Shoulder | Armpit

**AcornMystic** · February 21st, 2012, 03:56 AM

Hello all. *waves* I haven't given this thread much of a looky loo since joining because I've been spending most of my time in the "knee-length and beyond" thread. Yes, I was silently obsessing over my ultimate goal. To be knee length and beyond and ogling everyone's hair. Haha. However, this is where I belong for now. That is, now that I am done growing out my orchid bob and past my neck after what has seemed like a very long time, even with the slight growth spurts the cuts have simply not helped much other than give me 100% virgin hair to work with.

The back of my hair when pulled straight is half an inch past shoulder, not a whole lot. However, I think I will wait a couple more months, my birthday in fact, April 22nd, to call it. No particular reason, just that it is 2 months away. That way I won't have to pull my hair to make it shoulder and the cowlick at my nape will stop giving me fuss. My hair keeps wanting to loosely curl around my neck like a snake. The joys of having 1a/1b hair and a hair stylist that I think styled my layers to curl inward (back in September).

I just figured I would post in here so I can start situating my throw pillows, because I am going to be here for a while. Shoulder to APL: The start of a very long and arduous journey, as my back will be the most difficult and time consuming part of my journey (darn my long torso) I am dreading APL to BSL, but I mustn't look too far ahead.

My length brushes on my collar which won't do, especially since I am in the no-trims in 2012 challenge and can't afford such damage being directed at my ends. My mission is to keep my hair up as much as I can and since work requires me to have it up, there is that taken care of. I can't oil my ends at this point unfortunately, otherwise it gets the lower back of my neck and jaw (sides curl up like tusks, framing my jaw, like the devil) oily and I break out, so that is out. I will have to wait until I've crept past my shoulders.

yes, I think this will do. See you all in 2 months and congrats to those who will be going on to BSL or have reached their desired settlement length at APL by that time! I will be keeping my eyes on this thread (and continuing to ogle the knee and beyond thread for inspiration

).

**Georgies** · February 21st, 2012, 01:32 PM

Hi AcornMystic, I'd like to welcome you to the thread but I'm only provisionally here too. Actually I think our hair is about the same length. Mine is pretty curly so it looks even shorter when not stretched out. I'm thinking of waiting about a month and taking a length pic - the last one I took was at christmas so I'm hoping for something resembling progress after 3 months.

One thing that stands out from your post is that if you're dreading the journey from sl to apl, and then from apl to bsl, that's alot of hair dissatisfaction, maybe 2 years worth! Maybe there's a way to enjoy the journal sooner? That's not a rhetorical question - I haven't figured out how to do it either! So if you do figure it out let me know...I love lurking in the super long hair threads too.

I will be here for the long haul too so I'm glad you're here!

**PixxieStix** · February 21st, 2012, 02:54 PM

Well, I can do a peacock and french twist decently well now, and am waiting for my new hair toys to arrive so that I can at least feel like my hair is exciting by putting pretties in it. Once I have all of them I think I'll be doing a "Wear your hair up for _____ challenge", just so that I don't have to deal with how slow I feel it is growing. If it goes well, I might just wear it up every day until my wedding, praying I'm at APL by then!

And niffty about the towel test, I would never have thought of that, but seems like it would be accurate, hooray! I'm gonna go home and measure based on that, then leave it alone for a good long while.

**lunamummy** · February 21st, 2012, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Lissandria

^^ the towel test is when you put a towel around your torso underneath your armpits. It is one way of seeing if your hair is APL

thanks! I'll look forward to trying this one on my no-more-than monthly measure

**Lissandria** · February 21st, 2012, 05:33 PM

Welcome to all the new peeps to this thread.

Happy growing all!

**uptosomeone** · February 21st, 2012, 05:43 PM

I agree, welcome all! I was wondering if I might be moving on to the next thread, but I'm not comfortably APL yet still so I'll be sticking around for another month or so with you guys.

**Bonkers57** · February 21st, 2012, 06:46 PM

I'm waiting (as patiently as I can) to get from slightly past shoulder to APL. I just put some pics up in my Progress album and will be putting up more. I have maybe 3 inches to go in the back and maybe 4or 5 in the front. It helps that I can pull it back. I need to get more industrious and try to learn some fancier updos.

**PixxieStix** · February 21st, 2012, 07:35 PM

Bonkers57, I have the exact opposite problem, I have hair that is about an inch longer in the front than in the back from growing out a severely angled bob. I've had to cut the front to sort of even it up with the back, but it's going to reach APL before the back does.

**Roscata** · February 21st, 2012, 08:49 PM

Welcome new people!

My unsolicited advice for the day is this: if you want to enjoy your hair/journey more try: new and cool updos, new and cool hair toys, new and cool hair products/oils/etc, and look forward to a closer goal rather than dread (how far) the ultimate goal (is).

For now I'm not even looking toward APL, I'm just looking forward to being able to do a decent English braid that doesn't allow my nape hair to slip out. It's the little things that make the journey more enjoyable. The toughest part is to ignore the bigger goals, but fortunately (?) for me I have scalp problems that keep me constantly busy, like every other day haha.

**Lissandria** · February 22nd, 2012, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by Roscata

Welcome new people!

My unsolicited advice for the day is this: if you want to enjoy your hair/journey more try: new and cool updos, new and cool hair toys, new and cool hair products/oils/etc, and look forward to a closer goal rather than dread (how far) the ultimate goal (is).

I think this is very sound advice. Hairtoys are a welcome distraction from preoccupation with measuring. I think it's also true to look forward to smaller goals than be overwhelmed and dismayed by how far you have till your ultimate goal.

Shout out to all the lovelies who have been here for awhile now, Im rooting for you all!