Chin | Shoulder | Collarbone

[Changling]

HEY! I apparently totally imagined a chin/shoulder to APL thread, or maybe just misread the title of the shoulder-to-APL thread. Then imagine my disappointment when I realized there was no chin to shoulder thread. WELL THERE IS ONE NOW.

I just hit chin-length (1.5 years after shaving my head bald, with trims), and I want a thread to post about watching that hemline creep down my neck, and I suspect others do, too!

What updos can you manage, if any? And how do you do them? What is your final goal length? How do you style hair that is not that short, yet still definitely not long?

[Neecola]

Yay! I belong here too :D I'm really glad you started this thread as I'm trying hard to enjoy my hair where it is at this moment.

What updos can you manage, if any? And how do you do them?

I'm actually wearing my hair up today--woo! At the very top of my head I loosely pull the hair back and clip it with barrettes (for volume). Then I take sections of the rest of my hair and twist it back and pin it. The curls hide the pins.

I've also done three very (very!) tiny buns at the base of my hairline/top of neck. It's a great 'do for yoga as it keeps my hair out of my face. Hurrah for hair being long enough to be in my face :cheese:

What is your final goal length?

I don't have one. I figure I'll know it when I'm there!

How do you style hair that is not that short, yet still definitely not long?

I also find headbands to be helpful. I got some flexible ones (the kind that go all the way around) at the dollar store in black and brown.

I wear my hair in half ups or the sides/tops clipped back with barrettes.

[Changling]

Woo! I'm just so glad to be out of the awkward-growing-out-a-pixie stage, I haven't thought much about what mid-neck is going to be like...though the back of my hair grows faster than the front and might be getting there pretty soon.

I'm doing low pigtails with fringe today. It's a style I wanted to do something like years ago, and I was disappointed that my hair was just NOWHERE NEAR long enough, then I had adventures and now finally I'm growing it out and I can do it, yay! I want to try the low triple-buns! Are they like sock buns, or the kind of bun where you just sort of...don't pull the hair all the way through to make a ponytail?

[jojo]

I have already past that stage but just dropping in to wish you guys good luck, it's a horrible stage for growing hair out but once you get past this stage it's a lot better. Look after those ends, start light oiling them and put it up to help protect it, also pre coconut likings are great for getting and keeping your hair in great shape. I'd also recommend using baby oil, you'd only need one drop on damp not wet hair, it's saved my hair from the scissors and I hardly have any splits because of it.

But good luck, you will pass this stage

[joflakes]

Hello! I reckon I am about an inch or two away from SL at the back, and I have layers at the front that are just about chin length (I hate the hairdresser who mutilated it!), so thought I would pop in and say hi!
What updos can you manage, if any?

Ponytail, pathetic bun, dutch braids round the side and then pinned up the back in a kinda fake crown braid, twirl and pin, pigtails.

What is your final goal length?

I think about APL or BSL. Not sure yet. I just don't want to cut it ever again! Haha.

How do you style hair that is not that short, yet still definitely not long?

With patience. :lol:

[Neecola]

Jojo - Thank you for the advice and encouragement!

Hi Joflakes :waving:, that dutch braid faux crown sounds awesome!


I'm doing low pigtails with fringe today. It's a style I wanted to do something like years ago, and I was disappointed that my hair was just NOWHERE NEAR long enough, then I had adventures and now finally I'm growing it out and I can do it, yay! I want to try the low triple-buns! Are they like sock buns, or the kind of bun where you just sort of...don't pull the hair all the way through to make a ponytail?

Hmmm... haven't tried low pigtails yet~ thanks for the idea! That would also work well for yoga/working out.

I do the triple "buns" by taking one third of my hair and gathering it in a low ponytail and twisting until it twists on itself--sorta shaped into a donut. Then I secure it with a couple of bobby pins. Takes no time at all!

[joflakes]

Hi Joflakes :waving:, that dutch braid faux crown sounds awesome!


The next time I do it I'll take a photo! It makes awesome braid waves as well. My hair is all voluminous! Love it. :cool:

[Neecola]

^ Please do, Joflakes!

The hair at the back of my head is brushing mid neck now but the front of my head (bangs) is only about chin length. It was pretty awesome feeling the breeze moving my hair around on my drive to work this morning! It's been a few years since I've had that sensation :)

*celebrating the small victories*

[joflakes]

^ Please do, Joflakes!

The hair at the back of my head is brushing mid neck now but the front of my head (bangs) is only about chin length. It was pretty awesome feeling the breeze moving my hair around on my drive to work this morning! It's been a few years since I've had that sensation :)

*celebrating the small victories*

I know the feeling, awesome isn't it! :cheese:

My BF said the braid waves made my hair look 'epic'...:o I love it when he compliments my hair! :)

[joflakes]

Fake crown braid photos as requested! They're pants photos and the braid isn't perfect but I get compliments on it all the time and it isn't bad for pre-SL hair!
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q232/jobrookman/20120712_1213551.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q232/jobrookman/20120712_114959.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q232/jobrookman/20120712_115017.jpg

[Changling]

Neecola - I think my hair is still a bit too short and straight for buns like that yet...but I will totally be trying them soon anyways XD

Hi Joflakes! The crown braid looks awesome! I could probably manage that one, I think, since I can do twin french braids. I'll have to try it sometime when I don't have work first thing in the morning, lol

I'm wearing my hair DOWN today D: I've been wearing it up a lot lately. I figure this is pretty much the best stage to wear your hair down, since you don't have to worry about it getting all tangled up or caught all over everything!

[joflakes]

Neecola - I think my hair is still a bit too short and straight for buns like that yet...but I will totally be trying them soon anyways XD

Hi Joflakes! The crown braid looks awesome! I could probably manage that one, I think, since I can do twin french braids. I'll have to try it sometime when I don't have work first thing in the morning, lol

I'm wearing my hair DOWN today D: I've been wearing it up a lot lately. I figure this is pretty much the best stage to wear your hair down, since you don't have to worry about it getting all tangled up or caught all over everything!

Thanks. It's just two dutch braids but nearer my ears and with the ends pinned up.
That is so true but like you I wear mine up a lot...because I can :cheese:

[Changling]

Thanks. It's just two dutch braids but nearer my ears and with the ends pinned up.
That is so true but like you I wear mine up a lot...because I can :cheese:

yeah, it's nice just to finally be ABLE to get it off my face and out of my eyes!! But every now and then it'll actually look good down, and I want to take advantage of it ^__^ Although I am still pretty psyched about being able to do a sort of sock bun ^__^ so I do that one a lot.

[joflakes]

yeah, it's nice just to finally be ABLE to get it off my face and out of my eyes!! But every now and then it'll actually look good down, and I want to take advantage of it ^__^ Although I am still pretty psyched about being able to do a sort of sock bun ^__^ so I do that one a lot.

Definitely with you on that! However I have bangs so they are kinda always floating around my eyes...but I don't mind them! =)

Yeah I know what you mean. I like wearing it up during the week at work and when I see DBF at the weekend I'll leave it down. I have it in the braids so he can see my braid waves tomorrow. We're going to see Ice Age 4! Such big kids, haha!

Ooh sock bun! I want to be able to do that. I just kinda ponytail and tuck the ends in on the last loop of the hair band at the moment...

[Amethyste]

Well, since I cheated while adding extensions, I am still growing my hair under it all... So I *think* I belong here as well... YAY! Will you all still have me?

[NataschaB.]

I usually make some sort of a braid on both sides and pin the rest of it up in the back. Today I tried to make a dutch braid on both sides and it worked for the first time! Wohoo! :D

[Neecola]

Hey, I'm wearing my hair down today too, Changeling, and I rarely do. Its very soft (but frizzy - grrrr)

Amethyste - Secret Shorties are welcome in my book! :D I just adore your hair color.

NataschaB - That 'do sounds super cute. I am awful at braiding but I think it is time to start practicing because I love the way they look on other people.

[NataschaB.]

Neecola: Sometimes it is kinda difficult, but it definitely gets better, so yea - you just need to practice! :)

[Amethyste]

Amethyste - Secret Shorties are welcome in my book! :D I just adore your hair color.

Awww! THank you so much! I love the curliness of your hair... so pweeettyy!!! :)

[march_sun]

Hi everybody! I had a short pixie which I grew out to shoulder length for my wedding. After styling for the big day, my hair was so full of damage that I had to cut it back to chin length. That was one month ago.
Thanks for all of the cute hairstyle ideas!

[Changling]

Well, since I cheated while adding extensions, I am still growing my hair under it all... So I *think* I belong here as well... YAY! Will you all still have me?

haha, of course you are welcome here.


As super-shorties, there was little we needed to do (or even COULD do) in the way of oiling or protective treatments. But now that we have ends that aren't all over our heads, do any of you oil your ends, do moisture treatments, wear protective updos, etc? Just what IS a protective updo, btw? How do we "baby" our ends when can only barely scoop *most* of them into a ponytail?

I use a drop or two of olive oil or baby oil whenever my ends feel dry. My hair is all one length, so it's fairly simple now, but it was pretty much impossible without getting oil all through my hair before my pixie-layers grew out. I'm thinking about using my heavier conditioner as a moisture treatment, now that I have a bottle of V05 for CO-washing. Has anyone else done that before? Care to share how you did it? before a shower, after a shower, before or after clarifying, etc.

[Changling]

Definitely with you on that! However I have bangs so they are kinda always floating around my eyes...but I don't mind them! =)

Yeah I know what you mean. I like wearing it up during the week at work and when I see DBF at the weekend I'll leave it down. I have it in the braids so he can see my braid waves tomorrow. We're going to see Ice Age 4! Such big kids, haha!

Ooh sock bun! I want to be able to do that. I just kinda ponytail and tuck the ends in on the last loop of the hair band at the moment...

my "sock" bun is kind of funny...my hair can't be too clean or it doesn't really work. First I put my hair in a mid-to-high ponytail (just because), and I pin or clip the hair at the nape of my neck up since it's so short it doesn't reach the pony. Then I just take a normal cloth scrunchie, and double it up around the pony elastic, to act as a sort of smaller donut. Then I section my pony into quarters and fold it down around the scrunchie-donut. When it feels like I can't feel cloth through my hair, I sweep all the ends around the bottom of the bun to sort of hide them, then I take a brown (my hair is brown) thin little elastic (without a metal thing) and put it over the bun to hold the ends in place. Sometimes I use two bobby pins instead of the elastic. Then I either pin back the hair at my temples, which doesn't quite reach the bun, or I pull out strands of hair all around my face to make it messy on purpose. The result is a really small bun, lol, but I still kind of adore it because this is the first time in my life I have ever had a bun ^__^

[oktobergoud]

Yesss count me in!!


Fake crown braid photos as requested! They're pants photos and the braid isn't perfect but I get compliments on it all the time and it isn't bad for pre-SL hair!
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q232/jobrookman/20120712_1213551.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q232/jobrookman/20120712_114959.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q232/jobrookman/20120712_115017.jpg

This looks awesome!! Can't wait till I can braid that far :D My hair is still shorter at the back than the front ughh

[joflakes]

Yesss count me in!!



This looks awesome!! Can't wait till I can braid that far :D My hair is still shorter at the back than the front ughh

Haha, thanks. Your braids still look better than mine though anyways! :P
My hair is the other way around, shorter in front and longer in the back. Annoying!

[Neecola]

Joflakes: Awesome braids!! I watched some youtube videos last night to try out dutch braiding. Try is the key word :laugh: -- it was quite crooked and my super fine/thin hair produced such a teeeeeeeny braid. But I'll keep at it! I saw a video that a girl loosely pulled apart the braid to give it more oomph so I think I'll try that sometime.

Changeling: I signed up for the weekly deep treatment challenge and its been going pretty well! The SMT is a great way to go for moisture. I also love using banana baby food with some oil and honey/aloe. I oil my ends several times a week before bed and twist and pin my hair to my head before I go to sleep. I co-wash every day right now but I hope to stretch that out a bit as my hair gets longer.

I have my hair up with a butterfly clip today--I think it turned out pretty cute. I did get a pic but have to crop it and figure out how to post it.

[oktobergoud]

Lately I'm wishing I didn't cut my mullet so many times! As in, why did I ever get that asymmetrical bob.. 3 times or so? Okay okay, I do like it, but it will take so much longer before I can do proper up-do or braids :( One day.. one daaaay..

[Neecola]

Let's see if this works...

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/Neecolas/Cropped_Hair_Clip_7_13_12.jpg

[XcaliburGirl]

Let's see if this works...

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/Neecolas/Cropped_Hair_Clip_7_13_12.jpg
Gorgeous! May I ask how you did that? Also what kind of a clip is it, like a barrette or something else?

[oktobergoud]

Let's see if this works...

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/Neecolas/Cropped_Hair_Clip_7_13_12.jpg

Pretty!

I loooove your curls :thud:

[Changling]

Let's see if this works...

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/Neecolas/Cropped_Hair_Clip_7_13_12.jpg

aww, that looks SO nice! I am also curious how that was done. Is it like where you make a ponytail, then part the hair above it and stuff the ponytail inside? Then put a barrette over the hole?

[timotej]

I belong here! My hair is chin-length. The photo is old, I should change it. I wish to get back to where I was and then some, to waist, I think. Anyone knows how long that might take?

I've recently started WO washing and that has meant that my hair is getting shorter rather than longer, because it has lots of volume. A bit frustrating right now, but if it works for me and I can stick with it I hope for better bigger and healthier hair when it's long again.

Some beautiful hairdos in this thread! I can't even put my hair in a ponytail yet.

[timotej]

I belong here! My hair is chin-length. The photo is old, I should change it. I wish to get back to where I was and then some, to waist, I think. Anyone knows how long that might take?

I've recently started WO washing and that has meant that my hair is getting shorter rather than longer, because it has lots of volume. A bit frustrating right now, but if it works for me and I can stick with it I hope for better bigger and healthier hair when it's long again.

Some beautiful hairdos in this thread! I can't even put my hair in a ponytail yet.

[Neecola]

Aw, thanks everyone for the hair compliments; you've made my day! :flowers:

The butterfly is a barrette and really serves no purpose other than I thought it was pretty and it made up for my lack of hair :D

I gathered my hair in two low pigtails (just using my hands, no rubber bands) and twisted it up once and pinned so it created two hair "waterfalls". You can see in the pic the line between the two--it lines up with the butterfly's body. For each flip, I use a bobby pin on each side, slightly angled up so that I can pull the hair a bit on each side to make it more rounder looking. Because of my natural curl pattern, the ends kinda "curl" themselves but I think also this could be done with straight hair or longer hair by actually rolling the hair and pinning the curl at the base with a pin. Having slightly damp hair helps.


And Changeling, I think you're right-- a similar effect could probably be created with an inverted ponytail thingy. This style is nice for fine/thin hair because most of it is air!

[Neecola]

Hi timotej! I think how long it would take to grow from chin to waist would depend on how fast your hair grows... I think I read somewhere that the average is 1/2" per month?

Good luck with WO! I really don't know that much about it; I should go check out that thread. I like the idea of more volume!

[Changling]

I belong here! My hair is chin-length. The photo is old, I should change it. I wish to get back to where I was and then some, to waist, I think. Anyone knows how long that might take?

I've recently started WO washing and that has meant that my hair is getting shorter rather than longer, because it has lots of volume. A bit frustrating right now, but if it works for me and I can stick with it I hope for better bigger and healthier hair when it's long again.

Some beautiful hairdos in this thread! I can't even put my hair in a ponytail yet.

I'm working on bringing out my waves and trying to encourage curl, so I lose a lot of length there but it is totally worth it :)

I hope to be shoulder length by the new year, which I think is realistic because I am only trimming every six months (by the moon). After that, I really can't make any predictions, because who knows what will happen!

[joflakes]

Joflakes: Awesome braids!! I watched some youtube videos last night to try out dutch braiding. Try is the key word :laugh: -- it was quite crooked and my super fine/thin hair produced such a teeeeeeeny braid. But I'll keep at it! I saw a video that a girl loosely pulled apart the braid to give it more oomph so I think I'll try that sometime. I have my hair up with a butterfly clip today--I think it turned out pretty cute. I did get a pic but have to crop it and figure out how to post it.

