The "No End Goal" Thread: Enjoying the Journey

[KokoroDragon]

That is interesting Bri-Chan. Maybe your chop gave you new perspective?

[Nesoi]

1. What was your starting point, and how long ago was it?

I buzzed my hair in 2012. Several big chops since then though.

2. What made you decide to grow your hair?

I had long hair before buzzing it but I didn't know how to look after it. I had dyed and backcombed and all sorts. I found LHC in 2012 and decided to start fresh.

3. Do you enjoy the process of growing your hair out?

Yes. I've donated it three times.

4. If you had to make a wild guess, where do you think you'll find your hair's "sweet spot"? Have you had that length in the past?

To be honest last time it grew past waist I didn't like it so...now? But I'm hoping this time around I will learn to love the longer lengths.

5. Are you more interested in gaining length, or gaining thickness? Or are you just "meh" about your hair?

My hair is thick enough for me so it's length I am after.

6. Do you trim your hair?

Yes and no. Not as a routine but I will if my ends feel gross.

7. Has your routine changed since you've been on LHC?

I've tried lots of different things but I have the best results just shampooing and conditioning with the odd deep treatment thrown in. I did stop using heat though.

8. Do you consider your hair to be a big part of who you are?

I think so. When half - literally - of it fell out in 2019 following surgery I was very upset even though it was only chin length at the time.

9. Does taking care of your hair make you happy, or is it more of a chore?

I don't love washing it but I like braiding and bunning.

10. Do you think you are more likely to eventually land on one length, or try several different ones and change it up?

History tells me I'll chop it again but my heart says go for terminal!

[Begemot]

Seems like a thread for me

1. What was your starting point, and how long ago was it?
- I started growing my hair 2010, from APL to waist, but my hair was so damaged and thin that the actual long hair journey started only after I joined here 2012.
2. What made you decide to grow your hair?
- My hair was breaking and looking thin and awful, so I did a complete 180 and stopped hair dye and heat and just let it grow. Just for change, I guess.
3. Do you enjoy the process of growing your hair out?
- Usually yeah, I like having a (hair) project. I'm more chill about my length after WL.
4. If you had to make a wild guess, where do you think you'll find your hair's "sweet spot"? Have you had that length in the past?
- WL is safe and "long enough" for me.
5. Are you more interested in gaining length, or gaining thickness? Or are you just "meh" about your hair?
- I try to make my ends as thick as possible. I'll grow until it becomes too impractical or I feel like cutting.
6. Do you trim your hair?
- Yes, twice a year typically.
7. Has your routine changed since you've been on LHC?
- I used to experiment more and try a lot of DIY stuff but now adding some honey in my conditioner is as DIY as I get these days. I had a product hoarding phase but got over that and have a pretty steady routine.
8. Do you consider your hair to be a big part of who you are?
- Yes, in the sense that I would be devastated if I lost my hair (like I would be if something sudden and unexpected and out of my control happened to any part of my appearance). I don't think it's about femininity or a spiritual thing. Long, healthy hair is simply pretty.
9. Does taking care of your hair make you happy, or is it more of a chore?
- Most of the time I enjoy my hair care.
10. Do you think you are more likely to eventually land on one length, or try several different ones and change it up?
- I know I will keep trying different lengths, but will always go back to growing long

[sarana]

Okay okay, I guess I'll try this too. My ends are so uneven that it's hard for me to determine my current length, and my goal is pretty much just "get it as long as my thin hair type will allow"

1. What was your starting point, and how long ago was it?
I've been trying to grow my hair long always. Had a frustration/rebellion pixie in 2006. Before and after that it was always APL-BSL, even though I didn't really trim or chop.

2. What made you decide to grow your hair?
It just always was what I wanted. Fantasy was a big influence too. (And the metalheads i guess lol.)
Hair feels like capital to me. And spiritual.

