I haven't measured my hair since May when I found this
site but I know its  getting longer, I am going to have to get dh to measure my hair and the circumfrence of the
pony tail because I can't seem to do it myself.  When
I first started to seriously grow las DEC 2003 it was a chin length bob,with bangs, heavily highlighted  blonde.
Now it reaches at least an 1" past shoulders( I wish I knew centimeters for some of you!). I decided to grow the bangs/fringe out about 2 months ago and they
are now flopping in my eyes.  I've made many changes
since May and the quality of my hair is getting better
and I trimmed off a little of the worst of the damaged
hair without sacrificing length.   My hair has also gotten
wavier, perhaps with the better treatment  and more
moisturizing.  I ditched the curling iron and use Conair
rag rollers when I want curl.  Haven't tried plopping yet.
I only blowfry very occasionally, on low setting for a few seconds to get the wet out.  
Some days I just hate my hair but I'm determined not to cut-to stay away from the scissors.
I've never had long than BSL, and I want to grow to waist.  If the ends look thick and healthy then, I will
go farther.  With my ultra-fine hair, though, I don't know
I don't like my blah brown colour, but I was determined
not to colour.  Broke down on Nov 2and had lowlights
put in- I'm very pleased with the result.  I hated the
two-tone look and the reddish brown lowlights really
make my hair look better. AND it's not damaged! The
colour didn't seem to damage at all.  I LOVE Red!! my goal is to keep a reddish colour.  I want to try henna-can't do it now for at least  6 months. But I don't know-henna kind of scares me.  If I could have it applied in a salon..... but most don't do it.
My current routine.
S/C once a week with Bionutrient protectives
CO every other day with VO5 kiwi lime and Suave
aloe Vera.
Leave ins:  Longhairlovers all in one treatment and jojoba oil
Deep treatments: Hask Henna and placenta and Pantene
overnite treatment.  ACV once a fortnight.
Other shampoo/conditioners I like
Mane and Tail Deep Moisturizing
Creme of Nature for normal hair(almost like CO)
Avalon Oraganics Awapui Mango.
Been taking hair vitamins but don't know if they're
doing any good- had to cut back because I can't swallow
a lot of vitamins-mainly try to get down a good multi
every day, and eat right.
hair was shedding a lot but either the Nioxin put a stop
to a lot of that or the vitamins- or the shedding season
was over.?
Today-12-3-04 CO'd with Kiwi Lime, put leave-in in and
let air dry, put in a french twist with a goody twist.
Bangs/ Fringe are driving my crazy, don't know what to
do with them.  I'm planning to grow them to full length
(Shoulder) and then if I still hate them, cut back in a very
light fringe, so that the volume of my hair is not compromised.   Hair feels soft and slippery, but has NO
body, so I put it up.   I wish I could wear it up every
day, but hubby likes it DOWN, so I have to please him
every once in a while ;) I cant wait till it gets longer.
still trying to learn to french braid.  Why aren't I more
coordinated?

I've got to find something to do with my growing out
bangs/fringe.  T his is the stage where I  always chicken
out and cut them back.  They're too long to wear down
and they look kinda....dorky.... pulled back.   Too servere,
I think.
But I promised myself I'd grow them all the way out to
see if it would help the overall volume of my hair.  If I
was going to be keeping my hair shoulder length or shorter, I'd probably keep them.  But since I'm going for
X-tra length, I'm afraid my hair will look too ..meager..
without it all the same length.  I envy thicker-haired people that can wear layers and bangs with long hair.
Yep, my hairs been getting on my nerves of late.  Is slicked it back in a pony-tail today, because I had to work this Morning and didn't have time to do anything
with it.  But those bangs! or non bangs.  I think they
helped make me look younger.  Oh, well, stay the course
with my hair and bangs. This is also the hair length where I usually give up and cut it back to shoulder or
jaw length.  I do need to trim off some ends.  Never again will bleach touch my hair!! Only the last 5-6 inches
still has the bleach on it.  I'm trying hard to resist the
scissors.  Just a 1/8 to 1/6 inch trim maybe in Feb., give
it a chance to get some length.  Can't wait until its long
enough to pull it around and do it myself.

wrote on Dec 10^th, 2004 at 4:36pm:

But since I'm going for X-tra length, I'm afraid my hair will look too ..meager..without it all the same length.  I envy thicker-haired people that can wear layers and bangs with long hair. Yep, my hairs been getting on my nerves of late.

I understand THAT predicament all too well! I haven't had any fringe in a very long time for that very reason. (Aside from the brief time that I wore longish layers around my face which was a nice change because it gave my hair a bit of dimension.)

