! Always fun to hear people having similar hair colours :) I can understand the will to have red hair though, one of the prettiest colours!

I think I might do a proper hair typing thread in a year or so if this seems to be a complete hair type change, but atm I will deem my hair too short to be sure and just enjoy the waves :o


Hairdo https://imgur.com/a/koQ7w

My weird braided updo-eque bun from Tuesday. 4 braids all clipped up together. It ain't the prettiest but it stayed up through a 16hr shift of lifting and tugging on patients :grin:

It looks nice! I had to copy the link to see it, but that's not that much of a hassle :o It might not have worked because of the fact you put a word in the that doesn't belong to the link (Hairdo), but I also have a vague memory of not being able to post images until I reached 25 posts, so I'm not sure. Try again but without additional words next time!


So funny how different us wavies can be - when I let my hair be its natural wavy self, it is NOT pretty. Limp, non uniform, weird parts. I purposely braid my hair every night so that I have nice waves, lol

I don't think I've ever seen bad-looking wavy hair, but maybe that's because I like when hair looks a bit "messy" (?).


Ok, on the right is 7 Aug 17 and on the left is today. I've had some pretty decent growth in the lastf 5 months, it's nice to be able to see it. I think I'll try to do bi-annual pictures to keep track and remind myself how far I have come.
[IMG]http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29411&d=1512793669

That is some good growth you've had! Looks like you only have a few months left for APL as well.

[Estrid]

Here is today's braid, dutch braid:

https://i.imgur.com/9LMYJB1.jpg?1

Had to redo it once and it's still far from perfect, but at least it starts high on the head and continues down. Small steps, small steps!

[NightSister]

Excellent progress Eastbound&Down! :cheer:

ETA: Estrid, that's sweet - one day I'll be brave enough to post a picture so y'all can see. :couch:

[_fred_]

Ok, on the right is 7 Aug 17 and on the left is today. I've had some pretty decent growth in the lastf 5 months, it's nice to be able to see it. I think I'll try to do bi-annual pictures to keep track and remind myself how far I have come.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29411&d=1512793669

Congrats, that's brill! It's so nice to see how far it can get in only 5 months :cheer:


Here is today's braid, dutch braid:

https://i.imgur.com/9LMYJB1.jpg?1

Had to redo it once and it's still far from perfect, but at least it starts high on the head and continues down. Small steps, small steps!

That's gorgeous! :blossom:

[Eastbound&Down]

Thanks everyone! I already have a calendar reminder set for 6 months from now, can't wait to see where I'll be.

[NightSister]

Managed the first step of the Spock bun....and the last XD

http://i67.tinypic.com/2v0bj4o.jpg

Every bun I make at this stage looks like a cinnabun :rolleyes:

[NightSister]

Here is today's braid, dutch braid:

https://i.imgur.com/9LMYJB1.jpg?1

Had to redo it once and it's still far from perfect, but at least it starts high on the head and continues down. Small steps, small steps!

Looks so long! :applause

[Corvana]

Ok, on the right is 7 Aug 17 and on the left is today. I've had some pretty decent growth in the lastf 5 months, it's nice to be able to see it. I think I'll try to do bi-annual pictures to keep track and remind myself how far I have come.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29411&d=1512793669

Nice progress!!


Here is today's braid, dutch braid:

https://i.imgur.com/9LMYJB1.jpg?1

Had to redo it once and it's still far from perfect, but at least it starts high on the head and continues down. Small steps, small steps!

Lookin great, though!! Yesterday I did a plain English and forgot to take a pic lol. I need to think about today's...


Managed the first step of the Spock bun....and the last XD

http://i67.tinypic.com/2v0bj4o.jpg

Every bun I make at this stage looks like a cinnabun :rolleyes:

LOL I know that feeling! But it looks great!!

I just do cinnabuns anyway since that's all it looks like :laugh:

[Fairyxlights]

Managed the first step of the Spock bun....and the last XD

http://i67.tinypic.com/2v0bj4o.jpg

Every bun I make at this stage looks like a cinnabun :rolleyes:

I love your hairtoy! Where did you get that? It's a good looking bun too. Mine always look super puny.
Also can someone link me instructions for the Spock bun? I've seen it mentioned several times but haven't seen instructions.

