January 5, 2008
Because I haven't rambled excessively about hair in a long time
well, unless you count the random rambling and yesterday's mention.
Which I guess should count.
So I need a new title, but will forget before I think of one. Sorry. Maybe I should call it "Random kim's hair thoughts that you probably already know" ~ an enticing title if I ever saw one!
I used to measure my hair every month ~ for those of you not in the know, you can measure from the hairline and stretch out any curls to get a more or less accurate measurement of hair growth over time. Did you know the average person's hair grows about 1/2" a month? As a curly girl, most of my growth sproings up and is difficult if not impossible to gauge.
So I started measuring it so that I could pat myself on the back and say "Look, your hair really IS growing!"
What I didn't forsee is how very uneven it grows. Between postpartum/hormonal loss over the last 12 years (I really don't think the idea that you only shed what you didn't during pregnancy is true for me, I think my hair has thinned considerably over the last 12 years) and whatever else might cause it, even when I've confirmed THAT it was growing, I've been disappointed with HOW it's grown. First I tried the "as much length, no trimming" method, and ended up with thinning scraggly uneven hair. So then I got it chopped way back and started trimming it every 3-4 months, which the stylist even said shouldn't be too bad if I were to grow it out. I didn't keep going to her, though, she really didn't seem excited about the prospect, I got very "yeah, whatever" vibes from her when I went back for a trim. I don't know. So anyway, I've been having The Grand Lunar or iCat use Feye's method to trim up 1/2" - 1" every 3-4 months. Which you'd think would be enough to keep the ends evenish.
But not so. Apparently much of my thinning and uneven V-shaped growth is 1.) just the way things grow and/or 2.) the results of my postpartum excessive shedding.
I guess I said all this yesterday, I apologize for rambling profusely on things you already read. here's the real point ~ here's what my hair looks like yesterday. The curls are slightly more uneven than usual because my hair dried while I was wearing a hoodie, so the curls bunched up over/on the hood. But still, you get the gist.
It's at 27" at it's longest, but, sadly, there's not much of it making it to that length. Or, like before, even a few inches up. I'd have to cut WAY back, again, to even up and have a 'blunt hemline'
So ... like before ... I'm left wondering what to do. I don't want to give up my long hair dreams. But it seems silly to keep trying to grow it out when it grows so uneven and scraggly.
So (and I am in no way implying I'll take anyone's suggestions, but it's still fun to read them) what do you think? What might you do?
Oh, and the color - interesting, eh? What you see there is "temporary lasts up to 6 weeks" color not fading out, which is why most of it looks a nice warm brown. If you look close you can see gray peeking through the roots. And look even closer you can see my burgundy streaks, which I believe I forgot to tell you about. I bought some burgundy permanent color, but applied it only in a few streaks. 8 total, most hidden NOT at the edge or part line, so I can either hide them or expose them as I see fit.
Here's a dorky picture of me looking up at the camera trying to take a pic of the stripes. Pretend the wrinkles on my forehead are because I'm looking up, rather than because I look very old.
What do you think?
Posted by Kim at January 5, 2008 8:29 AMI think you need to get back to organizing the house. You have WAY too much time on your hands! :-)
Seriously, even though you might not take my advice, I don't want to deny you the fun of reading it, so here it is...I relate to your dreams of long hair--I've had the same dream all my life--but you're not happy with the results. So, can this just be a dream that you give up? Sometimes we have to do that, as much as we hate to. I personally don't think uneven hair looks attractive on anyone...and you are way too pretty to let your hair--and your hair dreams--detract from your overall attractiveness.
My solution: keep it trimmed about shoulder length as you did once before, nice and even...keep it clean and healthy, and use the funky colors sparingly if at all. After a period of time, you may begin to embrace your new look!
Love, Betsy
Posted by: Betsy at January 5, 2008 12:16 PMSee, now, Kim, I've always longed for curly hair, but gave up the reality of that dream several years ago. My super-fine, straight as a pin hair pulls out a perm in a matter of hours. I decided that I just have to live with straight hair. Some days that is good...some days I look at my own little curly top girl with extreme jealousy. :)
Posted by: Barbie at January 6, 2008 9:31 AMKim, I have not trimmed or cut my hair in over 25 years. Yes, hair grows unevenly, but what I have learned is that while the center back of my hair grew the fastest at first, now the sides are catching up and I have almost reached a "blunt cut" look that is well below my hips. I never worry about the amount of grey that shows, because I feel like I earned every one of those and if anyone wants to ask about them, I can give them a run-down. (By the way, my hair is naturally curly, also, and has a tendency to frizz in damp weather, even as long as it is! Frizz-Ease is a wonderful formula!!)
Posted by: Theresa at January 6, 2008 2:46 PMWhat do I think? I think you're cute! Very, extremely cute! You make me smile.
Do you ever use a hair straightener and straighten your hair? Your curly look is pretty, but maybe if once in a while you straighten it you could have icat trim the ends then (and see what happens when they boing back to their normal spot after you wash it again) and also really have a delicious sense of how very long your hair is.
Really I'm the last person in the world to go to for hair advice, but it's fun to read about your hair. Liliana posted about hair recently, too. And John, whose blog is linked to hers, says that his posts about his hair get the most hits of all his posts. Very interesting, I think.
(You're looking at me right now, from one eye that's directly gazing into the lens beneath the wrinkled brow, behind the posting spot, and I think you agree with me!)
Posted by: Judy at January 8, 2008 9:04 AMHi Kim!
You and I have different types of hair. But let me tell you what I do to control my curls/waves. I don't have a blunt cut as you know. My hair is not all one length, but is more "v" shaped. This may work for you or it may not. I wash my hair in the evening, oil the ends then let it dry a tiny bit. Then I bend over and gather all of my hair with a scrunchie. Then I twist my damp hair and wrap it up in a loose messy bun right on the top of my head. The bun is held by tiny claw clips. I sleep like this through the night. In the morning my hair is slightly damp and when I take it down the curls/waves are uniform all over and pronounced. Sometimes when I know I'm going somewhere the next day I will put some mousse in my hair before I bun it. It takes any frizz away. And I'll scrunch it a tiny bit with my hands too.
Keep experimenting and you'll eventually know what works for your curls. I think they are beautiful and it's just a matter of working with them at this length.
Daisy, thanks I might try that!
Judy - I do occasionally straighten it the "old fashioned" way (Long Hair Loomites, cover your eyes!) with a hair dryer and round brush. I'm considering getting a ceramic straightener for occasional use.
I have to confess, I had iliacat trim my hair yesterday. We trimmed about 4" off - yikes. But even that was VERY uneven -- at the top of the 4" "ponytail" the hair was less than a pencil width in diameter.
I still want to grow my hair long, but I don't think until it evens out, it will look very good. So we'll see if I can get a few years of non-shedding in while keeping the ends evened as it grows, and maybe I can start in a few years from a better, thicker "hemline" ...
maybe I'll get another hair pic tomorrow for you. If you're not all sick of my hair by then. LOL.
Posted by: Kim at January 8, 2008 9:52 PMI think you should bring back the blonde stripe! LOL My husband has long hair fantasies as that is what I had when we met. However, he does not have to try and deal with it day in and day out so he no longer has a choice.
I think you are WAY too pretty to go for the scraggly look. I hope that you will accept your hair and maybe do some more experimenting ( and blogging about it!).
P.S. Don't remind me about the wrinkles and gray hair - our birthdays are coming up next month!!!