It always gets to me when you talk to thick haired people who say, "I had to get my hair thinned out. It was just TOO thick."
After cringing, I immediately envision myself picking up their cut hair and attempting to stick it on my head to make mine look thicker. Oh, the the traumas us thin hair women have to cope with.  :-[

[quote author=Rua link=1102096331/0#2 date=1102772958]It always gets to me when you talk to thick haired people who say, "I had to get my hair thinned out. It was just TOO thick."
After cringing, I immediately envision myself picking up their cut hair and attempting to stick it on my head to make mine look thicker. Oh, the the traumas us thin hair women have to cope with.  :-[/quote]
I hate this too. It shows a misunderstanding of what "thickness" means. What they were trying to do was to get their coarse or wavy hair that always had lots of volume to become silky and fine like ours.

Didn't work, did it? ;D

Oh, Rua LOL!! Your're so funny!! Me, too.  My stepsister
has really thick, straight hair and she used to get it
layered when we were in our 20's to "thin" it out!  I thought she was CRAZY!  I would have done anything
to have hair like that.  Her hair is about twice as thick
as the average persons, and straight and dark.Serious
hair envy, here!  Yeah, I'd like to stick some of their
hair on my head, too!

Alas, no one got me a pair of Longlocks or other
hairsticks for Christmas, Although I hinted. ( I did get
lots of nice gifts, though) Guess I'll have to save up and
get them for myself.  I bought myself some plastic
hairstix  and have been trying to fool around with my hair trying to make buns with the hairstix.  I need to
get a bun net, now.  My hair still isn't really long enough
for  a decent cinamon bun, but I've become proficient
at doing french twists.  Actually, my hair is only few incles, maybe three from BSL!!.  The ends are looking awfully thin, though.  I'm hoping it's due to the bleach, not that I'm
approaching some kind of terminal length.  It looks like
I layered my hair, even though I've been blunt trimming
it for the last few months.  My hair from the bottom of
ears up looks very healthy, even the colour treated part.
this is the hair that has benifted the most from my
reading of the ultimate guide to growing long hair.  It
has a shine that my hair has not had in years, maybe since I was a kid.  The hair from the earlobes down is not so
healthy looking, although it probably has fared far better than it would have had I not found the boards.
It must likely would have been cut off.  I think part of the
thin ended look is due to the fact that the hair towards
the ends it markedly lighter than the hair above my ears.
I washed my hair this morning even though it wasn't wash day.  Wore my hair down in  a curly style yesterday for the holiday, at family gathering.  I slept in
Conair soft curls and had curly hair! Put in a little hairspray which I haven't used in ages to hold the curl.
My hair felt gross!! So I shampood this morning.  Used
my Nioxin S/C to get those follicles clean.  Am Not planning to shampoo again till Thursday or Friday, Will
C/O if I feel I need to.  And no more styling products this
week.  Ordered some samples of Jessicurl S/C and
the Gelebration spray, which is a lighter version of the Rockin'
Ringlets, for finer hair.  I loved it the first time I used it,
about 2 weeks ago, (I only S/C once or twice a week)
this last time I used it,(2nd time) wasn't quite as impressed.   I wanted to use the Gelebration spray as
a stying product to encourage my waves to curl up,
which it did, and I liked that  it had all natural or mostly natrual ingredients.  My hair felt coated when I used it Saturday, though.  Another reason I broke down and
Shampood this morning.

Babyfine,
Although I had a lovely Christmas, no LL HairStix for me either!

I guess we'll be saving our nickels together for the next pair!

strawberryfine

That's right Strawberryfine!LOL!

Do you like the Nioxin, Babyfine?

My mother uses it and swears by it, and my hair is thick/wavy enough that lord knows I don't need any more hair (it would be nice to give you girls a real hair donation transplant.. *smiles*), but a friend of mine is dealing with a sudden loss of hair and I wondered if the Nioxin really worked.

Can you tell a noticible difference when you use it?

Hi novusfeminina!  I only shampoo/condition with the
Bionutrients protectives for colour treated hair about
once a week, the rest of the time I CO or use a non
sulfate shampoo.  I just started a couple of months ago.
I started with the Semodex for 45 days which is supposed to clean the follicles and then back on the
regular for 3-6 months.  I so far haven't noticed a huge
difference, but my hair has always been very fine and
thin.  My hair is in general much healthier since I've been
doing so many things different.  I haven't purchased
the follicle booster which is supposed to stimulate the
follicles and maybe "wake up" some dormant  hair
follicles.  My brother uses that.  My understanding is that
Nioxin doesn't actually regrow hair, like Rogaine, but
makes the most favorable scalp environment for growing
hair, cleansing impurities and DHT.   Yes, I like the shampoo and conditioner that I am using.   But I haven't seen a lot of thicker hair or new growth-yet.
I'm giving it time.  

