I'm going to call shoulder length and join this thread. :) Excited to be moving forward.
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I'm going to call shoulder length and join this thread. :) Excited to be moving forward.
Yes, I have decided to microtrim every eight weeks now to gain some noticable length while slowly trimming the damage away.Quote:
Originally Posted by vpatt
You are right, Poli. I do like fairy tale ends on longer hair. And on a positive note I think my hair is beginning to thicken up as it grows.. I can't wait to see how that works out in say a year from now.Quote:
Originally Posted by poli
Yes too soon for me also. But someday it would be great!Quote:
Originally Posted by vpatt
My hair is approaching APL pretty quickly now. I am wondering what to do with it when I sleep. It is wavy, so it does tangle if I leave it loose. I'd been putting it in a loose ponytail on top of my head with a scrunchie, but maybe that isn't the best option. Hmmm......
^ Maybe loose top knot with spin pins? Or braid you'd start from the crown area, maybe braid a silky scarf or paranda with it to give some protection. Sleeping caps seem to be somewhat popular here, if your aesthetics allow it. I know I would never wear one though, so I understand if it's not appealing.
Welcome!Quote:
Originally Posted by battles
(Same to any other newcomers I might have missed!)
vpatt, I often need to take many photos before I get few that I like. If I'm taking a hair photo, I usually comb and check out my hair right before, I push all my hair behind the shoulders and fluff my crown (ha ha, crazy cowlicks), and smooth my canopy , and check each photo to see if there are anything that bothers me. I also use self-timer almost always, and try to make sure the photo is in focus and that the light is good. In general I almost never post photos I'm not happy about. I guess to me it culminates to a) last minutes tidying/minor styling check, b) taking lot of photos, and c) trying to get good quality photos. Of these 3 I am most like to let the last one slip, sometimes getting an ok photo which might be a bit blurry is better than spending any more time on it.
I am joining! I used to have waist-length hair and cut it all off a few years ago. Have been rocking a bob ever since. Now I'm getting the hankering to grow it all out again. Hopefully healthy and thick :)
Welcome!
I did an extempore dusting today, before washing my hair. I had had the itch for few weeks already, so this was about to happen some day soon anyway. It's not terribly long since my last time, but I love fresh ends, and dusting takes off so minimally hair it hardly slows me down, even with my avarage growing hair. Dusting is a good compromize to me when I have the trimming itch. I took slightly more off the sides, as I am slowly changing my hemline from bob (slight a-line) to mild V. Now I am approaching a straight hem, so I have long way to go still. Little by little! I remember the last time I grew I made the hemline change in one swell swoop, and didn't like to loose so "much" hair at once. That was a time when I was very obssessed with my hair and growth, so that had lot to do with it. Anyway I love a-lines with bobs and I love mild Vs with longer hair on me, so one has to do what one has to do :D
Welcome! Your is nice and shiny so it can only get better.Quote:
Originally Posted by shazzshazshz
Yes I try to take lots of photos, but I only have the kindle right now. So it never seems the photos are as good when uploaded. I don't seem to be able to take my own pictures good either. So usually one of the grandsons does it for me....lol. I think the lighting is a big part for me. I think when I had a phone I had better pictures....oh well, one day I will get a good one.:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Arctic
Hi! I've got about 1.5" to go before I'm definitely APL, so I guess I'll join in the fun here :-) I'm currently growing out from a heavily layered, heavily "thinned", not quite shoulder length 'do. I'm still trying to figure out what works for me hair-care wise. I'm just using Dr.Bronners once a week and my husband's Pantene conditioner once a week. I'm a box red head so I try to keep my hair away from water. Dry shampoo is my best friend right now.
I hear you. Trying to keep my dyed red hair from fading is a constant battle!:brickwallQuote:
Originally Posted by izzyboomama
I hope you aren't using L'Oreal Feria 66.6 red - it fried my tough-as-old-hair...Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Wright
No it's Colorsilk 45 (Bright Auburn). It starts out really pretty, but after about 2 weeks I'm a strawberry blond at best. LolQuote:
Originally Posted by Eiderduck
I did a wet-measure test with a string wrapped around and under my pits for reference, apparently I'm actually 1" exactly from APL wet, 2.5" dry measured. Wow, it really shortens up with my wave/curls.
I have really high arm pits. :hmm:
Should I call APL at the start of October when it's reached it wet? Or should I call it late December when it falls APL dry? I'm a wurly so to me it makes a huge difference.
