I Have A Question On Measuring Hair.

[ogmistress]

Hello Ladies,

I was debating if I wanted to post this question or not, for hours. But my curiousity got te best of me. So here is the question:

So I have seen many progress pics where a person will turn there head to the side and measure their hair with their collar bone and etc. I was wondering, what does that actually mean with the measurement?

I'm just so jumbled right now and i can't think of an answer and the question is being very distracting for me to do other things.

Thank you in advance for your responses.

 

[ogmistress]

I was just curious.

 

[Nonie]

I'm not sure I understand your question.

 

[Shadiyah]

I have the question also because there are people that are claiming a length but olnly seem to be the length before it. Like hip when it only looks waist to me so what are the rules of length?

 

[Nonie]

I have the question also because there are people that are claiming a length but olnly seem to be the length before it. Like hip when it only looks waist to me so what are the rules of length?

There's a chart around but I think it's really hip bone length that people mean when they say HL. But I do understand where you're coming from. I keep meaning to create one that uses just body parts, as *I* understand them.

Here's one of the more accurate charts:

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

I think I know what OP is talking about.
Is it like when people take the length picture from the front, turn their heads a little, and pull the hair down so that it lays against their collarbones? Instead of them doing it the normal way, which is to turn around and do it against their backs?

If so, I'm not sure why people do that. Maybe to see if they are collarbone length, idk.
Personally, I think collarbone is kind of...a useless measurement. It's pretty much your shoulder.

 

[Nonie]

I think I know what OP is talking about.
Is it like when people take the length picture from the front, turn their heads a little, and pull the hair down so that it lays against their collarbones? Instead of them doing it the normal way, which is to turn around and do it against their backs?

If so, I'm not sure why people do that. Maybe to see if they are collarbone length, idk.
Personally, I think collarbone is kind of...a useless measurement. It's pretty much your shoulder.

Got it! It depends on the position of the head. If you turn your head from side to side, your nape stays at the same level so I do think that's a good way to get collar bone length.

I actually like collarbone length. I think it represents full shoulder. The demarcation between SL and NL can be seen as NL by some and SL by the optimistic owner of the hair. I prefer CBL because there can be no question about whether the hair is SL or NL.

Here's my approximation of what the lengths look like. Instead of hip length, I prefer to think of it as hipbone length. My key:

NL = neck length; SL = shoulder length; CBL = collarbone length; APL = armpit length; BSB = below shoulder blades; MBL = midback length; WL = waist length; HBL = hipbone length; BL = butt length; MTL = mid-thigh length; KL = knee length; MCL = mid-calf length; AL = ankle length; then I added FL (floor length, even though it's not a body part just coz I'd drawn the line and didn't feel like coloring it out).

 

[yamilee21]

That chart needs its own thread, Nonie - settle the length questions once and for all.

 

[labellenoire]

I know someone is going to get fired-up about me saying this, but why does anyone care about what somone else is claiming? Why not DO YOU and let the person next to you DO HER/HIM? Okay, I can understand if it has a direct impact i.e. hurting you/your family/your friend, etc. But if a person is deluded or honestly just mistaken about his/her length, what hurt does that cause another person?

I've seen these threads pop up a lot lately on this forum and I am really starting to ask myself: Is this a competition with other members or is this just a personal desire for individuals to grow their hair long (whatever that means to each person).

Would like to hear people's thoughts...

 

[Nonie]

^^i think you are reading too much into this than there is.

I did PM OP after she took a while coming to clarify her question and I found out she wasn't concerned about anyone else's delusions or absence thereof but was merely trying to determine if a length she was noticing on herself with her head turned was accurate.

And then I can clearly understand why the PP asked about hip length because anyone that doesn't just accept theories w/o a good explanation would do well to question why hip length is placed at a level that is clearly way above the position of hips--which everyone knows is around where the butt is. I am actually surprised no one ever has before now unless everyone has always understood it to mean hipBONE length, everyone but the PP, that is.

Unless I have missed something, I don't think anyone's got any mean competitive spirit but if folks ask if they can claim a length they are not at, then those who prefer to lie and butter the OP up should knock themselves out, and those who prefer to tell the truth that they themselves would hope would be told to them, should not be afraid to speak up either. If you make a statement on a public forum, then you should be open to take different points of view.