I'll take that hair donation!!  ;)  Actually, your friend
may notice a difference if she's experiencing a sudden
hair loss. Does she (he) know what may be causing
it?  My hair has gotten just slightly thinner over the last decade due to what I am assuming is peri-menopausal
(hormonal) hair loss.  So I'm taking also GNC Nourishair
vitamins  with Biotin, MSM and silica. (Not consistently,
however as too many pills uspet my stomach.)  I know
they only sell Nioxin in beauty salons so a stylist can
advise you which of the products to use.  
website www.nioxin.com   I like how my hair and scalp
feel clean and tingly without feeling stripped, with the
Nioxin.   And it does volumize a bit.

I'm also taking GNC Ultranourishair Vitamins and I have a lot of new growth about 3" long.

I highly recommend it.

SF

Well, I tried to measure my hair myself and came up
with about 19 1/2 inches.  It would be better if I could get dh to measure but I'm kinda afraid he thinks I'm already obsessed.
I'm already asking him all the time if my hair looks good, if it looks healthier than it used to, Has it grown, Am I going bald, look at this spot on my head, is it looking thinner.  I'm afraid if I ask him to measure my hair he think-well I'm really nuts!
I've been thinking about trimming some to make the ends look more blunt and my overall hair healthier.  I think I will start at one inch.  I'm afraid  to cut too much off.  I really want to try henna, but I suppose I should wait awhile since my hair is chemically treated.  I want to go brown or red.  

wrote on Jan 8^th, 2005 at 2:49pm:

I'm kinda afraid he thinks I'm already obsessed. I'm already asking him all the time if my hair looks good, if it looks healthier than it used to, Has it grown, Am I going bald, look at this spot on my head, is it looking thinner.  I'm afraid if I ask him to measure my hair he think-well I'm really nuts!

Babyfine, I laughed out loud when I read this. I worry about the same thing with my hubby. Everytime I ask him one of my endless worry questions he looks at me like I've grown two heads.

I think we are much harder on ourselves and our appearance than our loved ones (or anyone else for that matter) ever sees us. They wouldn't ever notice anything if we didn't bring it to their attention!

Well said Rua!  He did give me an unsolicited compliment on my hair the other day when I had it
pulled straight back-he said Your hair looks good like that!  I felt good.  

Had my hair trimmied yesterday-was a good day to thicken according to Morrocco lunar chart.  The stylist
only trimmed off a tiny bit-she said"You've been taking very good care of your hair-its in great shape considering it's been bleached" :)  I know eventually those ends will have to come off, but the're not damaged yet.  Maybe my fine hair isn't as fragile as I think, but I know it's mostly due to all the help I've had from my friends at Longlocks :)  That made my day when she told me that.   She's supportive of my trying to get to waist length(or beyond).  My hair should be BSL by this June, I hope.   Its very close, now.   My hairline is starting to fill in, I don't know if it's because I'm growing out my bangs, or the vitamins, or the Nioxin.
I' guess I'll never know unless I cut them back in, which I've thought of doing. because I just think I look better with a fringe.  But not for awhile.  I just think they soften the look of updos for me.   My stylist did not recommed henna, but that's to be expected.  I plan on (maybe) trying that this summer. (maybe).  I really want to.

I've developed an obsession with the idea of henna-ing my hair, even though I probably won't do it for some months.  I want to give the chemical dye on my hair
now some time to leech out with washing, ect.  It also
sounds like a huge mess and bother that I don't want to go through.  I can barely colour my hair at home with
regular box dye, let alone go through all that I read is required for henna.  No salons around here apply it and
my stylist doesn't like it.  But I have this idea in my head that it may be a great thing for my hair- will help with the condition and volume.  I've been visiting the henna sites looking over all the info- its intimidating.  My natural colour is a medium brown, so if it wasn't for these darn highlights, I think  henna would go well with my hair.  I will just have to let these highlights grow out more, I think.

That's quite a compliment when your stylist says you've been taking great care of your hair.  I'm glad you have someone who is supportive of your goals for length.

How long have you been using the Morrocco Method calendar for trimming?  I've been curious about it, but I don't trim that often so it might be something I would need to schedule well in advance.

Does it seem to help?

Keep growing that hair; it sounds like you are doing everything right!!

