View Full Version : Measuring vs. Pictures
mzBANGBANG
February 9th, 2012, 06:39 PM
Which do you prefer?
I am so fed up with the pics I have been taking. I feel like my hair is thinning and only looking worse!
But in the 2 months I've been here, I've measured 2.5" of growth. So now I feel like I can't rely on pictures/should only take them once every 3 months. I can never get the angle right! When I look at the back in the mirror it looks so long... then self-timed camera makes me sad. :(
sarah061
February 9th, 2012, 06:43 PM
You're totally right about the angle of photos making a huge difference!! It's really easy to make it look like there's more or less depending on how high the camera is.
Still, even with that in mind, I prefer photos because they're more honest. Then I can look at myself like an outsider and see not just length but also quality.
And I've found that there's usually quite a difference between the version of myself I have in my head and the one that is actually there! :p Photos fix that!
beckishness
February 9th, 2012, 06:47 PM
I personally prefer measuring. I find that for myself it is more accurate. I am not able to get the same angle when I take pictures, so I get kind of frustrated. Congratulations on your hair growth over the past two months! :)
mzBANGBANG
February 9th, 2012, 06:48 PM
It's those dang ends! I'm getting a hair cut tomorrow. I think I'm going to take off 2 inches.. which will put me above BSL :( but I think I'm shooting for quality not quantity :) (I tell myself this to feel better)
Kelikea
February 9th, 2012, 06:50 PM
My pictures tend to show my growth better than measuring. Somehow HB measured my beginning stats at 33.5 but then last month measured me at 34.5. But if I look at my pictures, it looks like 3-4 inches of growth. Not sure how that works...
FrenchTwist
February 9th, 2012, 06:52 PM
I like the photos best too, but I never seem to take good pictures.
spidermom
February 9th, 2012, 08:17 PM
I like photos. Tape measures lie.
jeanniet
February 9th, 2012, 08:40 PM
I never measure. It would drive me right up the wall, checking and rechecking, so I never started. I just take pictures whenever, maybe every 3 or 4 months or so. That way my hair is always longer. :) I also go by milestones, not inches, so I don't get too hung up on length. I know a lot of people like to measure, and sometimes they get really precise, but if I was exact enough to know I grew 1/4" in three weeks or whatever, I'd seriously be going crazy. I'm a little too obsessive minded to dare do that.
turtlelover
February 9th, 2012, 09:06 PM
I refuse to measure -- I am afraid it would trigger OCD type behavior in me. If I did it ONCE, I would never stop! :bigtongue:
PixxieStix
February 9th, 2012, 09:11 PM
Photos! I can't measure to save my life unless I literally pluck a hair from my head and measure the length of that, and I don't think how that is how you are supposed to do it. Although, I will measure my roots. For me, if I want to know how much my length has grown, that is much more reliable. If I can remember the date I last did a henna touch up, even better!
MissManda
February 9th, 2012, 09:11 PM
I take a picture and measure, but I prefer a photo because I am incompetent with measuring hair length. I agree that it can be a royal pain to get the camera angle just right, though. I was having that issue yesterday, actually and my hair looks a bit shorter than what the mirror and my sense of touch tell me. lol
longhairedlady
February 9th, 2012, 10:57 PM
I prefer picture because it helps me to recognize if my hair is needing any tlc. :)
Mai Gloeckchen
February 9th, 2012, 11:24 PM
I prefer to do both: It often happens, that the photos show no growth but the measuringtape does or the other way round. With both methods I feel saver. In addition to that, photos show much better the minigoals (reaching my belt for example), but measuring a new round lengthnumber ist also nice.
joliherb
February 10th, 2012, 12:05 AM
I do both. I feel measuring is more accurate but I like to see how my hair looks from behind as it grows.
Carissamarie08
February 10th, 2012, 12:12 AM
I take pictures but I also hate doing it. Look at my hair in the mirror makes it seem longer rather than a picture that shows the truth! Haha
julliams
February 10th, 2012, 12:18 AM
I like photos because there is no denying what is in front of you. Find a shelf to put your camera on that takes a photo from a good angle (about the height of your head) and then take that photo in the same position every time. If you take a look at my albums you will see my monthly growth photos. They are very consistent and I think it's been a great resource for me.
Lucky
February 10th, 2012, 01:21 AM
I prefer photos, I can never seem to get an accurate measurement when I measure myself. I like looking at photos and seeing the progress I'm making.
Niphredil
February 10th, 2012, 01:34 AM
The first time I grew my hair out I took pictures about every month and measured every first of the month. My hair is wurly/curly and I'm not getting consistent measurements at all.
I do like to track my progress and prefer to take a length-picture about every 3 months wearing the same pull with horizontal stripes while trying to keep the camera angle/zoom the same.
B-L
February 10th, 2012, 01:36 AM
I thinkt I prefer pics because I measured only once so I don't know what the lengt was before..
