Growing Your Hair Out

[Guest MadisonRose]

Hello all,

I am MTF currently working on growing my hair out. I have curly hair, a bit on the frizzy side. I just want to pick your brains and here of anyone's experiences with growing hair out. I do think I need to get it trimmed (take care of split ends now and again) as well as styled. What has been your experiences?

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Work closely with a hair dresser and tell her what you want to accomplish. She/he will usually cut it so it will layer. After a few months, trim a very little off the bottom each time to control split ends. In about a year you can start letting it grow out - using a lot of conditioner to keep it from tangling.

It grows only a half inch per month. 'Styling" options depend on what looks good on you.

Lizzy

[Guest MonikaC]

It really depends on where you are in transition. I used to keep my head shaved, so when I decided to grow my hair out, I knew it was quite a task. While it was really short, I had to get it cut into a style quite often. Then, before I transitioned, I just wore a beanie to be able to let it grow unfettered. When I transitioned, I started to wear a wig, and just let it grow. I would get it trimmed occasionally to keep it healthy, but that was it. Now, I have it cut into a pixie while I let it grow out to the next stage.

[Guest MadisonRose]

I am currently 2 weeks on hormones. I have been growing my hair out since last August, I haven't had it cut since then...I was thinking a pixie inspired cut when I go to take care of the split ends. My stylist also said to keep trimming the back up so that the top and sides will have a chance to grown down and once they are all at the same level to grow it out evenly, otherwise joanna dirt might come out to visit, though I would fit in with the people where I live, it isn't something I want haha.

[Guest MonikaC]

That's a good idea. I'm still trying to get it all even to grow out, but that takes a while.

[Guest Elizabeth K]

I decided right from the beginning - no bangs.

I am on month 32 growing out my hair from a rather short male haircut. I estimate I have had it cut maybe 4 or 5 times, mostly that front end time, where I was evening it up every 5 to 6 weeks. I have dyed it four times - same color - mainly to eliminate any gray (about 5 - 10 % natural). I will eventually have it streaked to show the gray, I think. I have just let it grow.

Yesterday, hair partially down, out in the summer gentle breezes, it felt so soft and feminine around my shoulders and neck - made me feel so 'there' - oh my.

I have a few hints - at least for those with extremely wavy, almost curly hair - super fine? GENTLY detangle it in the morning with your fingers as you sit on the bed, before you get up. NEVER use metal brushes or combs. Avoid round brushes. Wash it only every two weeks unless it gets really oily - and know the more you wash and brush it, then the more hair that breaks off.

I also use a hair 'shine' product on the ends - which with my loner hair, is about the last 6 inches. It keeps my fine hair silky, which helps when styling. NEVER use a hair dryer or a styling iron if you want long flowing hair. When done combing "crunch" the ends of your hair in your hands to emphasize the curls,if your air is wavy.

Some here on Laura's make fun of long hair - saying we newly minted women are fixated with having long hair. Some people may be. Some of us going full time need to really consider a shorter cut. But it is not me. I look good in long dark hair... grin... you may or may not. So keep an open mind about cutting it. I ponytail or side clip it to keep it out of my face. It takes care but I love it, and may NEVER ave short hair again.

More thoughts...

Also - at night, when your hair is long enough - gently ponytail it at the nape of your neck - don't let it fly free when you are sleeping. DON"T ride with it loose in convertibles, unless you have two hours to spare afterward to detangle it. AND get dressed before you finalize your hair for the day - with long hair pulling over a dress or blouse ruins what you just did.

And fun? with longer hair - wear bigger, more outrageous earrings! And buy sparkly berets and clips - experiment!

Lizzy

[Guest Riana]

I've had longer hair ever since I first started to discover more about my identity. It was the first thing I did, about 7 years ago. And I never regretted it and never had it really short since. I would mostly get it cut because I was afraid what people would say if I got it too long. And it would start getting all frizzy and damaged because I didn't know how to take care of it, and felt awkward with using hair care products because I perceived them as feminine and unnecessary (I was almost irrationally afraid of anything feminine at the time, probably because I was so insecure about my actual gender).

Last summer I got my hair cut by my cousin and she cut it far too short... a real boy's look and I hated it the moment she was done. I never told her or even anyone else I hated it, but I think some people noticed my reaction regardless. Since then I've just let it grow out again and it hasn't been cut in a year, so it reaches well past my shoulders. I've also started to take better care of it, brushing it regularly (which I've now come to love as a kind of intimate 'girl time' with myself) and using better shampoo and conditioner. And it really shows, it's much softer, almost huggable. *hugs her hair*

Right now I'm wondering how to get it cut though. The front is much shorter than the back so it looks pretty much like what it is - a male haircut that's been left to grow long. I'm wondering how to make it look more feminine without getting too much taken off. I want to grow it out much longer still, down the middle of my back is what I'm going for right now.

[Guest Ann Onymous]

As others noted, the key is finding a stylist who you can discuss goals with and let them work their magic. You don't generally want whoever happened to be available at SuperCuts or some other $10 or less place. A GOOD stylist is worth their weight in gold, as any woman will tell you.

As to growth, rates vary...I know mine grows at more than a half-inch per month. I also know some people who seem to grow more slowly than that. I've done the 'go a few months without doing anything' route, but the growth up front and top can make it unwieldly to work with (not to mention that when it is longer, the gray becomes more noticeable, at least to me). Regular trips to see my stylist are a must...and that is as true now as when I transitioned all those years ago.

[Guest Pioneer]

Usually when I grow my hair out, I just leave it alone for a whole year because it's tempting to cut it all off. This time though, I'm only going to trim the back to keep it look neat and clean (no mullet).

My hair was shoulder length around 2010, but I shaved it and kept a buzzcut look for almost a year or so, and now I want to grow it long again. I still have my hair diary from 2000 to 2001 (to show my progress and reminding myself to be patient). It only takes a year for me to grow it long but I've noticed that my hair is thinning on top so I would think it'll take longer than usual.

[Guest Angelgrlsue]

Be very patient when growing your hair out. It takes time, depending on your age and genetics. The hair in my avatar took over two years to grow out to that length, then I did the most horrible thing anyone would do, I cut the bangs really short by accident. Please make sure you have a stylist. I now have a stylist and she is keeping my hair at shoulder length with side swept bangs, it kind of looks like a bob cut style. She said it is going to take time for my bangs to grow back out to the length they were before I cut them.

Susan