Shoulder | Armpit

**Aerya** · February 25th, 2019, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by KoKonut

Well mine I think would be considered shoulder length BUT it's such a doggone mess that it's just gonna take forever to correct. My stylist tells me there's a good 2 inches on the bottom that is pretty much just toast but I told her I don't want to lose any more length and would rather just have little baby trims every 8 weeks until it is gone, that way I can at least keep more length. But at the same time, the top of my hair unfortunately all broke off to about a little over 2" and is more or less like a pixie cut, so pixie cut on top and shoulder length, not a pretty sight. I'll just continue with my hats/turbans. Can't really even put it up because when I do, the fried ends just stick out and look horrible.

Oh girl I feel this so badly! Mine has been absolutely fried too, I still have involuntary layers in my hair from when tons of it snapped right off (about ten centimeter from the scalp - horrible!) as well as a halo of new growth overall. I know how it feels to practically have to grow from scratch but hang in there! It will grow out eventually.

If headscarves fit your style, I'd suggest getting some pretty ones and learn different ways to tie them, whether full coverage or just wrapped around like a headband.

**blackgothicdoll** · February 27th, 2019, 11:17 PM

Due to my layers I realize apl will still feel really short. My layers are so steep, but trying to maintain and even then up at APL would drive me insane. I can't self trim or have some one else trim without straightening my hair, and since I'm avoiding heat that's a no...unless I do just two trims a year.

Hmmm what to do. I think I'll have to accept having an uneven hemline, but as long as I'm not straightening my hair, neither I nor anyone else would know

**Simpscone** · February 28th, 2019, 02:22 AM

Originally Posted by blackgothicdoll

Due to my layers I realize apl will still feel really short. My layers are so steep, but trying to maintain and even then up at APL would drive me insane. I can't self trim or have some one else trim without straightening my hair, and since I'm avoiding heat that's a no...unless I do just two trims a year.

Hmmm what to do. I think I'll have to accept having an uneven hemline, but as long as I'm not straightening my hair, neither I nor anyone else would know

I'm in the same boat! My longest layers are only an inch or so away from APL, but my shortest layers are around my ears, especially at the front and crown where I damaged my hair really badly with bleach

It's hard to decide whether to maintain and grow them out or just try and get as much length as possible... I think I'll try and grow to BSL and then worry about the layers then - as long as you are happy with the overall look of your hair, I'd keep going!

**LongHairM** · February 28th, 2019, 05:03 AM

Originally Posted by blackgothicdoll

Due to my layers I realize apl will still feel really short. My layers are so steep, but trying to maintain and even then up at APL would drive me insane. I can't self trim or have some one else trim without straightening my hair, and since I'm avoiding heat that's a no...unless I do just two trims a year.

Hmmm what to do. I think I'll have to accept having an uneven hemline, but as long as I'm not straightening my hair, neither I nor anyone else would know

Don't stress about your uneven hemline. Like you said: it's probably not noticeable, and cutting it will set you back a few months goal-length wise. A time will come where you'll be pretty happy with the length and your main problem will be the shape so you won't mind losing length in favor of shape. Try and get some length first, and when you feel like you're at that point or when you have to trim your ends anyway then cut it. This length is such an in-between length where a single centimeter can make me feel like my hair is finally medium length and cutting it can send me back to feeling like my hair is super short. So I recommend getting to a length where a small trim isn't as noticeable and slowly shaping it from then on.
Of course it all depends on what your main focus is for now- length/shape/condition/rapid pace. Sometimes these things can't go together and you have to choose. For me until I hit BSL my focus is on length and rapid pace over the other two. I want to get to a length I'm happy with as fast as possible and then work on the condition of the ends and the shape.
Good luck

**blackgothicdoll** · February 28th, 2019, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by Simpscone

I'm in the same boat! My longest layers are only an inch or so away from APL, but my shortest layers are around my ears, especially at the front and crown where I damaged my hair really badly with bleach

It's hard to decide whether to maintain and grow them out or just try and get as much length as possible... I think I'll try and grow to BSL and then worry about the layers then - as long as you are happy with the overall look of your hair, I'd keep going!

Originally Posted by LongHairM

Don't stress about your uneven hemline. Like you said: it's probably not noticeable, and cutting it will set you back a few months goal-length wise. A time will come where you'll be pretty happy with the length and your main problem will be the shape so you won't mind losing length in favor of shape. Try and get some length first, and when you feel like you're at that point or when you have to trim your ends anyway then cut it. This length is such an in-between length where a single centimeter can make me feel like my hair is finally medium length and cutting it can send me back to feeling like my hair is super short. So I recommend getting to a length where a small trim isn't as noticeable and slowly shaping it from then on.
Of course it all depends on what your main focus is for now- length/shape/condition/rapid pace. Sometimes these things can't go together and you have to choose. For me until I hit BSL my focus is on length and rapid pace over the other two. I want to get to a length I'm happy with as fast as possible and then work on the condition of the ends and the shape.
Good luck

Thanks you two. I also think growing to BSL - or whatever ends up feeling 'long' on me - and then gradually shaping up is a good idea. It'd be nice to just pass a length goal before worrying about the layers. Plus I figure once they shorter layers grow out it'll be easier to fit them into buns and I'll be able to just forget about them for even longer.

