Trying to grow long hair for the first time...

[Cibo]

As the subject says...I'm trying to grow long hair for my first time to see what it would be like. Is there anything I should know about before and during the process? Like should I shave off some of my hair so it will grow more even or what? I'm starting from a 2 month old crewcut, so its barely long...maybe to the first joint in a finger...would appreciate any help.

 

[Wiggles]

These are my words of advice, and I've grown my hair long plenty of times. But I am a girl, that might make a difference?

First, do get it trimmed every once in a while. It actually makes it grow faster, especially if you have any split ends (and you might get some later on).

Second, deal with it. It's going to have a funky stage where you just can't do anything with it. Get some hair gel, get freaky with it.

Third, once it's long enough to put in a pony tail, do so. Hair grows faster when it's up. I don't know why, but it does.

Fourth, bathe your hair in miracle grow, every night. Actually I'm just kidding, to see if your actually listening! I am a very sneaky girl.

Good luck!

 

[Trinka]

It all depends on how fast your hair grows. I had hair down past my waste last year, but stupidly I cut it all off. So, I'm now in the same boat you are and growing it back. YAY, I'm just getting past my shoulders now.

A few things that helped my hair: FIRST and always, remember the hair is "old". My hair grows about 1/2" a month and the hair was 2-3 feet long, which means it was well over four years old. I rarely had trouble with split ends and my hair dresser said my hair was always in great condition.

Keeping that in mind, I NEVER blow dried my hair. NEVER, don't think of it EVER.

I washed my hair at the most, twice a week. This may sound gross to some people, but the less you wash your hair, the less oil comes out. Again, this comes back to the concept that the hair has been around for a while. Shampoos, even delicate ones and ones with conditioners, I believe, "damage" the hair.

Condition your hair. The hair dries out with age. I use VO5 hot oil treatment.

Coloring your hair - unless you're going to keep it up, don't do it. Again, if you want your hair really long, hair colors will damage the hair and make it weaker.

Good luck and happy hair!

 

[Moridin187]

Invest in a brush, immediately, and start brushing your hair as soon as it gets over a couple inches. Combing it when it's more than two or three inches long gets painful, and it pulls it all out by the roots.. Take this from a guy who almost combed himself bald and can no longer grow his hair long

 

[WhiteRose]

I am a very sneaky girl.

hehe

I like long hair on guys if it's kept neat and clean. Hair doesn't grow evenly, so trimming now and then really helps keep a neat appearance and also with keeping it healthy. You're starting with it short, so you'll be going through several styles until you get it as long as you want it. Don't worry about shaving it now to keep it even, just adjust as it grows.

 

[Gingersnap]

Take a daily vitamin with E in it and get lots of exercise and rest. It works cause my hair grows an inch a month. My hairdresser cannot believe it grows so fast.

 

[Wiggles]

Take this from a guy who almost combed himself bald and can no longer grow his hair long

Oh why do men try to brush their own hair?

Use conditioner, put it over your shoulder, and hold it in the middle. Now brush at the Bottom. Work your way up, slowly, until you get more practice.

It's not supposed to hurt!

 

[seXieleXie]

ack!

cutting your hair DOES NOT MAKE IT GROW FASTER. you just notice it more. that is common folklore. *sigh* you need to trim it from time to time to keep it neat, but that doesn't make it grow faster.

 

[Moridin187]

Oh why do men try to brush their own hair?

Use conditioner, put it over your shoulder, and hold it in the middle. Now brush at the Bottom. Work your way up, slowly, until you get more practice.

It's not supposed to hurt!

NOW somebody tells me!! I swear, my dad slipped the barber a $50 to tell me to just cut it or I was gonna go bald... I asked her if there were any alternatives and she just said "no"..

It's not fair!!!! I miss my hair!!

 

[Cibo]

Thanks for the replies everyone. My hair really does grow fast also. I don't know how fast since I never measured it each month. But it just feels like I got a mop up there after a little bit. (This coming from when I was too lazy to cut my hair until I couldn't stand it anymore) But I'm gonna deal with it and just let it grow out. And when you guys say trim it when needed or whatnot...what do you mean by trim? Just cut all the outside hair off to make it even or what?

 

[Wiggles]

Usually you'll only need a trim if your hair has split ends, which usually comes from blow-drying, chlorine exposure, harsh chemicals....

But if you treat your hair right, like Trinka does, you would only need to trim it for propriety's sake. (To make it look cool)

You don't actually have to trim it, it just makes it look better.

 

[Cibo]

Ah ok...I'm just afraid that with long hair, my hair will go curley. Since if I let my hair grow out more than normal...I get like waves in my hair. Dunno if I want that or not.

