Letting My Hair Grow [Archive] - Simple Living Forums

Sad Eyed Lady

1-25-12, 9:54am

Growing up in the '60's I wore my hair long, long, straight and parted in the middle. I had very straight hair so this worked well for me and was how I looked all through my teen years and early adult years. I eventually cut it to mid back or shoulder length at times, but then several years ago I started wearing it shorter much as you see in my picture here. This photo was taken less than a year ago and the layers with bangs has been my look now for awhile. But, lately I put off getting a hair cut until I finally thought that I would just let it grow again. So, here in my 60th year I have once more started the old look I used to have, (although not as long - I don't think I would go that far!), and you know what? I like it. The hard part I am trying to be patient with is the bangs growing out. But, they're getting there and my hair does tend to grow fast.

Old hippie returns! LOL!!!:D

SiouzQ.

1-25-12, 10:15am

Yay for you! I, too, am re-growing my hair, after chopping off all my coppery/burgundy (or shall I say, color "enhanced") curls last May and spending the next three months cursing the blow dryer and hair styling products every morning. I realized I just don't feel like me with short hair anymore, even though my entire life I have switched from one extreme or another. I can almost get it all to stay up in one of those "clippy" things when I want it out of my face. I reread my "Curly Girl" handbook for inspiration and management of the curls and frizz and am motivated to keep them well hydrated with natural product mixtures I can make at home. I am also learning creative ways to pin the curls as my hair drys to give it more lift and bounce.
I'm happy to be getting back to my crazy wild hair, plus it looks good on-stage! No more fighting what nature graced me with!

mtnlaurel

1-25-12, 12:08pm

Me too!!!

I have always kept my hair shoulder length or longer, except for some Punk/'New Wave'/then Molly Ringwald inspired mistakes in the 70s/80s

SiouzQ - thanks for book rec. - I just put it on hold at library
I have used a website called naturallycurly.com and have started implementing some of those things slowly

I recently got a great cut, I only do it twice a year and this seems like one that has staying power and will grow well.
I went to a new place and the guy put the full court press on suggesting a straightening Keratin treatment in the future ??? -- I had heard a snippet somewhere that it had formaldehyde in it.... NO THANKS!
I survived the unneeded perms (for me- my hair is plenty curly) of the 80s and that's enough

One nice thing about not doing much to your hair is it stays in great condition

Float On

1-25-12, 2:33pm

I'm growing my hair out too. I should update my profile photo sometime. I'm enjoying the longer hair again and trying so hard not to be fussy with it and just let the curls do their thing. My hair grows slow though, I wish it would grow faster.

Blackdog Lin

1-25-12, 8:44pm

Timely topic for me, as I am also growing mine out. But in my case it is "anti-simplicity", and I can't decide lately whether it's worth it or not.

I have very curly hair, and for years have had a short "wash-n-wear" cut: wash, fluff with afro-comb, and go. But for some very stupid reason last winter I got it into my mind to try blow-drying it straight again (as I struggled with daily in the 70's - curly hair was definitely "OUT" in the 70's), and really liked the look. Straight hair is just more shiny and glossy and younger-looking somehow. So a year later I'm now buying mousse regularly and doing the blow-dryer thing every morning, and growing it out even longer. More expense, more time usage. What am I thinking?!!! Shades of my teenage years!

Would one of y'all please talk some sense into me? I fear that next I'll be spending $60.00 a month on coloring the stuff (friends and acquaintances keep saying "ooh, I really like your new hairdo. But you should color it - it'd be so much prettier."

I quit coloring 5-6 years ago and have a nice salt-n-pepper thing going on. But they're right - I WOULD look better with a good haircoloring. But it's all coming from this darn straight hairstyle.

I must get back to my simple living roots (hee hee). I must go back to my curly wash-n-wear non-trendy and boring-color hairstyle. Thank y'all for letting me have this conversation with myself. I need to go back to my true hair self. I shall get an appointment next week. As Sioux-Q said, I need to go back to not fighting what Mother Nature gave me. :)

I think.....

Tiam

1-25-12, 9:15pm

I have my long hair, though it stalls at shoulder length. What I am doing is not dyeing it and growing out the gray.

Wildflower

1-25-12, 11:22pm

My hair is long - just had 3 inches cut off my mid back length. It is my natural color - light brown with grey streaks. I love it, DH loves it... I've been a hippie all my life, and now I'm for sure an old hippie! >8)

pony mom

1-26-12, 12:46am

I've had short hair my whole life; the last 20 years have been short and spiky or a pixie. Since November 2009 I've been growing it out from a pixie, with a cut here and there to make a style or even it out (it was turning into a mullet in the beginning). I must say, I always thought short hair was easy, but this is much easier. I only blowdry it twice a week and the next day I wear it in a ponytail.

I've been trying to keep it healthy so it's only washed 3 times a week, mostly doing a conditioner only wash. Just found out that my hair HATES protein, which is in the shampoo I use once every two weeks.

