Hello, everyone! It's been a long time, but I'm in that phase right now where my hair still isn't long enough to do ANYTHING, really, but I'm past the original panic stage of "OMG I'm growing out my hair and have NO IDEA how to do anything!!!!!" So I'm just sort of plodding along without much that's exciting happening to my hair, lol.

However, I have a question, because I've made a discovery about my hair.

The last time I had long hair I basically went three years without a haircut and it became a total disaster. Obviously, not getting your hair cut for that long will create some crazy split ends, but I also had the problem of my hair looking entirely uneven. And I mean, HORRENDOUSLY uneven and messy.

I've discovered that my hair grows insanely fast. I've also discovered, now that I'm watching it closely, that it grows very unevenly, and the fact that it grows so fast just exacerbates this issue. It gets messy VERY quickly.

Then, add layers into the mix. Layers by definition look very neat when you first cut them but as they grow they get messier. Because of the way MY hair grows...well, I get it trimmed and a month later it's already a fiasco that I can't do anything with.

I've been trying to keep my trims to every 3-4 months. Otherwise I'll be getting nowhere fast. What's the point of getting a trim every month? My hair grows fast, so I would just be greatly slowing it down, not maintaining...it WOULD get longer...but I don't want to trim so frequently.

So, what should I do with this mess that my hair becomes between trims? I've found a really nice (and not too expensive) stylist who can redo my layers and make them look really cute while actually taking off ONLY the length I want taken off. That's a rare thing indeed. But...between letting her neaten up the chaos? What can I do with it? It's still not very long...7 inches. (I measure by the shortest layer in case anyone is wondering.) The longest part is slightly past my shoulders but...that's really not long enough to do much.

Suggestions?

Ella

Can't help you much here.. except to say, how's about making peace with the chaos? ;) Most people's hair grows at different rates for each strand anyway. And the other thing is, the natural "flow" of the hair (the way strands weave together, etc..) sometimes makes hair look uneven or with an unusual hem. Take Flaming Bunny for example, her ends usually turn up in a V cut even after a blunted trim!

Hugs,
Anais

HEY!  Good to have you back!  We missed you.

Layers.  AARRGGHH!  Layered styles require a lot of maintenance.  If you've found a stylist that can work with yours, that's great.  But if you want to keep the layers, you will continue to need to have your hair re-styled.  Are you working with your stylist to eliminate the layers?  Even if your hair grows unevenly, the layers will eventually need to be evened out.

Hey, bikerbraid!

Well, the plan right now is to wait until all of my hair is somewhat longer before deciding whether to eliminate the layers. When my hair is short-ish, it does the funky half-wavy thing and is so flat and fine that the ONLY way it frames my face nicely is to keep it layered.

Once it gets longer, it hangs much more nicely because it starts to straighten out. I'm thinking I'll start evening out once most of my hair is past my shoulders.

Sounds like a good plan!  Good luck.   :D

Dang, I just lost my long reply due to an I D 10 T error! :-[

Okay, here's a shorter reply.  I have been doing the same thing as you are doing ellasongbird (welcome back, btw).  My hair is just barely to my shoulders now (started growing it out September '03) :P

I've used mini claws to hold twists of hair back away from my face similar to this: http://www.dressytresses.com/hair-styles/cornrow/default.asp

Headbands have been my best friends - at least it looks neat in the front where I can see it & it's out of my face

I also clip the front half up at the crown - a half updo.  

You might also be able to do the crown roll on the Dressy Tresses sight above.  As a variation try french braiding instead of rolling the hair.  You may not get the ends to meet at the back, but you can clip each braid or roll separately.  I've have limited success with this because I'm trying to be good and not use hairspray so my hair doesn't stay in too well.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/message?forumid=242462&messageid=1078299307  sounds fun, but I've not actually tried that style.

Galadriel posted some short hair bun versions here : http://www.longlocks.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=casual;action=display;num=1100596257  
My success has been limited here too yet, but it's getting better as my layers get longer.

So much for a short reply!  ::)  HTH

ellasongbird - check out this thread to help you over the hump(s)
http://www.longlocks.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=growingwithit;action=display;num=1096280581;start=