Need advice and encouragement
Posted by PaganPup on December 04, 2000 at 07:51:30: Previous Next
I just stumbled upon this site this morning and am really pleased to find it. I've wanted to grow my hair out long for years, but always get frustrated after a couple months and end up cutting it short.
I'm running into a couple problems and was hoping I could get some advice. First, I'm thinning VERY badly on top, and the crown is just not growing with the speed of the rest of my hair. Should I cut the other hair a bit shorter and wait for the crown to catch up? Or would I be better off just toughing it out until the length is where I want it?
Second, what hair I have is very corse and curly, and right now I'm getting this Bozo-the-Clown/Wings look on the sides. To keep everything under control I gel it to a faretheewell, but even that isn't helping much. Any suggestions on what I can do to keep it under control?
Re: Need advice and encouragement
Posted by Bill on December 04, 2000 at 10:06:34: Previous Next
In Reply to: Need advice and encouragement posted by PaganPup on December 04, 2000 at 07:51:30:
: I'm thinning VERY badly on top, and the crown is just not growing with the speed of the rest of my hair. Should I cut the other hair a bit shorter and wait for the crown to catch up? Or would I be better off just toughing it out until the length is where I want it?
: right now I'm getting this Bozo-the-Clown/Wings look on the sides.
You may be waiting forever, because the top may be as long as it's going to get. That won't really matter much once the sides are long, because they will hang down due to their own weight, and your hair will exhibit a normal head shape again, instead of the Bozo look you're getting now.
To get past the Bozo look, you've got to let everything grow out as fast as possible. So don't cut. Besides gunking your hair down, there are other options. You can wear head coverings such as caps, hats, or bandannas. People expect these to mash your hair down on top even if you have lots, so the sides won't be read as so Bozo-ish where they are visible. You can also limit combing: only comb your hair right after you wash it, and smooth it down a few times while it is drying with your hands, then leave it alone. Do not comb it again once it is dry. Combing curly hair once it dries does not make it neater, it makes it frizzier.
Good luck with your growth!
Re: advice and encouragement
Posted by STALKER on December 24, 2000 at 13:27:18: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Need advice and encouragement posted by Bill on December 04, 2000 at 10:06:34:
: : I'm thinning VERY badly on top, and the crown is just not growing with the speed of the rest of my hair. Should I cut the other hair a bit shorter and wait for the crown to catch up? Or would I be better off just toughing it out until the length is where I want it?
: : right now I'm getting this Bozo-the-Clown/Wings look on the sides.
: You may be waiting forever, because the top may be as long as it's going to get. That won't really matter much once the sides are long, because they will hang down due to their own weight, and your hair will exhibit a normal head shape again, instead of the Bozo look you're getting now.
What do you mean by "normal head shape"? Wide? Tall? Triangular? Round? Square?
: To get past the Bozo look, you've got to let everything grow out as fast as possible. So don't cut. Besides gunking your hair down, there are other options. You can wear head coverings such as caps, hats, or bandannas. People expect these to mash your hair down on top even if you have lots, so the sides won't be read as so Bozo-ish where they are visible. You can also limit combing: only comb your hair right after you wash it, and smooth it down a few times while it is drying with your hands, then leave it alone. Do not comb it again once it is dry. Combing curly hair once it dries does not make it neater, it makes it frizzier.
The hair can still wing-out from under that bandanna or cap or hat!
: Good luck with your growth!
Re: Need advice and encouragement
Posted by jb on December 04, 2000 at 10:09:37: Previous Next
In Reply to: Need advice and encouragement posted by PaganPup on December 04, 2000 at 07:51:30:
: I just stumbled upon this site this morning and am really pleased to find it. I've wanted to grow my hair out long for years, but always get frustrated after a couple months and end up cutting it short.
: I'm running into a couple problems and was hoping I could get some advice. First, I'm thinning VERY badly on top, and the crown is just not growing with the speed of the rest of my hair. Should I cut the other hair a bit shorter and wait for the crown to catch up? Or would I be better off just toughing it out until the length is where I want it?
: Second, what hair I have is very corse and curly, and right now I'm getting this Bozo-the-Clown/Wings look on the sides. To keep everything under control I gel it to a faretheewell, but even that isn't helping much. Any suggestions on what I can do to keep it under control?
My hair is very thick and curly.I had the wing and fro look for a while but i just got it thinned a little and waited.It finally started to lay down after about a month. I hope this helps!Good luck fellow curls.
I've got the same problem
Posted by Merle Unruh on December 04, 2000 at 19:13:38: Previous Next
In Reply to: Need advice and encouragement posted by PaganPup on December 04, 2000 at 07:51:30:
I've got the same problem, but you've just explained it better than I would have ever been able to explain it. Do you use Rogaine? Try it if you haven't, it seems to have helped me out a bit, another thing to boost growth that I am trying is a product called "hair skin & nails". About caps and bandanas, someone else said you can wear one to help push your hair in or hide it. This may work but keep in mind that hats, caps, bandana's or anything that gets in the way of oxygen to your head slows down hair growth and makes your thinning hair worse. If you do use a hat of any sort be sure to rip out all the insulation and tags and punch a lot of holes in it with a dart or something for better ventilation.
Re: Need advice and encouragement
Posted by PaganPup on December 07, 2000 at 01:49:18: Previous Next
In Reply to: Need advice and encouragement posted by PaganPup on December 04, 2000 at 07:51:30:
thanks, guys. I appreciate the input and support. I'll make it, I'm just a bit too impatient for my own good. (g)
As for coveringit up, I think I may have found a good compromise between a bandanda and a full hat. I used to work in a surgical clinic, and as such have a cloth scrubs tie cap (like they wear in the OR and ER. It's fairly full covering, though lets a bit of the hair length in back show, but covers it pretty much completely everywhere else. We'll see how it goes over in public sans scrubs, but I think it'll work fairly well. I'll keep you posted.