[Corvana]

I love your hairtoy! Where did you get that? It's a good looking bun too. Mine always look super puny.
Also can someone link me instructions for the Spock bun? I've seen it mentioned several times but haven't seen instructions.

Here you go!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLLdRye9Hz4

[Estrid]

It looks fantastic, though, NightSister! I also love your hair toy :)
Atm I sit here with a completely failed cinnabun, but it's too dark to take a photo so I have to wait. I do envy you guys who can make nice-looking buns at this length. I don't know if I'm just bad at it or if my hair just won't have it.

I do think I will try to make some braided hairstyle later today, but for now this "cinnabun" is quite comfortable. So, in some hours I should be posting two photos!


Corvana! You can't just forget to take a photo! :p in all fairness though, I almost forgot earlier this week, and I did forget to even make a braid a few days ago :silly: I hope I will be able to make something and upload a photo of it for the remaining days I have in this thread, maybe all december out, but yeah, sometimes the mind is elsewhere!



You all know something? I'm really happy I decided to get rid of my part. I know I made a thread about it a year or so ago, where I questioned why I even had a part, and people brought me back on earth telling me hair parts naturally, whether I like it or not. But yesterday, after my wash to make the hair typing photo, I decided to try to get rid of it, so I clipped the top portion of my hair back, and I've been changing it up many times since then. It worked! Sure, if my hair falls too much to the sides it will make a temporary part wherever the hair "splits" on the top of the head, but I no longer have a main part, my hair will make that part wherever!
I don't know why I am so happy about this, maybe because I've been so unsure about how to part my hair, and I've been concerned about the "you should change where you part your hair every not and then to prevent the part from going wider". That would mean that IF I found a good-looking way to part my hair, I would eventually have to change it up because of paranoia.

Some rambling, haha, but oooh I'm so happy that my hair is not falling back into one part anymore! I will have to have it clipped back to prevent it from going in my face, maybe my hair will shape to that eventually but it will probably take some time.

[Estrid]

Alright, I started the day with a "cinnabun", I thought "why not take a photo of this thing?", so I did.

https://i.imgur.com/2Pdq5lb.jpg?1

Then I made a half up cinnabun, mostly because I wanted to try it out, it also held well, but it turned out a bit too tight for my liking, so I took it down after an hour.

https://i.imgur.com/UBKq4uL.jpg?1

And then I did my braid for today, a fishtail braid down my back. I tried to start it a bit further up on the head, but that doesn't really show, I guess I did something wrong.

https://i.imgur.com/lnIlA7H.jpg?1

They all look a bit sloppy, the first cinnabun for sure (it got all the ends poking out everywhere, I have no idea how it could be so stable, looking like that, but jeterforks are magic). The fishtail I'm pretty pleased with, I like the sloppy look there. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be to do it down my back, but my layers will probably make it fall apart quite soon.

[NightSister]

Thanks Fairyxlights and Estrid! My hairtoy was from TotallyTiedAndDyed on Etsy :)

[Eastbound&Down]

Ordered 3 hair forks from TotemicSan on Etsy. I can't wait for them to get here!

[Corvana]

It looks fantastic, though, NightSister! I also love your hair toy :)
Atm I sit here with a completely failed cinnabun, but it's too dark to take a photo so I have to wait. I do envy you guys who can make nice-looking buns at this length. I don't know if I'm just bad at it or if my hair just won't have it.

I do think I will try to make some braided hairstyle later today, but for now this "cinnabun" is quite comfortable. So, in some hours I should be posting two photos!


Corvana! You can't just forget to take a photo! :p in all fairness though, I almost forgot earlier this week, and I did forget to even make a braid a few days ago :silly: I hope I will be able to make something and upload a photo of it for the remaining days I have in this thread, maybe all december out, but yeah, sometimes the mind is elsewhere!

You all know something? I'm really happy I decided to get rid of my part. I know I made a thread about it a year or so ago, where I questioned why I even had a part, and people brought me back on earth telling me hair parts naturally, whether I like it or not. But yesterday, after my wash to make the hair typing photo, I decided to try to get rid of it, so I clipped the top portion of my hair back, and I've been changing it up many times since then. It worked! Sure, if my hair falls too much to the sides it will make a temporary part wherever the hair "splits" on the top of the head, but I no longer have a main part, my hair will make that part wherever!
I don't know why I am so happy about this, maybe because I've been so unsure about how to part my hair, and I've been concerned about the "you should change where you part your hair every not and then to prevent the part from going wider". That would mean that IF I found a good-looking way to part my hair, I would eventually have to change it up because of paranoia.

