View Full Version : I am truly bummed. Got a serious hair hack.
Fingolphin
August 19th, 2010, 01:04 PM
Recently I got sick of my hair and got it cut all off. Short. I mean short short. As in like two inches. Now I have to start completely over. *sigh* I almost instantly regretted it. Have to start from scratch. Any advice?
emsahib
August 19th, 2010, 01:10 PM
Aww thats a shame you regret it. I guess my advice would be enjoy the change for now and look forward to a new hair journey. If your feeling down about it give your hair a nice pamper, maybe get some new clips or if you've got your ears pierced get some new ear rings as they will stand out with your short hair and make that a feature point.
Tabihito
August 19th, 2010, 01:15 PM
Going from super-short hair to long hair is a massive pain in the rear. I'm assuming that you were at 6"? (If your information is correct.) Anything from about ear length to a bit past shoulder has more than its fair share of annoyances and challenges, and I imagine especially for a guy, since you can't get away with bobby pins and other little clips as easily as we females can.
Basically, you really have to just grit your teeth and bear it. Those in-between lengths are going to be hard, and there's not much you can really do about it. If it helps you, you could try looking at pictures of longer-haired people for "hairspiration", but that doesn't always work for everyone. You may need to find the reasons behind wanting longer hair and focus on those every time you start feeling the urge to get it cut.
And above all, remember that your hair is about what you want. If you want it long, by all means, grow it out and do whatever it takes to get there. But change isn't always a bad thing. A major chop can make you appreciate your length more, and you can think of it as a nice, fresh starting point. And if short hair happens to be right for you, then keep it short, though from your regrets about the chop it doesn't sound like that's the case.
mariika
August 19th, 2010, 01:20 PM
Fingolphin, since there is no way to make your hair go long right away you should enjoy the journey! find nice hairstyles for your length and style your hair, buy some cute hair accessories and take time to find haircuts you'll be slowly moving towards on your way to longer hair
Fingolphin
August 19th, 2010, 01:20 PM
Yeah, I am definitely a longhair at heart. It will be a long journey. Really long. My info wasn't really up to date; it was more like 9 inches I suppose. Getting past the in-between stages is truly the hardest. But I have no choice now. Oh well, onward!
Fingolphin
August 19th, 2010, 01:25 PM
Should I still oil it when it's short? I used to oil it every night before bed.
Tabihito
August 19th, 2010, 01:30 PM
It is a very, very long journey. But, in some ways I think, all the more rewarding for its length.
I know I was at about an inch to an inch and a half long in January 2009. I don't measure now because wurly hair just doesn't work too well with that sort of thing, but I believe I hit shoulder somewhere around Christmas that year. So I totally empathize on the frustration at going from longer hair to very short. My approximately-APL hair all went at once, and I ended up with a buzz cut. Of course, that was partly due to miscommunication on my part, and a hilarious mistake looking back, but boy were those in-betweens a pain. Now I'm about back to where I started back in November 08 before I cut it all off.
Good luck with growing it back out though! It's hard, but oh-so-very worth it.
ETA: You can oil it while it's short, but your hair probably shouldn't need it, and if it's that close to your scalp, you could end up with some issues stemming from that. Your hair may like the oil, but your scalp may or may not.
ifyouforget
August 19th, 2010, 01:43 PM
Hey, you did what I did! Except I did it with the intention of seeing, just once, how I look with super-short hair. (for the record, it was super-cute, but not me at all. And I'm glad I did it, because now I know_
ETA- Ack! I totally didn't realize you're a dude. Sorry! *deletes most of post*
So yeah, my advice doesn't really apply. Other than- enjoy the process, and if it it starts to feel to mullet-y, don't be afraid of a trim here and there to bring up the bottom layers a bit.
spidermom
August 19th, 2010, 01:51 PM
I don't think you'll need to oil it while it's short. Just give it a good combing or brushing before you wash it to distribute the natural oils, and you should be good to go for quite a long time. I didn't start oiling until my hair was a good 2 feet long.
emsahib
August 19th, 2010, 01:55 PM
Ah I didn't realise you were a guy, I gave my advice thinking you were a women, still men can still have clips and earrings so hopefully my advice was still relevant. Get some hair gel and start experiementing with different styles, I quite liked messing mine up when it was short :)
Fingolphin
August 19th, 2010, 02:37 PM
Yep, I am in fact a dude. :) A married one at that. No worries. Hair advice is hair advice, right? But it happens a lot, especially when I'm clean shaven. :p
I haven't been on here much in recent months, and I forgot how genuinely nice people are on here, as well as understanding, warm, and open-minded, for the most part. That's one of the things that sets these message boards apart from so many others. It's nice to be back among good folks.