Thanks! It is just a case of practising. I've only been braiding properly a month or so :) you can do it!


I belong here! My hair is chin-length. The photo is old, I should change it. I wish to get back to where I was and then some, to waist, I think. Anyone knows how long that might take?

I've recently started WO washing and that has meant that my hair is getting shorter rather than longer, because it has lots of volume. A bit frustrating right now, but if it works for me and I can stick with it I hope for better bigger and healthier hair when it's long again.

Some beautiful hairdos in this thread! I can't even put my hair in a ponytail yet.

Welcome! =D

[KwaveT]

My hair in back is shoulder plus but my on sides are chin length. I have got the entire journey to still go with my hair on the sides. There's no use in ponytailing until I can get more than the hair in the back into one.

[Neneka]

I belong here! If I don't trim I am at shoulder after about one inch. I just have some shorter layers, some are at chin and they have startet to fairytale, I guess. There is no split ends. I haven't touched some of those layers with scissors for 15 months. I just use a lot of coconut oil on them. They will get trimmed eventually. I trim 1/3 of the growth of the longest hairs so those layers will eventually get trimmed at some point. I want blunt ends. :)

I can do some up dos. I am also having bangs (that I am growing out) so those hairs don't need to reach my dos and that helps a bit. Without pins and clips I can do pigtails and a ponytail. With 2-4 pins I can do peacock twist with a comb or claw clip. I can also do a sock bun. I haven't tried double sock buns but I think I could do those as well. I also have a self made bun cover that I sometimes use on a scrunchie bun (and it looks like I have a long hair :)) I can do double french or dutch braids too.

I am quite happy with my hair right now. I am growing from a very short pixie and it starts to feel like I actually have some hair again. :)

[Changling]

My hair in back is shoulder plus but my on sides are chin length. I have got the entire journey to still go with my hair on the sides. There's no use in ponytailing until I can get more than the hair in the back into one.

My hair is chin-length in front, and maybe an inch longer in back, because the back grows faster. I can either do a low ponystub with a TON of really long bangs, or I can do a high pony with no bangs, but I have to pin the back up because it's too short to reach. So you might be able to manage a high pony/high lazy bun. I know a lot of people don't to wear like high ponies though. :/


I belong here! If I don't trim I am at shoulder after about one inch. I just have some shorter layers, some are at chin and they have startet to fairytale, I guess. There is no split ends. I haven't touched some of those layers with scissors for 15 months. I just use a lot of coconut oil on them. They will get trimmed eventually. I trim 1/3 of the growth of the longest hairs so those layers will eventually get trimmed at some point. I want blunt ends. :)

I can do some up dos. I am also having bangs (that I am growing out) so those hairs don't need to reach my dos and that helps a bit. Without pins and clips I can do pigtails and a ponytail. With 2-4 pins I can do peacock twist with a comb or claw clip. I can also do a sock bun. I haven't tried double sock buns but I think I could do those as well. I also have a self made bun cover that I sometimes use on a scrunchie bun (and it looks like I have a long hair :)) I can do double french or dutch braids too.

I am quite happy with my hair right now. I am growing from a very short pixie and it starts to feel like I actually have some hair again. :)

I am so with you on this one. It still kind of sucks that I can't do a full ponytail yet, but I am just SO RELIEVED to be past the year of awkward growing-out-a-pixie stages.

[oktobergoud]

I just micro-trimmed a little.. I don't see any difference LOL. But if I microtrim every 3 months or so, I hope my hair will look better in half a year or so.

Sigh, I'm so bored with it! When I started growing out my pixie I thought that this length I have now (a little longer than chin-length) would be amazing. And now I have it and I'm so bored of it! :P I need longer hair, loooonger!

[Indigostreams]

My hair is chin length too, so I'll join y'all in this thread. I just wear it down all of the time because no matter how I try to wear it up, it just never looks right. I think this may be the most frustrating hair stage! My dream for now is just to be able to feel it brush against my shoulders. :/

[Changling]

I just micro-trimmed a little.. I don't see any difference LOL. But if I microtrim every 3 months or so, I hope my hair will look better in half a year or so.

Sigh, I'm so bored with it! When I started growing out my pixie I thought that this length I have now (a little longer than chin-length) would be amazing. And now I have it and I'm so bored of it! :P I need longer hair, loooonger!

I feel like, ideally, you wouldn't notice any difference from a micro-trim. You don't want to lose any length at this stage X( I had a couple of not-so-micro trims while I was growing out my pixie that were pretty depressing...but I'm only micro-trimming until my hair gets long enough to DO anything with...and I'm trying for only trimming twice a year :O I had one in June, so next one is supposed to be around December...we'll see how that goes.

[Neecola]

I just micro-trimmed a little.. I don't see any difference LOL. But if I microtrim every 3 months or so, I hope my hair will look better in half a year or so.


I microtrim too--pretty frequently, actually. In my final semester of college this past spring, I was so crazy busy that I didn't trim or henna for 3 or 4 months. I could really see the difference in growth! My hair seemed to stay exactly the same length. Granted, stress plays a role too, but since I began microtrimming again, my hair has put on noticable length.

What about buying a new hairtoy --clip, barrette, etc. to cure some of your boredom?


My hair is chin length too, so I'll join y'all in this thread. I just wear it down all of the time because no matter how I try to wear it up, it just never looks right. I think this may be the most frustrating hair stage! My dream for now is just to be able to feel it brush against my shoulders. :/

Hi indigostreams! (nice user name, btw!) I also look forward to being able to feel my hair on my shoulders! For some reason though, I think shoulder length will be my awkward stage. The not-long-but-not-short stage.

Have you tried half-ups or headbands? I was watching Wooster and Jeeves (Love me some old Brittish comedies), and all the ladies had their hair parted at the side with a pretty clip. So I've been inspired to seek out a cool vintage clip to try it out myself!

[oktobergoud]

I microtrim too--pretty frequently, actually. In my final semester of college this past spring, I was so crazy busy that I didn't trim or henna for 3 or 4 months. I could really see the difference in growth! My hair seemed to stay exactly the same length. Granted, stress plays a role too, but since I began microtrimming again, my hair has put on noticable length.

What about buying a new hairtoy --clip, barrette, etc. to cure some of your boredom?



Well, my problem is 1. I already own way WAY too many hairtoys and I hardly use them (sigh, so stupid!). Today I did wear a scarf (retro/hipster style ;)) and I think I'll do that tomorrow as well. I also bought hairdye! A more red red instead of copper red/usual henna... and 2. my hair seems to grow faster as soon as I don't trim/go to the salon! It has gotten so much longer the last 3 months, crazy!

I'm also growing out my bangs and they're getting quite long now, but also CRAZY oily if I wear them 'down' (a.k.a. not pinned back). It's really annoying!

[Neecola]

^ Ah, I see Oktobergoud.

I am having the same itch for more vibrant hair. Once upon a time, I used to dye my hair a vibrant red and loved it! How I miss it. Have been thinking of trying manic panic. What did you pick up?

[Changling]

^ Ah, I see Oktobergoud.

I am having the same itch for more vibrant hair. Once upon a time, I used to dye my hair a vibrant red and loved it! How I miss it. Have been thinking of trying manic panic. What did you pick up?

I highly recommend Manic Panic, and Special FX. I believe they are both vegan (as in, contain no animal products AND are not tested on animals). I used to bleach the daylights out of my hair and dye it pink, purple, green, etc...it was really fun! But my hair felt like crap :( The cool thing is that you can just use it over virgin hair and it'll just wash out, it doesn't damage your hair at all. It will give a tinted effect over dark hair.

[Neecola]

I highly recommend Manic Panic, and Special FX. I believe they are both vegan (as in, contain no animal products AND are not tested on animals). I used to bleach the daylights out of my hair and dye it pink, purple, green, etc...it was really fun! But my hair felt like crap :( The cool thing is that you can just use it over virgin hair and it'll just wash out, it doesn't damage your hair at all. It will give a tinted effect over dark hair.

Thanks for the thumbs up! I was going to try a reddish-orange color, diluted in conditioner. Do you have any suggestions as to which color I should try? I'd rather the red fade to orange/warm and not pink/cool.

I've been using the Aveda Madder Root conditioner but it's pricey and I have to use a lot to get even coverage.

[oktobergoud]

I bought some boxdye from Garnier! My friend uses it all the time (exact same colour) and her hair is a lovely vibrant red. She also uses henna in between! I just want a change, just for once (after that it's all henna again! ;)) I'm already a bit nervous about the damage but hey, you only live once, or something ;)

Just a question: when do you consider hair shoulder length? I'm not sure yet. I do know that my hair right now isn't shoulder length, but I have the feeling it is getting quite close! Just wondering what your opinions are :)

[Changling]

Thanks for the thumbs up! I was going to try a reddish-orange color, diluted in conditioner. Do you have any suggestions as to which color I should try? I'd rather the red fade to orange/warm and not pink/cool.

I've been using the Aveda Madder Root conditioner but it's pricey and I have to use a lot to get even coverage.

I don't know...one time in high school my red faded to a very cool neon salmon color (over bleached hair), so it was weird...a cool orange doesn't really make sense. By cool of course I mean cool on the color wheel, not fashionable. It did not look hip.

I guess go for a more orangey red rather than a magenta or purplish red. The thing is, if you don't bleach your hair first, I don't think it's going to fade to a different color. It will just fade to your hair color.

[Indigostreams]

Thanks Neecola :) No, I'm not a headband type-of-girl, and I suck at doing my hair nice. Plus I don't have patience for it. I think I might try wearing it in a barrette soon.

[browneyedsusan]

Can I join?
My hair is very uneven--haven't trimmed the pixie--but the back is between chin and shoulder.

I think I probably should start thinking about haircare beyond CWC and henna. Any of you started with oil or S&D yet?

I pin or braid my bangs/crown almost everyday--I took it down yesterday to update my siggy. My scalp still gets a little sore if I do something different, but it's WAY better than it was.

Today, I made loose ponytails along my hairline--it took 6 or 7 to go around my head--, turned them inside out (tucked the tails under the elastic) and put a micro clip on them. It's supposed to be smoking hot, and I couldn't stand this inch of neck hair running loose and tickling me!

[Amethyste]

haha... I took my extensions out... so i am back here with you all lovelies - real and all :D

What length do you all think my hair is at now? in the back the hair is a tiny bit past that big neck bone back there haha.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75639728@N06/7629714048/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75639728@N06/7629714048/

[Changling]

Can I join?
My hair is very uneven--haven't trimmed the pixie--but the back is between chin and shoulder.

I think I probably should start thinking about haircare beyond CWC and henna. Any of you started with oil or S&D yet?

I pin or braid my bangs/crown almost everyday--I took it down yesterday to update my siggy. My scalp still gets a little sore if I do something different, but it's WAY better than it was.

Today, I made loose ponytails along my hairline--it took 6 or 7 to go around my head--, turned them inside out (tucked the tails under the elastic) and put a micro clip on them. It's supposed to be smoking hot, and I couldn't stand this inch of neck hair running loose and tickling me!

of course :) You'll be at shoulder way faster without trimming the back over and over like I did...it will have awkward phases but soon enough it'll be long :)


haha... I took my extensions out... so i am back here with you all lovelies - real and all :D

What length do you all think my hair is at now? in the back the hair is a tiny bit past that big neck bone back there haha.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75639728@N06/7629714048/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75639728@N06/7629714048/

You are definitely around mid-neck, well on your way to shoulder! congratulations :)

My hair is getting longer in the back as usual, even though it was straight across last time I cut it. I guess the back grows faster. I'm done trimming, though. I will only do twice yearly microtrims until I get long enough to put it all up and out of the way.

I'm actually having second thoughts about long hair. Not like "ITS HOT I'M CHOPPING" second thoughts, but seeing other girls with lesbian haircuts I just love, that can be femme with a little barrette, or butch with a little gel. I've still decided to continue growing though. I will get to BSL before I make a decision on whether I want long hair or short. And if I decide I want short, I will start with an undercut as a compromise.

[joflakes]

haha... I took my extensions out... so i am back here with you all lovelies - real and all :D

What length do you all think my hair is at now? in the back the hair is a tiny bit past that big neck bone back there haha.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75639728@N06/7629714048/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75639728@N06/7629714048/

Hello hair twin!
I think it looks like the same as mine. Almost but not quite SL.
I love your hair colour, btw!
How did you find the extensions affected your hair?

[joflakes]

I bought some boxdye from Garnier! My friend uses it all the time (exact same colour) and her hair is a lovely vibrant red. She also uses henna in between! I just want a change, just for once (after that it's all henna again! ;)) I'm already a bit nervous about the damage but hey, you only live once, or something ;)

Just a question: when do you consider hair shoulder length? I'm not sure yet. I do know that my hair right now isn't shoulder length, but I have the feeling it is getting quite close! Just wondering what your opinions are :)

I'd consider it SL when my sides bits actually touch my shoulders. If that makes sense!

[Amethyste]

Hello hair twin!
I think it looks like the same as mine. Almost but not quite SL.
I love your hair colour, btw!
How did you find the extensions affected your hair?

Aww! Thank you for your comment about my hair color, but alas, this is office lighting and it really doesn't show the nice red at all :P I'd have to take a picture outside!

well, I did shed a lot when I took the extensions out. I had a month's worth of shed hairs. It was a little alarming, but I kept calm lol. i don't know what happened, but before the extensions my hair was not as shiny or soft as it is now... I am using the same shampoo and condish (cone free). Just strange. I find that as my hair grows longer, it is getting thinner (like not as voluminous) as it was when it was chin length. If it keeps growing and feeling like this, I don't think that waist hair length will be looking all that terrific... I have at least a couple of years to go to get to waist. But maybe BSL wwwwll be more manageable or better suited for my hair. We'll have to see!

[Neecola]

Thanks Changling and Oktobergoud for the hair dye info. I ended up ordering some Directions deposit dye in coral red online because I didn't like the manic panic colors I could get locally.

Welcome, browneyedsusan! I've been focusing on taking good care of my ends, as jojo advised us in the beginning of this thread. I do oil my ends and do a weekly deep treatment. I microtrim every other month. If you see splits, its probably advisable to S&D so they don't travel further upwards.

Amethyste--your hair looks great! It looks like an even length all the way around too~ mine is so much shorter in the front. It will take you no time to get to SL!

[joflakes]

Aww! Thank you for your comment about my hair color, but alas, this is office lighting and it really doesn't show the nice red at all :P I'd have to take a picture outside!

well, I did shed a lot when I took the extensions out. I had a month's worth of shed hairs. It was a little alarming, but I kept calm lol. i don't know what happened, but before the extensions my hair was not as shiny or soft as it is now... I am using the same shampoo and condish (cone free). Just strange. I find that as my hair grows longer, it is getting thinner (like not as voluminous) as it was when it was chin length. If it keeps growing and feeling like this, I don't think that waist hair length will be looking all that terrific... I have at least a couple of years to go to get to waist. But maybe BSL wwwwll be more manageable or better suited for my hair. We'll have to see!

No problem! :D

I had that when I took my extensions out after three weeks, too. Imagine what it must be like when you leave them in for months! Eek!
I guess only time will tell. Keep up growing and you'll find out!

[Amethyste]

Amethyste--your hair looks great! It looks like an even length all the way around too~ mine is so much shorter in the front. It will take you no time to get to SL!

hey Neecola! Thank you for the kind words :) for a good year or more I've kept trimming to get rid of bleach damage and to get the layers out. the only layer I have left is my bangs which are growing out and also the top of my hair is about 3/4 inch shorter than the rest. so it sort of flips out a little bit. I think I should reach past SL in late October...

Here is a progression photo from February (left) to april (middle) and to July (right)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75639728@N06/7632113760/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75639728@N06/7632113760/

[Neecola]

Wow, that's some awesome growth, Amethyste!! :hifive:

I am just now starting to feel like I'm making progress. I had been cutting all the length in back to remove the layers from the pixie before growing it out. I'm still not quite at one length yet but with my microtrims, I will be eventually. It's so exciting to be able to wear my hair up again!

