how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

I would love to grow my hair long, with nice long layers , but every time I think it's getting long then I get a trim and I'm back to medium/longish hair with layers, this has been going on for the past 3 years or so .
I went to someone new yesterday thinking that maybe mu guy was cutting too much, and same thing happened. I told him "just a trim" , long layers just to give it a shape -since my last cut was about 9 months ago-nothing crazy and I end up with much shorter hair than I wanted. I mean he did a great job and I love the look, but I just want my hair long, like I used to few years ago.
I just don't get it, am I not explaining myself clearly enough? or are they just cutting too much?
What would you say next time?

This is more what I'd like :




and for some reason I always end up with something very similar to this:

Message edited 8/15/2011 4:38:57 PM.

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

Ia m not 100% sure, but I think that since your last cut was 9 months ago they are trying to cut off all the damaged hair. If you got your hair cut more frequently, they would not need to cut as much.

ETA: I always try to show them an exact picture of what I want.

Message edited 8/15/2011 5:54:51 PM.

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

I agree with the PP that perhaps you had more damaged ends that needed to be trimmed... but it could also be the person who cuts your hair. I find sometimes you go to people and they get scissor-happy.

If I go to someone new, I just reinforce that I want the minimum amount cut, just to get it healthy looking. I specifically tell the person that I am TRYING to GROW my hair, and make sure they know that's a priority!!


I also agree that you should take a pic!

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

see I would say maybe, but even when I cut my hair every 3 months or so same thing happens, it happened with the girl I went to few times, few years ago, happened with the guy after her and now this new guy again. Basically ever since my regular girl moved overseas 3 years ago I have had this "issue"
Plus not to be one of those people in denial, but I have very healthy hair, I always have (well maybe not when I first had DD, lol) no damaged or split ends . I don't color it, I don't use hot tools, have never used any chemicals on it , nothing, just use natural leave in conditioner , air dry and done. I think the guy I went to yesterday either got scissor happy or just didn't listen to me Next time I go I am going to make sure I tell them I want a very little trim, that I'm trying to grow out my hair. I don't know, I guess we'll see. At least this guy did a good job with whatever he did, no complains, I just wish it was longer.

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

did they do a dry cut? when i do dustings that is what i do for the girls who are growing...but i rec them every 2 months at least :)

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

well the 2nd pic IS long layers.

The 1st pic does not look as "neatly" done.

I would bring the pic of what you want.

I tell them specifically how much to cut. Or NOT to cut above a certain point. Like I tell them my shorter layer has to be able to be being my ear or in a pony tail.

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

The second pic is more heavily layered than the top pic. The top pic has maybe 1 or two long layers in the back and then a framing layer or two around the face.

The second pic has layers all over and they start up high.

You want them to let the top current layers grow out. In the mean time, you may not like this, but I'd recommend when you go for another trim that you ask them NOT to cut the top layers and just cut the bottom few layers. That will make it look less full and layered overall. Then let it grow out like that.

Tell them you want less layers and for them to be subtle with just a few framing layers in front.

I had that second hair cut and wanted the first. This is exactly what I did and it worked. I recently cut about 4 inches off so it doesn't look just like the first pic, but it still doesn't look like the second. HTH!

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

my hairs kinda similar to the first pic..not quite as many layers though..


i get my hair cut every 6 months, and only allow them to take 1/2" off the length..no joke..and i tell them i won't be happy if i can see a difference in the length..works for me, and then i tell them that the layers i want shorter..

this is from end of july the day after i got it cut (humid as he LL), but it had been 6 months since i had it cut at this point

Message edited 8/16/2011 5:50:37 PM.

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

Ok I take it back, I realize now -after washing and air drying- that he did a terrible job
Oh well, I guess I won't be going back to him any more and the search for a new hairdresser starts all over

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

I am growing my hair too. And was so frustrated because every haircut I got, people just went way too short. I also had major problems with my color ....... I wanted to be light brown but everyone kept making me dark blonde (there is a difference) lol. Finally, I called a new salon and was firm with the receptionists and told her "Im not picky, Im really not but literally have tried 10 salons in nassau county and no stylist listens to me. I said, I am desperate .... please give me your best person." Well, I found the perfect person ....... she finally gave me the color I loved and I have been to her for a few cuts and she literally "dusts" the ends and shows me a sample before she starts working.

I totally understand your frustration. Where are you located by the way?

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

Also never just say a trim. I would give an exact amount such as an inch. A trim is different to everyone.

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

I am a hairdresser. The best thing that you can do is bring a picture of what you want and what you don't want. It takes the communication issue out of the equation.

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

Posted by ChrisDee

Posted by KartveliT

Posted by prunepie

did they do a dry cut? when i do dustings that is what i do for the girls who are growing...but i rec them every 2 months at least :)

he washed my hair and cut it, but he did cut more after he blow dried it, he used weird looking scissors to do this, looked like a comb with wide teeth, can't explain.

Texturizing shears

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

There is a girl in Manhattan, she cut my hair few times and did a great job,thinking maybe I'll go back to her next time, I don't know, it's just that she charges $90 just for a little trim

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

Posted by KartveliT

Posted by ChrisDee

Posted by KartveliT

Posted by prunepie

did they do a dry cut? when i do dustings that is what i do for the girls who are growing...but i rec them every 2 months at least :)

he washed my hair and cut it, but he did cut more after he blow dried it, he used weird looking scissors to do this, looked like a comb with wide teeth, can't explain.

Texturizing shears

I guess that was it

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

Posted by KartveliT

Posted by KartveliT

Posted by ChrisDee

Posted by KartveliT

Posted by prunepie

did they do a dry cut? when i do dustings that is what i do for the girls who are growing...but i rec them every 2 months at least :)

he washed my hair and cut it, but he did cut more after he blow dried it, he used weird looking scissors to do this, looked like a comb with wide teeth, can't explain.

Texturizing shears

I guess that was it

wonder if that's why my hair looks so bad when I air dry it, it just doesn't look right, too frizzy and little too "textured" I guess? I tried flat iron last night and it looks ok, but once I wash and dry it looks terrible , it's not even wavy /curly any more , it's just weird frizzy....

Re: how to grow out hair? (I miss/want my long hair)

Message edited 8/17/2011 3:09:06 PM.