Personally I think I should call when it's APL dry but I'm not sure what is proper.
How ever you like, there are members here who do both.Quote:
Originally Posted by HairPlease
I will call it when mine reaches APL by any means at all....even if I have to tie weights to it to make it reach....oh my bad, did I really say that?Quote:
Originally Posted by HairPlease
I prefer dry, because that's how your hair looks most of the time. :)
I have apl at 60 cm (23.6 inches), and my hair is ~53 cm (20.8 inches) right now. Not sure if I'll make it.
+ welcome to any newcomers! :)
Teehee.Quote:
Originally Posted by vpatt
I'll call it as soon as it reaches wet APL. I think. I mean, it's truly APL at that point, plus hitting a major milestone feels so good. I understand kiiruna's point though too. Maybe I can call in between both.
I just checked, and mine is definitely passing the towel test when stretched. However, it is cut in a slight U, and only the longest part passes, and I somehow think it should be obviously APL when dried w/ its normal texture to officially qualify me to graduate. I am thinking I might be at that point sometime in October. So, I am reluctantly still here! I am getting bored w/ my hair at the moment -- growing out color, and the dyed part seems a bit brassy. I can French braid it, but am kind of low on creative ideas for other things to do with it at the moment. It seems to be stuffed in a scrunchie bun a lot lately.
Oh, did I miss something? What's the towel test? I'm still hovering around collarbone length at best, but I haven't heard of this method of measuring yet, so it's something to look forward to.... *drool*
I have grown to hip twice while on this board. I call milestone dry, but that's me. People do it both ways.
I think shoulder to APL is the longest hardest milestone out there (at least for me). Mainly because I can't do many things with it! Aargh! LOL. Right now it's so thin it doesn't even want to hold up sticks in my messy bun I used to do. Dutch braids it is! I like more variety in my hairstyles, so once past APL things get easier for me (though as I said, I did at least used to be able to put it up!).
I can do a peacock twist but I hate that look on me.
Still inching my way to APL. So close I can almost taste it!! I up dated my sig to show my progress. I put down at the bottom that I've had about three inches trimmed off this year. My ends have thickened up!! So even though I've only gained about two inches it's was fuller.
Towel test is, when you wrap a towel (or a measuring tape etc) around your body right at the level where your arm pits are. You know, as if your wrap a towel around yourself so that is covers your breasts and stays up. If your hair hits the line that the towel creates between your armpits when looked from the back (make sure the towel is in straight line), you have passed the towel test and are officically at APL length.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messyhair
Ha ha, I had negative growth this month :D I am positive I couldn't possibly have trimmed that much, because I did a very careful dusting only. Last month I tried to self-measure for the first time ever, and I got 48 cm and this month I self-measured my hair to be at 47 cm. I did the measuring multiple times today (wet hair, stretched) and it was always approx. at 47 cm so I assume it's approx. as accurateas self-measuring can be. Maybe I made mistake last month, or maybe the measuring tapes are really crazy or maybe my hair has shrunk:D
I also took the towel test, and if I cram the towel as high as I can, and stand in a military style upright position, and stretch my hair down, my hair is not very long from the towel (APL), maybe less than/almost inch.
BUT as soon as I relax the towel even a little, and stand in a more natural position, I got long distance to go (haven't yet uploaded photos from camera, but probably at least 3 inches).
ETA: Majority of my towel test photos were approx. at half way between shoulder and APL, so I think that's a good mini-milestone to call.
I think I'll gonna hang around in this thread for a looooong time, knowing myself that I can't resist trimming. It's ok though, I am quite content with my current length, as it allows me the benefits I was growing my hair longer for to begin with: a variation of buns and braids.
I just replied in another thread asking about hair goals, that I don't really have any atm, I don't lust after a certain length. This is probably the main reason it has been taking me so long to grow, as I am going forward quite aimlessly and trim on a whim easily.
I have a couple more months, then I will be joining you folks! My hair has grown a little faster than I had anticipated, and I have about an inch before I will call it shoulder. Yay!