3. Do you enjoy the process of growing your hair out?
It's been frustrating at times to see no progress after years of trying, but I've learned a lot

4. If you had to make a wild guess, where do you think you'll find your hair's "sweet spot"? Have you had that length in the past?
Well my original goal was waist, because I think it's a very balanced and nice length. I think I might like TBL or Classic if I get there, and I don't think my hair type will allow for more than that. If all else fails, BSL has always served me well. Very long hair may not work for my dance hobby, but I have to get there first to see.

5. Are you more interested in gaining length, or gaining thickness? Or are you just "meh" about your hair?
Length. Thickness is never gonna happen no matter what I do

6. Do you trim your hair?
Once or twice a year by myself. But right now I'm trying to avoid even that to see what happens

7. Has your routine changed since you've been on LHC?
Yeah (well some of it has come from YT and blogs, but). I think the biggest difference has been to do everything to avoid tangles and breakage. I do now place a big emphasis on conditioning, gentler brushing, braids and buns, and satin bonnets/pillowcases. These have actually made a noticeable difference, at least in my hair quality.

8. Do you consider your hair to be a big part of who you are?
Yes I do. I hate it when other people try to meddle with it, it's part of me.

9. Does taking care of your hair make you happy, or is it more of a chore?
Both? Often it feels like a chore, but often I also enjoy the sensations it gives me.

10. Do you think you are more likely to eventually land on one length, or try several different ones and change it up?
I'm a one length type of person, I just want to get it as long as I can and then stay there.


I think my hair is actually now the longest it has ever been, with the longest tips almost at hip when stretched. I think they may reach BCL by the end of summer, if I don't trim them. The taper however is very severe and the actual thickness doesn't reach below the APL-BSL line where it has always stalled.

[rosenester]

I love reading this thread, and I love the questions. I make goals, but just milestone to milestone until it ‘feels long enough’ so I may belong here, but for now I’ll just read all the answers!
thanks for creating this thread <3

[vampyyri]

Every day especially with the shrinkage from my wurls! I really have no idea when I'll stop thinking that or if the LHC-itis is hitting me again who knows, because I certainly don't lol

This "not long enough" feeling hit me pretty hard yesterday. I was admiring someone else's hair which was between APL and BSL and of course I was like "I wish my hair was that long", but... I'm definitely past that mile marker Maybe it's the shrinkage really messes with my perception, I'm not used to that part yet. Or maybe it's just because we're our own worst critics.

It's probably a combination of both, funny how our brains work

[Bat]

I take back what I said it did get done

I'm here again, I think having length goals are pointless with my track record I'm back to buzz after another bleach disaster I guess my new goal is to get to 105 days without buzzing my head again so Tuesday
12 September 2023

[vampyyri]

I take back what I said it did get done

I'm here again, I think having length goals are pointless with my track record I'm back to buzz after another bleach disaster I guess my new goal is to get to 105 days without buzzing my head again so Tuesday
12 September 2023

I think it might be easier to take it one step at a time rather than looking at the full picture, because I know that can be really overwhelming. I know you like to have fun with your hair and try new things, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that so don't beat yourself up over it. We're here to support you no matter what you're doing with your hair, and that's the beauty of this community because there's a lot of people who are on different hair journeys

[Bat]

I think it might be easier to take it one step at a time rather than looking at the full I know that can be really overwhelming. I know you like to have fun with your hair and try new things, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that so don't beat yourself up over it. We're here to support you no matter what you're doing with your hair, and that's the beauty of this community because there's a lot of people who are on different hair journeys

Indeed it's true, one day at a time. I have done it before I'm sure I can do it again

[Bri-Chan]

That is interesting Bri-Chan. Maybe your chop gave you new perspective?

Sorry for the late reply. I think that since I'm not actively growing my hair I'm less focused on inches and milestones. I'm more relaxed about my hair in general.
Also, on websites like this one, where is common to see very long hair, obviously our perception it's different but in real life I don't think someone would ever consider my hair not long.