Ohmystinkinheck

I’m struggling. I have secret dreams of brushing long, bangless tresses and french braiding my salt and pepper hair, BUT realistically I’ve never made it far from my spiked approach to my 5 second hairstyle.

What do you guys think?
How long will it take me to grow it out?
How fast does hair grow? I’m asking YOU internet b/c I don’t want to go on a search for hair growth and everyone’s hair grows at different rates. And before you suggest bangs, please know that I have two cowlics the size of tidalwaves on both the left and right side of my forehead. When I tried to have straight bangs I looked like Eddy Munster.

Next … like my earrings? I’m putting in a plug for Carole Axium Designs. And NO, she did not ask me to plug her (that sounds horrible), nor did she give me these earrings. Nope, not at all. I footed the bill for these babies and a couple of others from her. But these - THESE are my favorite!

33 Responses to “Cut it back down or go for the braid?”

1. Bethany

   Most people’s hair grows about half an inch per month, usually faster in the summer. It would probably take a good year or more before you had enough hair to braid. I once wanted to grow my hair out long enough to be able to have one long braid (not a french braid, just a simple plait), and I did it…and then cut it all off about a month later, because I was so sick of long hair.

2. kerflop

   And here I am contemplating chopping mine all off to one inch all around my skull.

   Growing your hair out: you must keep trimming the back while you grow the bangs and sides out. Otherwise you get a mullet. By the time the front and sides catch up to what you’ve been trimming in the back it’ll be about a year, year and a half.

   Then you’re in bob territory which is happiness because you’re out of the awkward stage. OR just getting into it depending on your hair type.

   I have done this three million times, it’s horrible every time.

3. coolbeans

   This is a gorgeous picture of you.

   I like your hair short. I can’t imagine you with longer hair. With the return to the 80’s, mullets might be making a comeback. If you’re going to do it, now is the time.

4. DaisyCake

   I have the same exact cowlicks! Oh I hated it elementary school when THE look was bangs. Tried it and got McDonald’s arches in the middle of my forehead.

   Grow it long! Give it a try. What’s to lose? You can always change your mind and cut it!

5. MissPrissy

   I just cut 12 inches off my hair 2 months ago.
   My hair grows fast, but I have kept it short, short hair seems more high maintenance to me, but it is fun! Those earrings are cute!

6. Meg

   After having short hair for most of my life, I finally let it grow to below my shoulders when I was pregnant 3 years ago. I like it long because I can go two, even three, days without shampooing it. Day one, blow dry straight, day two, half-ponytail, day three, ponytail and ballcap. A thing of beauty for a busy mom!

7. Carey

   Keep it short, you look fabulous. There are so many awkward stages in letting it grow out that I bet you end up getting frustrated & cut it anyway. The earrings are great.

8. Jill - GlossyVeneer

   I’ve never had short hair, but I think you would look stunning with long or short hair just because your hair is awesome. My hair grows about 2 inches every 3 months or so. It grows pretty fast, but then I’m taking special ‘Hair, Skin and Nails’ vitamins because a lot of my hair fell out due to hypothyroidism and I’m trying to get it all back.

9. frugalmom

   I am not one to ask because I am in transition right now. I will have to take a pic of the style I am shooting for and post it on my blog. My theory has always been…try it and see if you like it. You can always get it cut again. The nice thing about hair is that it is so forgiving.

10. Sheila

    Ugh. Hair takes FOREVER to grow out. A year and a half after a series of bad cuts (I kept getting it cut trying to “fix” it) I can finally get it in a ponytail. I always wanted to try short hair, I did, and I won’t do it again. Lesson learned!

11. kerflop

    @coolbeansmama - is it sad that I keep hoping for big bangs and big perms to come back? I liked that hairstyle.

12. MMM

    I love it tucked behind your ears like that! It would be cute longer also! My hair grows uber fast so it took no time to grow out from short and spikey to shoulder length! Grow it and lets see how it goes. Every few weeks you post a pic and we’ll vote cut it or gorw it…hehe. Cuz it’s all about what the internet thinks ;)

13. OMSH

    Bethany - I once grew my hair out for my wedding - and cut it off about a week after. I sooooooooo “get” that.

    kerflop and coolbeans - I’m thinkin’ of growing a mullet JUST FOR YOU TWO!

    Oh and coolio - awww, thanks!

    DaisyCake - “McDonald’s Arches” - THAT IS THE BEST! bwahaha … that is IT exactly.

    MissPrissy - were you growing it for “Locks of Love” or something? TWELVE INCHES? That is a LOT of hair!

    Meg - that sounds like how I manage Meredith’s hair - sans the ball cap. First day is braid (dries in a braid to reduce frizz), second day it is down, third day in a ponytail.

    I would love to be able to do ponytails and no bangs. I HATE my hair on my face … that is why growing it out (before it is long enough to really tuck completely behind my ears) will be nightmarish.

    Carey - you are likely predicting the future. I won’t place bets with you! HA!

