growing my hair!

Hello!
I am trying to desperatley to grow my hair out! About 2 months ago I went to a new hairdresser and she cut about 4 inches off my hair, after I asked for a TRIM, so now it is about 4 inches past my shoulders. I have been reading all the other posts and have seen that this has happened to so many of us! So naturally I was depressed, but mum kept on saying "it will grow". So I started on hair vitamins, ditched the hair dryer and haven`t had any highlights put in yet! Now my dilemna: At the moment my hair is extremely healthy, but looks ghastly (regrowth frizzball!). I`ve realised I can`t live without my hairdryer and hair high lights. Mainly because when I air dry my hair turns into a big frizz ball, and I have a rather pale complexion and very dark natural hair which makes me look washed out. So I need the added warmth of highlights. I know if I use my dryer and chemicals in my hair, it will become damaged again, which means I will need regular haircuts which will result in slower hair growth!!!! I can`t win! I look back at photos of myself with long STRAIGHT highlited hair and I want it sooo bad. So what can I do??? What are the suggestions? When I do blowdry I use a protection gel but is there more I can do to save my hair? What about if I use it once a week, will that damage my hair? Sorry this is waffling on but I don`t know what to do! I have regrowth of about 2 inches and its time for more highlights? ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I know exactly how you feel. I am extremely fair skinned with really dark brown hair. I started dying it just after high school and only recently decided to let it grow out naturally. It is quite shocking to see how dark it really is, when I have been blond for over 11 years. My hair is a frizz ball as well. I`m trying to have patience with it and let it just grown out naturally and, you know, the only thing that inspires me to do this is that I have had such bad luck with finding competent hair stylists. I am at the point now where I not only dislike them - intensely, but I`m afraid of them. I do have some advice for you, though. I was a slave to the hair dryer and then stopped cold turkey. I wash it every 3 days now. The natural oils are better than hair spray for stylng my hair (but your texture may be different?) Also, I found Jojoba oil at the health food store. I rub a tiny amount in my palms and rub it down the length of my hair, when it seems to be dry - it helps. Blow drying will only torture and damage the hair. I hope you can experiment and find ways to wean off of it, like I have. It is like smoking, you become a slave to it.

When you go to get a trim show the lady exactly how much you want taken off. My hairdresser always asks how much I want off and I show her exactly where to stop.