Some rambling, haha, but oooh I'm so happy that my hair is not falling back into one part anymore! I will have to have it clipped back to prevent it from going in my face, maybe my hair will shape to that eventually but it will probably take some time.

I didn't braid at all yesterday :laugh: I ended up forgetting! I forget everything, basically all of the time.

It took me awhile to get rid of my center part. Now I prefer to part it on the side, but I try to flip it around so it doesn't stay in one place. I really love the look that gives, when you just run your fingers through and flip your hair to one side or the other? :crush: My part ends up different all the time now, since I no longer try to make it neat or anything.


Alright, I started the day with a "cinnabun", I thought "why not take a photo of this thing?", so I did.

Then I made a half up cinnabun, mostly because I wanted to try it out, it also held well, but it turned out a bit too tight for my liking, so I took it down after an hour.

And then I did my braid for today, a fishtail braid down my back. I tried to start it a bit further up on the head, but that doesn't really show, I guess I did something wrong.

They all look a bit sloppy, the first cinnabun for sure (it got all the ends poking out everywhere, I have no idea how it could be so stable, looking like that, but jeterforks are magic). The fishtail I'm pretty pleased with, I like the sloppy look there. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be to do it down my back, but my layers will probably make it fall apart quite soon.

My cinnabuns do exactly the same thing!! Half exploding, but stable as heck, or a half-up but too tight for long periods of time. Frustrating lol. Although I've found a nautilus for half-ups to be much more comfy.

[Fairyxlights]

Here you go!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLLdRye9Hz4

Thank you! :grin:

My hair parts itself. It will not be moved from it's chosen part. I'm just lucky the side part came in style :lol:

It was wash day today so I tried the WCC method. My hair is definitely softer then normal and isn't frizzing as bad as it has been :grin: so I'd call it a successful wash.

[Groovy Granny]

Just stopping in to wish you all ...Happy Growing....you have made such great progress and look amazing :cheer:

[NightSister]

Thanks Groovy Granny! :)

[Estrid]

I didn't braid at all yesterday :laugh: I ended up forgetting! I forget everything, basically all of the time.

It took me awhile to get rid of my center part. Now I prefer to part it on the side, but I try to flip it around so it doesn't stay in one place. I really love the look that gives, when you just run your fingers through and flip your hair to one side or the other? :crush: My part ends up different all the time now, since I no longer try to make it neat or anything.

My cinnabuns do exactly the same thing!! Half exploding, but stable as heck, or a half-up but too tight for long periods of time. Frustrating lol. Although I've found a nautilus for half-ups to be much more comfy.

Yeah it feels pretty nice :o I try my best to not have it part at all, but it always will if one side falls too much to the side.

Glad I'm not alone with the cinnabuns! I don't think I've ever tried a nautilus, you mean you can do those as half ups already? Maybe I should try that.



Just stopping in to wish you all ...Happy Growing....you have made such great progress and look amazing :cheer:

Thank you! :flowers:

[Estrid]

I almost forgot to take a photo of the braid I did today, which was just a normal braid. The photo is not great since I was out, but it's proof that I made it x) Feels a bit silly to post photos like this one, I don't think I will convince myself to do this sort of a challenge again, so many bad updo photos! :p

https://i.imgur.com/GClVn0D.jpg?1

[Corvana]

Yeah it feels pretty nice :o I try my best to not have it part at all, but it always will if one side falls too much to the side.

Glad I'm not alone with the cinnabuns! I don't think I've ever tried a nautilus, you mean you can do those as half ups already? Maybe I should try that.


Thank you! :flowers:

I can only use one finger for the twist bit, but yep! In fact that's how my hair is today lol.


I almost forgot to take a photo of the braid I did today, which was just a normal braid. The photo is not great since I was out, but it's proof that I made it x) Feels a bit silly to post photos like this one, I don't think I will convince myself to do this sort of a challenge again, so many bad updo photos! :p

https://i.imgur.com/GClVn0D.jpg?1

Heh I have to take like 6 photos just to get one that's not bad! But I've already gotten a little bit better! I figure the more often I take pictures of the back of my head, the better I'll get at it!

