How long for APL to BSL and at what length can I start to use hairsticks?

[ohdokey]

Ok, not sure where to post this, so I'm putting it here. I'm wondering at what length I can start to use hair sticks and what everyday styles would work for APL. Also, how long did it take for you to get from APL to BSL?
thanks

[patienceneeded]

I can use hairsticks (nothing fancy, just a simple hairstick updo) and I'm between APL and BSL currently. I hit APL in April and right now I have about 2" left before I reach BSL. I'm hoping to be solidly BSL by the new year, maybe even a tiny bit beyond...but we'll see.

[CarpeDM]

I have just started to be able to use hairsticks or I should say I have just started to be able to use hairsticks comfortably. I am a little past APL right now so prior to this length I was out of luck, hair sticks just didn't work for me. BSL is about another three inches to go. Which should equate to six months...

[spidermom]

For me, one year from APL to BSL.

I think I started being able to use sticks somewhere between BSL and waist. My hair is thick and it took more length to be able to wrap enough loops to secure.

[racrane]

Right now I'm past APL and I can do a basic bun with a hair stick, nothing fancy. I'm guessing I"ll hit BSL next January or close to that.

[Aqua Gal]

Hi there!
APL to BSL took just shy of 1 year for me. (I cut back and am growing again.) I'm at APL with layers and I comfortably wear:
French braid regular or tucked
Many variations of the half up
Gibson Tuck
a sad little cinnamon bun
Two or three side by side cinnamon buns
Peacock twist

I can use hair sticks now for many half ups, the cinnamon bun and french twist. Generally I need to use a very narrow stick (I like Mei Fa) and add a few hidden pins to secure. Sticks, especially fat ones became much easier for me right at BSL.

Happy growing!

[gabee]

Welcome to LHC! I only have collarbone length hair, about your thickness (i/ii) and I can already use hair sticks. I mostly do cinnabuns or an almost lazy wrap bun. I'm sure once you figure it out you'll be easily able to use them too :)

[jaine]

Here's an easy hairstick updo...

Make a ponytail but don't pull the last loop through completely.
Spread the loop with your fingers and put a hairstick through it.
Use bobby pins or another hairstick if needed to pin pieces of hair to cover the hair tie.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=6736&pictureid=108557

[kiezel]

I don't know if the rate my hair grows is normal, but I got from shoulder length to just shy of apl in about 2-3 months. So I assume it would take about 2 months to get to bsl? I wonder how long it will take me to get to waist....I'm aiming for tailbone or right above that.

[CarpeDM]

Jaine, I just had to say your updo looks gorgeous!

[selderon]

I'm wondering at what length I can start to use hair sticks and what everyday styles would work for APL.
With your thickness you can probably do hairstick styles right now. You could try a Gibson tuck, cinnabun, tucked French braid (using a hair stick to secure the braid end rather than pins) or http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=205]spread loop bun ([I)[/I]. Trawl the Articles section for hair styling tutorials.



Also, how long did it take for you to get from APL to BSL?
thanks
I'm just APL right now. The answer varies depending on how long your torso is and how it is proportioned. Hair grows an average of 1/2 an inch a month. Have someone else measure from your hemline (the bottom of your longest layer of hair) to your bra strap and multiply that by two for a rough estimate of how long it will take in months to get there.

[jojo]

Depends how thick your hair is, for me it took a year to get from apl to bsl and another 6 months from bsl to comfortably wear hair sticks. I could use them at bsl but it was a tight fit.

[QMacrocarpa]

I bet you can use hairsticks right now! In addition to the conventional hairstick method, you can also make an "elastic slide" by combining a hair-friendly elastic with a hairstick (works best if it's not too long) to make a sort of barrette-like thing. This is great for holding up a folded braid: very stable.

Here's (http://www.frannyslonghairstyles.com/apps/videos/videos/show/9396075-wrapped-hairstick-bun-updo) a straightforward hairstick updo tutorial that might help you get started.

And here's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlPt81TzFn0) a tutorial showing how to do a hairstick-secured French twist with shoulder-length hair.

For everyday use, my go-to's are the folded braid (http://frannyslonghair.blogspot.com/2010/04/hairstyle-how-to-flipped-braid.html) mentioned above, the pencil bun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0k3dD4qX34) (sometimes secured with a clip (http://www.nicka.com/pinccat/accessory/pinccat-01/hair-pin/p089.html) instead of a stick), and the lazy wrap (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb-CDSW1euU) (many tutorials for that one, but this one's done with shorter hair, so might be more encouraging!). I find the pencil bun more stable if I "weave" the stick between the bun and scalp-hair an extra time.