What made you decide to grow out your hair?

Hi Nicole,

I agree with Uzma. Your story is beautiful and inspiring. It's so lovely to read about other girls who are committed to long hair. We have in common our hairlength. My hair is 42"as well . I always wanted to reach that lenght (1 meter) and my hair comes to my waist now. I'm very happy with that length and honestly spoken I intended to keep that length. Since I read your story I Doubt. Shall I let my hair grow longer. 50"or more. I don't know yet. Anyway: thanks!

Anne-Loes

duke wrote: Okay, I've read some interesting growing-out stories on the boards so far. So, let's have some reasons why people decided to grow their hair longer.

From my ears to my hips: I had it waist long till I was 6 and hated having my mother take care of it. It was my choice to have it cut off, and I was able to comb it myself for the first time in my life. It was kept at my shoulders or shorter throughout elementary school, and it was my responsibility to care for it. I hated having it cut, and managed only going to the salon like 3 or 4 times a year, so it would get kind of shaggy looking. Then, sick of getting my hair cut, I got it cut really short right before the beginning of 5th grade so I wouldn't have to get it cut for a long, long time. Then, I sat next to the girl with the longest and thickest hair in the school and decided I wanted long hair again. I never really forgot what waist length felt like, so that was my original long term goal. Also, I was starting puberty, and realized the practicality of hair covering me, and I wanted it to cover my bra, my first short term goal. By the time it did, all the girls were wearing bras anyways. Then I made the stupid mistake of cutting 80s bangs, and decided after 6 months that they were a waste of effort, and so I had a section of hair that was about 10" shorter than the rest. I still had my eyes on waist length, and 3 years later, it was there. I spent part of that tiime maintaining my length while my bangs grew longer. A year later, hip length. All in all, 8 years including lots of trims.

From my hips on: Once it reached my waist, it just didn't feel right. It wanted to grow longer, but I didn't know how to care for it so that it would be healthy. I kept it between my hips and waist for 7 years only because I didn't think I could grow it longer and keep it healthy. Then about a year and a half ago, I had an epiphany which caused me to look up long hair care and learned how to care for my hair. Once I figured out that I actually had a pretty fast growth rate (I was cutting it all every month)and how to properly care for my hair, I decided to let it get even longer. Now, it's 42" from my hairline to my ends, practically past my butt, and I'm curious to see how long it will grow. This year I don't expect to have to trim my ends as often as last year, so I'm hoping my hair will reach at least 52" this time next year.

I'm afraid I can't do it... being from S Carolina I do French very well and a head covered sparsly with 1 inch hairs doesn't flip very well...

I had hair I could sit on until I was 11 years old. My grandmother had long hair she wore in a bun for as long as I could remember. My mother saw Dorothy Hamill skate in the Olympics, and for some strange reason got it into her head that I needed a haircut, and that the Wedge would be perfect.

I'll never forget going to the hairdressers. I cried, my gran cried, and the poor hairdresser was so flustered! My mom kept saying Yes, give her the Wedge, so chop,chop, off it came. My gran kept my ponytail in the bottom drawer of her jewelry box.

For the next 10 years, I had hair of varying lengths, and one day about 15 years ago, I got tired of it and said NO more cutting.

Now I've got tailbone length hair, and am shooting for classic (sitting on length to me) sometime this year.
So to really answer your question - being sick and tired of short hair is what made me decide to grow out my hair

A bit off topic Diane, am I correct that you once
had an afro-perm? How long ago was this?

Because it feels so great when it brushes against my waist when I walk. :-)

I'm keeping my long hair because I know Gord would love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did it because I got tired of little stubs of hair poking out of my ponytails. Also, because long hair is versatile.

Hi DUke,

I am growing my hair out again simply because it is one of my best assets and downright too beautiful to not be long. I have thick, chocolate brown hair with slight natural wave. When it is short, it has way too much body and does not do justice to the short cut, or my face. It is best bra strap length, where the weight takes some of the body out of it. vI cut it short last year becasue I caved in to society. I saw all of the women my age with short hair and felt so out of the loop, almost out of style. Then I realized that style is more about the whole package, not just your hair.
Anyway - I am rambling. I also wanted to tell you that my brother in law, who is 33 has had waist long hair for as long as I have known him. He lives in Daytona and is a motorcycle afficionado....so it is a lifestyle for him. His hair is thivk and healthy and I think it is beautiful. I really think it is about the whole package and how you present the whole you.

Take care

jacqui

I grew out my hair because my husband had a passion for Crystal Gayle and wanted me to have hair as long as hers.