Shoulder | Armpit

[Waveurly]

I clearly underestimated how much my hair likes summer! Officially calling shoulder length, so I am joining you wonderful people! Length picture won't be until next weekend for continuity's sake, but I excited to be here!

Welcome!

I had an inch cut off last week - the very last of the semi permanent + LUSH henna + lightening gel + silicone build-up years so I'm pleased with this and still have shoulder length hair.
I also had some angling and layering done which I am less pleased about. It wasn't blended in properly and looks uneven. I need a new hairdresser or to learn to cut it myself. The plan is to keep growing anyway focusing on scalp health and hair condition.
I've realised I always cut back unless I have some face framing - I need it! I wish this wasn't the case, but at least I can move forward with growing, even if it is never going to be all one length.

Great that you got rid of the last bits of henna, silicone build up and such! You reminded me of why I don't go to hairdressers usually. I won't say: "never again". But I've learned to cut it myself. There's a great technique that I like called feye's self trimming method. I think I found it on longhaircommunity as well. But it's easy to find through google as well.
With this method I'm slowly cutting out some choppy layers.

I think my longest layers are just brushing APL! It will probably take another month to be fully at APL.

So close, so close! Go hair!!

Looks wise, it did turn out a bit of a mess, especially on top. The hair on top didn't develop more than a slight wave, but the hair underneath was pretty hilarious. Turns out I have two perfect barrel curls, one on either side just behind my ear, both currently purple, and everything else just does what it wants!
Also I'm so tempted to treat myself to a set of Curlformers so I can have more barrel curls!

Ooh those curls look so nice!! I love those kind of curls (and any kind of curls)

Two weeks ago I was almost at APL but my longest layers were so thin, you could barely tell (from a post partum shedding). So I chose thickness over length and now I'm just at collarbone. Not sure if I regret it or not, I just put it up, so I won't think about it, and let it surprise me. The longest my hair has ever been was just a little past APL (and I thought it was so long back then LOL), so I'm pretty excited to grow back to that and then longer. But until then, I belong in this thread, one baby step at a time

I'm sure you will be able to grow longer as APL! There are so many factors involved in hairgrowth and if any important factor is out of balance, then it can seem to have stopped, which can be restored to healthy growth. It's nice to have healthy hair and you'll be at APL before you know it!

[Shanawavy]

Waveurly hello It's good to know that you're having success with the self-trimming method. I'll check out YouTube. Thanks! My hair feels so much softer without that inch. I didn't realise the difference it made until I had it cut off. I really admire the folks who can keep growing out their bleach damage anyway, but mine was bugging me too much and for too long. Happy growing!

[Renora25]

Waveurly Heya! Thank you for the welcome

[NightSister]

I'm enjoying everyone's progress. In a way I am lucky I am growing out my bangs - growing from shoulder to APL feels like an abyss sometimes, but it is way easier to track rate of growth when it is hanging right off your face right now the shortest part of my bangs is at the corner of my lip

[Renora25]

I'm enjoying everyone's progress. In a way I am lucky I am growing out my bangs - growing from shoulder to APL feels like an abyss sometimes, but it is way easier to track rate of growth when it is hanging right off your face right now the shortest part of my bangs is at the corner of my lip

I am considering getting bangs at my next hair cut in December. Part of me is doing it for a change, and the other part of me wants to do it so I can see the growth :P

[NightSister]

I am considering getting bangs at my next hair cut in December. Part of me is doing it for a change, and the other part of me wants to do it so I can see the growth :P

Haha! I don't know how you plan to wear them, just be prepared to deal with daily heat if you plan to keep them straight and your hair is not! I loved my bangs but gave up heat styling and they did not look cute

[Renora25]

Haha! I don't know how you plan to wear them, just be prepared to deal with daily heat if you plan to keep them straight and your hair is not! I loved my bangs but gave up heat styling and they did not look cute

Yea that is the only thing that is really holding me back.

[_fred_]

I have not tried that many different forks, but atm only jeters fork for me, when I had a bit longer hair my favorite was a two prong small fork that i got from swap board, I have no idea who the maker was, 60th street was interesting as well, but I didn't dare to wear it that often since the prongs were so thin.

That style looks nice! I forgot to do a braid yesterday and I'm too tired to do one now (bed time), but I really really want to learn how to make pretty braided styles

DD Thanks! And thank you for your thoughts on forks I do love the swap board...

Two weeks ago I was almost at APL but my longest layers were so thin, you could barely tell (from a post partum shedding). So I chose thickness over length and now I'm just at collarbone. Not sure if I regret it or not, I just put it up, so I won't think about it, and let it surprise me. The longest my hair has ever been was just a little past APL (and I thought it was so long back then LOL), so I'm pretty excited to grow back to that and then longer. But until then, I belong in this thread, one baby step at a time

Hi and welcome I hope you can get your length back quickly.

Fred shiny hair, and your curls look very happy here! I will look out for the coconut and cocoa butter mask. My hair likes the Mystic Olive one but I am not too keen on the smell.

Thank you! That was the first time I've ever managed to get my waves/curls to stay.

Shame about the smell of the olive mask. I don't know about you, but I'm very much guided by my nose when I buy things like this.

Ooh those curls look so nice!! I love those kind of curls (and any kind of curls)

Yay, thank you! It's an ongoing revelation bringing out the curl!

I'm enjoying everyone's progress. In a way I am lucky I am growing out my bangs - growing from shoulder to APL feels like an abyss sometimes, but it is way easier to track rate of growth when it is hanging right off your face right now the shortest part of my bangs is at the corner of my lip

Feeling the same, it's taking forever! But then it is kinda a long way. Congrats on the growth!

You and I have very similar hair types!

I am considering getting bangs at my next hair cut in December. Part of me is doing it for a change, and the other part of me wants to do it so I can see the growth :P

Hair type twin!

I had that same feeling, and the same reservation because now I actually understand how fringes work I know I'd need to heat style every day to get it to behave! Last time I had a fringe I was a kid, and it was a horrible clumpy mess. It really put me off! But a friend has recently cut herself a fringe, with thicker bouncier hair than me, and she's been heat styling it daily and it looks amazing.

[Shanawavy]

I'm enjoying everyone's progress. In a way I am lucky I am growing out my bangs - growing from shoulder to APL feels like an abyss sometimes, but it is way easier to track rate of growth when it is hanging right off your face right now the shortest part of my bangs is at the corner of my lip

Great! Sounds like you'll be able to get your bangs into braids and updos!

[GalaMoon]

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome! I am confident I will be a able to grow my hair back, mostly because this time I actually know how to take care of it. Like someone told me on here: if I keep it healthy it will grow. Happy and fast growing to everyone!