SF

Hi SF!  Actually, this is the FIRST time I've ever trimmed
according to a lunar chart.  At least, knowingly!  I decided to try it to see if it will help my hair, I figure it can't hurt!  The theory sounds at least plausible to me
as many things including some aspects of our bodies do
seem to be influenced by the moon.   I probably won't trim again for awhile as I want growth, although my ends, though healthy, are starting to look thin to me, so
the only reason I would would be to "blunt" it up.  So I don't know how long it would take to notice a difference, if one exists!

Hi BF!
Where did you get your calendar to tell you when to cut?  Was it at the Morrocco Method or somewhere else.

I've always been curious about this.  I know the full moon can exert a strong pull on PMS so, like you said, what's it going to hurt to try?

I'd like to find out when the next good trimming day is and just barely snip the ends.

Thanks!
SF

Hi Strawberryfine!
www.morroccomethod.com  and just click on lunar chart down
at the bottom

Last night I oiled my hair up with MM methods Euro organic oil in anticipation for my weekly s/c with Nioxin this morning.  Lots of snow so the boy's school was canceled. S/C with Nioxin Protectives S/C this morning and sprayed MM's volumizer mist as the only product.  Hair dried at least a 2b and kinda frizzy.  Hmmmm.Well, at least the waves give it SOME volume.  Made an appointment for a trim. Wanted to do it this week(MM lunar chart) but coudn't get in- trim is next favorable date of 4-15.  I wish I could do it myself but I'm not comfortable with that yet.  Bangs/fringe is all the way down to chin- past when  I pull them straight.  Still not sure I like that look.  I keep thinking a need a fringe- maybe just a wispy one.  I want to see if my grown out bangs will pump up pony tail circumfrence.(which is right at a measley 2") I'm not used to the "bangless" look- I feel the fringe makes me look much younger- but- will stay the course to grow them out. Yesterday I really thought- I should cut my hair in an inverted bob-dye it-yada yada yada- I'll look younger and my hair will look thicker.  But I'm resisting- my hair is ALMOST BSL in the back- I always chop at this length b/c the ends look thin.  However, they are chemically treated- maybe that's it.  That's the reason for the  trim in April.
To thicken up the ends which are lookin' kinda thin.New growth is coming in grey-oh.oh.  I don't want to colour-but.........we'll see.

I must have done something right b/c my hair turned out decent today.  Soft and Silky and well behaved.
My hair was feeling dry no matter what I did so I figured it what time for an ACV rinse.  Last night I slathered my hair with Euro Organic oil from Morroco Method and slept overnight in it and then this morning shampooed with Jessicurl's Hair Cleansing cream and did an ACV. Then Conditioned with Jessicurl's Too Shea Conditioner for 3 minutes.  Then I sprayed in Morroco Methods Volumizer mist and Put in Jessicurl's Confident coils with the Gelebration Spray and let Air Dry While I ran the boys to school.  When My hair dryed it was soft, silky and wavy.  Jessicurl Products don't always work with my hair but I must have done something right today.  I think it was mainly the ACV. I Hadn't done one for a few weeks.   I've been trying to fight the urge to chop again- every time my hair gets this length I always chop it.  Ends are getting a little thin- the fact that my hair has gotten so darn WAVY helps, though, also in the volume dept.  Is the wavyness due to better care or hormones(gettin'older) or what? It's been humid here so that may have something to do with it.  I'm trying to not do any cutting until it gets waist length (still a long way to go there) I figure at least a year the way my hair grows.
I really want waist length hair.  When I get there, we'll see  how it looks.  My hair is sooooo fine it waves in humid weather and goes straight (1c) in dry, desert weather.  Not bone straight, but much less wavy.  Right now its a 2a-2b.
Been reading Lorraine Massey's Curly Girl Book.  I'm not really a curly-just a wavy- but I like it.  I'm following the routine of shampooing once a week for wavy girls, CO the rest of the time.

The tips of my hair are just now touching the top of my Bra-Strap    and my bangs are now down past my chin.
The last 2-3 inches of my hair are looking very thin and scraggly-I feel I can't wear my hair down with confidence.
DH doesn't like my hair in an updo, either, still looking for updos that don't look too severe in front
I don't know if the reason my ends are so thin because they would be that way no matter what or because of the dye(bleach). The last 5-7 inches of my hair is bleached, all but 2" of roots are have permanent(light ) color. My plan of action the last 14 months has been to  trim up the hemline-about 1/4"at a time every 2-3 months blunt cut- growing out bangs for about 9 months.
I really prefer myself with bangs but I'm growing them out because mainly I need  that hair for volume.  
Saw a picture of myself with a shoulder swinging bob and bangs about 14 months ago- My hair did look a lot thicker .
Sometimes it makes me wonder if I'm kidding myself that I can have long hair(and have it look decent)
My hair is just so fine!
I keep feeling like I need a perm- but of course a with a perm there is no way I could grow long hair.
I was going to trimon 8-20-05 a MM red date, but couldn't, so I rescheduled for Sept 16.
I'm really tempted to cut about 2-3 inches off, I hope I don't have too.
On my to- try list is either henna or cassia(neutral henna) maybe that will help my hair.
I'm kind of put off by what seems to be a huge mess and hassle, though.  Maybe it will be worth it.
Currently I'm doing the no 'cone no sulfate things so current products used are the following:

