Lop off 3 inches? No!

Hello all!  

This is my first post...stumbled onto this site while contemplating a SuperCuts-type "trim" of my hair.  

About me: 1AFi-ii (I think that's the lingo?) ...stick straight chestnut brown at about bra-clasp level; equal length except a lock or two framing the face that (I assume) are from my too-tight buns.

Hair is super-fine and leans on the thin-ish side.  Can look great if/when I take care of it...however, tangles easily (some end damage) and is prone to rats-nest issues.  Bottom 2-4 inches a little scraggley due to breakage/splits.  Frankly, I haven't been taking care of it like I should in the past few months, due to some personal drama/laziness/life-transition. 
(Alright, a depression relapse wreaks havoc on self-care issues, for those of you who have dealt with it may know.)

It was piled in a lumpy mess on my head with two bobby pins for a bit (okay, a long time )....the kind of mess where you hope it doesn't fall lest everyone see how bad it looks; washing around snarls.

Over the holiday did some massive "renovation", (hours! hours!) de-tangled, conditioned and resolved that it will NEVER be in such a mess again.

I had a foot out the door today to get the "trim" I (and every member of my family) assumed I really needed...ran across you guys, then decided to wait, think, and maybe have a consult at the local Long-Hair Friendly salon instead.  (I live in a big city, glad I may have some support other than the "let's lop it off" crowd.)  It would be a change from my sorry bi-annual trips to the SuperCuts, which never end well.

Current Status: My diet has been a wreck. Didn't take supplements this year.  Really let myself "go" in many ways.  The hair is a reflection and symptom of all that--pretty much no beauty/self-care routine to speak of.

This site has been an inspiration to me, thanks. 

Resolutions for 2007 (Starting Now!):

• Get back on supplements as in previous months: Omega 3s, vitamins, oils, flax, and so on.  Helps with so many things.
• Get healthier with my eating/drinking (alcohol)/hydration/exercise habits; surely the health of the hair will improve with the rest of me!
  
• Try new ideas that I've thought about and have read here: oils, styles, measurement, goal setting, natural products
• Make raising my standards a priority in the new year.  Better long haircare standards will be an important element of that.

A childhood inspiration was my Memaw, whose waist-length silver hair was alway perfectly coiffed in an old-school Southern up-do. Mine has been in the Dorothy Hamil mushroom, the "Rachel", and everything in between.  Last 2-3 inch "trim" was probably a year ago.  
Okay, so mine is not model-thick (and will never be)  or particularly healthy looking (yet)  but I am motivated!

A long post, but hopefully something that will keep me on-task & accountable to people that aren't like "Ooh, cut it to about your shoulders!  Thanks for reading, and for your support.

Hello, and welcome!!You will really like this board, and find tons of information. It seams like you have the right ideas. Do what you have planned and you should have beautiful, healthy hair in no time at all. I would stay away from the salon, though, if you are trieing to grow it out. Purple Bubba has the right idea.

Welcome! I've been using Feye's method for the past couple of years, and I hope to continue using it. It's really easy, money-saving, and will save you from possible heartache

Edited by AmandaPanda - December 27 2006 at 6:24pm

Hi treeluvn.  I'm glad you decided to resolve your routines and get back into good health, not only for your hair but also for your own well-being.  I've been there, though not quite to your extreme.  (I was hating my hair and it was in very bad health and getting worse.  I was on the edge, ready to cut it off about 6 inches.)  I encourage you to keep it up and don't give up.  Your hair will resume its previous healthy condition in no time. 

I would say that it deppends on if you need it or not. If you have badly damaged hair, you will need to trim it more often to get rid of the damage.Like, say, every 2-3 months. (I would just be careful not to take to much off, or you won't see any new length.)That is if you do not want o cut all the damage off.

Edited by Alisa06 - December 30 2006 at 10:37am

treeluvn, good to hear you are committed to taking care of yourself! I struggled with major depression too, so I know how hard it can be. I had great success with St John's Wort tincture and then acupuncture, and the Omegas DO help, too. :)

I think it's better to trim yourself if you want long hair. Mine is very fine too (2a (?) F i ) and has a lot of damage. Salons always hack and add layers for volume...but what was OK with highlighted hair at shoulder length is NOT ok for my almost-BSL length.

Natural hair care has also been a great help - for me, no shampoo, SMT, oiling.

So nice to hear what sounds like a success story already - good for you!

Alisa06 wrote: Essential fatty acids and amino acids do great wonders for depression. I take fish oil and flax seed oil ( I fluctuate them) and a ton of amino acids. My mood is extremely effected when I take them.

Welcome treeluvn!! I'm new to this board, too, although I've been reading posts for about a year. I have also suffered from some severe bouts of depression. I don't think anyone can know what it's like unless they've been through it. People who haven't been there think you can make yourself happy. Not true. Anyway, glad to have you here. Here's to a great year in 07 and happy hair growing. This board has been very inspirational to me and I've managed to grow my hair four inches because of it.

I am so glad to hear you didn't cut off too much hair!  I have been through boughts of depression all my life.  One thing I have promised myself, never cut my hair!  I can't imagine how much more down I would feel if I did that.