 

[Lost Cause]

You've taken the first step away from cultural domestication by letting it grow, congrats! The best advice is let it grow for now, when it gets long enough you'll know what to do with it. Everyone in the "herd" is going to try to pressure you to go back into the mold.... friends, family, and the media. I get the best results by having my particular occupation dictate my length...for me not someone else! If I'm around running machinery, or things burning, I'll try headgear first.
Use your own situations to determine how long. A small suggestion, when it gets long enough, borrow a motorcycle and go for a spin! Nothing gives me a rush as being at speed with my hair flying! Wooooooeeeeeeeeeee! Enjoy!
Remember, Hitler and Stalin had short hair.....

 

[perks]

eat jello.

 

[perks]

that comment had nothing to do with my story. It's a gelatin thing. It's good for your hair, and nails too.

I have hair down to my ass.

 

[Guest]

 

[Beethoven'sFire]

Comb your hair once a day in the morning. Wear it in braids through the day and night.

Don't blow dry your hair.

Don't curl it, perm it, or dye it. No unneccesary chemicals. Don't use hair spray.

If you want to go by wives tales, cut your hair only on the waxing moon. I haven't cut my hair for four years.

I can easily sit on it.

 

[Demian]

Lions Don't Put make-up on Their Face

These are my words of advice, and I've grown my hair long plenty of times. But I am a girl, that might make a difference?

First, do get it trimmed every once in a while. It actually makes it grow faster, especially if you have any split ends (and you might get some later on).

Second, deal with it. It's going to have a funky stage where you just can't do anything with it. Get some hair gel, get freaky with it.

Third, once it's long enough to put in a pony tail, do so. Hair grows faster when it's up. I don't know why, but it does.

Fourth, bathe your hair in miracle grow, every night. Actually I'm just kidding, to see if your actually listening! I am a very sneaky girl.

Good luck!

Just let it Grow

 

[Caria Knight]

The best thing you can do is just let it grow and avoid as much "hair products" as possible. Keep an eye on it and if you get split ends, get a trim. Trim off only the damaged hair. It's going to get to an annoying length, you have to just cope with it to get by or you'll end up cutting it. Knowing this in advance is half the battle! Don't blow dry unless you really have to. They say you shouldn't wash your hair every day, maybe every other but I think that depends on the person. If you have dry hair, that's fine but if you have oily hair (like I do) you just have to wash it. My hair is so oily and think that I have to wash AND condition it every day or I can't get a brush through it. If you can get away with it, I'd say don't condition more then once a week and when you do use a good one that removed build up. My hair is all one length and down to my ass, it can be a real pain sometimes so figure out now where abouts you want it. Cause if you let it go longer and it becomes bothersome, you'll probably cut it too short then regret it.

The most important thing to remember right now is that it's gonna take time and a lot of it considering the length your at now. So mentally prepair yourself for the long haul.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[kotori]

The scope and variety of threads here still amazes me after nearly four months. I'm going for the Albus Dumbledore look myself--I figure by the time I've got the length right, the color won't be far behind, since I'm already started on that.

 

[phrodeau]

I too have ass-length hair.

I used sprays when it was at inconvenient lengths, before the bangs stayed up.

I blow-dry it regularly.

I brush it out thoroughly twice a day.

I keep it secured in high winds to avoid the pain of brushing it out.

I wash it two or three times a week, with conditioner.

I've NEVER seen a split-end on my head.

 

[Cibo]

Ok, so I won't cut my hair until it needs trimming. And I'll keep combing it until it gets to be like an inch long or so. Then I'll buy a brush. Hope that sounds good.

 

[bluemuse]

Don't forget...

....to eat right and take you vitamins!! Your hair's health is a direct reflection of your eating habits.....or so I've heard.

Get enough rest...avoid stress...and enjoy!

I'm growing my hair out right now as well...I can't wait till it's down to my waist again...

good luck!

bluemuse

 

[Cibo]

Well sleep will be no problem. Vitamins and stres...well thats another story.

 

[Mae13]

Vitamins!

I was going to recommend this one Cibo, looks like some others beat me to it. Women often talk about how amazingly fast their hair and nails grow while taking prenatal vitamins! However, you don't necessarily need that exact kind, hehe! Any good multivitamin will do, hell; chewing 2 Flintstones will do you as right as those big nasty-tasting multivitamins do!

Good luck...and just keep it clean! Nothing like long, clean hair to look damn sexy on a fellow!

*hugs*
Mae (who sometimes misses her long hair....*sigh*)