For a while now I've been thinking of getting my hair trimmed up some, but a few uncertainties keep me from doing so. I haven't had my hair trimmed or cut in a long time- at least three or four years and it could easily be longer. I honestly can't remember the last time I had a trim.


(The un-trimmed ends in question ^)

I think I'm about due for one, as my ends are difficult to control and besides being very 'feathery' they also somewhat resemble a horse tail. I'm not sure if going so long without any trim helps or hurts my hair's growth in any way but if it getting a trim can help then I may need to do that.

Before I put myself in the hands of a scissor-happy stylist I would really appriciate any advice on this. Should I get a trim? How much would be a good amount to take off? How often is it best to get a trim while trying to grow your hair out?

IMO, fairy tale ends, or uncut ends are qute lovely and yours are lovely.

If you feel the need for a trim, I would ask for 1/8" to 1/4" as stylists sometimes cut more than you ask for (I used to be one).

Do you have a friend or relative that would be willing to do this for you that you trust?

Also, if you do a yahoo search for Feyes self-trimming Method or Feyes' haircutting method
you should find a link to an article which tells you how to trim your own long hair, either straight across, U-shaped or v-shaped.  It has pictures, too.  I will try to find it for you, too.

ETA:
Here's the link: http://members.fortunecity.com/feye/trim/

HTH,
SF

You can do it!  Just take off tiny little bits at a time.
Often chain-salons like FS and olthers hire students straight out of school; they are licensed but not experienced.  Be  very, very, careful.

(((HUGS)))
SF

personally i am in favour of cut ends since it just feels and looks healthier on very long hair (and so much easier to detangle!). but i would cut it myself and in stages.

if you have layers then normally it is already somewhat U or even V shaped. i cut straight across until they will be gone and then it depends on how thick the ends are ... i never liked a lot a straight blunt cut cuze the hair looks either like a bell (at shorter lengths) or like a lifeless drape if the volume stays the same everywhere. i think i would cut it in a u shape.

I used to get my hair trimmed several inches at a time. After a month or two it always returned to the "fairy tail end" state as a result of dryness and breakage.

I know a lot of people are into "natural" ends, and I can see if someone grew out from a shaved head they might have that, or even if they had reached terminal length.

Not for me.

If it were me, I would trim 1/2" a month for a while. At that rate, you would have plenty of time to make a decision about what your final end shape should be.