[LadyMikaelson]

YAY! A hair length thread I actually belong to! I've been looking for a thread like this for a few days &
I was beginning to think I was the only one with chin length hair @ TLHC. :disco:

Currently, my hair is chin length in the front & mid-neck length in the back. My ultimate dream is having HBL.
Although, I've been pondering TBL & Classic. Right now, it's in two french braids which I can only achieve if I braid it when it's wet.

[Amethyste]

Wow, that's some awesome growth, Amethyste!! :hifive:

I am just now starting to feel like I'm making progress. I had been cutting all the length in back to remove the layers from the pixie before growing it out. I'm still not quite at one length yet but with my microtrims, I will be eventually. It's so exciting to be able to wear my hair up again!

It is indeed a great feeling to be able to wear it up and look nice and neat :)

you really think it is awesome growth? I think or feel it is kind of slow... I guess i am impatient right? lol

[Changling]

Welcome, Lady! :)

There is also the super-shorties thread, where I've been since I found this forum. Everyone there is anywhere between close shave to shoulder (and some beyond!). It's a really great thread, I recommend it :) The only reason I made this one was so there could be more than one thread to cover the approx. 3 years it takes to grow from a shaved head to shoulder!

I also do twin french braids, it's my best style to keep my hair out of my way. I've done a little bit of crown braiding, too, but I want to get better at all kinds of braiding. I'd like to figure out a way to combine lots of little accent braids in a big french braid, but like in a messy way. I love messy braids. Actually, I just love messy hair in any way - choppy haircuts, teasing, messy braids, etc.

[oktobergoud]

I had braided my hair (like in my siggy) today and a (new) co-worker was surprised when I told her my hair was just a little longer than chin length! She told me my hair looked SO MUCH longer braided haha.

[LadyMikaelson]

Thank you, Changling, for your welcome & for informing me about the other thread. I'll be sure to check out. :)
Oh, I too, would love to advance my braiding ability...As of right now, I can only do french braids,
but as they say practice makes perfect! ;) I would really love to achieve a dutch lace crown braid!! :crush:

[oktobergoud]

Thank you, Changling, for your welcome & for informing me about the other thread. I'll be sure to check out. :)
Oh, I too, would love to advance my braiding ability...As of right now, I can only do french braids,
but as they say practice makes perfect! ;) I would really love to achieve a dutch lace crown braid!! :crush:

Me too, me too! My braids are getting longer and longer, crown braid here I come! ;)

But practice really makes perfect! I could only Dutch braid and now I can French braid as well (but I find it harder to Dutch braid now, lol!). It's getting better and better! :)

[Wildcat Diva]

Popping in to say Hi! I also hope I can improve my braiding skills as well, as you are all talking about. Wishing you all healthy growing!

[LadyMikaelson]

Hello, oktobergoud, can I just say how beautiful your hair is? It's gorgeous!!! :crush:
Hello, Wildcat Diva. Thank you, I wish you healthy growing as well!! ;)

Here's to us all improving our braiding skills! :bottomsup:
I think I'll practice my dutch lace braid tomorrow. :meditate:

[Neecola]

Hi Wildcat Diva and LadyMikaelson!

I am so with you on this-- I need some serious practice when it comes to braiding! I absolutely adore the Dutch crown braid. Oktobergoud and Joflakes have really gotten the Dutch braid down. I don't think mine willl be as lovely since my hair is so fine/thin you can't really see the detail of the braid, but it's still good to be in practice.

[Neneka]

oktobergoud, I am envious of your braiding skills! I have been practising too and I am slowly getting better. My hair just is very slippery and it likes to escape from braids and from my hands. I can do "crown-braids" but I don't know how to seal them. Pins don't hold well and hair ties look weird. Maybe I just have to wait until my hair is longer and I can just braid the length too.

It has grown and it feels weird. I am just keeping it up all the time because I don't like how the ends touch my lower neck and go under my shirt, although I am strangely excited of having this problem... Shoulder length is not far away.

[joflakes]

Hi Wildcat Diva and LadyMikaelson!

I am so with you on this-- I need some serious practice when it comes to braiding! I absolutely adore the Dutch crown braid. Oktobergoud and Joflakes have really gotten the Dutch braid down. I don't think mine willl be as lovely since my hair is so fine/thin you can't really see the detail of the braid, but it's still good to be in practice.

Aww thanks! :o I only managed it by practice though. My braids look more and more well done as time goes by. I do one every time I wash my hair, leave it in for a day or two then have a day or awesome huge braid-waved hair, then repeat! Haha.

Try and you might be surprised!


Welcome to everyone else :D

[Neecola]

Thanks for the encouragement, joflakes! I will practice this weekend, when I don't have plans to go anywhere for awhile. The last (and only) attempt I made was on dry hair and when I took it out --poof city! I think my natural curl and the braid waves were at war :o

Maybe I'll try it on damp hair... though that is an invitation for frizz. Guess I could load 'er up with gel. Hmmmm, I shall have to experiment!

[Changling]

Thanks for the encouragement, joflakes! I will practice this weekend, when I don't have plans to go anywhere for awhile. The last (and only) attempt I made was on dry hair and when I took it out --poof city! I think my natural curl and the braid waves were at war :o

Maybe I'll try it on damp hair... though that is an invitation for frizz. Guess I could load 'er up with gel. Hmmmm, I shall have to experiment!

I found that if I made a bunch of little braids while damp, when they dried I would have hair that was braid-wavy, but not curly-wavy (if that makes any sense), and the next day my hair would be almost straight (as long as they were loose braids, not tight - then it would be like crimped). It was interesting, I'm definitely keeping it in mind as a way to straighten my hair without heat.

[Neecola]

I found that if I made a bunch of little braids while damp, when they dried I would have hair that was braid-wavy, but not curly-wavy (if that makes any sense), and the next day my hair would be almost straight (as long as they were loose braids, not tight - then it would be like crimped). It was interesting, I'm definitely keeping it in mind as a way to straighten my hair without heat.

Interesting! Were they like french/dutch braids or just regular braids?

I have straightened my hair without heat by... gosh, what is it called... where you put some of the wet hair at the crown into a very large roller and then part the hair in the back and comb all the hair around the roller in the same direction. I only did it once as it does take a long time to dry but I was really surprised how well it works.

Awhile back I bought some of those Caruso steam rollers. I only played with them a few times. There is a learning curve I haven't gotten yet! I must admit I don't entirely trust that they are damage-free but I think they are far better than other heat methods. I thought they'd be a nice change for special occasions. I should pull those out again and practice.

[LadyMikaelson]

Hello Neecola! :) I totally understand where you're coming from as I have fine hair as well, but I say let's embrace what we've been given. ;)
I've finally learned how to do a dutch lace braid yesterday, but I'll have to keep practicing with it...My fringe keeps popping out of them. :p


I have straightened my hair without heat by... gosh, what is it called... where you put some of the wet hair at the crown into a very large roller and then part the hair in the back and comb all the hair around the roller in the same direction.

Really? I've always wondered how to achieve straighter hair without heat, I'll have to try that sometime...

:run:

[Neecola]

I totally understand where you're coming from as I have fine hair as well, but I say let's embrace what we've been given. ;)

I totally agree! :toast:



I've always wondered how to achieve straighter hair without heat, I'll have to try that sometime...


Here's a thread about it:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=86067

[oktobergoud]

Hello, oktobergoud, can I just say how beautiful your hair is? It's gorgeous!!! :crush:
Hello, Wildcat Diva. Thank you, I wish you healthy growing as well!! ;)

Here's to us all improving our braiding skills! :bottomsup:
I think I'll practice my dutch lace braid tomorrow. :meditate:

Thank you so much!! :flower: So nice of you to say!

Have you practiced yet? ;) If so, show us pictures!



oktobergoud, I am envious of your braiding skills! I have been practising too and I am slowly getting better. My hair just is very slippery and it likes to escape from braids and from my hands. I can do "crown-braids" but I don't know how to seal them. Pins don't hold well and hair ties look weird. Maybe I just have to wait until my hair is longer and I can just braid the length too.

It has grown and it feels weird. I am just keeping it up all the time because I don't like how the ends touch my lower neck and go under my shirt, although I am strangely excited of having this problem... Shoulder length is not far away.

Thanks! My hair is slippery as well and I think it doesn't help either that our hair is basically short! It will go so much easier ones it gets a bit longer, I think.

I'm keeping it up most of the time as well! Not only because of the heat, but I just really like the look of it. I just like wearing my hair totally out of my face. It made think about getting a pixie again, but I realized that would just be different.

I also found some really cheap hair-friendly elastics! They're small and not too pretty though, but I'll try them out (50 for 60 cents, what? Worth a try! ;))

[Changling]

Interesting! Were they like french/dutch braids or just regular braids?

I have straightened my hair without heat by... gosh, what is it called... where you put some of the wet hair at the crown into a very large roller and then part the hair in the back and comb all the hair around the roller in the same direction. I only did it once as it does take a long time to dry but I was really surprised how well it works.

Awhile back I bought some of those Caruso steam rollers. I only played with them a few times. There is a learning curve I haven't gotten yet! I must admit I don't entirely trust that they are damage-free but I think they are far better than other heat methods. I thought they'd be a nice change for special occasions. I should pull those out again and practice.

Just regular braids. I only did the hair above my ears though, since the hair below is so short it doesn't even wave yet.

[LadyMikaelson]

Neecola, Thank you so much for the link!! :)


Have you practiced yet? If so, show us pictures!
oktobergoud, Yes, I practiced it a few days ago & I think it turned out quite well for my first attempt. ;)
I would love to take & post pictures, but I don't have a camera at this time...:boohoo: I'm hoping that I will soon!

[oktobergoud]

Neecola, Thank you so much for the link!! :)


oktobergoud, Yes, I practiced it a few days ago & I think it turned out quite well for my first attempt. ;)
I would love to take & post pictures, but I don't have a camera at this time...:boohoo: I'm hoping that I will soon!

I hope so too!

Today I practiced crown-braiding.. the sides looked awful (hair is basically way too short still :() but I really liked how the top looked! :D

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m81gdbF5D01qgbo5so1_400.jpg

[joflakes]

I hope so too!

Today I practiced crown-braiding.. the sides looked awful (hair is basically way too short still :() but I really liked how the top looked! :D



Waaahhh! That looks totally amazing. :thudpile: Well done! I can't do any braiding that I can't see :o it confuses my brain too much and I think my hair is just a little too short at the moment!

[Changling]

I already posted this in the super-shorties thread, but I'm gonna post it here too! :D

I reached a milestone! My hair is now the length it was last time I failed to grow my hair out! I was just a little below chin-length when I got a pixie three years ago. And now I am there again. My next personal milestone is to get longer than shoulder-length: the longest my hair has been since my first ever pixie! After that, I suppose my next will be longer than tailbone-length: the longest it has ever been! :O

[browneyedsusan]

:cheer:atta-girl, Changling! :cheer:
keep on growing!

[Neecola]

Wow, oktobergoud, that braid is amazingly thick looking! And a full crown looking like that -- whoa mama!

Hurrah, changling!! I remember you saying a little while back that you had an itching to cut again so this must be the point at which you usually do. Good for you for sticking to your goal! :cheese:


I've been buying lots of cheapie little hair toys to keep me occupied. I hennaed my roots over the weekend and that always makes my hair happy. Now that it is long enough to wear up, I am enjoying my hair much more.

[Changling]

thanks guys :) I have been craving at least a little bit of styling or shaping, but I am so close to having ALL my hair in a ponytail, finally, that I am not going to cut. Also, I really believe in trimming by the moon! It probably seems really silly to most people, haha...but I have noticed significant changes in my moods, energy level, and abilities with the phases of the moon. It definitely affects me in a way I don't really undertand.

AND it keeps me from impulse-cutting ^__^

[Boucles d'or]

I'm growing it out to shoulder-length too. Most of my hair in the back touches my shoulders but in the front, I have layers (and lots of them)... They're now at chin length! This is a nice thread!

[Changling]

welcome, Boucles! This length, while not being as bad as growing out a pixie, can still be hard to cope with sometimes. Especially when it's hot and you just want it ALL out of your face!!

[oktobergoud]

Waaahhh! That looks totally amazing. :thudpile: Well done! I can't do any braiding that I can't see :o it confuses my brain too much and I think my hair is just a little too short at the moment!

Thanks! Just keep practicing.. I hardly braid when looking in the mirror (somehow, that just confuses me even more?)

My hair is still too short for this too, sadly :( I mean, the top looked nice but the sides were a mess! And I couldn't even braid the back (way too short!)


Wow, oktobergoud, that braid is amazingly thick looking! And a full crown looking like that -- whoa mama!


Thanks! I'm surprised it looks so thick as well, I can't wait till my hair is ehm.. like 10 inches longer so I can do a proper full crown braid (this one didn't look so great at the sides/back, trust me :P)

& Changling, that's amazing! I love such milestones :D And once you can put all your hair in a pony, everything's going to be so much easier, trust me! :)

[LoveAngelBeauty]

Well, since I cheated while adding extensions, I am still growing my hair under it all... So I *think* I belong here as well... YAY! Will you all still have me?

I really like your soundcloud Amethyste. Very pretty. I'm quite jealous :p. I'm working on mine but I don't play any instruments and I'm not sure how to add music to it so it's just me singing.

[LoveAngelBeauty]

I belong here :)

I have very tightly curly hair so I don't have to worry about it getting in my face (though I wish I did). I use head bands a lot, which I've started to really hate, so I'm trying to get away from them. I've had to trim my hair a lot, so now I'm focusing on treatments that will help me avoid having to trim. I really love henna. It rejuvenates my scalp. I've discovered that my scalp hates anything (conditioner, oil) being left on it. Conditioner makes me itchy and shed a lot....and possibly stunts my growth? I also really love ACV rinses! Keeps my hair from tangling and knotting. Win!

[LoveAngelBeauty]

I wish I could braid everyone's hair here. My hair is very easy to braid and stay braided but it's so thick and short that I don't have the patience for it. I like to braid my friend Bes's hair. Her hair is loose and curly and way more slippery than mine and but it always turns out well. I can't wait to do a crown braid but I feel that because my hair is so thick and curly that it will need to be pretty long....

[Neecola]

Welcome, Boucles d'or and LoveAngelBeauty! :)

[Emme76]

Hey everyone! I haven´t been on LHC for a while now. Had to get a little break since I was starting to become a bit to addictive :o! But happy to be back and VERY happy to find this thread!!!

My hair is below chin length - but not quite at shoulder. So that frustrating stage between, like many of you. My hair in the back is growing alot faster than my front :(!!!My front hair is just below chin length.

I put my hair up in low and high ponytails, crown braids (or how they are called), I also use tiny clawclips and put my hair in messy updos, And also pins. Once in a while I use a bananaclip ( remember the once from the 80s and 90s :D. Here in sweden they are called bananaclips). I sometimes wear it down. But I don´t like the look of it down since I never use heat any more. And my hair is thin and fine - so at this stage it just never behaves. Either it is just flat or crazy fly away swirls all over. I hope that will change once it gets longer.

Just a little while ago I got tired of my hair, but instread of cutting like I always did before I changed my color a bit. so now it is very coppery red. I like it. Adds a bit more color in my life :D!!!

I don´t either have a goal. I want to get past shoulders and see how that feels before I decide. But (in secret) I hope for just below APL. My hair is fine/thin so I am not sure how long it will get.

So much fun with this thread. Good luck growing everyone :D!!

[Changling]

The wood comb I ordered came in today :) I tried it out immediately and I like it. Basically I just needed anything that wasn't pastic. My plastic one was giving me crazy amounts of static - like, I'd put my hair in pigtail half-ups, and the pigtails would splay out and the ends would cling all over my head! Even when it was greasy and needed to be washed! So I just threw it out and have been finger-combing...but I'm finally getting to a length where I kind of need to comb, at least sometimes. So I found a wide-toothed sandalwood comb on amazon for about $20.

And I found out first hand today that you seriously SHOULDN'T let your hair whip around in the wind :( I had it back in a ponystub, but most of the hair in front of my ears still isn't long enough to go in the pony, so it was all whipping around like crazy in the car with all the windows down (friend's car. we were going to the dump and it smelled, that's why the windows were down). When we got there, I had so many of the WORST tangles! And I haven't really had any tangles at all, the whole time I've been growing out my hair! It felt so awful :( I had to fingercomb them out, and it hurt.

