I ran across LongLocks about two days ago and was floored. I didn't even know such things existed!! And it was finding this site and seeing all the wonderful pictures of everyone's beautiful hair that inspired me to start growing mine for real!

I've always been very fond and proud of my hair, even when it was, in my current opinion, plain ugly. Lol! My mom always kept my hair in a bowl-cut bob with straight across bangs when I was little. When I got old enough to manage my own appearance I started growing it out, but I didn't develop a real flair for feminism until high school. Up until that point I'd never used conditioner, yanked on my wet hair to get the subsequent tangles out and basically treated my hair horribly. :-[ In my defense though it was very thin and because of all the damage and split ends, very hard to manage. I just didn't know any better...

At it's longest it was just past my bustline. That was my freshman year of high school. I got it cut up around my shoulders at some point, and then later (after my senior pictures. Mom wouldn't let me cut it much before that...) to just brushing my shoulders. When I started college I got the brilliant idea to go with a weird little bob/pixie cut thing... Yikes! :o Never again! Haha! So now at the age of 21, it's up to a decent thickness, very fine and soft, and is around three to four inches past my shoulders with bangs that are in desperate need of a trim. My picture was taken only a few days ago, so that's accurate length. I've been told by hairdressers that my hair is in surprisingly healthy condition despite blow drying it every day.

Once I started using conditioner I began looking into what my hair really needed and I've started using a moisturizing shampoo with a volumizing conditioner (my only real problem with my hair is that it's very oily). I unfortunately have to shower and blow dry every day. My bed hair is horrific! :D I've stopped dying my hair and my natural color is out by a few inches. I bought my first wide tooth comb at walmart. It'll have to do for now.

My goal length is mid-back, I think. I may decide to go longer depending on what my hair does at that point. Who knows.  ;D

Oh! And after seeing the hair sticks here I switched to crafty mode and made some to see if they'd work for me! Just wooden dowel rods, some tempera paint and a clear spray enamel coating or three. And I added some dangly beads off the end for good measure. And I love them! Maybe one day I'll have enough spare money to buy some of the hair sticks on this site! That would be amazing!

Anyway.. Now that I've rambled and bored you all to the ends of the earth... Lol. I'm glad I found this site!

Hi Katie!
Welcome to LongLocks!  It's a great to have you aboard.  You sound like you're on your way to healthier longer hair.  I look forward to reading your journal!  Feel free to ask questions,enjoy the other journals and just have a good time here! :)

Not boring at all, Katie.   :)  Welcome and I am looking forward to reading more.

Welcome! :)

Greetings and welcome, Katie.

How cool that you make your own hair toys. I do too. :)

Anyway, as you explore these forums, you'll probably get more ideas about taking care of your hair as it grows. If you have any questions, just ask.

Thanks everyone. :) I've just been wandering the boards trying to figure out where things are, pretty much. It's good to see the boards are active!

Hi and welcome, Katie.

Welcome aboard Katie!