Hi,
Im new
I have top- of- my -jeans -length naturally auburn 100% untreated thick wavy hair.  I am having so severe hair anxiety and hope there is a chat feature of this site.
Ill return here and post about it if I cant find a real time feature.

G

Greetings and welcome, naturalauburn.

Your hair sounds beautiful!

Unfortunately, there is no real time chat feature on this site yet, but some of the members do get together for a chat session over Yahoo Messenger on Friday nights. Check out this post for more info: http://www.longlocks.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=offtopic;action=display;num=1146867020

Everyone here is very sympathetic and helpful, so we'll all be here to help you through your "hair anxiety."  ;)

Angel spun BLESS YOU Im so glad some one is here.
I have cut my hair maybe three times in the last ten years.
I love my hair, its the most beautiful part of my physical being. Im not a make up gal or into clothes , but I cherish my hair.

Here is the problem;

I got through a scary bout with cancer this year. About 2 weeks abo a I got the latest biopsy result with no detectable abnormal cells Whoopeee!!

Im thrilled about it. I think I can safely admit this here but I was more freaked out about my hair falling out than I was of an untimley end. Insane? Berhaps.. but its true.
At a really low point I told my mom that if I got through this I would donate my hair.
Didnt seem like a big deal~ in the big picture. And I was pretty sure it would be falling out anyhow.

BUT it didnt

It got shiney and loveley.

Now I feel committed, and the appointment is made for the morning
.
The last time I cut it- ithe cut was  about 5 inches (braided into two braids) and I felt like a dog with a new haircut. I wanted to hide under the couch.

So my heart is already racing, and I read about LOL here and they sound like a scam organization, and Im already near tears.

Mom is thrilled, she doesnt get my hair attatchment- never has. Im typing and looking at my coiled up braid.
I cant go back on a 'God promise', but I cant cut it either.

Gees you would never know I was 35 from this anxiety attack.

Glad I found you. Ill post a hair pic tomorrow
Gretchen

Welcome to LL, Naturalauburn!

Congratulations on getting a clean test result! :D  As for the hair donation, well, it is your hair so no one should force or guilt trip you into donating it. But if you feel that it is something that you absolutely cannot go back on, I'd make a ponytail and make sure to donate the bare minimum of 10 inches (geez that's a lot of hair). Maybe bring a tape measure so the stylist or whoever is cutting your hair will be less likely to chop off more than the 10 inches.

Good luck. I hope you make a decision you feel good about. (((hugs)))

Hi, Gretchen.  Welcome to longlocks.

In scary situations it is natural for us to make bargains.  When we feel powerless in a situation we want to take some action to make us feel better and making a bargain can do that in the moment.

LOL is not a reputable organization.  Think about the feelings you're having now about cutting off your hair.  You obviously identify a big part of your self image with your gorgeous, amazingly long, thick and wavy auburn hair.  It sounds to me that it would be more detrimental to your self esteem to cut your hair than to "go back" on something you said in a desperate hour.  God gave you that hair.  Do you think he'd (or she'd) want it to be thrown away or sold when your intention is to benefit someone in need?  Sounds like you need your hair.

You can't help it that your mom doesn't get it, the hair thing.  Most of us on this board don't get support from someone important in our lives.  It is your mom's problem if she disapproves.  Trust your self more, judge yourself less.

Whatever you decide to do, let it be your decision.  It really and truly doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.  Sure, there may be some friction if you make a choice that someone else doesn't like or understand.  This is your life and your happiness that matters.  In such situations, the other person may be unhappy with your choice because you didn't make the one they wanted you to make.  That is about them, not you.

Sure hope you post that picture soon.  I was born with dark auburn hair, but around age 2 it fell out and grew back in white blond.  I wish it had stayed auburn.  Mine is wavy and thick, too, but only about 21 inches long.

Wow, naturalauburn, that's quite an experience!

Thank goodness that your biopsy results came back negative!! Earlier this year, I lost both my grandmother and my dog to cancer...2 months apart.  :'(

Sakina is right. There's nothing wrong with keeping your hair if you wish. But if you really want to donate it, there are other organizations besides LOL....your area may have local branches.

Looking forward to your pretty hair pic.  :)

Welcome Gretchen!

Getting a clean bill of health is fantastic - congratulations!  The others here have already said what I would say - it is your hair, and your decision whether to cut or keep (I vote for keep).  LoL, as you have read, is not the best place to donate your hair if you did donate some of your hair.  

Maybe you could do some volunteer work or make a monetary donation to cancer research instead?  Believe me, either of those would do a lot more good than cutting your hair.

I wish you continued good health and hope you can get through this anxiety attack regarding your hair.  You've found a supportive group here to help you through this.  I too hope you hang around and share a picture of your hair - it sounds lovely.

Hi Gretchen!

Welcome to the long locks boards, I promise you'll find lots of sympathetic "hairies" around here..  ;D

Congrats on the clean bill of health!  And the hair that you got to keep.. I bet it's gorgeous!  *claps* Another redhead in our midst...  :)

And there's nothing wrong about keeping your hair, if you wish it.  While there are organizations that would be happy to have it, it's your hair, your struggle, and you need to do what's best for your peace of mind.  (((hugs)))  

Gretchen,

  Your hair sounds absolutely gorgeous!  Please don't cut it if you have reservations!  Locks of love is not a decent organization.  Please let your hair grow and we'll encourage you on this site daily.  I can tell you love your beautiful locks very much!  Can't wait to see that picture you have promised....