[Renora25]

So I made a mistake.

In October, I was feeling eh about my hair. I don't quite know why, because it was growing, and gorgeous, and easier to deal with. Curses past self!

Anywho, I ended up getting some bangs. I thought "It won't matter, they will grow, it won't be that huge of a hassle". Boy was I wrong.

I forgot that I have a splendid cow lick right at the front of my hair, and I have wavy hair to boot. Needless to say, bangs are a hot mess. Also, because I am lazy and tend to err on the more benign neglect side, forget styling.

On the plus, they are growing? Slowly but surely. Hopefully I can blend them into the rest of my hair a bit better come June for my graduation.

Anyway, I just felt like you all would appreciate the angst of poor past decisions and needed to vent. And ask maybe what everyone's favourite bang growout style is. I have been twisting them to the side and back, or braiding them straight back into a bun, but I am a bit tired of those two.

[Estrid]

I can only use one finger for the twist bit, but yep! In fact that's how my hair is today lol.



Heh I have to take like 6 photos just to get one that's not bad! But I've already gotten a little bit better! I figure the more often I take pictures of the back of my head, the better I'll get at it!

Oh, that explains it! :p I guess I should try it too, someday, today I feel a bit off, but maybe that will wear off in a bit.

I usually place my camera on something and set a timer, but sometimes I'm too lazy for that (or have nothing to place that camera on). I don't know what I will do today, hmm..



So I made a mistake.

In October, I was feeling eh about my hair. I don't quite know why, because it was growing, and gorgeous, and easier to deal with. Curses past self!

Anywho, I ended up getting some bangs. I thought "It won't matter, they will grow, it won't be that huge of a hassle". Boy was I wrong.

I forgot that I have a splendid cow lick right at the front of my hair, and I have wavy hair to boot. Needless to say, bangs are a hot mess. Also, because I am lazy and tend to err on the more benign neglect side, forget styling.

On the plus, they are growing? Slowly but surely. Hopefully I can blend them into the rest of my hair a bit better come June for my graduation.

Anyway, I just felt like you all would appreciate the angst of poor past decisions and needed to vent. And ask maybe what everyone's favourite bang growout style is. I have been twisting them to the side and back, or braiding them straight back into a bun, but I am a bit tired of those two.

I've made that mistake so so sooo many times, bangs can look so cute on other people, that I sometimes forgot that they don't look cute on me.

I had bangs up until I was 12 years old, and then I started growing them out. After that I've cut them maybe 5 or 6 times, every time I end up looking like I'm 10 years old again.

Last time I cut them was sometime early last year, so they're pretty long now, so long that you can't tell them from the rest of my hair (I had to grab and check and -lo and behold- they're not bangs anymore, they're the same length as the rest of my hair!).
I usually don't have any style I go with when they're growing out, I just clip them away from my eyes. I found a photo from last year, right when I had chopped off my hair to APL (why didn't I stop there?? oh well...). I cropped the photo a bit, but this is how I always used to manage them:

https://i.imgur.com/fqBFJnL.jpg?1

Maybe not the most classy look, but it worked. I always thought I looked silly twisting them back or braiding them, but I think that's because my hair is quite voluminous, especially at shorter lengths, if I flatten it on the very top it just looks weird. So yeah, I would clip them back.

[Estrid]

I have to wash my hair today, but I felt like taking another length shot since I'm soooooo darn close! Annoyingly enough my shoulders are a bit uneven so one armpit is a bit lower than the other, but if I make a line between them...those wisps of hair are at it. I don't know how long I should wait till I call it, tbh.

https://i.imgur.com/nJOHz4p.jpg?1

[OhSuzi]

renora 25 - I have a cow lick too and it can be a right pain with a fringe - I did find that if you use a hair dryer just on the fringe & brush it from the roots 3 times to the left, then 3 times from the root to the right & then straight down & repeat til dry - the drying in all directions does help to calm it down a bit - although if the weather gets damp or humid it will eventually kink back up again
Also once its started to grow out a bit and that souldnt take too long - sweep it into a side fringe - get your fringe cut heavier into a side fringe and this can help to weight it down.
Also once its grown a bit I embrace the cowlick & turn it into a sort of vintage quiff / victory roll - looks good as part of a 30s 40s or 50s inspired do!