It will seriously be SO MUCH EASIER when I can put it all in a ponytail! I'm hoping to be able to ponytail by New Year's ^__^

[oktobergoud]

I'm dyeing my hair right now, dark brown! Only the roots though, I'm trying some sort of ombre effect.. stay tuned :P

(I did throw away half of the developer.. BY ACCIDENT. AARGH! Hopefully it will stick.. it's just rinse anyway)

http://myboringhair.tumblr.com/post/28777469401/i-made-a-little-video-of-how-i-braid-my-hair-my and I made a video of how I braid my hair ^^ (I was bored, yeah :P)

[AnnaB]

Ah this is where I belong.

I have chin length, badly damaged hair :(.
It was almost at my shoulders when I killed it and had it all chopped off again. So frustrated with myself. But I do need to grow out the layers and the damaged hair :(
Sometimes I feel like chopping ALL of it off and start from scratch but I doubt I'll be able to pull it off. :(

Ah wish me luck :(

Good luck to you all and happy growing.

[Changling]

Ah this is where I belong.

I have chin length, badly damaged hair :(.
It was almost at my shoulders when I killed it and had it all chopped off again. So frustrated with myself. But I do need to grow out the layers and the damaged hair :(
Sometimes I feel like chopping ALL of it off and start from scratch but I doubt I'll be able to pull it off. :(

Ah wish me luck :(

Good luck to you all and happy growing.

Good luck, AnnaB! And don't cut it all off, trust me! It takes forever and ever to grow out a pixie! DX And it just looks awful through 90% of the growing out process. I doubt I will ever go that short again...and if I do, I'll never grow it out again!

[freznow]

I'm at chin, when wet. It floats up to just below ear when dry. :/ I can't pony tail anything, really. It's hard because whenever I look in the mirror and don't like what I see, I get the urge to cut. And I cut my own hair so it's hard to resist! But I like where it's at now (It's a slightly angled bob type thing) and the ends are all about the same place, so hopefully it'll be easier to grow out than when I was at this length with more pixie/shag-ish ends.

I wish I knew a way to pull it back that I liked, but I don't like how my face looks without some sort of part, so headbands and clips don't work so well. Ah, well. Maybe when it's longer and I can braid it again.

[Changling]

I'm at chin, when wet. It floats up to just below ear when dry. :/ I can't pony tail anything, really. It's hard because whenever I look in the mirror and don't like what I see, I get the urge to cut. And I cut my own hair so it's hard to resist! But I like where it's at now (It's a slightly angled bob type thing) and the ends are all about the same place, so hopefully it'll be easier to grow out than when I was at this length with more pixie/shag-ish ends.

I wish I knew a way to pull it back that I liked, but I don't like how my face looks without some sort of part, so headbands and clips don't work so well. Ah, well. Maybe when it's longer and I can braid it again.

Everyone's advice was to wear headbands and scarves and use clippies and stuff while my hair was in awkward phases, but they seriously just DO NOT work for me. I mean, I wear men's clothing about half the time...I could probably make a scarf work with it, but I don't WANT to...I like looking like a boy XD So I pretty much just wore the shag as it was. I looked just like my teenaged cousin Alex, lol.

I cut my own hair, too, so growing out has been a difficult process for me. It doesn't help that I keep wanting a real style...but I'm waiting until I get to shoulder before I even think about cutting in layers or anything like that.

[Neecola]

Hi Emme76! I know what you mean about LHC being addictive. (Probably most of us here do!) That's part of why I won't really let myself pick a goal length-- I might get too focused on the destination and forget the journey!



I put my hair up in low and high ponytails, crown braids (or how they are called), I also use tiny clawclips and put my hair in messy updos, And also pins.

I have some teeny claw clips that I use for hennaing my roots; I like your idea of using them for updos! Being another fine/thin hair, the claws will keep the hair more bunched up instead of flattened like bobby pins or barrettes. I'll have to play around with that!

Color helps keep my spirits up too when I'm feeling a little frustrated by my hair. In addition to henna, I have been using the Aveda Madder Root conditioner.

Happy growing to you too!

[Neecola]

I'm dyeing my hair right now, dark brown! Only the roots though, I'm trying some sort of ombre effect.. stay tuned :P

(I did throw away half of the developer.. BY ACCIDENT. AARGH! Hopefully it will stick.. it's just rinse anyway)

http://myboringhair.tumblr.com/post/28777469401/i-made-a-little-video-of-how-i-braid-my-hair-my and I made a video of how I braid my hair ^^ (I was bored, yeah :P)

Thanks for the video --cute and love the music! I like that you keep the braid so close to your face; haven't tried it like that yet but I will now.

[AnnaB]

Good luck, AnnaB! And don't cut it all off, trust me! It takes forever and ever to grow out a pixie! DX And it just looks awful through 90% of the growing out process. I doubt I will ever go that short again...and if I do, I'll never grow it out again!


Ah thank you for encouragement. I hate how damaged my hair is, people dont believe me when I tell them that after a wash its like elastic bands and literally just brakes off in huge chunks.

I really want healthy hair, hence the urge to cut, but my hair is chin length and I hate how short it is :(

I think it'll be about 2 years before i'll be able to grow damage out :(


its also still blonde, and its a constant reminder of how stupid I have been for bleaching it :(
I think henna and indigo the way forward.

[joflakes]

Ah thank you for encouragement. I hate how damaged my hair is, people dont believe me when I tell them that after a wash its like elastic bands and literally just brakes off in huge chunks.

I really want healthy hair, hence the urge to cut, but my hair is chin length and I hate how short it is :(

I think it'll be about 2 years before i'll be able to grow damage out :(


its also still blonde, and its a constant reminder of how stupid I have been for bleaching it :(
I think henna and indigo the way forward.

Hello and welcome!

All is not lost, you found LHC, yay!

Check out the other forums for information on henna and indigo. I think you gotta be careful when you put the over bleached hair, but I'm sure people will be able to help.

:) Happy growing!

[Changling]

Ah thank you for encouragement. I hate how damaged my hair is, people dont believe me when I tell them that after a wash its like elastic bands and literally just brakes off in huge chunks.

I really want healthy hair, hence the urge to cut, but my hair is chin length and I hate how short it is :(

I think it'll be about 2 years before i'll be able to grow damage out :(


its also still blonde, and its a constant reminder of how stupid I have been for bleaching it :(
I think henna and indigo the way forward.

Oh, sounds like it needs protein! It won't totally fix your hair, but it should keep it from breaking off like that. I would just beat an egg, apply it to your hair, leave it for 15 min, then rinse out with (cool! not warm!) water. Then do a deep conditioning (I just put a lot of conditioner on my head, then wrap it in a towel for an hour, then rinse out).

[AnnaB]

Hello and welcome!

All is not lost, you found LHC, yay!

Check out the other forums for information on henna and indigo. I think you gotta be careful when you put the over bleached hair, but I'm sure people will be able to help.

:) Happy growing!
Thank you :)
Finding LHC was definitely one of the best things that happened to me! luck wise at least :)
I have done lots and lots of research on here about henna and indigo and I think as long as its natural and I do strand tests I should be okay :)



Oh, sounds like it needs protein! It won't totally fix your hair, but it should keep it from breaking off like that. I would just beat an egg, apply it to your hair, leave it for 15 min, then rinse out with (cool! not warm!) water. Then do a deep conditioning (I just put a lot of conditioner on my head, then wrap it in a towel for an hour, then rinse out).

Thank you for advise :)
I do, do that already, but beat the egg with olive oil and some honey :)
Also bought some protein treatment but still waiting in the post for it.
Resisting a cut is definitely hard work :(

[browneyedsusan]

I haven't checked this thread in a while, but need to gripe:

My hair is driving me berzerk! It seems to look the same length day after day, and is messy looking if I leave it down. :wail: I've been pinning up everything in front of my ears every stinking day, and that helps some.

My strategy is just to try to ignore it until Labor Day--Sept 3rd, the unnofficial end of summer in the U.S.--then I'll look at it and see how it's progressing.

I think I slap on a SMT today, and henna my roots next week. Henna makes everything better. :)
end of gripe

annaB--have you considered cassia? You can get it from a local Indian store or on-line. I think you'll get similiar results as henna, but not the red/orange color. Cassia treatments only last about 3 weeks, but it should help. I'm not spectacular on the computer, but I'll try to add a link: http://www.mehandi.com/shop/cassiaobovatabuy.html You'll need to rinse it out really well, and follow up with a SMT, because it can dry out your scalp. (henna dries me out horribly, but my soft, sparkely hair is SO worth it.)

[Changling]

I haven't checked this thread in a while, but need to gripe:

My hair is driving me berzerk! It seems to look the same length day after day, and is messy looking if I leave it down. :wail: I've been pinning up everything in front of my ears every stinking day, and that helps some.

My strategy is just to try to ignore it until Labor Day--Sept 3rd, the unnofficial end of summer in the U.S.--then I'll look at it and see how it's progressing.

I think I slap on a SMT today, and henna my roots next week. Henna makes everything better. :)
end of gripe

annaB--have you considered cassia? You can get it from a local Indian store or on-line. I think you'll get similiar results as henna, but not the red/orange color. Cassia treatments only last about 3 weeks, but it should help. I'm not spectacular on the computer, but I'll try to add a link: http://www.mehandi.com/shop/cassiaobovatabuy.html You'll need to rinse it out really well, and follow up with a SMT, because it can dry out your scalp. (henna dries me out horribly, but my soft, sparkely hair is SO worth it.)

their were SEVERAL months, while I was growing out my pixie, that my hair seemed to not be growing, at ALL! It was awful, I feel your pain. But near the end of it, I saw that while I hadn't gotten much length (like...1/2", after something like 4 or 5 months!), I had gotten a lot of thickness at the ends. Like a bunch of tiny layers were catching up to each other or something (even though I wasn't trimming at the time). Then it just started growing like normal again. I think it's just a part of the process v__v;

[domisimone]

Hi all! I'm over on the shoulder to apl because my hair is just brushing apl stretched. With shrinkage, it's lower neck length, touching my shoulders in the back but not quite in the front. Mind if I join the fun?

[Neecola]

Hi domisimone! C'mon in!



My hair is driving me berzerk! It seems to look the same length day after day, and is messy looking if I leave it down. :wail: I've been pinning up everything in front of my ears every stinking day, and that helps some.



*Empathy* I am in the same boat!! My hair is at a weird length where it doesn't look good down and my old stand-by of pinning it up on the sides makes my hair look like a rectangle mullet-looking thing even though I patiently cut the mullet off while growing out the pixie. Guess there's no escaping it!

We must be strong! (but no one said we can't whine!) This too shall pass... :grouphug:

[domisimone]

Thanks for the welcome! My ends are long enough to brush against my clothes in the back even when I'm wearing a scoop neck, so I'm facing some dryness, splits, and breakage even though I oil them nightly and DT twice a week. Any tips?
Also, I think it'll be around 9 months before I'm at shoulder because of all the shrinkage. Also, I'm coming out of a stall and my growth rate is still pretty slow. I'm hoping it speeds up again soon.

[oktobergoud]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/postalwar/almostshoulderrr.jpg

Aaah you guys... my hair is soo close to shoulder length! I think it needs an inch or so, specially in the back (where it's a bit shorter, like an a-line) But it's getting close ^__^

[domisimone]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/postalwar/almostshoulderrr.jpg

Aaah you guys... my hair is soo close to shoulder length! I think it needs an inch or so, specially in the back (where it's a bit shorter, like an a-line) But it's getting close ^__^

You'll be there soon! And I love your sig pics--the braids are very pretty.

[Changling]

Thanks for the welcome! My ends are long enough to brush against my clothes in the back even when I'm wearing a scoop neck, so I'm facing some dryness, splits, and breakage even though I oil them nightly and DT twice a week. Any tips?
Also, I think it'll be around 9 months before I'm at shoulder because of all the shrinkage. Also, I'm coming out of a stall and my growth rate is still pretty slow. I'm hoping it speeds up again soon.

Can you manage a bun? Even just a ponytail may help keep the ends out of the way.

[domisimone]

I can do a "sad bun" (a tucked under ponytail) if my hair has been stretched by braid waves or blownout. Otherwise the curls make it too dense! I also think I could start wearing French braids with the ends tucked through.

[AnnaB]

annaB--have you considered cassia? You can get it from a local Indian store or on-line. I think you'll get similiar results as henna, but not the red/orange color. Cassia treatments only last about 3 weeks, but it should help. I'm not spectacular on the computer, but I'll try to add a link: http://www.mehandi.com/shop/cassiaobovatabuy.html You'll need to rinse it out really well, and follow up with a SMT, because it can dry out your scalp. (henna dries me out horribly, but my soft, sparkely hair is SO worth it.)

Thank you for suggestion, I shall look into it :)
Its difficult as I have to grow out the blonde hair as well as trying to grow long hair.

As to your frustration, I know how you feel, just hang in there :) but this is an excuse to try different hair clips and accessories, when I had awkward length hair, I use to use a hair band like this:
http://www.jewellery2clear.co.uk/ekmps/shops/jewellery2clear/images/blue-enamel-butterfly-narrow-metal-hair-band-6128-p.jpg

It was the only thing that made it look bit better, you need to find your 'thing' for now while the hair grows and it is growing :)

[AnnaB]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/postalwar/almostshoulderrr.jpg

Aaah you guys... my hair is soo close to shoulder length! I think it needs an inch or so, specially in the back (where it's a bit shorter, like an a-line) But it's getting close ^__^

You are so close!!! well done :) :applause

Did you say you were dying your hair brown earlier in the thread? sorry if I missed it your updates on it, how did it go? Does henna help your hair condition?

[oktobergoud]

You are so close!!! well done :) :applause

Did you say you were dying your hair brown earlier in the thread? sorry if I missed it your updates on it, how did it go? Does henna help your hair condition?

Thanks!

Yeah I did, only the roots.. I did some sort of ombre thing. If you look closely you can see it on that picture (the top is a bit darker, the ends are still red!)

Henna did help my hair condition, yes! I'm not sure if virgin hair is better or not, but I do know that henna-ed hair is better than chemically dyed hair! :)

[Neecola]

I can do a "sad bun" (a tucked under ponytail) if my hair has been stretched by braid waves or blownout. Otherwise the curls make it too dense! I also think I could start wearing French braids with the ends tucked through.

Have you tried pinning the pieces back? I have curly hair too (though more loose than yours) and I make what I call my "birds nest" by sectioning and pinning my hair back and randomly pinning curls here and there, like so:

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/Neecolas/BirdsNestRight7_23_12_Sm.jpg



You're very close, oktobergoud! :cheer: I am just about shoulder in back but the pieces nearest my face have a long way to go.

[MaryO]

Soooo happy to have founf this thread!

Just had my hair straightened (stupid hairdresser cut it uneven) when (another hairdresser) cut it super short. Nothing like what I wanted! Now I'm super obsessed with long hair. I'm currently trying MN to get things goig but haven't seen any real improvement. I suppose even miracles take a bit of time! ��
Good luck to all you growers, hang in there! The one thing about hair is that it always grow!!

[AnnaB]

Thanks!

Yeah I did, only the roots.. I did some sort of ombre thing. If you look closely you can see it on that picture (the top is a bit darker, the ends are still red!)

Henna did help my hair condition, yes! I'm not sure if virgin hair is better or not, but I do know that henna-ed hair is better than chemically dyed hair! :)

Ah now you have pointed out, I can see the its darker at the top! Blends really well! I like ombre style a lot!

I just did it! I hennaed my hair! its all wrapped up, one hour down, more to go :P

[AnnaB]

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/Neecolas/BirdsNestRight7_23_12_Sm.jpg


I admire your curls! looks so pretty! and when its up , you cant even tell its short!

[maborosi]

Have you tried pinning the pieces back? I have curly hair too (though more loose than yours) and I make what I call my "birds nest" by sectioning and pinning my hair back and randomly pinning curls here and there, like so:

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/Neecolas/BirdsNestRight7_23_12_Sm.jpg

Oh my gosh, that is so pretty!! And the color! It's just gorgeous! :D

I just hit shoulder, so it's off to the next thread for me! :D Good luck and happy growing, everyone! :cheese:

~maborosi~

[Neecola]

Aw, thanks AnnaB and maborosi :)

Congrats, maboroski, on reaching shoulder!! :cheese: Your patience has paid off!