Othala
August 19th, 2010, 02:44 PM
Hey, you have a fantastic opportunity now to follow best practice hair care at the beginning of your long hair journey.
SpinDance
August 19th, 2010, 02:59 PM
Good luck with your journey back to longer hair. It is sometimes easy to think you want a change, but sometimes the change takes a long time to recover from. After I was a small child and refused to get my hair cut I have only had it short once, when I was a junior in high school. Bad move, which meant that I've never been tempted since. However, a few years ago I did start getting my hair dyed, which I kept up for 3.5 years. Also a bad move which I won't repeat. I was able to keep the condition fairly good during that time, but I'm glad to be off that routine. I'm sure I'd have kept even better condition if I'd known then what I know now from LHC. Too fussy for me, and I didn't like the way it looked against my aging skin.
You have the advantage here of being able to grow out completely free of 'bad stuff', so your hair will be healthy as it can be. No growing out old damage! Unfortunately that also means you get to go through the dreaded 'growing out' stage, which can be challenging.
CurlyBrunette
August 19th, 2010, 03:09 PM
I to had to start from scratch, literally. My hair was around 32"-33" when I was diagnosed with cancer and lost it all. I made the decision that I wasnt going to obsess about it and just be glad that I was alive and that it would grow back. This happened in 2006 so I have had a while to let it grow but I have continually cut it and havent let it grow for fear I would lose it again. Finally, in January, I decided to let it grow long again, which occurred after a HUGE chop. Now its a bit longer than the pic I have in my avatar. Anyway, what I have meant to say through this long winded response is: enjoy the journey to long again and have fun with your hair.
Fingolphin
August 19th, 2010, 03:42 PM
One of the challenges is that here in Montana, there are rednecks, cowboys, etc. aplenty. Not that I have anything against any of them, but my point is that guys with long hair aren't as readily accepted as they are in some places. So growing it out from scratch is a bit harder. But it's worth it, I suppose.
Roseate
August 19th, 2010, 03:57 PM
Hair product and hats may help the awkward stage a little, but I know how rough it is, I've grown from a shaved head before. Shaggy times ahead.
Are you saying that Montana rednecks don't have long hair? That's interesting! In my neck of the woods, 'redneck' men are very often sporting ponytails. It's the city folk who have short hair. I guess there's regional redneck variation!
Fingolphin
August 19th, 2010, 04:11 PM
No the rednecks and cowboys around here don't generally have long hair, unless you count a mullet as long hair. :rolleyes: A lot of the Native Americans do, but I'm not native. Plus I tend to look and dress rather androgynously, so that makes it slightly more challenging, but I don't really care.
HairFaerie
August 19th, 2010, 04:33 PM
When I had extremely short hair, I still oiled my scalp. It helps the new hair growth become healthy and also, the massage stimulates the scalp.
Like my dad always used to say - "That's the good thing about hair - it will always grow back!" Hang in there! You'll get there again!
little_acorn
August 19th, 2010, 05:17 PM
:grouphug: good luck with the awkward stages but at least this way you start with completely non-damaged hair
Fingolphin
August 19th, 2010, 08:56 PM
I think a big part of what makes it (psychologically) hard is trying to fight the feeling that I am no longer "one of you," although people are very kind here. :p
little_acorn
August 19th, 2010, 09:01 PM
I think a big part of what makes it (psychologically) hard is trying to fight the feeling that I am no longer "one of you," although people are very kind here. :p
Ha! Thats where you're wrong - you are one of us!!! :cool:
Fingolphin
August 19th, 2010, 09:07 PM
Sorry, it's just me being silly. :o
little_acorn
August 19th, 2010, 09:14 PM
Sorry, it's just me being silly. :o
:grouphug: :grouphug:
christine1989
August 19th, 2010, 11:37 PM
We have all made regrettable hair choices. :( It is too bad that you don't like your new cut. I got a very short pixie cut and loved it for nearly two years. While you are re growing try to have fun with your new look- short cuts can be both bold and classy in a way that long hair seldom is.
suffer-cait
August 20th, 2010, 12:36 AM
With the gel idea, I know LUSH has some great natural gels. I was really impressed with their hold and watered mine down.
julliams
August 20th, 2010, 12:57 AM
Spiking it up will make it appear longer. If you are a longhair at heart, this means that you will probably keep your hair long once you get there. So in that case, just enjoy this "journey" to long and find ways to enjoy your hair at each length. Sometimes it take something drastic like this to realise what is really "you". In about 6 months it will be considered "long" again.
