I really, really want to reach my goal this time around. I am a little confused as to what to do about trimming my hair though. Some people say to trim it and other say not to until I am at my goal. What about if I start seeing damage? Nayway my hair is super short and driving me nuts, i think because it is shorter in the back than front, but I know that if I were to cut it, I would regret it later. I'll just have to ride out that awkward stage. Right now I am using Pantene daily moisture in the shampoo and conditioner about every other day. Once a week I use the fortifying conditioner and I also use the leave in spray that is supposed to protect against damage.

I wanna go to mid back to start. Once I get there and see what caring for it is like I might go longer. We'll see if I even get mid back first!! I know it's gonna take forever, but hopefully I can stop using my straightening iron and minimize the damage even more.

Your curls are awesome! 

My hair was once done at a hair show.  She cut 11" off and I ended up looking like Trinity from the Matrix!  It was an awesome look, but talk about maintenance!  My hair isn't as curly as yours is, but it's wavy.  It was ironed EVERY day.  The cut and the entire look was pretty intense, so the maintenance was not optional.

I kept that look for a while, but then when I wanted to let it grow, it was a nightmare.  I let it grow out to a short bob, and then kept it at that length while most of the worst damage grew off.  Then I let it get longer.  I kept the layers cut in just "cuz". 

I also understand when people around you do not support your hair choices.  My family is constantly asking me when I'm going to cut my hair and donate it again.  I've found the safest answer is "I don't know.  It's not long enough yet."     I hope hubby at least doesn't say things to hurt your feelings.  I used to tell people "If you want my hair kept short like that - YOU pay for the colors and cuts, and come over and DO it everymorning for me, and I"ll consider it!"  That usually shut them up.

You'll reach your goal - no worries.  The cool thing about having hair short is that you can SEE how fast it is growing!

I had all the straight pieces cut today. I really thought about it and decides that I would be more likely to straight iron my hair if I left it the way it was. Boy, I forgot how much my hair likes to curl!! It looks REALLy short  , but I know that it will grow and hopefully even faster now that I am not using all that heat!
I ordered soem Mop Top conditioner, and some curley hair solutions curl keeper and gel. They follow the guidlines for ingrediants listed in the Curley Girl Handbook. We'll see how those products work. While I was at the salon I was lloking at different ingrediants and couldn't believe that everything there contained cones, alcohol, etc... I am gonna wait until my new product arrives and do a ACV rinse, then use them. Hopefully my hair will be rid of all that gunk and I can start new with the right products.

hey living-
good luck with the growing. i've been growing mine out for over a year from a pixie cut so i know about the frustrating short and mid length blahs. i also, for a while, would get negative comments about my growing-out hair from well-meaning friends. i found that i had been talking about growing out my hair to them, so they felt they could offer hair advice about cutting it, straightening, coloring etc...since i had already brought up hair. when i stopped talking about hair to everyone except fellow long lockers who have similar ideals of hair care and beauty, other people didn't give me as many comments. occasionally a family member will tell me how cute the pixie cut looked on me and how it was good with my profile and i'll just say "yes, now i can't wait to see how good it will look long". then in my head i secretly plot how amazing my future braids will be!