How do people respond when you say you're growing out/cutting your hair?

> I have to agree with you completely. I would only add> that delving into people's personal choices and lives> in matters well beyond hair has become too> commonplace. Frankly, I think the trend is horrible.> Bye for now,> Jade21I agree 100% as well. For more, read the true story Iposted at (what is now) the head of the list of conversationthreads.

>Hi, H. Taylor!I can tell you that this is probably the longest that I have ever had my hair. If you've read some of my posts, you know that my hair didn't grow past my shoulders (dusting them) until I was 17. I have usually worn my hair since then a few inches past my bra. It was about two years ago that I got split ends cut off, leaving my hair at shoulder-length. I had not been taking care of my hair like I should have and the splits invaded:) Also, I was going through the cycle of growth and splits for a good while. I couldn't get the benefit of growth. My hair was so dull and lifeless.With new hair care products (Aubrey Organics), some good supplement and food combinations, Hair Boutique (Karen and everyone), and a regular hair routine which I established for myself, I have gotten some wonderful results. That first year was the hardest. I was extremely impatient--the "grow already" headache. As more time passed, the more progress I saw. True regeneration! Length, strength and shine.Like your interest in Viviscal, I tried a variety of different supplements and food combinations, just to see what effect it would have on my hair. It's been a wild time. Some folks on the Original Hair Talk talked about taking a biotin supplement in huge amounts. I started taking anywhere from 1.8-2.7mg per day to improve my nails which were splitting from house cleaning and the colder weather. My nails grew like crazy and looked like they were someone else's they were so white at the tips and strong. An additional result was that when I brushed my hair, which I hadn't done for about two months, three to four hairs came out in the brush. That blew me away.Take care and bye for now...Jade21> Jade21, how long has it taken you to grow your hair?> Has it always been this long, or have you cut it and> regrown it?

> What is really driving me crazy is now I have a two> year old daughter and everyone seems to feel that her> hairstyle is their business.....I am sick of the rude> people who ask why I don't let it grow long. I don't> feel it's their business and find myself wondering why> they are so obsessed.If you read this message board, you will find that a central theme in lots of the experiences posted here is that other people seem to want to make it THEIR business how you wear YOUR hair (or in this case your daughter's).For some reason, this seems to be a recurring theme in our society: some people are just obsessed about telling other people how to wear/cut/color their hair! It is often masked in the guise of "business matters", and often it is in the context of "family relationships" or it is between partners/lovers, etc.I don't know WHY, but this does seem to come up A LOT. I guess that it is just a powerful issue for some reason....

>Hi, H. Taylor!You made me laugh to myself about the two-inch ponytail. It brought to mind a funny story. My mom had super-fine, black hair and a ton of it. Her growth rate was simply tremendous. You could just sneeze and it had grown another two inches. Anyway, normally she never let her hair grow past her shoulders and she tried many shorter styles, but seemed to always come back to around that length. She got a bad haircut one time, and I mean bad, and she knew it was too short when she couldn't really put it in a ponytail. The clip kept sliding off and she tried to play it off like it was nothing because I had asked her why did you have that done to your hair. In a couple of months, we had a good laugh, but she was rather upset at the time, even with my question and she wasn't one to get angry about something like that. She decided to stay away from that salon:)All the Best,Jade21I think that long hair is so much more versatile, and> I can't wait for mine to grow out. I have to wear it> down right now, simply because it's too short to pull> up! I've seen girls with tiny ponytails (we're talking> two inches in length), and it looks absolutely> ridiculous. . .there's no way I'd go that route! :)> Hopefully my hair will be covering my neck by the> summer, because otherwise I'll end up with a sunburn!> One more beauty of having long hair, right?! LOL!

>Hi, back to you, H. Taylor!I usually wear my hair down, even in the warmer weather. But when it gets extremely humid and sticky here, I wear it in a chignon or single braid. I think my neck enjoys the chignon especially:) I am a person that sweats in the summer. I don't perspire:)A lot of people here have really given me the encouragement to grow and take care of my hair well, without even knowing it. No doubt, I admire you for growing your hair, too. I have enjoyed myself so much on Hair Boutique. I would miss this site greatly!I am so sorry about your computer crashing. It's a horrible experience. What's up with Netscape these days? When I updated not long ago, my system did some major belching and I was afraid of an imminent crash. Luckily, no crash.Have a Happy Easter!Bye for now,Jade21Hi! If there are any funky problems with this message> going through, please know that I just set up the> Internet on my laptop after my desktop Netscape> absolutely crashed, virtually destroying the rest of> my desktop computer in the process. :(> Jade21, I think your hair length is fantastic! To have> hair so long must be great. When it does become> warmer, how do you prefer to wear it? Do you wear it> all down frequently? You and Karen are my> inspirations! :)

> Hi, H. Taylor!I was glad to comment because I like your question so much. I should see this gentleman again in about one month and I am going to ask him how the growing is doing and what he thinks. He is truly an intelligent attorney and wonderful person. I know how much trash attorneys take from the general public, but there are some ethical, devoted lawyers out there.Anyway, as to my hair length, it is approaching my derriere and well, I am going to be asking for some suggestions very soon. It is getting warm here and I know that my growth rate is going to increase even more. I am trying to grow out some shorter strands of hair which I cut short thinking that my face would be framed better. I think closer to all one length is my preference at this point.If you see a post from me here or in the Original Hair Talk, please help if you can:)All the Best,Jade21Jade21, thank you for your response! It definitely> perked me up. :) I'm glad to hear that you think women> are going back to longer hair, or at least feel free> to do so, and that you see evidence of men feeling and> doing the same! Congrats on helping out your contact> in the big firm -- that's fantastic, and I love the> quote that his "great mind is still intact!"> How long is your hair now?