Just realised everyone else here has given you the same advice so I'm not telling you anything new here - sorry.
Qwerty Uiop
August 20th, 2010, 01:35 AM
Should I still oil it when it's short? I used to oil it every night before bed.
I would oil it and pamper it from the beginning. I'm terminal, but people sometimes think it's grown just because I'm taking better care of it.
I'm a returning oldtimer and I see SO MANY guys with single French Braids now. I think they look great and might help you get through the awkward stage.
Cornrows might not last very long on 1C hair but they'd be a nice treat for you.
You could try aloe vera gel instead of hair product gel--less drying.
Don't let the rednecks get you down.
:grouphug:
Fingolphin
August 20th, 2010, 01:35 AM
It's not that the cut itself is bad, just sorry I cut it. But nothing I can do about that! So I move forward!
swanns
August 20th, 2010, 03:58 AM
As someone who grew out from a pixie, I can safely say that the key ingerdient is patience. Try not to think about your hair too much, growth is not something you can spot instantly. Wait a few months and you'll already see a difference.
Loviatar
August 20th, 2010, 10:39 AM
Course you're still one of us! :) I've cut many times since joining, and only now am I moving forward again.
Igor's great article on growing out from - well - bald! - is a really good resource. http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=58
Good luck!
Joliebaby
August 20th, 2010, 11:51 AM
From someone who shaved her head - try to enjoy the benefits of super short hair, it can look cute and spunky - and be glad that you can grow super healthy hair now.. For me the hardest part was when it was no longer shaved, or a really short buzz, but when it just looked like boy-hair. When it got to be a few inches long it was soooo much better! It does take a while, especially if you want to trim out layers as you go. I wish you patience :D
Fingolphin
August 20th, 2010, 11:57 AM
Thank you, everyone, for your kind and encouraging words. :D
CurlyBrunette
August 21st, 2010, 11:29 AM
I think a big part of what makes it (psychologically) hard is trying to fight the feeling that I am no longer "one of you,"
Wow, thats right on the money with how I felt after I lost all my hair. I felt weird posting because I had no hair talk about. At the time I had made so many friends here (this was in 2006 and I had been posting then for 3 years) and they continued to support me as they still do today. Yes, this is a great place different from all the others you find online. We are special people here!
dropinthebucket
August 21st, 2010, 11:57 AM
That happens to my son when his father convinces him to cut his hair. It also means we have to change his hair products - when his hair is long, he uses an oil on the scalp to help with conditioning and dandruff - but don't even think about oil when it's short! stays greasy. He does well with a mild shampoo bar when it's longer, too, but when it's short, it's time to break out the commercial shampoos again.
Luckily, his hair grows really quickly - guess he didn't get my slow-growth genes! Also, one good thing about being a guy and growing your hair out: as soon as it's chin length, people think, wow, that's really long hair (they're not used to seeing it that long on a guy) - on a girl, chin length wouldn't be considered all that long. So you've got an edge!! :)
triumphator!
August 21st, 2010, 12:40 PM
Now you can grow out the most well-cared for, loved, virgin hair on the planet! Starting over isn't so bad, now you know what experiments don't work for you, so you are saving your hair a lot of damage!
florenonite
August 21st, 2010, 01:17 PM
Look at the advantages of short hair. It takes next to no time to dry, shed hairs are nice and inconspicuous, and I'm sure it looks nice as it is.
I don't mean don't grow it out, just enjoy it at the stage it's at rather than obsessing :)
Fingolphin
August 23rd, 2010, 02:30 PM
Here's how short it is: :rolleyes:
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa2/fortuneglory/DSC00471.jpg
HereIGrowAgain
August 23rd, 2010, 02:35 PM
You can always come hang out with the other shorties on the super-short thread! :)
DuckyDot
August 23rd, 2010, 02:45 PM
Well, At least your hair will have a fresh, helthy start! Good Luck with Growing Out!
ETA:
And Anyway...I like your short hair :) Looks awesome :)
Fingolphin
August 23rd, 2010, 02:52 PM
Thanks. :) Pretty messy in that photo, though.
DuckyDot
August 23rd, 2010, 03:01 PM
It's not messy! Stop Lying. If you saw my hair then you would see MESSY! :D
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.