AnnaB, how did the henna turn out? It is quite addicitive! I'm now doing roots only but I sure miss the feeling of doing my whole head.


Welcome, MaryO!

[AnnaB]

AnnaB, how did the henna turn out? It is quite addicitive! I'm now doing roots only but I sure miss the feeling of doing my whole head.



I went for henna and indigo. trying to get it to dark brown :)
See my other thread for the whole story :P hehe

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=98013

before

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/Hair/SAM_1189.jpg
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/Hair/SAM_1238.jpg

after
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/Hair/SAM_1253.jpg

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/Hair/SAM_1256.jpg

[Neecola]

Beautiful results, AnnaB! The new color really suits you.

[AnnaB]

Beautiful results, AnnaB! The new color really suits you.

Thank you :) I definitely prefer this to the horrible dry blonde hair I had before :P

[oktobergoud]

Have you tried pinning the pieces back? I have curly hair too (though more loose than yours) and I make what I call my "birds nest" by sectioning and pinning my hair back and randomly pinning curls here and there, like so:

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/Neecolas/BirdsNestRight7_23_12_Sm.jpg



You're very close, oktobergoud! :cheer: I am just about shoulder in back but the pieces nearest my face have a long way to go.


I love it! Your curls make it look really fancy and like it's a lot longer!

Nice colour AnnaB, suits you well :)

& I cut my bangs yesterday, in some sort of spur of the moment. I do like it, I just realized no bangs weren't that flattering on me. I mean, it looked good when loose but I always pinned them back because they were annoying. With my new job I'll need to put my hair up all the time, so I just decided to do it!

Lately I really miss my short hair. But I do realize that cutting it will make me regret it, so I won't.. yet. But maybe later. I don't know, I always felt more 'me' with shorter hair, I guess. But I'm going to let it grow!

[joflakes]

AnnaB - I read your thread! Looking much healthier :)




cut my bangs yesterday, in some sort of spur of the moment. I do like it, I just realized no bangs weren't that flattering on me. I mean, it looked good when loose but I always pinned them back because they were annoying. With my new job I'll need to put my hair up all the time, so I just decided to do it!

Lately I really miss my short hair. But I do realize that cutting it will make me regret it, so I won't.. yet. But maybe later. I don't know, I always felt more 'me' with shorter hair, I guess. But I'm going to let it grow!

I feel the same about me without bangs. I always braided them which kinda defeats the object :laugh:

Envoke the 2 week rule about chopping! Maybe a trim that makes you have a more defined cut would be a good inbetween though?

[oktobergoud]

AnnaB - I read your thread! Looking much healthier :)



I feel the same about me without bangs. I always braided them which kinda defeats the object :laugh:

Envoke the 2 week rule about chopping! Maybe a trim that makes you have a more defined cut would be a good inbetween though?

Nah I've been feeling this for like 2 months, so I don't think the 2 week rule would work :P
However, I will not cut it! I hope the bangs gave me a slight different look so I have a ehr.. change. I'll just grow it and grow it! I was thinking about getting a more defined cut, but maybe later. My plan now is to just grow it without trimming and than in half a year or so to go to the hairdresser to get a real cut! Something like that.

Thing is, at my new job I'll put it up all the time anyway, so maybe I forget it a little then.

[joflakes]

Nah I've been feeling this for like 2 months, so I don't think the 2 week rule would work :P
However, I will not cut it! I hope the bangs gave me a slight different look so I have a ehr.. change. I'll just grow it and grow it! I was thinking about getting a more defined cut, but maybe later. My plan now is to just grow it without trimming and than in half a year or so to go to the hairdresser to get a real cut! Something like that.

Thing is, at my new job I'll put it up all the time anyway, so maybe I forget it a little then.

Haha, you're right...maybe not!

What bangs have you cut in? Pics! :)

Yeah I find putting it up helps. Maybe learning a new up do! I could do with learning a new one, I am stuck with my almost fake crown dutch braids and boring claw clips (that I don't even like much).

[oktobergoud]

Haha, you're right...maybe not!

What bangs have you cut in? Pics! :)

Yeah I find putting it up helps. Maybe learning a new up do! I could do with learning a new one, I am stuck with my almost fake crown dutch braids and boring claw clips (that I don't even like much).

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8tgm3cvTh1qgbo5so1_500.jpg

This is a vague picture but I need to wash it and stuff, so the bangs are kinda wispy/stringy.

Yeah I have tried new up-do's but my hair is still too short! I can almost do a gibson tuck though, yay! Or a tiny little bun that gives me awesome waves and volume :D

[joflakes]

It looks pretty! Everytime I see your hair I want to rush back to my old friend red hair dye :laugh: or embrace scary new henna! I'm trying not to though..!

Aww I know the feeling. I can do a teeny bun but have a few poker-outers still. I do bunches every now and again just for kicks...they look cool with braid waves! Huge fluffy bunches!


http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8tgm3cvTh1qgbo5so1_500.jpg

This is a vague picture but I need to wash it and stuff, so the bangs are kinda wispy/stringy.

Yeah I have tried new up-do's but my hair is still too short! I can almost do a gibson tuck though, yay! Or a tiny little bun that gives me awesome waves and volume :D

[starry]

HEY! I apparently totally imagined a chin/shoulder to APL thread, or maybe just misread the title of the shoulder-to-APL thread. Then imagine my disappointment when I realized there was no chin to shoulder thread. WELL THERE IS ONE NOW.

I just hit chin-length (1.5 years after shaving my head bald, with trims), and I want a thread to post about watching that hemline creep down my neck, and I suspect others do, too!

What updos can you manage, if any? And how do you do them? What is your final goal length? How do you style hair that is not that short, yet still definitely not long?

I can do a stretchy headband with a mini plait which my fiancee loves.. I can do a little pony at the back and one up higher.. I actually havent gotten into doing braids really. The plait and headband is cute - its plaited where my layered hairs are longest so it looks longer than it is. Ive got some ficcares which are AWESOME- I just do a mini french twist up the back and clip across.. I also tried a reverse one twisting down which was fun. I just find that the back hairs fall down which is always a pain.. so I dont really put it up to go out..

Mostly I do mousse and scrunch for my 2b hair leaving it down. Ive been more into experimenting with washing types actually since I started growing it. Its heavily layerd with dye growing out so Its a mess frankly.. Im planning my microtrimming...

[Neecola]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8tgm3cvTh1qgbo5so1_500.jpg

This is a vague picture but I need to wash it and stuff, so the bangs are kinda wispy/stringy.

Yeah I have tried new up-do's but my hair is still too short! I can almost do a gibson tuck though, yay! Or a tiny little bun that gives me awesome waves and volume :D

Bangs do suit you -- but you look pretty without them too! I don't know if it is the angle of the picture, but it looks like you have reached shoulder!

I was able to do a sock bun! The hair just covered the sock, so I had to secure it with another hair tie behind the sock to hold it, but it worked.



Hi Starry! What kind of washing are you experimenting with? I am so excited that I have finally been able to stretch CO washes to every other day. I'd like to be able to go longer but with fine hair, its hard as it looks greasy fast.

[oktobergoud]

Bangs do suit you -- but you look pretty without them too! I don't know if it is the angle of the picture, but it looks like you have reached shoulder!

I was able to do a sock bun! The hair just covered the sock, so I had to secure it with another hair tie behind the sock to hold it, but it worked.



Hi Starry! What kind of washing are you experimenting with? I am so excited that I have finally been able to stretch CO washes to every other day. I'd like to be able to go longer but with fine hair, its hard as it looks greasy fast.

Thanks! I'm getting used to it, I like the change! But with my hair loose and non-wavy I look a bit like Cleopatra :P But I think it's the angle, it's not shoulder length yet! It's definitely close... but the front is longer than the back. When I stretch the longest lock, it's almost at my collarbones. But the back was cropped so still a lot shorter, sadly!

Oh you did a sock bun with an actual sock? :D I still have to try that! I can make a tiny bun though, I love it, it gives me nice waves!

[browneyedsusan]

Yeah I find putting it up helps. Maybe learning a new up do! I could do with learning a new one, I am stuck with my almost fake crown dutch braids and boring claw clips (that I don't even like much).

I'm in the same boat. Went to take DD to town yesterday with my hair down, and she gave me a look! :disgust: I pinned the front up and she said it was better...
Your hair looks kind of like this girl's. Have a look? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiMhij_J3c8&feature=related
I twist and pin my bangs a LOT. If you flip the pins under the twist, it holds really well. --hope that makes sense!




http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8tgm3cvTh1qgbo5so1_500.jpg



CUTE bangs! I like the way bangs look on my, but can't stand the way they feel on my face. Stand firm, soon your hair will be long enough for 365 days of different up-dos!


I can do a stretchy headband with a mini plait which my fiancee loves.. I can do a little pony at the back and one up higher.. I actually havent gotten into doing braids really. The plait and headband is cute - its plaited where my layered hairs are longest so it looks longer than it is. Ive got some ficcares which are AWESOME- I just do a mini french twist up the back and clip across.. I also tried a reverse one twisting down which was fun. I just find that the back hairs fall down which is always a pain.. so I dont really put it up to go out..

Mostly I do mousse and scrunch for my 2b hair leaving it down. Ive been more into experimenting with washing types actually since I started growing it. Its heavily layerd with dye growing out so Its a mess frankly.. Im planning my microtrimming...

Please excuse my ignorance: what's a plait? (I thought it was a braid:rolleyes:...) I'm thinking I could do a mini-plait, if I knew what it was!

--Since I'm facing a few more months of pinning up the front, I'd love a few more ideas!

[Neecola]

Oh you did a sock bun with an actual sock? :D I still have to try that! I can make a tiny bun though, I love it, it gives me nice waves!

I don't have enough length to pull off an actual sock (too thick), but I used the leg of a pair of pantyhose -- worked nicely!

[oktobergoud]

Hey guys! It's been quiet here ;)
Anyway, I really want my hair to be shoulder length but it looks like it will still take a few months. I'm planning on some sort of challenge.. like a '30 days of up-do's' kinda challenge! Maybe in September? So I can forget my hair for a few weeks and maybe then VOILA, it will be shoulder length. Or not :D But it seems like a fun challenge!

Also, I'm way too annoyed with my hair down most of the time. I just feel it's in the way a lot...

[browneyedsusan]

Hey guys! It's been quiet here ;)
Anyway, I really want my hair to be shoulder length but it looks like it will still take a few months. I'm planning on some sort of challenge.. like a '30 days of up-do's' kinda challenge! Maybe in September? So I can forget my hair for a few weeks and maybe then VOILA, it will be shoulder length. Or not :D But it seems like a fun challenge!

Also, I'm way too annoyed with my hair down most of the time. I just feel it's in the way a lot...

That sounds like a fun challenge! --I'll have to figure out how to put pictures up. My hair is driving me crazy too. It seems like it went pretty quickly from pixie to mullet, and it has gotten easier to handle; my bangs stay back much better now. Still, this mullet doesn't seem to be growing out much. My crown braids are just as teensy and messy as they were back in June, and I thought I'd have more options by now. The back is at that awful in-the collar-out-of-the-collar length, but it is still a long way from all fitting in a pony tail. Head bands look silly... wah!:wail:

I'm definately up for that sort of challenge, if I get the picture-posting thing figured out. ;)

[Neecola]

Yes, it is a bit quiet in here! I've been experimenting with the way I co-wash, trying to reduce my shedding (so far using a tangle teaser and massaging my scalp with my head upside down has yielded good results!)

I've been wearing my hair down on wash days and in various up-dos the following day (ATM I can only stretch washing to every other day -- hate the feeling of an oily scalp!) For now, I've given up on braiding... the braids I can make are so tiny it really isn't worth the work! I've just been "twisting" the hair at the hairline and that has a similar effect but I can make it more poofy.

I've often heard members advise short-hairs to put the hair back and forget about it, oktobergoud. Seems like a smart plan, especially if it is driving you crazy. Far better than cutting! I'm in the opposite boat; I am trying to wear it down as often as possible so I can figure out what the curls need to be happy.

[browneyedsusan]

This has been a quiet thread lately!

Hey, I just put my super-slippery hair in a new "updo"! (In the loosest interpretation of the word.)

I put two "mouse ears" on the back of my crown--Made teensy ponytails and didn't pull them all the way through = little, bitty loops that look like mouse ears. Then, I pinned up the hair by my earflaps that won't quite reach yet, to get the sides smooth. Then, I gathered up the back into two more tiny ponytails at my nape--actually it's up a tad higher, I just reached back there and made ponytails at the spot where the rest of my hair will fit into the elastics (it's pretty iffy, some hair is still too short)--and made two microscopic "gibson tucks". I put a little jaw clip on the hole to close it and keep the little ponytail from popping out. Feisty little ponytails!

I think it looks really cute for here around the house! :D

[domisimone]

This has been a quiet thread lately!

Hey, I just put my super-slippery hair in a new "updo"! (In the loosest interpretation of the word.)

I put two "mouse ears" on the back of my crown--Made teensy ponytails and didn't pull them all the way through = little, bitty loops that look like mouse ears. Then, I pinned up the hair by my earflaps that won't quite reach yet, to get the sides smooth. Then, I gathered up the back into two more tiny ponytails at my nape--actually it's up a tad higher, I just reached back there and made ponytails at the spot where the rest of my hair will fit into the elastics (it's pretty iffy, some hair is still too short)--and made two microscopic "gibson tucks". I put a little jaw clip on the hole to close it and keep the little ponytail from popping out. Feisty little ponytails!

I think it looks really cute for here around the house! :D

Ooh, do you have a pic?

[joflakes]

I'm in the same boat. Went to take DD to town yesterday with my hair down, and she gave me a look! :disgust: I pinned the front up and she said it was better...
Your hair looks kind of like this girl's. Have a look? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiMhij_J3c8&feature=related
I twist and pin my bangs a LOT. If you flip the pins under the twist, it holds really well. --hope that makes sense!


Please excuse my ignorance: what's a plait? (I thought it was a braid:rolleyes:...) I'm thinking I could do a mini-plait, if I knew what it was!



I totally missed your post *facepalm*! I just watched the video though and my hair is actually a good few inches longer than hers! :D it was definitely food for thought though.

A plait is what we here in the UK call a braid. :)


Hey guys! It's been quiet here ;)
Anyway, I really want my hair to be shoulder length but it looks like it will still take a few months. I'm planning on some sort of challenge.. like a '30 days of up-do's' kinda challenge! Maybe in September? So I can forget my hair for a few weeks and maybe then VOILA, it will be shoulder length. Or not :D But it seems like a fun challenge!

Also, I'm way too annoyed with my hair down most of the time. I just feel it's in the way a lot...

Yes it has been so quiet! How's the challenge going? I'm currently sporting quite a funky 'do. I did two dutch braids down the side of my head, leaving the middle free and the ends un-braided. Then I put everything up into a low ponytail! It looks quite funky. :cool:

[browneyedsusan]

Oh my goodness--*scratches head*

How to share a photo????

You young girls are so good for me, making me learn this technology...

I tested on the test board, so fingers crossed...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62007100@N08/

Please excuse the scraggly ends. I just got back from a long walk with the dogs, and my slippery hair pops out pretty quickly. It doesn't look as neat as when I first put it up, but it stayed all day, and my hair usually drops pins and elastics.

[Asprettyasme]

#error

#An error occurred.

[Neecola]

That's a really fun look, browneyedsusan!

I've been on the same routine for awhile, wearing my hair down or half down every other day. I've been experimenting with gel and leave-ins, trying to find that perfect balance between frizzies and greasy/crunchy looking.

[constructamane]

Haven't been posting, but still going strong.....I am reaching my 1 yr mark for decision to grow my hair, and in Dec celebrating my 1 yr with TLHC. I am beyond chin, but probably about 5-6 months from shoulder length. I can finally do a chignon with a little substance!!My husband loves it! I have to try more "dos" like the ones I see you guys doing!
I will be going to Turks and Caicos for vacation, then I want to work on getting some pictures for you...I am terrible with uploading etc !!!