>Hi, H. Taylor!I was glad to see the question and and your post in general.I wanted to give you my peek into the hairstyles of legal professionals. I am located in Crystal City, Virginia, just a hop from DC. I work as a legislative consultant for myself, but come in contact with many attorneys in law or consulting firms, government and those who have chosen not to practice law per se, but use their degree in another field.I think that you are wise to do as you please, specifically to grow your hair long. Especially in large law firms, long hair is an anomoly, but I would definitely say that is changing. I used to expect wild looks when I would go to a large firm with my hair from the support staff to the professionals. Mostly, as I indicated to a message that Karen posted, they were just surprised and highly curious. Over the past couple of years, I have watched women's hair become longer in this area. I think DC is much slower than Northern Virginia, but it is changing. Shoulder-length hair has become very popular. THe styles are also much more natural looking.An attorney with whom I have dealt for nearly two years surprised me last summer. He is my primary contact at one of those super-large law firms in DC and is in his 40's. First, he started his question by saying, "I don't want to appear sexist in any way" and then he asked me if I could recommend a good conditioner for him. He said that his hair was too dry and was breaking off. He also said that he was tired of going to get his hair cut every week. Since that time, he is wearing his hair longer. Somehow, I think he was experiencing some of the things you were talking about. I think he feels much freer with the longer hair length. His appearance is still extremely professional and well-tailored; and, his great mind is still intact:)I also wanted to say that in the long run, I think that even if you ever wanted to work for a large law firm, the long hair would not hurt you professionally. As I have noted previously, along with others, long hair is easier to style on a daily basis and you also have the opportunity to wear your hair in a variety of styles.Bye for now,Jade21After having decided to grow out my hair, I received> several different responses.> Since I attend law school, the majority of my friends> there were horrified because "it's not> professional." Hmmm. . .I need to direct them to> some of our posts here! For one, I won't be going into> a traditional legal setting for a career, and> secondly, even if I did choose to do so, how I wear my> hair is my decision, not my employer's. And, of> course, long hair can be decidedly professional, as> Karen and others have proven.> My boyfriend was thrilled with my decision, and> absolutely shocked tonight when I told him I was> growing my hair to waist-length. He had hoped that I'd> "regain" my long hair, but never expected me> to add onto it! :) He's happy with the prospect.> My parents, however, are not. They tend to agree with> my law school peers, and would prefer that I keep it> at the "flattering" length of just below> chin-level now. My mother used to have gorgeous long,> blonde hair, but cut it off in her thirties because> she felt she was "too old" to wear it long.> Never mind that she was Catherine Deneuve's twin! I> will never give in to this mindset. Short hair may be> what she wants, but it's not what I want.> My best friend, who definitely has an artistic bend,> is happy because we'll be going through the ghastly> growing-out process together. She basically said to> forget what's considered professional or not. . .and I> agree.> I share these opinions because I want to emphasize> that although I appreciate everyone's viewpoint, what> matters most is what *I* want. I want long hair. I> don't care whether it's trendy or not. . .I'm not into> "keeping up with fashion." I want long hair> because I feel so much more feminine with it, and I> feel that it's a physican expression of spirit. Of> course, it's just as well for somebody to want short> hair for different (or the same) reasons -- it's a> matter of personal preference. I do find it funny,> however, that most women react somewhat negatively to> me once I say I'm growing my hair out. . .whether> theirs is long or short! Go figure.> What have reactions have other posters received upon> changing your hairstyle?

> I don't think long hair is neccesarily unproffesional> (as long as it is neat), in fact I think it has an air> of authority. Have you ever seen the show "Ally> Mcbeal"? The lawyers with the long hair are the> tough ones.Right on, Serena! :)

Hi H,Very interesting question. Well, my mother has told me a few times that she thinks I should cut my hair, which is odd because she has had long hair her entire life, probably where I got my insparation from. Maybe she thinks i don't keep my hair neet enough but it is not my fault she married a man with unruly hair genes. My dad likes it because, like you, he considers it feminine and has always considered me a bit too boyish. I never really thought of it this way, mabey because a lot of guys around me hasve long hair also. My freinds and siblings don't have any reaction except to say, "wow, your hair is relly getting long".I don't think long hair is neccesarily unproffesional (as long as it is neat), in fact I think it has an air of authority. Have you ever seen the show "Ally Mcbeal"? The lawyers with the long hair are the tough ones.

Niki, good luck growing!!! Let's prove to everyone that it's not another hair whim! :)