new here - finding a hair stylist!

HEllo all!!

I'm sooo excited to find this forum and have been reading through all your posts for the past 2 days and there is soooo much information here! I used to have really long hair about 10 years ago and when I came to U.S I chopped it all off (ONe thing I always regret!!) and since then always had about shoulder length hair MAX.. I've tried growing out my hair in the past but w/ no luck due to lack of patience. However I also feel that another reason that I did not succeed is because most hair stylists I have been to do not seem to understand when I say 'PLEASE do not cut too much I'm trying to grow out my hair!!!'. I have said this soo many times and they end up chopping off a few inches ANyway!!

So now I am very very serious about growing out my hair and am extremely glad to find this site... and I want to grow it down to my waist and I promised myself to be patient w/ this process because i know i'll be happy in the end. I also just started taking multivitamins and also bought hair vitamins from GNC (w/ Biotin 3mg). I have always used REdken all-soft in the past and switched to some 'bad' shampoos in between but now am back to using Redken all-soft :) I love that stuff.. I also heard people putting avacado fruit in hair to get the fresh avacado oil! that really seems to help my hair too.. (although it also clogs up my shower heh)..

ANYways, my question is how do you choose a hair stylist who is willing to just 'trim' and not chop off inches at a time?? Does anyone know a good long hairstylist in Northern NJ?? I prob won't be going to one anytime soon but would like to find one I can go to 7-8 months from now.. Please let me know!

edited to add: If you don't know anyone in this area HOW do you guys choose your hair stylist and trust them to take off only what you ask for?? Any tips would be greatly helpful!

I don't think it's something people really regret as much as they think - cutting hair makes people realise how much they love it long. It's just best not ot take too much off =) Or if you're rich, buy extensions while it grows out =P

Dave,

That's a great idea! I should do that! I'm really close to lincoln tunnel.. NYC Midtown is literally 20 mins from my place (w/ no traffic that is).. eitherway.. NO HAIRCUTS 'til August :) and can't wait for summer since I hear hair grows faster in summer and it's also my favorite season. I'm still trying to get over the fact that I got my hair "trimmed" almost EVERY month past year!!!! I WaStEd soo much $$! Thanks again!

Me.

Hi, I don't know if this will help you or not. But if you are anywhere near Tom's River look up salons in that area and ask for a Stylist named Stacey.

She used to be in one of my long hair groups and she would probably be great to you.

However I haven't had contact with her in a long time. If you are going to try that just make sure you ask for Stacey and if there is one ask her if she used to be in Long Hair Clubs or Groups on Yahoo or ask her if she knew Robert / PurpleBubba online.

In the meantime if you reply to this message and tell me that you are close to that area I will see if I can track her down online.

You are not the first woman who came to the U.S. thinking that men here prefer "properly" coiffed styles on women. What else would one think based on fashion mags?
Be VERY careful choosing a stylist. So many think THEY are the boss, and not the client. Make sure she is excited about the prospect of you growing your hair before you first sit down.
As an aside, I don't think that hair needs to be trimmed often once it reaches one length. My wife has gone over 1 1/2 years between trims. It's too frustrating for many to see the slow progress that is the result of too frequent trims. Just my humble observations. Bob