Waist | Hip

**alewyn** · August 8th, 2024, 05:38 AM

Hey folks, I haven't been on here in a long time! I've realized that being on technology is not very good for me unless I absolutely have to, so I took a long break.

I'm actually back because I'm feeling really discouraged. I've been stuck at just below waist (for me, about 30") for over a year now. I do trim, but very small amounts (.25"-0.5"), every 3 months or so--really just because my ends are so thin that they seriously bum me out. The kind of trimming I'm doing should result in still gaining at least 4" of length a year with the pace of my growth, but that's not happening.

I think I need to accept that my terminal length is not much longer than this, and that if I want ends that I don't hate, I'm not going to get past waist.

The photo on the left is from spring 2023. Pic on the right is from February, haven't taken a length shot since, but that's still the length of my hair.

I'm pretty bummed, because in high school I was able to grow my hair at least to hip, and I was really hoping to reach TBL at the very least. But maybe soon I'll have to consider just committing to waist or above for the long term.

**Greengable** · August 14th, 2024, 02:08 AM

Originally Posted by alewyn

Hey folks, I haven't been on here in a long time! I've realized that being on technology is not very good for me unless I absolutely have to, so I took a long break.

I'm actually back because I'm feeling really discouraged. I've been stuck at just below waist (for me, about 30") for over a year now. I do trim, but very small amounts (.25"-0.5"), every 3 months or so--really just because my ends are so thin that they seriously bum me out. The kind of trimming I'm doing should result in still gaining at least 4" of length a year with the pace of my growth, but that's not happening.

I think I need to accept that my terminal length is not much longer than this, and that if I want ends that I don't hate, I'm not going to get past waist.

The photo on the left is from spring 2023. Pic on the right is from February, haven't taken a length shot since, but that's still the length of my hair.

I'm pretty bummed, because in high school I was able to grow my hair at least to hip, and I was really hoping to reach TBL at the very least. But maybe soon I'll have to consider just committing to waist or above for the long term.

Maybe it's not the terminal and you do something that stops it? I'm not an expert, I don't know, but maybe it's a time. It looks beautiful, long and healthy and I love those curls 😍

**rosenester** · August 19th, 2024, 09:09 AM

Welcome back aelwyn. You waves are looking very nice in the more recent picture. I hope you are less discouraged by the growth. Maybe you’ve just had a slower growing year. I have short spells where I have no measurable growth, and figure it’s nutrition or stress related.

Hopefully you figure something out that works for you

**Bat** · August 22nd, 2024, 03:04 AM

Originally Posted by alewyn

Hey folks, I haven't been on here in a long time! I've realized that being on technology is not very good for me unless I absolutely have to, so I took a long break.

I'm actually back because I'm feeling really discouraged. I've been stuck at just below waist (for me, about 30") for over a year now. I do trim, but very small amounts (.25"-0.5"), every 3 months or so--really just because my ends are so thin that they seriously bum me out. The kind of trimming I'm doing should result in still gaining at least 4" of length a year with the pace of my growth, but that's not happening.

I think I need to accept that my terminal length is not much longer than this, and that if I want ends that I don't hate, I'm not going to get past waist.

The photo on the left is from spring 2023. Pic on the right is from February, haven't taken a length shot since, but that's still the length of my hair.

I'm pretty bummed, because in high school I was able to grow my hair at least to hip, and I was really hoping to reach TBL at the very least. But maybe soon I'll have to consider just committing to waist or above for the long term.

I understand how discouraged you would be not having length gain, but look how much the quality his improved since the photo on the left, that is something to be proud of.

**alewyn** · August 22nd, 2024, 07:45 AM

Thank you all for the encouragement! (I've been having tech difficulties with the forum and it won't let me quote-reply to people individually for some reason). I'm definitely happier with the quality of my hair and my texture these days, so that is nice. I hope y'all are right that it is just a temporary stall. For the last two or three years my health has been much better than it ever was before, and the hair from that timeframe (12"-18") is visibly thicker than the longer lengths, so I'm hopeful both that the thickness will travel down and that I'm still shedding some shorter-growth-cycle hairs from my unhealthier days, but the healthier stuff will get longer. My longest hairs are 30", so about five years old at my growth rate, and back then I was... not taking good care of myself, so it would make sense if that hair has a short terminal. I think I'll stick with the occasional little trim for a while longer and see what happens, but I'm still finding ways to enjoy my hair despite the apparent lack of progress. I'm growing out my henna because I have some silvers coming in and I want to go gray naturally (I love gray hair!), so watching my natural color come back has been fun. I've been allowing myself to wear it down every so often, as well, which is a lot of fun. So I'm still on the journey, for sure, but it's up and down!