Just did the towel test- I have 2 months until I reach it! Whoooo! :)
We'll keep a seat warm for you and there will be cookies too :)Quote:
Originally Posted by missrandie
Yay, 2 months will just fly by!Quote:
Originally Posted by LauraAlaina
I don't like peacock twists either, I find them dated, as they were very popular here around the change of millenium. Dutch braids are always chic. Can you do tucked under dutch braid or dutch braided french twist?Quote:
Originally Posted by rags
Yay, your latest photo looks great!Quote:
Originally Posted by hannabiss
Do you have photo with your hands down? I find lifting my hands will change the apl placement on me.
We'll probably be there on the same day. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by LauraAlaina
I've decided to call APL between wet and dry APL. So about 1.5" will put me at 2 months from now. My math is probably all over the place. But it FEELS like 2 months.
I am getting very very close to APL!- my trim at the first of the month put me only an inch above it, and have already gained almost 1/2" since then! I knew my fringe/bangs grew supper fast, but I guess the rest does also, just lost to much to breakage to notice.
I don't like peacock twists either- My hair isn't long enough for it to fold over nicely, but instead sticks up like a wacko over the top of my head. Definitely not a professional look I need for work. I usually just do a french twist and fold the tail back into it.
I have been able to French braid but since the clarifying shampoo on Monday my hair is too slippery. I can do a bun but they are so tiny I don't like them as much. So the French Twist is my main up do now. I liked the Gibson Tuck, but I hate using a rubber band....they all seem to hate my hair. The twist is so easy with the comb from Wal-Mart.
Hi
Sorry - I can't add anything helpful (I know nothing!) but wondered if you'd be kind enough to give me some advice?
Two questions - how do I microtrim shoulder length hair by myself? And what can I do with heavy, straight, shoulder length hair to get it out of the way?
Thanks for any help.
Instead of gibson tuck, try doing a horizontal twist. Like a french twist but along the nape of your neck. It looks very similar and doesn't need elastics.Quote:
Originally Posted by vpatt
Isn't it lovely feeling how ones hair can feel when clarifying first time in a long time? When you do it more often the magical change in hair texture doesn't happen so dramatically, although I still love my clarifying shampoo and use it when I notice the first signs of build-up.
When you have enough posts (25+) have a look at my blog, I have been collecting styles for shoulder length hair there. It's only a tip of an iceberg what I have there, but enough to give some ideas. You can find link to the particular posts under my blog's header.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eiderduck
If you hair isn't long enough for Feye's self trimming method, your best bet is to sort of mimic what hair dressers would do. If your hair is not very thick you can get away with not sectioning your hair, but for all thicknesses I find the best results come from sectioning your hair into at least 2 parts vertically (like 2 big layers - thick hair would benefit from more than 2). The hemline will become much neater this way.
I usually cut my hair dry, and use fine tooth comb as a help to align all the hairs in the section I'm working on. This is for blunt hemline. I take a small section of hair, enough for it to easily fit between my index and middle finger. Glide my fingers down the hair and when I come near the ends I stop, bring the hairs in an angle I can see them but hold them tightly so the strand you are holding does not move, nor the angle of yor fingers (I use bathroom mirror as help), and snip the wanted lengths off. I take next small section and include a tiny bit of hairs from previous section, and cut the new section to the same length as the previous. I travel around horizontally around my hair this way. Then I release the hair bunned at the top of my head and do the same for this layer of hair, making sure they are of same length as the lower layer is. Then I check that sides are even.
It's really difficult to explain in short post, sorry. Basically comb well, comb straight down (if you want blunt cut), use your fingers to put tension on the strand, snip the ends. Use the newly trimmed hair as guide to the next section you are working with. Section your hair into manageable pieces, both horizontally and vertically. Depending your hairtype and preferences, you might like cutting your hair wet or dry.
Thanks, Arctic.
I'm somewhat hampered by the thickness of my hair, but sectioning it might help me to trim it.
And I'll have a look in your blog - must resist the temptation to post just to get to 25 now though.
:)
Arctic- not at this time. I could get my guy take a picture for me one of these days. I'll post one when I can. I know I'm not apl quite yet.
I wish I would have started taking towel pic. I'll get one up soon with my arms down and towel.
As a side note, hannabiss, you have great shoulders! Very well muscled :)Quote:
Originally Posted by hannabiss
I have no idea when to call; my hair is so curly these days that to call any milestone dry will take forever, until at least hip when the curls will likely be waves again. Still, calling it wet seems disingenuous when my hair is nearly app wet already...maybe I'll call it dry-but-damp-bunned, which is the way I usually wear my hair, and it's wavy rather than curly.
Either way, I have a ways to go...