    Jill - maybe I need to take some hair/skin/nail vitamins. Are they prescription? I don’t take any vitamins. I know, I know … insane.

    frugalmom - I’m not sure if my hair is so forgiving. Once in a while it revolts and plum falls out. I wanna see your hair photo - link me when you put it up.

    MMM - I LIKE that idea. Okay, I’ll go for two more weeks and let you guys give me a thumbs up or a “Oh girl, you gotta cut that mess.”

14. Tanya

    I say - grow it out! It’s just hair, if you hate it, you always have the option of chopping it off!
    I had short hair last summer - almost exactly your length and now it is down to my shoulders. Yes, my hair does grow fast, but I also take Prenatal Vitamins, some cheap generic brand that I buy at Target. Although - I have to say - you rock the short hair.

15. Jill - GlossyVeneer

    Not prescription. I just take these and these.

    Recommendation of a doctor, but way cheaper than the brand they recommended. True, I have to take two separate pills instead of one, but I can handle that if it costs about $20 less!

16. Carole

    I LOVE your hair and really wish I could do the short thing…but my face is too fat and I have chicken neck!! LOL

    As always you look fabulous, especially in those earrings…snort!

17. MMM

    YAYAYAYAY!!!

18. MMM

    Kerflop-those were fun hair days! Rave hairspray and big ol bangs! And scrunchies!

19. SparklieSunShine

    Oh goodness. I always try to grow my hair out and when it gets to just a little past my shoulders I hack it off again.

    Mine was a bit above my chin last year and since then I have been trying to grow it out again so in the past year I have only gotten a few trims and it is once again a little below my shoulders. I am resisting the urge to cut and praying it grows faster this second year.

    So if you can deal with the horrible waiting period and the also terrible before ear length period I think it would look really nice.

    There is something about long salt and pepper hair that I really love.

20. OMSH

    I just saw a woman at Home Depot with horrible, long salt-n-pepper hair. It looked like an SOS pad. Am re-thinking this. I do NOT want to look like THAT.

21. karen

    My hair is pretty much the only part I have that grows. It goes from short (over my ears short) to long (covering my boobs long) in three years. I know this from pictures, not because I have the patience to measure.

    I think your hair looks great the way it is but also understand the lure of a braid. Here’s the thing. If you decide to grow it out, get a friend (or the whole internet) to vociferously remind you of your decision. You will need the support to get through the awkward stages (believe me, mullet or no, there will be awkward stages…). It gets REALLY frustrating when you make the decision to grow out but then keep stepping on yourself by solving the awkwardness with a shorter cut!

22. Angella

    I think it looks nice. I’m not one to ask because I have long hair and am too CHICKEN to cut mine. Mostly because it looks AWFUL when it’s short. Yours looks great. Maybe look for an online program where you can upload a picture and try different hairstyles?

    ;)

23. Katie
    
24. Mindy

    I’ve been growing mine out for a few months now. I have an appointment tomorrow to get it all chopped off. I love the idea of long hair. I just can’t stand the reality of it.

25. Mindy

    I lied! I couldn’t cut it. So, it’s still growing.

26. KYouell

    Oh, I so want to cut mine. I get regular trims to keep it from looking straggly, but have been growing it out since my 1st pregnancy (in 2004). I figured I would let my hormones help me out. But it is just now to the point that a pony tail really looks like a pony tail and not “some samurai thing” as my husband so nicely put it last night.

    Sigh. We have decided together (since this growing out thing is for him) that I get to hack it off if becomes a hazard for the baby. I so hope she grabs it daily and starts yanking so I can finally cut it. I never get compliments on my looks when I don’t have short hair, but get them all the time (even chunky as I am) with short hair. He’s the only one who thinks it looks better long. :-(

27. OMSH

    Katie - I’m laughing and trying not to - there is a SUPPORT GROUP for growing out your hair - and they have a COMMUNITY?

    If I join I am totally NOT telling anyone here.
    Nope.
    Shhhhhhhhhhhh.

    I’ll post a picture in two weeks and you guys better tell me to cut it b/c I swear I look like a grandma.

28. KYouell

    Geez, I did it again.

    I also meant to say that you look gorgeous, dahling. I would trade my mousey-blah-brown hair for your kickin’ short do any day and twice on Sunday. I saw keep it short so I may live vicariously through your hair.

29. OMSH

    KYouell - if you live vicariously through me, will that mean that you have to go on my mood swings too? Because if so, I want to say in advance, I’m SO SORRY!

30. KYouell

    Fair enough. But you only think that’s a bad thing because I don’t write about mine.

31. OMSH

    bwahaha - I bet we don’t write about a LOT on our blogs *wink*

    Who wants to read … “Oh my stinkin’ heck, I could exfoliate my legs with my heels?”

32. KYouell

    Amen sistah!

33. hair today, gone tomorrow?

    [...] remember when I was foolish enough to ask the question of whether I should cut my hair or go for the braid? I did my best to blow dry my hair back so it didn’t do its normal “thing” and [...]