Jim

Hi,
thanks for the nice words and thoughts. I cut an 8+some inch braid.  I couldnt bear to unbraid it and look at it - so no exact measurement

My hair is gone, its on its way to Canada. I couldnt give it to LOL, and I couldnt go back on God... so its over.
Im teary, and I cant really look at it yet. It feels all puffy and strange, I guess cause its not so heavy. the back got pretty curly so it looksa shorter when dry. Its down now and it DOESNT EVEN COME TO THE INSIDE OF MY ELBOW. Holy moley, its short.

It wont tie into ne tight knot.

Its cut straight across, so its sooo thick at the bottom I dont know what to do., its gigantic. It has not been like this since elementary school and Im 35, thats decades.

Ill go the the growing it out link from mow on I guess.


I took a after picture, but Im embarrassed to post it here. Maybe in a long while , when it grows  back.

Any one have hair do ideas? The days of knotting it in a bun( once around , two "knots and tuck the tail into the elastic) are over for a while. How fast does hair grow back anyhow?

Thanks for the love , I need/ed it.
G

Oh Gretchen....  :-/

I feel for your loss of hair, but it will grow back.  Most people grow hair at about 1/2" per month.  You might want to measure your hair now, and again in a month to see what your growth rate is.

Go ahead and post your after picture - that might help us give you suggestions of how you can style your new length.  You will probably find you can do new styles that you couldn't do with your long length.  

Hang in there - we're here to help!

wrote on Jun 29^th, 2006 at 4:26am:

Its cut straight across, so its sooo thick at the bottom I dont know what to do., its gigantic. It has not been like this since elementary school and Im 35, thats decades. Ill go the the growing it out link from mow on I guess. I took a after picture, but Im embarrassed to post it here. Maybe in a long while , when it grows  back.

Awww.. Gretchen... ((((LOTS OF LOVE!))))

Please don't be embarrassed about posting a picture, everyone's excited to see it, and I, personally, would love to see the gorgeous color...  :)  And what BB said is true, some of the girls with the same length as yours would be able to recommend some styles.

Let's look on the bright side of things, though, shall we?  Now you can dedicate the new growth to being the healthiest it can possibly be!   ;D

Hi,

I want to measure what I have left, but Im not sure where to start from. I usually went by where it hit my body~ like just past my breast or to belly button or top of my pants!
Do I put a ruler at the base of my neck and measure the legnth that way?
G

BTW, is it normal for it to look a lot darker because the oldest and most faded parts are gone? The picture looks soooooo dark.

Most of us measure using a tailors tape measure (a soft tape measure).  Start at the hairline in front, then over the top of you head and down the back to the longest hair.  

Yes, your hair can look darker after you have trimmed off so much hair that had become lighter due to sun and chemical exposure.

I'm sure your hair is quite lovely as it is now.  You are just in shock due to the drastic change.  Hang in there!

I used a tape measure from my car. I think its 28 or so inches. I put it on the hairling and streched it over my head, then reached around and pinched when the hair ends.

I m having the hardest time with the thickness. Cutting it seems to have made it multiply in width.

I love this site.

Hi and Welcome!  Sorry I'm late,but better late than not! :)
Please don't worry about the length,it will grow and you are here with us so don't feel alone! ;) If any of us can help or suggest or give ideas,well that's what we'll do!!! :)
There's plenty of info. on this site and if you have any questions,well just ask! :)

Hi and welcome! :D

Hi and welcome naturalauburn.

Congratulations on getting a clean bill of health.
Also I think, for what it's worth, that you made the right choice. Like Sakina said "in scary situations it's natural for us to make bargains". It means you believe in a Higher Being Up there (you choose the name) Who listens and helps. Yes? So, as we like others to keep their "bargains" for us, so should we. Your hair will probably make some girl/woman/or even men unfortunate enough to not get a clean bill of health a little happier. You must be proud of yourself.

It will grow back and we are all growing out our hair at various stages. You are among sistahs and you had the guts too! Besides, 28 inches is a very nice length to start over again. There is a lady poster in here who is starting off from a shaved head and there is also another one who is at BSL now having started from a butch cut.
Just my .02

yes greek Lady, I felt that I needed to follow through. Im getting used to it short.


Is there a key on the site somewhere that explains the meaning of things? what is BSL, nd how can you possibly know when your hair will reach your tailbone?

happy growing ,
G

Hi and welcome naturalauburn!  I'm a bit late chiming in too, but so glad you kept your word.  And your hair sounds lovely, no matter the shorter length. :D

28" is still long in my book -- I've finally feel I'm at least in the long hair ballpark, at 25" ;)
BSL=bra strap length, that is just about where I am.  I haven't had my hair hit the inside of my elbow at all yet.  It will eventually!

Glad you've found LL site.  It sure helps to have some hair growing support. 8)