[constructamane]

2 things I forgot
How do you do those crown braids....My hair is fine and thin....I am afraid I don't have enough thickness, or that it would stay.
So far, this stage of growth, to me, is alot better than when I was growing really short hair out...what does everyone else think?

[Neecola]

2 things I forgot
How do you do those crown braids....My hair is fine and thin....I am afraid I don't have enough thickness, or that it would stay.
So far, this stage of growth, to me, is alot better than when I was growing really short hair out...what does everyone else think?

Oh I agree, I much prefer this stage! Growing out a pixie with curly hair and not using heat was no fun for me. I believe *knocks on wood* the worst is behind us.

Congrats on nearly being at a year of growth! Next month will be a year for me too. Well, a year since I made the decision to actively start growing it out -- it had been growing just from my neglect of cutting it.

Crown braids won't work on me. I can physically do the braid but it is so tiny that it is a bit silly looking. So what I have been doing is simply twisting two sections of hair away from my face, gathering up more with each twist like a french/dutch braid. This gives the same effect as a braid but I find that it looks more substantial. I part my hair on the side beforehand to give as much hair to the twist as possible and I pin the rest back. I like that it is quick and adds a little interest to the front part of the head.

[browneyedsusan]

2 things I forgot
How do you do those crown braids....My hair is fine and thin....I am afraid I don't have enough thickness, or that it would stay.
So far, this stage of growth, to me, is alot better than when I was growing really short hair out...what does everyone else think?

A crown braid is a french or dutch braid. The only difference is that instead of braiding straight back from your forehead to your nape, you braid from one ear to the other and on around your head until the end meets the beginning. I hope that makes some sort of sense! :) (I think that's how you do it, anyway. I've never actually DONE it, still not enough hair to get past my ear...:rolleyes: )

Mine comes out ridiculously tiny, with ends poking out, but I put it up like that often. I can only braid from a deep side part over to the opposite ear before I run out of hair, and I either tuck the elastic behind my ear or put a little jaw clip on it. I have to put some pins over the braid to keep the ends in or it will slip out--the joys of fine, slippery hair--but I get compliments on it, in spite of it being so thin and teensy. I think middle-aged women with braids and the like are rare around here, so it looks different from other people?

[browneyedsusan]

Oiling questions for those of us gaining length:

Any of you started oiling your ends? What's oil supposed to do anyway? Do I really need to mess with it? :confused:

[oktobergoud]

I totally missed your post *facepalm*! I just watched the video though and my hair is actually a good few inches longer than hers! :D it was definitely food for thought though.

A plait is what we here in the UK call a braid. :)



Yes it has been so quiet! How's the challenge going? I'm currently sporting quite a funky 'do. I did two dutch braids down the side of my head, leaving the middle free and the ends un-braided. Then I put everything up into a low ponytail! It looks quite funky. :cool:

Ah that sounds awesome! The challenge is going okay, I'm wearing my hair up everyday, but it's mostly pony's and buns! I have to admit though, I'm not really a morning-person and I have to get up at 6.30 for work (and even than I wouldn't have enough time to braid it!) so I just do something easy. I'm thinking about doing some sort of pinned up gibson tuck tomorrow, IF I have the time.. plus I'm always afraid that my hair will get loose or something and that I don't have time to fix it. I've also bought this use claw clip, same problem though! But I need to change things up a bit :P


Oiling questions for those of us gaining length:

Any of you started oiling your ends? What's oil supposed to do anyway? Do I really need to mess with it? :confused:

I don't know.. I hardly oil anymore, to me it feels like the oil was all going to my roots, since it's so short it hardly has to travel up.. if you know what I mean. I now use it as a pre-wash treatment, so I leave it in overnight and wash it out the next day. Or even just 30 minutes before washing. That works fine for me :) But I felt my hair just looked nasty when I oiled it...

Oh and I'm SO close to shoulder-length! Will make a proper post in a few weeks.. when I pull my hair it's reaching collar-bone even!! But the back is shorter... but I think it'll be shoulder-length in a few weeks :) I hope so! I'll check after the challenge :)

[Indigostreams]

Oktobergoud, I notice the same thing whenever I've tried to oil my hair. If I don't use enough, it does nothing, but if I use too much (which is just a little bit) it makes my hair stringy and greasy. So I do the same thing, I pre-oil almost every night. I've been using mineral oil lately, and have use jojoba oil sometimes.

[Neecola]

I'm in the same boat. I pre-oil overnight or just before hopping in the shower. I usually use coconut oil, almond or olive oil. I use just a bit and act like I'm putting my hair in a ponytail so the majority of the hair that is oiled is just the ends. Anything remaining on my hands I'll smooth further up.

[SlipJig]

I am joining you all (hopefully not for long - nothing against you, but this hair length is driving me MAD) after a long time lurking around the super-shorties thread and this thread. I would like to say sorry in advance, but I have to have myself a bit of a rant here, just to share my hair woes with others who have faced similar feelings recently.

I had a pixie for around 4-5 years, including almost all of high school. Now, I sorta grew a pixie out to a no-clips ponytail length over 9 months somewhere in there, but (why? WHY?) I chopped it off again and have no real pictures of it. Thankfully I also had no real memory of it by last February, when I started to grow my pixie cut out again. Man is that a painful experience, and this time I took loads of photos just to stamp that into my wee tiny brain.

Mullet city for the first three months, my friends, and looking at the pictures I am surprised I didn't just wear a toque all the time... oh wait... I did (for about two months). Then I trimmed it into a weird jaw-bob thing. Then it began to flip out. I decided to encourage the wave. This made things less painful. Now, after about 7 months of growing out, I have this thing that is sort of mid-neck length.

I am feeling a bit mental because it is just the limpest, saddest, most deformed helmet right now, salvaged only by my fringe. In fairness, I know that this is because it is pouting at me after a salon visit last week (he thinned it out in places and it is reeling in shock. I will never let anyone do that ever again. BUT he removed old split razored ends while barely taking any length off, so now I can go boldly forth, safe in the knowledge that I won't have crazy splits as my hair grows long. Overall it was worth it). I think clarifying might also help me, stop my hair feeling blue, probably it has some cones in it from the salon, or I used too much conditioner, or it got angry when I impulsively blowdried it in the first time in its short little life.

Apologies, ladies, for my dramatic novel of hair-angst above. I just want to look good while flirting with boys at university. Oh well, at least toque season is just around the corner again...

...Okay, seriously, though, I have a few questions for you all, being as we are in the same general length category:

-Does it get better when you can do a proper, not-totally-ridiculous pony? Did you feel less frustrated? I am really looking forward to this landmark.

-When could you start making a respectable pony? How many months/what length (an inch or two from shoulder)?

-Has stretching washes worked for you or is it better left for somewhat longer hair? I have been going every other day for a while, but I almost feel like it would grow faster if I washed daily... last time I grew it out, I was goin' daily, and it seemed quicker (it WAS quicker - I have photo proof. Though I might never have even trimmed the mullet that time... ew...).

I always used to wash daily (with SLS!), even when my hair was it longest, APL; I never used conditioner; I even blowfried a couple times a week (breaking lots of LHC guidelines), and my hair then was more bounciful and happy than it is at present.

Again, sorry that this is the longest thing ever. I just had a bad hair day today, my homemade dry shampoo barely helped me, and blah.

Tl;dr: Please give me your tips and tricks and sympathy; share your own experiences with me and what products/washing techniques you are using, and tell me that it gets better.

[oktobergoud]

When does hair finally classify as shoulder length?? My hair is longer in the front, so I'm not sure. Here are some pictures, help me! :P

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/postalwar/shoulderyet2.jpg

Front is definitely past shoulder length, I think. When I stretch it, it reaches collarbone!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/postalwar/shoulderyet.jpg

And then the back happens.. where it looks like it's not quite close to shoulder length yet...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/postalwar/shoulderyet3.jpg

I have no idea.. can I call this shoulder length yet? Does ALL the hair need to hit shoulder in order to call it shoulder length?

[NataschaB.]

oktobergoud: I would definitely call it SL! Btw: nice color!
Lucky you, I can't wait to reach shoulder :D

Browneyedsusan: I oil my hair. A few months ago I used mineraloil on my hair when it was damp after washing it. I sometimes oil as a pre-wash treatment or when I feel like my hair needs it. I use SAO and sometimes EVOO :)

[oktobergoud]

Thanks! I made thread and it seems that I really have reached shoulder length! So.. I'm leaving you guys.. on to the next adventure!

Weird!

[SugarPlumDreams]

Hi! I'm a newbie :D

I have 3 a/b hair that is collar-length when wet and mid-neck when dry. And some grown out bangs (ugh!) that are chin-length wet, and around my cheekbone when dry.

I think I belong here?

Anyway, I'm just so excited to be here! I'm a chronic cutter, and need all the support I can get to put the scissors down, and walk away. :p

[Krystall]

Hi guys! I don't belong here, but I want to ask a question I think you are the best people to answer.

I'm debating over whether to cut my hair like this (because of damage):
http://www.hairstylestars.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/thin-hair-haircuts-shoulder-length-bob.jpg


Which will probably go as shoulder/collarbone length. And I'm wondering if I can do a pony with this length? Will it be just a weird looking stump? I really can't imagine, as I've had long hair my entire life.

[oktobergoud]

Hi guys! I don't belong here, but I want to ask a question I think you are the best people to answer.

I'm debating over whether to cut my hair like this (because of damage):
http://www.hairstylestars.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/thin-hair-haircuts-shoulder-length-bob.jpg


Which will probably go as shoulder/collarbone length. And I'm wondering if I can do a pony with this length? Will it be just a weird looking stump? I really can't imagine, as I've had long hair my entire life.

Yes you can! My hair is a bit shorter (as you can see in the pictures above) and this is what my pony looks like (yeah, it's small, but not really a weird looking stump either I think!)

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9q3ghtHuL1qgbo5so1_500.jpg

Your hair will even be a bit longer :)

[Krystall]

Yours doesn't look like a weird stump at all! :D Thank you. This will make me more comfortable if I choose to cut.

[SlipJig]

A couple of pages ago, I posted a bunch of angst. Now, several weeks later, I am happy to report that I have a much better rapport with my hair (what a difference a little bit of scholarly distraction and a clarifying wash together make).

So... if anyone at a similar stage (in the no-man's-land of the mid-neck) is getting frustrated, all I can say is that 2-3 weeks at this point can make a huge difference to your ponytail and your length/the way your hair sits. Don't fixate on the hair. Get distracted by other things (i.e.: Go have some fun. Or study).

Also, try clarifying or washing and styling your hair differently before you freak out in an unseemly manner.

I am still looking forward to the return of the toque, but I am presently pleased with the progress of my little wavy wobbly bob.

Trying to learn how to braid, I am impressed with some of the braids people have with hair at this length.... oktobergoud comes to mind (your crown braids are lovely!), my braids look kind of drunken but they are sobering up slowly :)

[joflakes]

Hello all! *wave*
I'm hope LHC will stay working now.

My hair is STILL really shedding. I've started taking my vegan multi-vitamins again in the hope that it'll help. I'm not sure if it is just my natural shed rate or if it's just I haven't noticed before as in the last 4 years I've had chin length or shorter hair?! We'll see!

I am happy with my hair in general though! It's just past SL in the back and not quite there at the front. I've not had a trim since May but I did notice a few white dots at the front where I bleached it at the beginning of the year :( not sure whether or not to get a trim? I don't want to lose length...I'm just beginning to be able to put it all up in a nice bun!

What do you all think?

I just used foam rollers for the first time last night on dry hair and they're awesome! ^_^ I'll be using them again I think. So comfy to sleep in!

Just realised I should probably be graduating from this thread soon...but I don't want to!
:o

[girlcat36]

I'm joining this thread!
Sadly, I had to cut to chin length in July. :( I was nearly waist length after 5 years at LHC, but I had a ton of sun damage from working outside, and on top of that, a lot of health related hair loss.
Back to where I started five years ago!
I am itching to get to shoulder length! My hair cut was not a very good one and I just don't look good with short hair.
Thankfully, there were not layers cut into my hair and I am able to wear it and pretend it's long, which I do almost everyday.

[Miss Catrina]

My hair isn't even chin yet - more like jaw - but no one seems to be in the "ear to chin" stage, so I guess I'll hang out here a little prematurely...

[AnnaB]

Hey guys.
Been ages since I have posted on this thread. I had to have a hair cut because of my badly fried ends (i use to be blonde), so I am back to square 1. Chin.
So frustrating, which there was a magical way of growing hair fast, haha.

But! my hair is such odd length right now, i struggle to do anything with it. I have layers which means every morning my hair is all over the place so i have no choice but to style it as its not long enough for a ponytail, but i feel bad because means I am frying my hair with hair dryers or straighteners!
does any one else have this problem? and how do you style your hair?

good luck to us all!

p.s. I am planning on having one more trim before new year and then non in 2013! maybe that would do the trick.

[AnnaB]

Its been real quiet on here!!

hows everyones progress?

I am now an inch and half pass chin! :cheese:
Slow but getting there.

I stopped taking vitamins for almost 2 months and had barely any growth then! so am back on on hair skin and nails vit, cod liver oil, vitamin E, and calcium.

Come on hair! Grow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Neecola]

Hey AnnaB! Today is the first time in a long time I have been able to post -- LHC and my computer were not getting along.

Congrats on the growth!

I take vitamins too. I'm a fan of regular microtrims. When I wash my hair (and its straight from the water), my hair is shoulder length but I won't count it until its dry shoulder length. The longer it gets, the more curl comes out and the shorter it looks! But it feels really healthy and I think the most awkward stages are behind me... famous last words ;)

[AnnaB]

Neecola I love your curls! And as you said it feels healthier now so that's great news!

I am trying to grow out layers as well as damaged hair, and trims aren't easy with my hair. So my aim to have one more cut before new year and then NO CUTs in 2013, only microtrims. Lets see if I caan stick to that.

AND I had same problem with the forum. Constantly 'server to busy' message :( made me feel sad and left out.

[Neecola]

Aw, thanks for the compliment AnnaB!

As frustrating as it can be to grow out a super short hair cut, I am really glad for the chance to start over with virgin (hennaed) hair that has been treated properly. It will be the first time in my life that I will see my hair in its natural state since I was a girl!

[HairFaerie]

Hello!

I think I am in this category now. I have bangs, the side of my hair is almost past my ears and the back of my hair is a little below chin, slowly inching toward shoulder!

If I get a good winter growth spurt like last year, I will hopefully reach shoulder by February or so. YAY! :cheer: GOOOooooooo Hair! LOL!

This is my third attempt, I always cave at shoulder and cut back to pixie. I am really going to try very hard this time to make it past the shoulder slump!

[Neecola]

Welcome HairFaerie! I think I will also have a hard time around shoulder... definitely not one of my favorite lengths for my hair. Just keep it pulled up/back and hopefully it will get past the awkward stage without too much pain :) That's my plan, anyway!

[AnnaB]

Merry Christmas Ladies!!!

Been oh so very quiet on this thread lately. How are we all doing with our progress???

here is mine, the length and the condition of my hair. From July to December.

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/Untitled2_zps38374742.png
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/Untitled_zpsa959e848.png

This including a major cut I had in September. I had 1.5 inches chopped off.

[turtlelover]

Well, my hair is definitely a bit below chin length now, so I thought I would come over here from the "super shorties" thread. It has a lot of layering, and I sometimes fantasize about growing all the layers out, but realistically, my head will look like a giant pyramid unless my hair gets a LOT longer before I attempt that. I just trimmed my bangs and some face framing layers tonight. Bangs are a "cutting trigger" for me, because I always want to blend them into the rest of my haircut nicely instead of having "disconnected" bangs. I also can never decide how far back to cut them. If I don't cut them far enough back, I have hair constantly in my face and the whole front of my hair seems FLAT, which drives me nuts. On the other hand, I don't like those ultra thick Zoey bangs. I'm hoping that I can find a happy medium -- enough bangs and layering in front to give me some height and keep my face from disappearing in a curtain of hair but not so much that I end up w/ a "shag" effect that can happen when I want to keep blending and blending my bangs into everything else.

[Artisticat]

Merry Christmas Ladies!!!