It's like the other day when gorgeous Renee's vid was posted. It stated her hair was waist-length and I just about broke a finger trying to click the thread faast enough to see. Come to find it wasn't really WL--nor was there any clear indication why we'd think it was WL. So yes I did state it looks more like BSL or BSB (I forget which) and it's not coz I am in a contest. It's just because I have a hard tome being part of group-think that is far from the truth. Sometimes I may keep it moving and not say anything. But sometimes I will, which is what I would hope someone would do unto me if I were the one deluded.

There was a time my own pics showing length of 5-6 inches were questioned. It didn't ruffle my feathers but offered me an opportunity to clarify why I called it what I did.

 

[Uber]

hmm I not sure I can visualise the description you guys are making of length checking

"Is it like when people take the length picture from the front, turn their heads a little, and pull the hair down so that it lays against their collarbones? Instead of them doing it the normal way, which is to turn around and do it against their backs?


I can't check in the normal way(down the back) because I would have to get hubby to check. So facing the front I pull hair from the back of my head to the front. I don't turn my head to the side. This is hard to visualise how this would work for me. But I would imagine if you were CBL then pulling your hair down the front would be accurate since this is where the collarbone is.


I am now on my way to APL if not already there. I still measure facing frontwards because I need help checking down my back. My arms do not go above my should blade. I guesstimate that APL may be longer than I can see from the front so I have added a few inches to where the apl appears to be from the front and will wait until DH is around to do a proper down the back check.

BTW I am natural. If I was straight I would not bother stretching the hair I think.

 

[ms.blue]

Wonderful explanation Nonie!

 

[discodumpling]

On some hairboards length is measured from the front hair line back. For a nappy/kinky like myself that only serves to frustrate me as the hair in the front is only just past the middle of my head! Here (in LHCF land) we measure using the hair at the back/nape...IMO this is much more satisfactory

Yes there will be slight discrepancies with measurements ie. my WL is not your WL... when I see someone claim a length I generally think it could be up to + or - 3 or 4 inches.

 

[mzteaze]

OP, I think sometimes the reason you see people with their heads turned is because they are also attempting to take a picture of their heads THEMSELVES. I have difficulties accomplishing showing length AND taking the pic at the same time from the back. Also, for us naturals, it may be necessary to stretch the hair if its in the curly/kinky state so that you can see it as if it was straightened out.

For example, while my hair appears to be ear length when curly, its at the tops of shoulder when blown straight.

Hope that helps.

 

[Nonie]

hmm I not sure I can visualise the description you guys are making of length checking

"Is it like when people take the length picture from the front, turn their heads a little, and pull the hair down so that it lays against their collarbones? Instead of them doing it the normal way, which is to turn around and do it against their backs?


I can't check in the normal way(down the back) because I would have to get hubby to check. So facing the front I pull hair from the back of my head to the front. I don't turn my head to the side. This is hard to visualise how this would work for me. But I would imagine if you were CBL then pulling your hair down the front would be accurate since this is where the collarbone is.


I am now on my way to APL if not already there. I still measure facing frontwards because I need help checking down my back. My arms do not go above my should blade. I guesstimate that APL may be longer than I can see from the front so I have added a few inches to where the apl appears to be from the front and will wait until DH is around to do a proper down the back check.

BTW I am natural. If I was straight I would not bother stretching the hair I think.

Actually, pulling the hair forward to see if it reaches collarbone while you face forward would be inaccurate. The way we measure length is by finding the shortest line from nape to whatever body part, that means pulling the hair straight down. Not forward or sideways, but straight down.

Maybe these diagrams will help.

When you face forward then pull nape hair forward as shown in a toward your collarbone, you can clearly see from b that the length you think is collarbone seen from the front, is actually way longer than that. So facing front to determine collarbone would give you an inaccurate result.

When you turn your head to the side so that the corner of your nape is forward, and you pull your hair straight down from your nape to your collarbone, you get a better result because even if you turned your head back to face front, the hair would fall to the same level (around collarbone) as it did when you turned your head. Hence a more accurate way to measure.

And for those of you wondering how you'd be able to see with your head turned, you don't need the sense of sight when you have the sense of feel to know where the fingers pulling on the ends of the hair touch on your body.

 

[cmbodley]

^^^^ whoop there it is that settles that!

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

Nonie, you are killing me today with your genius.

 

[carolinetwin]

LOL Nonnie, you're taking us to school.