BUT I did a trim few weeks ago and the picture after the trim looks kind of longer then the one I took in Janury. I know that's not possible but the thicker hemline gives it the illusion that it's longer ... so I choose that.. :D
Avital88
February 10th, 2012, 02:05 AM
i measure a few times a year, but i mainly go by photos.. Although they frustrate me also, i just shouldnt make lengthshots every 2 weeks but every 2 to 3 months,at least that way i can see some good growth :D
pink.sara
February 10th, 2012, 03:45 AM
I like photos and tend to take one every 3 months or so.
pepperminttea
February 10th, 2012, 05:27 AM
I like a combination of both. :) I try not to take photos too often though (every three months is a good marker), unless I have a particularly good hair day I want to record. I often find photos surprise me in how long it looks, compared to how 'short' it feels.
Measuring tapes are a bit more tricky; I try not to measure too often too (again, every three months), then I always see a tiny bit of progress. But I do like having a measurement too, since I'm tall-ish and there's a little more between milestones for me compared to an average height woman, so it can often feel like growth is so slow, and taking forever, when it's not; it just has a little further to go. :)
Mayflower
February 10th, 2012, 05:55 AM
Lately I've been too lazy to take pictures but I mostly take them to check how my hemline is doing. I was taking them every few weeks but now I'm trimming so there's no need to check up on any growth.
Sometimes I measure my roots a month after I've henndigoed but I wouldn't measure my entire lenght every month. I find that a bit.. obsessive haha.
Jing
February 10th, 2012, 06:16 AM
Pictures, once a month. I can't be arsed to measure; it's too hard to get it right, and it's not nearly as encouraging as pictures to me. I balance something on my head and make my fiancé hold the camera. Then I put the new picture side by side with last month's in Photoshop and draw lines to see how much my hair has grown.
Amber_Maiden
February 10th, 2012, 06:43 AM
I prefer pics. That way I accurately know where my hair falls naturally without stretching it.
jacqueline101
February 10th, 2012, 07:21 AM
I like photos too. I found they are more accurate then trying to hold a tape measure.
CarpeDM
February 10th, 2012, 07:27 AM
I take both, but measuring makes me feel a lot better because I can't always see a growth difference from month to month in pictures, but I can see a difference in measurement.
Kizuna
February 10th, 2012, 08:38 AM
I've been asking famliy members to take photos of my hair and I've usually been standing in the same spot. Still the photos turn out differently. I don't really trust the measuring tape either cause the length because if I get a cm extra or not could depend on how i hold my head.
I liked the advice about putting the camera on a shelf and take the picture. I think it might turn our better than handheld photos. :)
Just look at the difference in these photos.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XAKwwkstTMc/TxMFMzEM0wI/AAAAAAAAAJs/2LOvhpe5R4A/s1600/ricinolja.jpg
bunzfan
February 10th, 2012, 08:43 AM
I've been asking famliy members to take photos of my hair and I've usually been standing in the same spot. Still the photos turn out differently. I don't really trust the measuring tape either cause the length because if I get a cm extra or not could depend on how i hold my head.
I liked the advice about putting the camera on a shelf and take the picture. I think it might turn our better than handheld photos. :)
Just look at the difference in these photos.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XAKwwkstTMc/TxMFMzEM0wI/AAAAAAAAAJs/2LOvhpe5R4A/s1600/ricinolja.jpg
Wow that's a big difference! i also think wearing a stripy top really shows that its growing if someone hasn't already said that.
Kizuna
February 10th, 2012, 08:51 AM
Wow that's a big difference! i also think wearing a stripy top really shows that its growing if someone hasn't already said that.
Oh, I forgot to write that those photos are taken the same day. It's just different angles!
mzBANGBANG
February 10th, 2012, 10:07 AM
I like photos because there is no denying what is in front of you. Find a shelf to put your camera on that takes a photo from a good angle (about the height of your head)
Yep. This is where I am messing up. I take my photos at about the height of my shoulders, maybe lower... I think the downward angle is making my hair appear shorter (my original photo was with the camera above my head and then I switched to this method... even after 1.5" of growth, my hair appeared shorter and I was so mad!).
I'm going to have to find a new place to put my camera. Again. lol
QMacrocarpa
February 10th, 2012, 12:17 PM
I'm a measurer, but not often. My current plan is to next measure around the end of the year. I never get a precise number due to waves and frizziness, but I do like to occasionally check in to get a general sense.
bunzfan
February 10th, 2012, 12:57 PM
Yep. This is where I am messing up. I take my photos at about the height of my shoulders, maybe lower... I think the downward angle is making my hair appear shorter (my original photo was with the camera above my head and then I switched to this method... even after 1.5" of growth, my hair appeared shorter and I was so mad!).
I'm going to have to find a new place to put my camera. Again. lol
Stop tempting me to measure from a different angle to see if it's longer;) i have made a pledge with myself not to take any length shots for at least 8 weeks so i see more progress than monthly shots, because wavy hair seems to shrink so much you don't see the progress.
truepeacenik
February 10th, 2012, 12:59 PM
I like landmarks.
At least, I did as my hair was growing to classic.
Now it is crossing the great divide of my comparatively long legs! :)
truepeacenik
February 10th, 2012, 01:00 PM
I like landmarks.
At least, I did as my hair was growing to classic.
Now it is crossing the great plains of my comparatively long legs.
Comparatively for 5-2. :-)
blondie9912
February 10th, 2012, 01:47 PM
I definitely prefer photos, especially ones that I take with my back to the mirror and my camera facing the mirror. I've got it down to a fairly accurate system :)
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