Been oh so very quiet on this thread lately. How are we all doing with our progress???

here is mine, the length and the condition of my hair. From July to December.

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/Untitled2_zps38374742.png
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/Untitled_zpsa959e848.png

This including a major cut I had in September. I had 1.5 inches chopped off.

Very nice color! Congrats on your new growth!

[Neecola]

Congrats on the growth AnnaB :applause Welcome turtlelover!

I updated my avatar pic today...soooo close to shoulder. :happydance:


Happy New Year everyone!

[HairFaerie]

I got my winter growth spurt, so I am thinking I will reach shoulder in February! YAY!

[HairFaerie]

Congrats on the growth AnnaB :applause Welcome turtlelover!

I updated my avatar pic today...soooo close to shoulder. :happydance:


Happy New Year everyone!

That looks past shoulder to me!

[Neecola]

That looks past shoulder to me!

You think so? That's exciting! I guess from the back it does look shoulder length, but I so often see myself from the front, where many pieces are still mid neck length. I just asked DH if he would consider my hair shoulder length and he said yes, so perhaps I have graduated to the next length goal! Thanks for your input.

Hurrah for growth spurts! I know you said earlier in this thread that shoulder is where you chop, so sit on those scissors if you can. Happy growing!

[arielágua]

hi all!
i think i belong to this thread also. my longest layers just hit my chin, making my overall hair measurement 16 inches, but i still have shorter layers, specially on the front of my face. : <
i usually grow 0.5 inches per month and i need to reach 18 inches to be fully shoulder length...sigh. grow hair grow! xD

[turtlelover]

I am struggling at a bit below chin length. I REALLY want to heat style because I know it would make my hair look a lot better (layers are getting longer and losing shape), but then I would end up w/ damage later on so I am trying to avoid it. One of my biggest issues is that I NEVER have decent 2nd day hair. I look horrid when I wake up on day 2. I just bought a satin sleeping cap from the ethnic hair care section, but it is too tight and I am quite sure I will not be able to tolerate it. I am also struggling w/ greasy hair the day after I use a sulfate free shampoo. I want to avoid sulfates, but I am wondering if I will end up having to shampoo daily to keep my hair decent, and if that would be worse than using sulfates every other day. Hmmmm...

[4C4rly4]

I'm in the same boat, growing mine from chin to shoulder. It seems to have grown pretty fast the past month (1 inch). so I need about 2 more inches to get to shoulder length. I can't wait :]

[arielágua]

turtlelover, don't give in! i have wavy hair and sometimes i feel tempted to straight it. wavy hair looks shorter than straight hair, so though i am at chin length it looks shorter, and i don't like that! lol
so let's both keep away from blow driers and flat irons, it's for a greater good! lol

: >

[AnnaB]

I love when this thread is active :)

I have not had a hair cut in 3 months and I am ALMOST at shoulder length at the back. But I want the shortest layers to be shoulder so I dont feel like cheating! Guess maybe another months or two.

I find it difficult not to use heat, my hair is so fine and just like turtlelover my hair looks awful on day two!
I also have to wear a hat for work, as I work with food, and it has those annoying netting on the bottom to keep the hair. I go to work with clean hair, come out with, oh my godness 'i hope i dont see anyone i know on the way out' hair. Wish it look good in a ponytail, but my layers make it look so stupid and thin.

[HairFaerie]

Wow! I can totally relate! This is what happens to me when I approach shoulder. Since I started at pixie, I have layers and bangs. When my hair hits shoulder, I am at a loss at how to style it. I wash every day usually but I have been stretching to every other day. I also blow dry because I live in a cold climate and it's not comfortable to air dry in the winter. On the days I wash and blow dry...my hair looks fine. I use a round brush to style it while blow drying. But on the next day....ugh! It just hangs there. If it were longer, it wouldn't look so bad, but at shoulder....not so much. I really have to use my willpower this time to get past shoulder to APL.
The bad part too is that I can't wear updos, they give me headaches. I can wear a loose ponytail or braid, but not at shoulder.
It's frustrating!

[Neecola]

Stay strong, fellow not-quite-shorties! Remind yourself that this is one of the most difficult phases to get through and there is a light at the end of the tunnel; keep going!

turtlelover: is this the first time you are using a sulfate-free shampoo or stretching washes? I am oily haired & skinned and when I first came off sulfate shampoos, I had to wash daily with a sulfate free shampoo until my scalp adjusted. From there I stretched to every other day and it took me several weeks before I stopped looking like a grease ball on day 2. It was helpful to use a headband or scarf to keep it out of the way during this time. Also, if the sleeping cap doesn't work for you, how about a satin or silk pillowcase? That's what I use and I love it.

[RubyTuesday]

Woooo Hoooooo! I can join the club! :happydance:
My hair at the back is mid neck (I have a long neck) and the sides are jaw length. I have a fringe that I am not sure if I am going to keep for the time being or grow out.

I pinned my hair up yesterday and today with about 10 bobby pins and although it was messy it made me feel great. I loved the look of having my hair off my neck - it looked elegant (well, maybe just to me).

I really feel as though the worst is over. The awful nightmare of growing out a pixie is nearly nearly over. Once it reaches SL I will be a happy happy lady and it will all be so easy from there.

Well done for keeping sane through the growing out process everyone! :applause

[lazuliblue]

I really feel as though the worst is over. The awful nightmare of growing out a pixie is nearly nearly over.

I feel exactly the same! I actually have an almost-proper hairstyle now :D I think I'm an inch off shoulder length at the back and 2 inches off at the front.

[turtlelover]

Stay strong, fellow not-quite-shorties! Remind yourself that this is one of the most difficult phases to get through and there is a light at the end of the tunnel; keep going!

turtlelover: is this the first time you are using a sulfate-free shampoo or stretching washes? I am oily haired & skinned and when I first came off sulfate shampoos, I had to wash daily with a sulfate free shampoo until my scalp adjusted. From there I stretched to every other day and it took me several weeks before I stopped looking like a grease ball on day 2. It was helpful to use a headband or scarf to keep it out of the way during this time. Also, if the sleeping cap doesn't work for you, how about a satin or silk pillowcase? That's what I use and I love it.

I think I am just going to wash daily w/ the sulfate free shampoo for now, but oil every night w/ coconut oil. I just can't deal w/ going out in public w/ this greasy hair.

[jennafrogg]

I have to wash daily when its this short too. Once its long enough to wear up its way easier to put up and forget about it.

[RubyTuesday]

Yes, greasy short hair is not a good look.

[turtlelover]

I have another hair complaint at the moment -- I want to let my wavy/curly hair air dry, but the roots on the top layer get dragged down from water weight along the hair shaft when I try to let it dry curly/wavy. My hair looks waaaaay better when I blow dry it because I get more root lift. I wish I could do something to make it look decent when air drying w/out the flat on top thing happening.

[Louise148]

Hi all,

Hope you guys don't mind me joining this thread.

I think I have finally progressed from the super shorties to this group. The sides of my hair just about reach chin level now. It feels like quite a milestone and I am happy to have reached it...YAY! Despite the amount of bad hair days and constant use of bobby pins at least it feels like I've moved on a stage.

I have decided to grow out my pixie cold turkey and have not had a trim since May so the back is a little longer but it's kinda gone beyond the mullet stage now which is a relief.

Next milestone - collar bone. can't wait!! :cool:

[RubyTuesday]

Can't stop touching my hair! It actually feels shaggy at the back. Strange how hair only a few inches longer makes me feel so happy. People always say that hair is just an accessory and does not define you, but I feel wrong without long hair and now it is growing out I am beginning to feel myself again.

I now know that I should NEVER go short again. I have learnt my lesson.

[browneyedsusan]

I have another hair complaint at the moment -- I want to let my wavy/curly hair air dry, but the roots on the top layer get dragged down from water weight along the hair shaft when I try to let it dry curly/wavy. My hair looks waaaaay better when I blow dry it because I get more root lift. I wish I could do something to make it look decent when air drying w/out the flat on top thing happening.

"stand up"/"elevated" pin curls if you have an hour or 2 in the morning to walk around crazy looking?

[browneyedsusan]

Can't stop touching my hair! It actually feels shaggy at the back. Strange how hair only a few inches longer makes me feel so happy. People always say that hair is just an accessory and does not define you, but I feel wrong without long hair and now it is growing out I am beginning to feel myself again.

I now know that I should NEVER go short again. I have learnt my lesson.

I feel the same way, except with color. I like my hair red. Strawberry, auburn, copper, I don't care. When it's red, I feel like myself. How weird is that?

[browneyedsusan]

Hi all,

Hope you guys don't mind me joining this thread.

I think I have finally progressed from the super shorties to this group. The sides of my hair just about reach chin level now. It feels like quite a milestone and I am happy to have reached it...YAY! Despite the amount of bad hair days and constant use of bobby pins at least it feels like I've moved on a stage.

I have decided to grow out my pixie cold turkey and have not had a trim since May so the back is a little longer but it's kinda gone beyond the mullet stage now which is a relief.

Next milestone - collar bone. can't wait!! :cool:

Growing a pixie with no trims is hard. My last trim was April, --see siggy--, and the ends are super scraggly. I'm planning another trim in the spring, but don't know if I'll make it....

[Neecola]

I have another hair complaint at the moment -- I want to let my wavy/curly hair air dry, but the roots on the top layer get dragged down from water weight along the hair shaft when I try to let it dry curly/wavy. My hair looks waaaaay better when I blow dry it because I get more root lift. I wish I could do something to make it look decent when air drying w/out the flat on top thing happening.

I have the same problem because my hair is so fine. I use duckbill clips (be careful not to get clippy end tangled in your hair--ouch!) to strategically clip my hair away from my scalp. If I move them once or twice during the drying process, it looks really natural.


I feel the same way, except with color. I like my hair red. Strawberry, auburn, copper, I don't care. When it's red, I feel like myself. How weird is that?

I am exactly the same way! I dyed my hair all different sorts of colors when I was a teen and when I landed on red, I never wanted my hair to be any other color. I do have a natural auburn tinge to my hair but it feels right when it's more red. Guess that's why henna has been such a blessing. Permanent, healthy red? Sign me up! :)

[HairFaerie]

Here is my December to January progress pic. Not too bad!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6XoGGahK7nk/UOxDO5lfEvI/AAAAAAAAAJw/hNk9-nkp1eQ/s1600/DecJan.jpg

I am hoping to be at solid shoulder in February, then I can go over to the thread I started about reaching APL by Christmas 2013! I hope I didn't bite off more than I can chew with that goal! I get good growth spurts in the winter but in the summer, it goes back to the average .5 inch per month.

It is so cool to see the monthly progress pics. As the month goes by, it feels like my hair hasn't really grown at all until I see the pictures. Then it's like "Holy cow! It DID actually grow!" If you aren't already, I highly recommend taking monthly progress pics. It really does help you along the way when you are growing from shorter lengths.

[RubyTuesday]

Oh my God! That is one months growth! That is amazing. I have not had nearly as much growth. Grrrrrrr. My hair is rubbish :wail:

[arielágua]

HairFaerie your progress is amazing and your hair looks so fluffy! beautiful color as well. you'll definitely be at shoulder in february, i think you're really close from it. i've also started taking monthly photos of the back of my hair, started doing so this year, it really helps to check new growth. thanks for sharing you're progress. keep us updated. ^^

[HairFaerie]

Oh my God! That is one months growth! That is amazing. I have not had nearly as much growth. Grrrrrrr. My hair is rubbish :wail:

No! Your hair is not rubbish!
Everyone's growth is different. Some people get growth spurts at different times throughout the year. Mine happens to be in winter. Plus, I get help from the HairFaeries! :magic:
Your hair will grow, don't worry! :flower:

Thank you, arielágua (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/member.php?u=41753)! Monthly pics really do help get ya through!

[turtlelover]

HairFaerie, I am quite impressed my your growth. Mine takes FOREVER to grow, especially in the winter. Blah!!!!

[RubyTuesday]

No! Your hair is not rubbish!
Everyone's growth is different. Some people get growth spurts at different times throughout the year. Mine happens to be in winter. Plus, I get help from the HairFaeries! :magic:
Your hair will grow, don't worry! :flower:

Thank you, arielágua (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/member.php?u=41753)! Monthly pics really do help get ya through!

I shall now be stalking you and lurking :suspect: to see what tricks you have up your sleeve ha ha
Send your fairies over my way!

[DisgracedAngel]

I'm joining this thread too, been growing out my ear length asymmetrical bob since April, I'm oh so nearly at flip length when dry (I have ringlets) and shoulder-ish when wet. My hair does grow quite slowly and I am hugely jealous of some of the growth pics in this thread especially HairFaerie!

Can't wait to sort myself out and get some progress pics takne :)

[turtlelover]

I have the same problem because my hair is so fine. I use duckbill clips (be careful not to get clippy end tangled in your hair--ouch!) to strategically clip my hair away from my scalp. If I move them once or twice during the drying process, it looks really natural.

I tried something similar w/ mini claw clips today, and I am having a very good hair day! I definitely have more lift!!! Thanks for the idea!!! :-)

[PossibleMermaid]

Creeping over from the super shorties to tentatively join this group. Chin was my goal for the end of the year and I have some strands dipping down there, but since I'm growing out a really layered pixie with curly hair it's all sorts of wonky right now. I finally found a cute way to style though! I've never really liked my hair away from my face because I have a really round face and acne even at eighteen (FREAKING HORMONES) but I found a way it works! I tuck both sides behind my ears but leave my long-ish bangs out and throw a cute flower and lace headband over it. It keeps the flippy sides in and doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. So excited to finally be able to get it out of my face!

[MaryO]

Hey everyone! Didn't know there was a thread like this one- think I might pop over here since my hair isn't super short so much (in comparison to other sort of shorter haired people but unbelievably short in comparison to long haired people!)

Browneyedsusan and Hairfaerie- you guys' growth is unbelievable! I'd seriously trade my husband for growth like that! I do hope I'm just in a temporary growth slump and not a permanent one.

Possiblemermaid- your hair 'do' sounds very nice! I do think that with shorter hair accessories are our best freinds!

[seven77]

Can I graduate from super shorties and join this thread?!

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/553125_10152387937310117_1598789539_n.jpg

I hope to be shoulder-ish by summer (but my hair grows so slow, I should realistically expect by Fall)
Hi :)

[RubyTuesday]

Can I graduate from super shorties and join this thread?!

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/553125_10152387937310117_1598789539_n.jpg

I hope to be shoulder-ish by summer (but my hair grows so slow, I should realistically expect by Fall)
Hi :)

We are quite similar! I am wavy/curly but we are practically the same length. Yours is much longer at the front than mine but other than that it's close.

I am aiming for shoulder by my birthday (end of July). Main aim is a ponytail though :)

[seven77]

We are quite similar! I am wavy/curly but we are practically the same length. Yours is much longer at the front than mine but other than that it's close.

I am aiming for shoulder by my birthday (end of July). Main aim is a ponytail though :)

Nice! I've been growing out a super short pixie since March, it's been painful, I had waist length hair before the big chop, I don't know what I was thinking lol. I loved pixies when I was a teen, but now in my 30's they just age me.

Happy growing :)

[browneyedsusan]

Welcome, Seven77!

[Neecola]

I tried something similar w/ mini claw clips today, and I am having a very good hair day! I definitely have more lift!!! Thanks for the idea!!! :-)

Yay, glad it worked!


Creeping over from the super shorties to tentatively join this group. Chin was my goal for the end of the year and I have some strands dipping down there, but since I'm growing out a really layered pixie with curly hair it's all sorts of wonky right now.

Hi PossibleMermaid -- just wanted to sympathize. Growing out a pixie with curly hair is very frustrating! Especially if you're not using heat (I didn't). My hair can be pretty wild & frizzy and I remember thinking I looked like a crazy person with all these bits of hair twisted out all over my head :) Sounds like you are getting past the worst of it though. Hang in there! Headbands were definitely my friend at your length and you can pull a few face framing pieces at the temples if you don't like it pulled all the way back.

[AnnaB]

It's so annoying when you have short hair and layers. Yes mine is getting to shoulder slowly but my shortest layer just above my ear. So frustrating as I want it all one length.