 

[arosieworld]

I do that and even though Nonie has given you why you shouldn't (she is probably right) here is why I do and will continue.
I just want my progress, not necessarily the accurate length, when I want that I use a measuring tape. For me what matters in the progress pics are that the hair is in the same style, taken from the same angle and the same position as the picture I am comparing it to.

 

[lea86111]

i always thought BSB was below shoulder blades but above APL. I mean why would it be called below shoulder blades then?

 

[D.Lisha]

gosh Nonie,
what's your IQ? Like freakin Infinity or something? lol
I mean after the diagrams, and explanantions that she gave...what else is left to say?

 

[Chocolatelove2010]

Wowwwwww, I feel so dumb right now lol. I always check by pulling it to the front.

You have really cleared up so much for me today Nonie.

Thanks.

 

[divachyk]

Got it! It depends on the position of the head. If you turn your head from side to side, your nape stays at the same level so I do think that's a good way to get collar bone length.

I actually like collarbone length. I think it represents full shoulder. The demarcation between SL and NL can be seen as NL by some and SL by the optimistic owner of the hair. I prefer CBL because there can be no question about whether the hair is SL or NL.

Here's my approximation of what the lengths look like. Instead of hip length, I prefer to think of it as hipbone length. My key:

NL = neck length; SL = shoulder length; CBL = collarbone length; APL = armpit length; BSB = below shoulder blades; MBL = midback length; WL = waist length; HBL = hipbone length; BL = butt length; MTL = mid-thigh length; KL = knee length; MCL = mid-calf length; AL = ankle length; then I added FL (floor length, even though it's not a body part just coz I'd drawn the line and didn't feel like coloring it out).

NONIE....U ROCK! Thx for the diagram...this is soooo helpful!

 

[Nonie]

i always thought BSB was below shoulder blades but above APL. I mean why would it be called below shoulder blades then?

I think you are confusing "shoulders" with "shoulder blades". Shoulder blades are triangular bones in your back whose bottom is clearly not above the armpits therefore no way above APL but actually below the armpit, normally anyway. So if the ends of your hair fell below them it would have long surpassed APL.

Another image:

^^These triangular things you see looking like chicken wings on her back are shoulder blades and again anything below them would be way below APL.

ETA: In the chart I created you can see what shoulder blades really look like on the skeletal frame and that the line going underneath the shoulder blades is not above the one going through the armpits:

 

[constance]

Nonie, I thought I was not retaining length until, on a whim, I pulled my hair back ("b") instead of forward ("a") and went from BSL to MBL in a flash. Imagine my surprise.

Arosieworld, I do the same thing. My earliest pics were taken that way so it gives me a thrill to see the progress (in my sig). Also, now that I know my hair is a bit longer than it appears (by pulling it forward) I have a sense of delayed gratification--I pull it forward for monthly checks but I'll stretch it down my back in Dec.

 

[cmbodley]

ok now that Nonie has taken us from Pre K to elementary to middle & high school & off to a PhD program there shouldn't be ANY doubt or questions as to how to measure hair, where to start measuring, etc....
Big ups to Nonie, whoo hoo :woohoo: thanks for all you do! :blowkiss::waytogo:
And most of all Nonie

 

[ogmistress]

I want to apologize for not being on this thread as much as I should. (since I started it) I'm in my third week of school and it's my senior year, so I have been pretty busy.

I just want to thank everyone for there comments and explainations. I really appreciate it. Thank you.

 

[Shadiyah]

There's a chart around but I think it's really hip bone length that people mean when they say HL. But I do understand where you're coming from. I keep meaning to create one that uses just body parts, as *I* understand them.

Here's one of the more accurate charts:

Thanks so much that was a really big help

 

[lea86111]

I think you are confusing "shoulders" with "shoulder blades". Shoulder blades are triangular bones in your back whose bottom is clearly not above the armpits therefore no way above APL but actually below the armpit, normally anyway. So if the ends of your hair fell below them it would have long surpassed APL.

Another image:

^^These triangular things you see looking like chicken wings on her back are shoulder blades and again anything below them would be way below APL.

ETA: In the chart I created you can see what shoulder blades really look like on the skeletal frame and that the line going underneath the shoulder blades is not above the one going through the armpits:

oh ok! thanks for clarifying. I'd thank your post but the thank you button doesn't appear on my phone anymore

 

[Embyra]

I have nothing to add just that i always feel a little smarter after reading one of nonie posts