Growing Out My Hair

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Well - been posting replies everywhere - how about a topic?

I know there are some very serious issues as topics, so sorry to be so normal here - BUT

What am I going to do? I want to grow out my hair - ready for that - but I am not 'out' except at home. Its coming in so wavey that I am going to look like a Moppit (for you young people - that means I am going to look awfully fluffy - like a fifteen year old kid who lets her hair go completely natural). This isn't good for someone older like me - I know its a blessing when I fully transistion, but now? ANY ideas?

I don't want to cut or style my hair but I may have to do something to let the sides catch up with the top, I suppose. I wanted to simply tie it back when it gets long enough - but that will be six months...

So awkward transitioning - in ways I never realized.

Again - give me a few ideas on this?

[Guest Karen-1954]

When I first started growing my hair out, it to came in wavey and curly. I had 2 hair straightening and relaxing treatments about 6 months apart and now it only has a little wave to it. There are several good hair relaxing at home treatments you can get at various dept stores. It has been almost a year since my last treatment and all is well. Hope this helps.

[Guest Kelly Ann]

What looks O.K. on one person might look really chic on another...so if you get a bad style have them cut it back REALLY radically and hey...it'll grow back.I keep my neck hair trimmed above my ear lobes and the back cut so the length is just at my collar or very slightly above, that'll make it about 4" from the back hair-line. When the hair dresser sees this she'll 'understand' without saying much of anything if she's even moderately good. Don't let them trim ANY hair over your ears THIS is what will give you fullness there and for some reason it just seems to take longer for these hairs to come in...the side benefit is that it took away my Dumbo ears and I didn't feel like I'd fly away if the breeze caught my hair up...I have mine heavily layered slightly shorter in summer although right now it's winter...so it's growing out...this makes it look long without the hassle...it's not too obvious if your transitioning or coming out and won't attract a whole lot of attention.The thing thats hard to grasp is that if you keep it cut regularly and healthy you will start to notice it actually grows faster...no kidding it really does.When you go in, look at the books that are always there and see whats 'possible' with the current length keeping an eye towards where you want to go.Ask around of people who have cuts you like...THAT is the best way to find someone that will do you justice.My hair is really straight...it has been permed before...NEVER AGAIN!!! The Shirley Temple Look is O.K. if your pre-teen...lordy I'm waaaaaay past that LOL. I had really long hair for years and I do have a lot of hair on my pate...funny thing is when it was really long it was always in a ponytail or pig tails and constantly in my face otherwise...so I stay with moderate lengths now.Best of luck...hope this helps. OO Kelly Ann

[Guest stephphorever]

Hey Elizabeth Im in the same boat, and 15 btw, so can anyone help? out to parents and about thirty people so I don't know how to do all of these decisions w/out arousing suspision, so help?

[Sally]

I started a pattern in my teens (during the days of the Hippies) of getting my hair cut about twice a year so now I can let it grow as long as I want and no one even seems to notice until it is past my shoulders and then not until they find a loose hair and notice that it is about a foot long. I am a bit of an artist by profession and hobby (photography and music - jazz) so no one really minds.

Sorry, but it works for me,

Sally

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Update of sorts on growing out hair.

I have started and it is coming in rather wavy. But I find if I don't blow dry it and if I put in a touch of jell while it is still wet, and comb it back while it is still wet, it drys flat enough. So I will be Elvis for a while, I guess.

Funny thing, I have a good wig I used in my cd days, and I expected to imitate that style, but 'taint gonna work because of my natural wave.

BUT interestingly with the wave I can achive a presentable head of hair without a wig right now - so growing my hair out and 'having it styled' is gonna out me before anything else, if I am not careful - yikes - go figure!

[Guest Dutchie]

The thing thats hard to grasp is that if you keep it cut regularly and healthy you will start to notice it actually grows faster...no kidding it really does.

I'm sorry, Kelly, that is really nonsense... Hair is dead! Hair is alive only for about 3mm, the rest is completely dead. There is no such thing as miracle growth after cutting.

If you really want to know, ask your hairdresser to dye two strands, each in a different colour. Have her cut only one, and measure both. Keep doing that for 1 year, compare. Result: both strands will grow on an average rate of 9mm per month.

Cutting short hair makes a more noticeable difference in watching hair grow. Take it percentage wise. Short hair (1 inch) cut in half = 50%. Cut the same length off long hair (in the example half an inch), then it's perhaps only 10%... Looking at both grow it takes the same amount of time, but the visual effect is much more dramatic on the short one.

I think this "fast" growing hair phenomenon is identical to the "fast" time phenomenon. (You experience an hour passing "faster" when you're 50, then when you're 15).

I have started and it is coming in rather wavy. But I find if I don't blow dry it and if I put in a touch of jell while it is still wet, and comb it back while it is still wet, it drys flat enough. So I will be Elvis for a while, I guess.

Aaaah, Liz, you should ask for a name change for the moment, Elvira!

I don't remember how I did it, I think for most of it I let it grow and didn't give a toss. I've been to a hairdresser only once a year during the last 3... Now it is on my shoulders and easier to inspect (split ends and such), and "fix" the problematic ones.