**BerrySara** · March 1st, 2019, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by blackgothicdoll

Thanks you two. I also think growing to BSL - or whatever ends up feeling 'long' on me - and then gradually shaping up is a good idea. It'd be nice to just pass a length goal before worrying about the layers. Plus I figure once they shorter layers grow out it'll be easier to fit them into buns and I'll be able to just forget about them for even longer.

I am in the same dang boat. Uneven layers all over. I find myself weighing almost on a daily basis if I should start cutting to even out the layers but then I freak out about losing length and being stuck in Shoulder to APL forever lol. I am with you all, I think its better to get to a point where it feels long and just micro trim or maintain there for a while. I have no idea where that will be either but I am starting to think APL isn't it lol. I definitely agree that passing a length goal will feel more of an accomplishment.

My struggle is I don't feel comfortable wearing my hair down ever with my current layers all over the place. I have it up in a bun every day (for work) and if I go out its at least half up and half (longest layers) down. That's as good as it gets at least for another year or so. But I am coming to terms with that.

**Aeonian** · March 1st, 2019, 10:54 AM

Hey! I had a moment today, the very first proof that my hair is actually growing (when I look in the mirror I see nothing, just more shrinkage in my ugly layers)
My hair got stuck in the zipper of my jacket!! At first it didn't occur to me that my hair was actually stuck, I literally gasped haha! Unfortunately, I had to rip my hair out the zipper, it hurt a little but I was so happy. Am I being weird?

**Aeonian** · March 1st, 2019, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by BerrySara

I am in the same dang boat. Uneven layers all over. I find myself weighing almost on a daily basis if I should start cutting to even out the layers but then I freak out about losing length and being stuck in Shoulder to APL forever lol. I am with you all, I think its better to get to a point where it feels long and just micro trim or maintain there for a while. I have no idea where that will be either but I am starting to think APL isn't it lol. I definitely agree that passing a length goal will feel more of an accomplishment.

My struggle is I don't feel comfortable wearing my hair down ever with my current layers all over the place. I have it up in a bun every day (for work) and if I go out its at least half up and half (longest layers) down. That's as good as it gets at least for another year or so. But I am coming to terms with that.

I must admit, I don't think I'll make it to APL, shorter hair is luring me back. I'm thinking about a collarbone length bob, getting rid of the layers and maintaining that length for a while. Are you guys also doubting about long hair? I'm afraid that I have to suffer this torturous hairgrowing journey only to find out that I'll look like a witch lol and end up with a bob, for the rest of my life

**Begemot** · March 1st, 2019, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Aeonian

Hey! I had a moment today, the very first proof that my hair is actually growing (when I look in the mirror I see nothing, just more shrinkage in my ugly layers)
My hair got stuck in the zipper of my jacket!! At first it didn't occur to me that my hair was actually stuck, I literally gasped haha! Unfortunately, I had to rip my hair out the zipper, it hurt a little but I was so happy. Am I being weird?

Ah dang, sorry to hear your hair got caught like that! But happy that you're happy

I have some doubts about long hair. My biggest concern is that I may have quite high standards... In the past I felt like my hair never looked healthy and nice enough when it got long. It wasn't good enough even when it had no heat nor dye damage. For some time I put length before health/quality but now I wouldn't keep long, scraggly ends just for the sake of having longer hair. I worry I'm going to want to try keep my ends as neat as possible, making my progress impossibly slow or just cutting back regularly and never getting actually long again. That I'll never be satisfied. I hope that I will be okay with the condition of my hair and that I can be happy with what I have.

**BerrySara** · March 1st, 2019, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Aeonian

I must admit, I don't think I'll make it to APL, shorter hair is luring me back. I'm thinking about a collarbone length bob, getting rid of the layers and maintaining that length for a while. Are you guys also doubting about long hair? I'm afraid that I have to suffer this torturous hairgrowing journey only to find out that I'll look like a witch lol and end up with a bob, for the rest of my life

If you enjoy collarbone length hair, I think that's perfectly fine. Its your hair and you get to wear it however you best enjoy it! Of course its always faster to cut to a specific length than it is to grow it there.

Also I am sorry about your hair getting stuck in the zipper but I can totally understand the pleasant surprise of discovering you have reached a new length!

For me personally though, I am not doubting about long hair. I mean I don't exactly know how long I will grow it to. Things might change depending on how much maintenance it will take but for now I'm super sure I want to grow grow grow. Because I just personally love the look of longer hair with my hair type. Plus I have never had long hair before (past BSL) and just really want to get there and see that I too can accomplish long hair.

Either way its all about your own preferences and what you enjoy the most. To each their own!