Shampoos:
Aubrey Organics JAY
Jessicurl HCC
Longhairlovers Ice Age

Rinse Out Cond.

Aubrey Organics GPB
Jessicurl Aloeba Daily
Longhairlovers Ice Age

Leave IN's

Morrocco Method Volumizing Mist
Beauty w/o Cruetly Leave in

Sytling Products:
Aubrey organics B-5 Design gel
Aubreys Mandarin Hair Jelly
Morroco Method Blood of the Dragon Gel

Also use Creme of Nature and sometimes Nioxin in Rotation.

Want to try henna_ if I ever get the courage to do it!

I just keep feeling that part of the reason I wanted to grow long hair was to wear it down at least part of the time and have it look good.
I hope all the stylists weren't right who told me I couldn't grow my hair.
I think a lot of my problem is the dye- MY hair is in much better condition due to the hair boards than It would be otherwise- It probably wouldn't even be this long.
My goal is to eventually have all virgin hair.
Of course, now I'm going grey- heavy greys coming in my front bang area since I haven't coloured since April.
I don't like the look - on me.
I keep feeling I'm too young looking to have grey hair.
When I get wrinkles, then I'll let it go grey.
Hence , the desire to try henna.  There is not one grey hair anywhere else on my head, though, just coming in the bang area.
With my luck, henna will not work on my hair, and I'll make a mess as well!
I also forgot to include in  above post my love of oils

I use Jojoba Oil
and MM Euro Organic Oil(once a week)
Jojoba Oil daily just on the last 6-8 inches of my hair, It saved those bleached ends!
I'm also hesitant to dye with chemical dye anyway because of the health issues-controversial I know, and
it's not been proven that it's harmful- I do know that it's not good for my hair if I grow my hair longer than shoulder length.
My hair seems to be able to take chemical  processes well if I keep it no longer than my shoulders.
Grow it past my shoulders and the old hair just looks dead and lifeless.
So as the Ultimate Guide to growing long hair says- I need virgin hair for me.
Some ladies seem to be able to grow to great lengths while coloring - I think of Wynonna Judd- I love that waistlength red hair!.
Julianne Moores is long and red too, but I think that may be her natural color.
I'm also starting an experiment where I don't wet my hair down every day.
Currently I only CWC twice a week, CO'ing the rest of the time- thus wetting my hair down every day.
Sometimes I just rinse with water and spray a leave in.
I just feel I have to do a complete wet-down or my hair doesn't look good.
I am going to try wetting down less often- wondering if the daily wetting, rinsing, combing out is stressing my hair.(even though I don't blow dry and only comb through once and don't touch it again)
My hair is just so fragile.
I didn't wet it today in the shower at all, it looked kinda flat and frizzy-so I bunned it for church.
We'll see if that helps.

Don't be discouraged, Babyfine.  The hardest time I had when growing my hair out was in that in-between stage too.  But once past that, it was worth it.  My in-between period lasted about a year and a half.

I saw your earlier post that you are growing out your bangs.  I don't know if you've tried this, but it really made growing out bangs easy for me.  My part has always been down the middle.  when my bangs got long enough (maybe halfway to my nose) I started using clippies to hold them on one side.  I put the clip just 1/2 inch to an inch to the side of my part, but along the hairline.  Then, I used my side hairs coming down from the center part to cover the clips.  It gave the illusion that my bangs were long

Good luck with your growing.  It sounds like you have some good products there, so now it's just a matter of time.  :)

Cynde

Don't feel too bad about going gray, Babyfine. I have yet to turn 24 and I already have several white hairs.

*sending out good hair vibes*

Thanks, guys, you make me feel better :)
Khrome- My bangs are now past my chin, so I do clip them up they're almost there- I have some short wispies that drive me crazy- I try to tell myself it 's new growth!
Juri- fortunatly, my greys are just in my bangs area- Whe I use to have short bangs I could disguise them, but now when I pull my hair back they are more noticeable.