[PossibleMermaid]

Just discovered that amazing feeling when you realize you can do an updo! It's not really an updo, but I can twist my hair up and put it in a clip now, as well as doing a pretty sweet crown braid on the front bits. The back is just still too layer-y. I found this super pretty clip of my moms too... STOLEN! :)

[arielágua]

ahaha PossibleMermaid, that's funny, poor mother though! xD
I can do a very small twist too with the chunk of hair in the back of my head, as know as the mullet, lol. but it's so frustrating to have all of the front hair hanging loose at the same time. :<

[MaryO]

I am thinking about making some kind of bed-head spray for my hair but would like to skip the salt and lemon juice (and other drying ingredients) does anyone have some ideas of what to put in? My hair is rather straight and always very neat-looking. Even when I get up in the morning! I know- it's a weird thing to complain about! :-P

[Simone_Fatale]

Hey, guys!
Most of you people know me already from the Super shortie thread, and although I became very attached to that thread I think it's time to progress with my hair and join you here. :)
Here is how my hair looks as of 10 minutes ago:

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4636/hairrrrrrrrrr.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/hairrrrrrrrrr.jpg/)

The front is still 1/3 of an inch away from chin but the back is a bit longer so I think that I qualify...
My goal is shoulder by July-August if my hair continues to grow as fast as now and remains somewhat damage-free so I can skip trimming.
Btw, when it comes to trimming, do you think I should trim the back again so it matches the front more or it doesn't look that bad? Happy growing! :)

[AnnaB]

Hey, guys!
Most of you people know me already from the Super shortie thread, and although I became very attached to that thread I think it's time to progress with my hair and join you here. :)
Here is how my hair looks as of 10 minutes ago:

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4636/hairrrrrrrrrr.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/hairrrrrrrrrr.jpg/)

The front is still 1/3 of an inch away from chin but the back is a bit longer so I think that I qualify...
My goal is shoulder by July-August if my hair continues to grow as fast as now and remains somewhat damage-free so I can skip trimming.
Btw, when it comes to trimming, do you think I should trim the back again so it matches the front more or it doesn't look that bad? Happy growing! :)

Welcome to the thread. :)
I don't think your hair looks bad. I'd leave the back as it is. That ways you have a bait of extra length. It's up to you though. Depending if you'd rather keep trimming and have even hair or grow it and then have a cut to even it all out.

[Simone_Fatale]

Welcome to the thread. :)
I don't think your hair looks bad. I'd leave the back as it is. That ways you have a bait of extra length. It's up to you though. Depending if you'd rather keep trimming and have even hair or grow it and then have a cut to even it all out.
Thanks! :)
I ultimately want to have layered hair with tapered ends, so I think it's more practical to stop evening the front and the back now, so we agree. Plus I'll be able to do a ponytail sooner, which will make growing so much easier! :)

[AnnaB]

Thanks! :)
I ultimately want to have layered hair with tapered ends, so I think it's more practical to stop evening the front and the back now, so we agree. Plus I'll be able to do a ponytail sooner, which will make growing so much easier! :)

Exactly, less trimming=more growth. I can make a small ponytail now and its so exciting, but because my hair shorter at the front like yours, it doesn't stay in a neat ponytail. So I tend to use hair bands or just let it be. But as I am also growing my fringe, I have a lot of bad hair days haha

[Simone_Fatale]

Exactly, less trimming=more growth. I can make a small ponytail now and its so exciting, but because my hair shorter at the front like yours, it doesn't stay in a neat ponytail. So I tend to use hair bands or just let it be. But as I am also growing my fringe, I have a lot of bad hair days haha
I actually think it's cute when a few strands of face-framing layers stay out of the ponytail. :D
Maybe it's just me but I find my fringe very easy to control, even without products. I guess it's well 'trained' to sit where it's supposed to be. :)

[Angel_Abby]

I'm in! Growing out an inverted bob here.

The back (my avatar) is nape length, the front is about chin. I can do a weird crown braid with the front pieces, and a half-up with a couple of claw clips and that, my dears, is the extent of my 'up-do' capabilities.

Hoping to be no trim in 2013 and get my hair back!

[SugarPlumDreams]

I think I belong here! My hair is 3B, so when dry it's just about mid-neck. When wet, the very tippy parts of the ends touch my collar bone. I hope that I'll be able to see some growth over the next few months! I'm always jealous of how "fast" it appears straighter hair grows.

[AnnaB]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to share my first up-do in years!! Its the best I can do atm.

Have awkward length hair, chin front, almost shoulder at the back and some of my layers are only ear length. Here's my attempt at having my hair up.

Braided it both sides just pass ear and then tied it in a pony tail.
I have a pathetic ponytail due to all the layers, really hope for it to get some circumference in the future.
What do we think?

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/IMG_1444_zpsbf53e555.jpg
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/IMG_1440_zps86734801.jpghttp://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/IMG_1439_zps5251b582.jpg
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd503/Anna_Butyrina/IMG_1434_zpsf064ae94.jpg

[browneyedsusan]

@ AnnaB: Very well done! Your braids are super tidy and it's a cute look. I love it!

[Louise148]

AnnaB - really love those braids and your hair looks super shiny!

[SugarPlumDreams]

AnnaB - Looks adorable! Good job!

It's so exciting to finally be able to put your hair up, even if it takes a million elastics and bobby pins. I should be there in the next month or two.

[RubyTuesday]

Nice! I've been growing out a super short pixie since March, it's been painful, I had waist length hair before the big chop, I don't know what I was thinking lol. I loved pixies when I was a teen, but now in my 30's they just age me.

Happy growing :)

That's exactly what I think. They are ageing. Obviously not when you are a young fresh faced gorgeous creature but I find that I need to slap on a LOT of make up in order to look decent and even then I want to put a paper bag over my head.

Oh, how I miss my messy top knot and my scruffy sexy plait and my hair when it is all tousled round my face giving me that sixties Julie Christie look (I wish).

Come on hair. Grow!

[RubyTuesday]

Oh AnnaB you are so pretty! I love your braids and have no idea how you have got them to look so neat!

[AnnaB]

@ AnnaB: Very well done! Your braids are super tidy and it's a cute look. I love it!

Thank you :) I'm good at braiding other people's hair but my own always came out messy until that day.


AnnaB - really love those braids and your hair looks super shiny!

Thank you :) It was so dull until I hendigoed it :)


AnnaB - Looks adorable! Good job!

It's so exciting to finally be able to put your hair up, even if it takes a million elastics and bobby pins. I should be there in the next month or two.

Thank you :)
I know what you mean, I almost did a happy dance when it turned out okay :D and first thing I thought "omg, I have to share this on LHC"

Now I need to learn another style which is not as cute but a bit more grown up and suitable for evenings :)

[Simone_Fatale]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to share my first up-do in years!! Its the best I can do atm.

Have awkward length hair, chin front, almost shoulder at the back and some of my layers are only ear length. Here's my attempt at having my hair up.

Braided it both sides just pass ear and then tied it in a pony tail.
I have a pathetic ponytail due to all the layers, really hope for it to get some circumference in the future.
What do we think?


It's insanely cute, clean-looking and pretty, I like it. Good job and happy growing :)

[maborosi]

AnnaB- wow! That is too cute! What a wonderful little updo! :D
I know that awkwardness. That stage where you can -almost- do something with it, but not quite. Drove me up the wall whenever I tried to do a braid!

~maborosi~

[jennafrogg]

Annab- I am so jealous of your hair, I'm still probably a month out from being able to do something like that!

[patchoulilove]

I belong here right now since i'm perhaps an inch under chin length (my avatar image is dated). I've got several months ahead of me until I hit shoulder, but I'm using this time to really baby my hair. I oil often, and keep my hair covered often (especially with a satin wrap while sleeping). Because I try to keep my hair very moisturized, I'm wearing it pinned up with jaw clips. I use a small one to pin my canopy with a twist pointing down, then I twist the rest with the ends pointing up using a second small jaw clip. Together, these twists create a look much like a french twist albeit meager. :)

I think keeping my hair pinned up most the time provides both protection for my ends and a sort of privacy on the length. I'll wear it down more when I reach the next hurdle: collar bone to BSL. ;)

Much love
:blossom:

[browneyedsusan]

I belong here right now since i'm perhaps an inch under chin length (my avatar image is dated). I've got several months ahead of me until I hit shoulder, but I'm using this time to really baby my hair. I oil often, and keep my hair covered often (especially with a satin wrap while sleeping). Because I try to keep my hair very moisturized, I'm wearing it pinned up with jaw clips. I use a small one to pin my canopy with a twist pointing down, then I twist the rest with the ends pointing up using a second small jaw clip. Together, these twists create a look much like a french twist albeit meager. :)

I think keeping my hair pinned up most the time provides both protection for my ends and a sort of privacy on the length. I'll wear it down more when I reach the next hurdle: collar bone to BSL. ;)

Much love
:blossom:

Welcome!
I kept my hair pinned up for a few months too. My "growing out" was ugly, and disguising the ugliness helped. I have worn it down occasionally, but still put it up most days. Do you have any pictures of your faux French twist? I'd love to try it, but can't picture it in my head.

[maborosi]

I belong here right now since i'm perhaps an inch under chin length (my avatar image is dated). I've got several months ahead of me until I hit shoulder, but I'm using this time to really baby my hair. I oil often, and keep my hair covered often (especially with a satin wrap while sleeping). Because I try to keep my hair very moisturized, I'm wearing it pinned up with jaw clips. I use a small one to pin my canopy with a twist pointing down, then I twist the rest with the ends pointing up using a second small jaw clip. Together, these twists create a look much like a french twist albeit meager. :)

I think keeping my hair pinned up most the time provides both protection for my ends and a sort of privacy on the length. I'll wear it down more when I reach the next hurdle: collar bone to BSL. ;)

Much love
:blossom:

Yes! Good plan to start keeping your hair healthy before it gets really long! That way your hair will be in even better shape when it does get to where you want it to be! :)

I've been growing out a chop from WL to chin since last February and my hair is in such wonderful shape. I got to start over using all the knowledge I gained from LHC and my hair is tons better for it.

Good luck and happy growing! :blossom:

~maborosi~

[RubyTuesday]

I oil quite a lot too. I slather it on at bedtime.
I am really relying on headbands at the moment - the Alice band variety. My fringe area keeps on falling at weird angles so it is the only solution.

[AnnaB]

Oh AnnaB you are so pretty! I love your braids and have no idea how you have got them to look so neat!

Thank you so much. I don't feel pretty normally, only when I have a really good hair day :)
Funnily enough my braids only look neat on freshly washed hair, otherwise they are a mess :(


It's insanely cute, clean-looking and pretty, I like it. Good job and happy growing :)

thank you :)


AnnaB- wow! That is too cute! What a wonderful little updo! :D
I know that awkwardness. That stage where you can -almost- do something with it, but not quite. Drove me up the wall whenever I tried to do a braid!

~maborosi~

thank you. I have mastered it now so only takes 5 minutes to do. Now I can put it up and not worry about the awkwardness :)


Annab- I am so jealous of your hair, I'm still probably a month out from being able to do something like that!

Thank you :) I know how you feel, I was at that stage for ages until all of the sudden it grew and I didn't notice. Good luck with your growth hope it speeds up :)

[Angel_Abby]

Good morning all.

I'm in the weird phase of past chin, not quite to the nape yet. UGH! I am ready for a little pony tail! But no such luck!

Happy growing!

[missketi]

I also belong here. Can't wait till I'm past this stage. I thought I would be at shoulder lenght last year but with my layers that was not happening. I'm still not at shoulder lenght. Agh....so frustrating...pixie was cute but this growing out stage isn't! Well, at least I don't have a mullet anymore. That was scary.

[IStand4u]

So, the other day (wednesday) I realized I belong in this thread now. My hair is a bit past chin length and on it's way to shoulder! 2inches to go until it reaches shoulder! Horray! I actually found that my hair wasn't too bad for growing out from a longish pixie... anyone else?

[Keptwench]

I hear you on that. I started from an uber short layered pixie cut too. I do not want to cut my hair at ALL this year but OMG I could not stand the mullet I had, so I had it removed about two hours ago. Have decided the -only- hair that's getting cut the rest of this year will be the mullet bits if they comes back. Otherwise, I am letting it grow to one length. No more layered cuts.

[jackgirl]

Hello! I'd like to join this thread in the hope I can stop cutting my hair! I was at BSL last year and was growing out bleach damage, and then cut most of it out in August. What was left looked pretty cool with my natural colour, just the tips at the front. Then I started using a colour depositing red shampoo which looked awesome with my natural colour and not with the bleach, so I trimmed out some ends. Before I knew it I had trimmed all over and now it's a bit too short for my liking. It's just above the nape of my neck at the back and there are some chin-ish length layers at the front. I'd like to be able to leave it alone but I have a habit of finding uneven bits and trimming them off! My plan is to leave it for a couple of months and then get a professional trim, before growing it out to somewhere around APL. It suits me that length with layers so if I can leave it alone long enough it shouldn't take too long hopefully!

Since I was a teenager I have always had a habit of self trimming, and although I'm not bad at it I always regret it. It seems to be a compulsion when I'm anxious about something!

[Angel_Abby]

My hair hit nape today!!! WOOO!

[Sterlyn]

I belong here too :)

My hair is little past chin length, finally grew out the layers from the pixie back in the summer/fall of 2011. Really hoping to be solid shoulder length sometime this year

jackgirl:

I replied to you in another thread, but I hear you about the compulsive trimming. I have hacked away at my hair off and on for years. When I was growing out the dye in the pixie, I could not stop cutting off the blonde. I went from a pixie with long wispy layers,(done professionally) to nearly bald in about 1 month (DIY). The two tone look drove me crazy until it was gone. When I would go into work, several people asked "did you get your hair cut again, it looks shorter?". I just told them, yes I did cut my own hair and I was on a silver liberation campaign and I would stop cutting my hair when it was done. After a while nobody commented on my hair, it just kept getting shorter and shorter, I think they couldn't figure out what to say.

It got better after the dye was gone, but then what bothered me was the crazy crooked way my hair grew out over the next year or so. I too noticed that it seemed to be worse when I was upset or anxious about something. There were times I moved my scissors out of the bathroom, so I had to walk further, and hopefully would think about it during the walk (not always successful).

I am much better now that is mostly one length, I seem to be able to only trim when it actually needs it, no guarantees, but I really hope in the future that I won't pick up the scissors and take it out on my hair if I am really upset about something.

[Sterlyn]

grrr... sorry for all the typos and mistakes can't edit my posts yet

[jackgirl]

Ha ha, yes that sounds all too familiar! Weirdly I actually managed to grow out all my bleached damage and two tone hair without really cutting too much, it got as long as BSL and through the info on the forums I looked after it. I didn't have the urge to cut at all, until it got to a length where I could cut most of it out in one go. Since then I've just kept playing with it. I think what you said in the other thread about being happy with how you cut it rather than a hairdresser rings true too. Only for me I'm happy for a day or two and then unhappy with it the next! Maybe if someone did it professionally I'd be happier in the long run, but I always seem to convey what I want better by actually cutting it, and then turning up and asking if they can just even it out. My old hairdresser found it cute I think (he liked girls with short hair!) but I now have a hairdresser friend I should really go to. All my friends say "have you cut your hair again?" too, so I get you there!

I went and bought myself lots of mini clips yesterday and I'm going to try not to cut for a while! I'm liking the new style I'm wearing it in so hopefully that will satisfy for a while :) I'm just twisting lots of sections into the middle back and clipping them all, and leaving my fringe floppy at the front. It actually looks quite cute!

[Sterlyn]

I always seem to convey what I want better by actually cutting it, and then turning up and asking if they can just even it out.:p

I laughed when I read this because I know exactly what you mean, I have done it more than a few times myself!

Mini clips were my friend to when I was growing out the pixie, loved em, still do.

I wish you luck on finding a length and style for your hair that you like, cause I know that can be a challenge.

For me I think my days of serious hacking at my hair are over, I really want to grow it long again and I spent the last 18 months feeling like I had no hair at all (well for a while I really didn't) really feel certain I never want my hair shorter than shoulder length ever again. Hoping to see waist maybe in 3 years, but the time I hit 50, if my hair will actually grow that long. :)