The hardest part, I agree, is growing out the bangs. I've some gray here and there, including one nasty streak in the front. Since I work in a salon/spa, they've talked me into subtle highlights and I really love them. I do look much better with shorter hair, but I'm 45 and this the first and only time I'm going to grow it long. I made it this far--it's a few inches above bra strap length in the back. If/when I do cut it short again, I'll be sure it's long enough to donate for Locks of Love (usually 10")

I've always complained about women who were afraid to or didn't want to cut their hair short. Now I've become one of them. Since it's taken so long to grow, when I get a trim I'm terrified they'll take off too much.

SiouzQ.

1-26-12, 12:51am

I just came back from my open mic, which I went to with my hair all pinned up with loose tendrils escaping and I got a lot of complements! I realize now I feel way too status quo with that short styled hair I had. The hippie-chick is emerging and I'm GLAD she's back! I could use a dye job though! I'm on the fence about THAT...I did buy some dye today, but I'm so sick of doing it! However, there is no graceful way to back out, unless I cut my hair really short again, which I'm NOT going to do right now.
The plan is to grow my hair out and dye it for the next 10 years and then when I'm sixty I'll shave it all off and let it grow back in naturally!

Sissy

1-26-12, 11:14am

I know that we always want what we don't have, but I so envy those of you that have curly hair! Mine is thick enough, but stick straight and will not hold any kind of a curl, so I keep it in a pixy cut. So darn easy, I must admit. Just wash and fluff with blow dryer.

I actually have thot about letting it grow and just keeping it pinned up and forgetting the scissors, but long straight hair makes me look old. I don't think I could endure that growing out stage. I would be ok if it were already long, but my hair really grows soooo sloooowwww.

I just love those long naturally curly locks that look like that won't be contained! And you can tell what is natural or not.

I am really wild and free underneath this chubby pixy facade! ROFL

pinkytoe

1-26-12, 12:18pm

Growing out my short-layered cut but attempting to keep some layers around the face, ie bangs. For now, I am dealing with the crazy in between mullett looking thing.
Keep me from the scissors or I will start chopping.
I have stick straight hair too so always a challenge.

Mrs-M

1-31-12, 9:55am

That's great, Shalom. You don't find the maintenance aspect (of longer hair) a challenge or stumbling block I assume. Myself, I've always kept mine medium length, styled in a sassy/tousled or updo fashion (mostly). My husband goes googly for me when my hair is up! Drives him wild.

Sissy

1-31-12, 7:17pm

Spartana

1-31-12, 10:39pm

I have very long (almost waist length) straight naturally blonde hair with long bangs. Sort of a "Daryl Hannah in the '80's" look - and probably what she has now too. We are about the same age and have similair physiques so that long straight look doesn't look too "old" for us old broads :-)!. It's super easy to care for with no styling required - just wash and wear and trim a couple of times a year! Lots of style options too - pony tail, pig tail, braid, Princess Leia braids (OK I'll pass on that one), high bun, low bun, all sorts of things you can do with it. I actually find it cooler and more managable than short hair (which I've had - a Meg Ryan choppy "bed head" cut) to play sports in too as I can get it off my neck and face with a doulbe looped pony tail (a pony tail looped back into it self).

Mrs-M

2-1-12, 1:36am

Now, now, Sissy, just because Mrs, precedes my name, doesn't mean I can't have a spicy side to me! LOL!!!

Very nice, Spartana. P.S. Hey, hey, easy on the "old broads" profiling, OK. :)

Sissy

2-1-12, 12:36pm

Nice pic, Spartana!

Spartana

2-1-12, 12:58pm

Nice pic, Spartana!

Unfortuantely i don't look anything like Daryl Hannah but have that '80 hair style (some would say "stuck in the '80s" hair style) that she had back then. The sad thing though is that I've always had the exact same hair style all my life with few exceptions. Be it the 80's, 90's, 00's or now - it's always been long straight hair with bangs. Of couse, like saucy and spicy Mrs. M (we'll have to change that to Madam M :-)!) I wear it in an updo all the time. Even had waist length hair while in the Coast Guard and wore it in a bun (will post pic below!). Very easy.

Shalom Poet - you might want to consider keeping bangs even if you grow your hair. You have a small (petite) face and sometime long straight hair can overwhelm people with small faces. Also, from a practical point, when your hair is dirty or sweaty all you have to do is put it in a pony tail, braid or bun and wet the bangs and blow dry them and it makes your hair look clean and freshly washed. I do this after a workout when I can't wash my hair.

Mrs-M

2-1-12, 3:34pm

Spartana

2-1-12, 4:06pm

LOL, Spartana! Very nice updo style, and whoa, is your hair ever long! Do you ever braid it? I have two daughters, one fancies shorter, more sassy hair, while the other likes hers long. Anyhow, DD with the longer hair FOREVER wanted her hair braided when she was younger, like every day. Braiding can be/is so hard on hair, so there were times I said no, but the little stinker would get her sister to do it for her.