**shayna** · February 25th, 2025, 05:15 PM

Hello, my peoples! This is the group I belong in, and I'll probably be here forever, because if my longest strands manage to reach Hip Length, then I will want to keep trimming until eventually some thickness develops at the hemline. If it can.
Also, I have a very long waist to crotch measurement (I found this out the uncomfortable way when high waisted jeans were popular, ouchy!), but my bust to waist measurement is very short. It was like "Hey, I'm at BSL!' then about two weeks later 'Hey, I'm at waist!'. But now it's like 'Okay, this is gonna be years and years!'.

**Albact** · June 7th, 2025, 05:27 AM

I'm joining this thread! I don't know what final length I want yet, but I feel less pressured if I just think about the next milestone.
According to my calculations, even with my slowly hair growth, I could reach hip length by the end of the year if nothing bad happens.
That would be a great way to end 2025!

**Albact** · July 3rd, 2025, 05:16 PM

Lately I can't stop thinking about cutting my hair to improve my hemline. I've never let a year go by between haircuts and now I remember why. I wish I could wait until I get to hip length but I think that would only make me more anxious about growing my hair.

I would have to go to a hair salon, but I'm afraid they'll cut my hair too short (like in previous experiences) or that I will want to change my hair colour (I also think about this a lot because blonde is not a grateful colour and I would like to try a reddish colour someday).

I feel bad because with this length I was starting to feel good and it is easier to manage my curly hair. But at the same time I want to start getting rid of a layer I've since 2023.
My hair grows less than a centimeter a month so just 4 cm can be half a year. :/ And depending on how much they cut, I might go back to mbl, the hair length I like the least. I don't know what to do, I see advantages and disadvantages in both options. What do you think?

**Spitfire** · July 3rd, 2025, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by Albact

Lately I can't stop thinking about cutting my hair to improve my hemline. I've never let a year go by between haircuts and now I remember why. I wish I could wait until I get to hip length but I think that would only make me more anxious about growing my hair.

I would have to go to a hair salon, but I'm afraid they'll cut my hair too short (like in previous experiences) or that I will want to change my hair colour (I also think about this a lot because blonde is not a grateful colour and I would like to try a reddish colour someday).

I feel bad because with this length I was starting to feel good and it is easier to manage my curly hair. But at the same time I want to start getting rid of a layer I've since 2023.
My hair grows less than a centimeter a month so just 4 cm can be half a year. :/ And depending on how much they cut, I might go back to mbl, the hair length I like the least. I don't know what to do, I see advantages and disadvantages in both options. What do you think?

I've got trim urges, too. I know I'll have instant regret if I blow the no-trimming 2nd half 2025 challenge, and all I'll be able to think about is how much length I could have had if I just held on a little longer.
That said, I say this a lot, most of us seem to wind up surprised at how much a tiny trim improves the hemline. Earlier this year, I did just a little 1/4" trim and my hemline looked fresh. I didn't expect it to make such a difference. Hair texture makes a difference to some degree, but a little tiny trim goes a long way, and it minimizes the regret factor!

Be upfront with the hairdresser - make absolutely sure that they know you only want a tiny bit off, and that it's extremely important to you that they don't take off more than a half inch to an inch or so. Be assertive (not in a rude way of course lol) and clear about it, and if you have a good hairdresser, they should understand. If they don't seem to be understanding, go to someone else.

**Albact** · July 5th, 2025, 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by Spitfire

I did just a little 1/4" trim and my hemline looked fresh. I didn't expect it to make such a difference. A little tiny trim goes a long way, and it minimizes the regret factor!

Be upfront with the hairdresser - make absolutely sure that they know you only want a tiny bit off, and that it's extremely important to you that they don't take off more than a half inch to an inch or so.

Thanks for your help, Spitfire! And your hemline improved with just a 1/4" trim? Wow, I thought at least a little more was needed. You have given me hope!

And about finding a hairdresser I trust... I've had so many bad experiences. A hairdresser (that I've known since I was little) was cutting my hair the way I wanted it, and suddenly she cut off too much, from collarbone/armpit length to chin/shoulder length. I stared in horror. And she just asked me: now I'll match everything, right? It was impossible to fix that without cutting more! And then she gave me a layer at ear length which is the one I'm trying to get rid of now.

A friend recommended a hairdresser to me and she swears that she will only cut what I tell her to. I think it's going to be my last chance. If it goes wrong, I'll start cutting my own hair.