Giving up the buns

So often we longhairs wear our hair up or back to protect it.  We might be forgetting why we grew it long in the first place.  I was anyway.

I recently saw a couple of photos of myself (something I hate to see!), and realized I don't even look good from the front with my hair in updos.  This is something I knew, but since I'm older and don't really care what I look like anymore, didn't really bug me.  I've been wearing buns or other updos every day for many years now with the idea that I was protecting my hair.  For what?  So I could look like cr@p everyday I guess!

I'm sure I'll still wear updos occasionally, but I didn't grow it long to wear it up, I grew it long because I liked how it looked down and flowing.  I realize I forgot that completely in an attempt to preserve it.  It'll probably be more damaged this way, maybe I won't even be able to grow more than to maintain it at waist length, we'll see.  At least now I'll be looking how I wanted to look in the first place, and enjoying it more.

     Hey Susan! What indeed is the point of long hair if it brings no pleasure to its owner? Honestly, my wife's least attractive style is pulled back taut. I had always hated it. But, once she tried a part with it up, and I loved it!

My hair isn't that long yet but still longer than most of the people around me and to show it off I usually wear it in a low ponytail at the nape of my neck. Its comfy but still shows of the length and iIsuppose is a little protected!

     Hi Suse! Sounds as if you do enjoy lots of cool looks. As for my wife, she likes her hair braided in pigtails when it's not down. At the moment she has no shorter pieces. I'm loathe to suggest anything different, lest it sound like a complaint. I wouldn't want to be misconstrued, even for a moment! (lol) Cordially, Bob  

I agree Susan W. I don't see the point of growing your hair if you're going to wear it in up-dos all the time & not take pleasure in having long, glorious hair. I have been putting my hair in braids or putting it in a neat knot at the back of my head to protect my hair & it also means that as a curly head, I don't have to constantly put product in my hair. However, my hair is at a tricky length with the longest layers only 1.5" past BSL when I pull it straight. When it grows to waist curly, I will wear it down more & enjoy it. I always wear it down when I go out or on a special occasion. I don't really like the way it looks back but I think to myself, short term loss and long term gain.

Susan W wrote: Yeah, I don't care what I look like so much when I go to work, so I could always protect it sometimes.  When your hair gets to waist length, its going to be so beautiful!  Curly hair is rare enough to see very long that it really looks great when people do grow it and take care of it.

Susan,  I love your hair I think you should show it off.  I always wear my hair down when I am going out.  How have you been doing without the buns?  Does your hair feel better?

Thanks Kimbearly!  I wouldn't say my hair feels better, as it gets more tangly, but I am enjoying it more, and feeling happier.  So it's all working out.