From September 2008 until July 2009, I had kept my hair in a very short stack. It was high in the back with a shaved neckline, and angled down to points in the front.
http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l375/qt_pie659/From%20short%20hair%20to%20long%20hair/100_3611.jpg - http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l375/qt_pie659/From%20short%20hair%20to%20long%20hair/100_3611.jpg
Since July 2009, I have been growing my hair out. I don't feel like I have made very much progress, since I see the front and sides mostly. However, I have been letting the back grow out and trimming it often to get rid of the stacked look.
And because of that, I know I have made progress. It is even all the way around and has long layers. My hair has made it to my collar bone and I can put it all behind my shoulders, although it doesn't stay there for long. It has taken a year to get to this point.
http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l375/qt_pie659/From%20short%20hair%20to%20long%20hair/IMG_0030.jpg - http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l375/qt_pie659/From%20short%20hair%20to%20long%20hair/IMG_0030.jpg
My hair would actually be longer by now, if it weren't for having bad ends due to darkening and lightening of the hair. I have had to get several good trims to keep my ends from looking dry and frizzy. The top layers of my hair are the most damaged, but mostly on the ends. I have decided not only to grow my hair long, but to also grow my natural hair color, which will prevent further damage to my ends.
Being a stylist, I have access to products that our distributors recommend..but honestly I am not sure that they are THAT much better than non professional. I use Aquage Color Protecting Shampoo along with Aquage Healing Conditioner. I always shampoo my hair immediately, however leave on the conditioner for the length of the shower. Once a week I try to use a good reconstructor/deep conditioner... most of the time I use Joico K-pak Reconstructor and follow with It's a 10 Mask.
Recently I've been trying to use some tricks to better care for my hair.
-Rinsing with cool water
-shampooing half as often ((I usually shampoo every day))
-cutting white tips/splits as I see them.
-using the flat iron less frequently ((I used to use it everyday, I've been trying to enhance my natural curl and let it air dry naturally))
I'm not really sure what kind of responses I'm looking for here, I know I'm just rambling it seems. Any kinds of thoughts, suggestions, or opinions would be appreciated tho.
I do wonder why my hair is doing this really strange thing.. white tips are about a half-inch from the ends. the hair breaks there easily with tension if I pull enough. I really don't believe clarifying would help that. I always thought white tips started on the ends and worked their way up a strand by splitting. These white tips are not on the ends, they are a little up the strand..the ends being fine...???
Thanks for reading,
-B
Below is a pic of my hair in april/may2007.. It's the longest my hair had ever been since I was in 2nd/3rd grade. I am not sure what the stopping point for growth in my hair is..but just to be this long again would be nice! I have never had thick hair, but it does feel like it's thinner than it used to be. I'm not sure if it's because it's shorter, or because the layers are so short. But I am hoping that my hair can be/feel as dense as the way it was a few years ago before I decided to murder it off...
http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l375/qt_pie659/From%20short%20hair%20to%20long%20hair/love.jpg - http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l375/qt_pie659/From%20short%20hair%20to%20long%20hair/love.jpg
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