Yep - all the time. I spent years wearing nothing but a braid. I never found that it damaged my hair and I really don't do anything to it at all. Hardly even brush it (and it's always very very messy as you can see :-)!!). I actually think it pretects long hair because it keeps it safe from being wind blown, tangled, rats, and frayed, and needing constant brushing which probably damages more. I put a couple of braided hair photos of me (older pics as I don't have any recent ones) in my albums as they post too big here and I don't know how to make them smaller.

Spartana

2-2-12, 1:46pm

.

I do look much better with shorter hair, but I'm 45 and this the first and only time I'm going to grow it long. I made it this far--it's a few inches above bra strap length in the back. If/when I do cut it short again, I'll be sure it's long enough to donate for Locks of Love (usually 10")

I've always complained about women who were afraid to or didn't want to cut their hair short. Now I've become one of them. Since it's taken so long to grow, when I get a trim I'm terrified they'll take off too much.

My sister just cut off her butt length hair to about mid back (underarm length) and donated it to Locks of Love and I'm thinking of doing the same soon and have been looking at other "old broads" on TV to see who's hair style I like the best (so far Marge Helenberger from CSI wins!). . Sis's hair looked really cute shorter - just a straight blunt cut with no layers or bangs - so no hassle to keep up. She'll just grow it long again and then cut it and donate once again. I personally like shorter hair too but the upkeep is huge (and can be expensive) compared to long hair for me. Constant trims, constant styling, having to use styling products, etc... Now all I do is wash it and add some rinse out conditioner after washing for a couple of minutes and I'm done! Blow dry the bangs (takes about one minute) and that's it. Cut my own bangs and have sis trim the rest a couple of times a year. So it's noty lack of bravery that keeps me from cutting my long hair short - it's laziness and cheapskapeness :-)!

Mrs-M

2-2-12, 2:59pm

You may be right, Spartana. I was always under the impression that all the tugging and pulling and stretching, probably wasn't a good thing. Love the picture of you and your sister.

Spartana

2-3-12, 4:00pm

You may be right, Spartana. I was always under the impression that all the tugging and pulling and stretching, probably wasn't a good thing. Love the picture of you and your sister.

Hmmm.... what happened to my photos? I was messing with the albums and photo thingie and guess I deleted them. Oh well.

Yes braiding - at least IMHO - actually protects the hair from damage. You don't need to do it super tight either as even a gentle braiding will hold a long time. When I go backpacking, etc... for day at a time and can't wash my hair, I just braid it. Keeps it clean and untangled longer. When I unbraid it i find I actually don't even need to brush it - even as long as it is.

now to go search for the missing photos.....

Mrs-M

2-3-12, 5:03pm

Good point Re: loose/gentle-braiding. Maybe my mindset likens the idea of free and unrestricted styles more, instead of pulled, wound, and knotted, although nothing looks nicer IMO than a styled-do.

Blackdog Lin

2-3-12, 7:51pm

I've been enjoying this little thread - and am now updating to say that I am now "to mine own self being more true" by getting the darn haircut I should have gotten months ago (And it was terribly expensive - $12.00 plus $3.00 tip!) :)

No more gobs of expensive mousse. No more spending the extra 10 whole minutes blow-drying the mess straight every morning. No more thinking how much better it would look if I colored it. I am back to being me, with my curly non-trendy old-lady-looking salt-n-pepper wash-n-wear cut.

It is so freeing. So simple. So true. I applaud those here with straight hair who can grow it out and still look simple and natural. My hair doesn't do that. For me, simple and true means a short and naturally-curling wash-n-wear thing.

It's sometimes hard, isn't it, reconciling simple living with wanting to look your best? I think I'm deciding to go with the totally-non-fashionable farmwife gotta-do-chores look for my latter years. Working on it.....

I really appreciate this discussion we've had: it made me think through what I was doing with my life-energy and time, and made me realize that my longer (sleeker) hair wasn't worth what I was putting into it.

Sad Eyed Lady

2-5-12, 9:56am

Unfortuantely i don't look anything like Daryl Hannah but have that '80 hair style (some would say "stuck in the '80s" hair style) that she had back then. The sad thing though is that I've always had the exact same hair style all my life with few exceptions. Be it the 80's, 90's, 00's or now - it's always been long straight hair with bangs. Of couse, like saucy and spicy Mrs. M (we'll have to change that to Madam M :-)!) I wear it in an updo all the time. Even had waist length hair while in the Coast Guard and wore it in a bun (will post pic below!). Very easy.

Shalom Poet - you might want to consider keeping bangs even if you grow your hair. You have a small (petite) face and sometime long straight hair can overwhelm people with small faces. Also, from a practical point, when your hair is dirty or sweaty all you have to do is put it in a pony tail, braid or bun and wet the bangs and blow dry them and it makes your hair look clean and freshly washed. I do this after a workout when I can't wash my hair.

Spartana, that is a good point about keeping the bangs. I had actually thought about that, but would still like to try to grow them out. If however, I get them out long enough and the look is not right, then I would cut just the bangs again and see how that goes. For now the entire experiment is still going on.