BUT interestingly with the wave I can achive a presentable head of hair without a wig right now - so growing my hair out and 'having it styled' is gonna out me before anything else, if I am not careful - yikes - go figure!

I am serious wondering about the outing part. It depends on how you wear it. Hell, most of the time when it was HOT in the summer I had it in a high tail, which is considered very feminine. Still nobody cared... (I did!)

Anyway, if you put a low tail, carry some huge folders with artistic material, they all think you're an Artist. And Artists can do almost anything in the name of Art...

[Guest Cait]

Me Too!!!

I've got 18 months so far.

It is alot of work, but it completes the picture so much more!

Like you, I am mostly out at home, but I'm about to get a french manicure!

The more that you get into the role of your desired gender, the easier it is.

-- Cait--

P.S. Hair can be lots of trouble at first, but it is usually looking good after two years.

Have it cut in layers if it gets too wild!

[Guest Elizabeth K]

I'm sorry, Kelly, that is really nonsense... Hair is dead! Hair is alive only for about 3mm, the rest is completely dead. There is no such thing as miracle growth after cutting.

If you really want to know, ask your hairdresser to dye two strands, each in a different colour. Have her cut only one, and measure both. Keep doing that for 1 year, compare. Result: both strands will grow on an average rate of 9mm per month.

Cutting short hair makes a more noticeable difference in watching hair grow. Take it percentage wise. Short hair (1 inch) cut in half = 50%. Cut the same length off long hair (in the example half an inch), then it's perhaps only 10%... Looking at both grow it takes the same amount of time, but the visual effect is much more dramatic on the short one.

I think this "fast" growing hair phenomenon is identical to the "fast" time phenomenon. (You experience an hour passing "faster" when you're 50, then when you're 15).

Aaaah, Liz, you should ask for a name change for the moment, Elvira!

I don't remember how I did it, I think for most of it I let it grow and didn't give a toss. I've been to a hairdresser only once a year during the last 3... Now it is on my shoulders and easier to inspect (split ends and such), and "fix" the problematic ones.

I am serious wondering about the outing part. It depends on how you wear it. Hell, most of the time when it was HOT in the summer I had it in a high tail, which is considered very feminine. Still nobody cared... (I did!)

Anyway, if you put a low tail, carry some huge folders with artistic material, they all think you're an Artist. And Artists can do almost anything in the name of Art...

Hey - I AM an artist - graphics - good point

Elvira

[Guest Emily.SoCal]

Elizabeth,

What sort of shampoos and conditioners are you using? For the first year I grew my hair out, I used an ordinary shampoo and my natural wave was totally out of control. Then I started using Redken products in general and that helped quite a bit, but it was Redken's Smooth Down shampoo and conditioner that really did the trick. Their website has a thing that will recommend a shampoo for you and it actually recommends Clear Moisture, which is nice and something else to keep in mind. I've also been meaning to try Real Control which just sounds like it should help, you know? Heh.

However, my secret is using the leave-in tonic from Biolage hydratherapie about five minutes after I've gotten out of the shower in the morning. I usually get 6-8 hours of well-behaved hair out of this on top of shampoo and conditioning. On that subject, I find that hair stays healthier if you throw some run-of-the-mill shampoo and conditioner in their once or twice a week and also not shampoo and condition every single day either.

Oh, also, the longer hair gets the more it weighs itself down too. So it'll probably be unruly early on, but have patience, with length and care those waves will really work for you!

-Emily

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Emily

I been thinking the same thng - better conditioning. I use an expensive Paul Mitchell shampoo (Tea tree) but it strips my hair totally of my natural oils. I have an oily scalp, and a former male with short hair I needed to keep it dry as possible to be able to brush it out.

But now in transition, growing it out, I see that a stripping shampoo seems to dull the shine, and no telling what else it does. I probably need to get a consulatation with a good hairdresser, as well.

Also - as I am not yet out at work I have to compromise. I am letting my longer hair stay wet, putting in a good quality jell, and brushing it back with an open 'wire' type brush rather than using a brush with a brisle. Works - Elvis Presley - but I really don't like the hard hair that gives me (only one in the wind that still has all their hair in perfect order - ha).

But after I am in bed- when I get up with pillow hair? suddenly Shirley Temple! I know I will think that is a blessing in about two years, but now it's a bit too girlie-girl (never thought I would say something like that! WOW) It's fun to look in the mirror and see a woman, but the guys at work aren't quite ready to see me this way. My plans are to let the HRT kick in for a while - I just started (actually today - oops after midnight - yesterday. Thats why I am up typing in the middle of the night - too excited to sleep).

And I suppose this is all up in the air (up in the 'hair" - hee hee) 'cause I need to see where the HRT is taking me hair-wise. I was told hair-on-the-head tends to get a little denser - yikes! I will look exactly like Shirly Temple, then!

Really - really - I am training for a pony tail. I understand about the weight removing some of the curl.

But you are on target with the advice - good quality condioners are needed - I wrote down what you recommend...

THANKS