Those Who Go Over A Year Without Trimming Please Take Part

[MrsHdrLe]

Thanks Nonie for this, I had a major setback last year from all kinds of evils and decided this year would be different by more frequent dustings and trims. My goal is to get nearly even (I have bangs) apl-bsb hair by the end of the year. This thread will be helpful in figuring out what I can do to maximize the health and subsequent length of my hair.
@Charz, your hair is gorg. and and THICK as heck!
@ Natural-K, more info on your hair history pls. It's my DREAM hair in every way!

 

[racheljay1985]

I have a fine, course hair if that makes sense? I'll say medium. It's fine in some areas and medium course in others. I have 3c/4a hair mix (I believe)

I just got it trimmed a 3 weeks ago from a two year plus non trim. I wore it under lacefronts and it hadn't been trimmed in over TWO years. I would have my roomie relax my hair, and when I did go to the salon it didn't need to be trimmed as my ends weren't split nor damaged. This is a pic of my hair at the end of a 22 month stretch taken 3 weeks ago. Before my relaxer. I never put products in it, just washed and straightened and it was fine and whispy straightened.

My ends were thick and appeared fine to me, when I was at the salon she said they weren't split but I should cut them anyway since it had been so long and she barely cut off a half inch.

My hair is about 12 inches long now, and about 8 inches in this second pic (stretch) taken in May of last year. notice my hair barely grazes my neck, and it wasn't thinning either.

This pic (like in my siggy) is after a relaxer taken 3 weeks ago is at my shoulders

I didn't have a regimen until recently, I just kept my hair ALWAYS covered in a lacefront wig, or braided, etc. I guess that protected my hair but I was lucky because I never took care of it. That gave me a dry, flakey scalp but I did gain length.

 

[leiah]

July 09 - I bced 2 months prior to this pic in may

feb 2011

if i had a free hand to stretch it would be bsl

Do you have coarse or fine strands?
fine

When was the last time you trimmed?
bc may 09

How long was your hair after that trim or if you have never trimmed, how long was your hair a year or two ago?
neck

How long is your hair now?
i consider it apl but when stretched it's bsl

What regimen do you use to protect your ends and keep them in good shape?
i have not been paying any special attention to them but i may start. for the first time in my life i have zero split ends. i attribute it to the fact that since my bc i have used absolutely no heat and only finger detangled

 

[ms-gg]

What regimen do you use to protect your ends and keep them in good shape?
i have not been paying any special attention to them but i may start. for the first time in my life i have zero split ends. i attribute it to the fact that since my bc i have used absolutely no heat and only finger detangled

Your hair is purty and I especially agree with the bolded . I try to avoid as much mechanical damage to my hair as possible....

 

[ceecy29]

@ceecy29 I look forward to you updating your post with images. Thank you for responding.

DONE.

I added some pics of how I wear my hair. I recently started blow drying after every wash (once a week) and then wearing it in a braid out.

In the past I wore my hair in twists for weeks on end and then out styles on weekends if I was going out.

 

[FlowerHair]

I rarely trim my hair more than once a year at the very most...

Right now it does need a trim though!

There's no need to trim and trim and trim if you're growing your hair out. Trim it when it looks like it needs it.

 

[DarkAngell]

subscribing. Will be back to post pics.

 

[BostonMaria]

Natural-K you have beautiful hair!
Nonie no problem. I didn't cut my hair from 2007 through Dec 2009. I'll find pictures tomorrow and post. I'll have to subscribe and post again in July when it's 12 months post trim.

To answer question #6 I usually wear my hair in a ponytail.


Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

 

[wavezncurlz]

[*]Do you have coarse or fine strands? FINE
[*]When was the last time you trimmed? Nov 2009
[*]How long was your hair after that trim or if you have never trimmed, how long was your hair a year or two ago? MBL
[*]How long is your hair now?WL
[*]Please post two or more photos of your hair (preferably stretched or straightened) showing your hair's progress while on this regimen (Please date the before and after)
[*]What regimen do you use to protect your ends and keep them in good shape? (I just added this so folks who had to come back, you didn't omit any questions; I'm the one who's at fault for not putting it in in the first place. I beg your pardon.) I protect my ends by tucking them under my buns or other updos. They usually are not out. I try to remember to seal. [/LIST]

The last two pictures show a year's growth - Nov 2009 to Dec 2010. I can't believe I lasted that long. It was all I could do to walk away from the stylist's chair without a trim in Dec. I love even ends.

I wear my hair in buns and updo's 90% of the time. Otherwise I'll do a twistout. I'm too cheap and lazy to straighten. If I wore my hair straight all the time, I'd definitely trim to full blunt ends.

 

[~~HoneyComb~~]

I rarely trim my hair more than once a year at the very most...

Right now it does need a trim though!

There's no need to trim and trim and trim if you're growing your hair out. Trim it when it looks like it needs it.

I agree with the bolded--the only time I would trim my hair often is when I was relaxed and kept a short hairstyle. I can also see trimming if you want to keep any hairstyle shape that you prefer. But for growing it out, I don't see the need to trim often.

 

[Carrie A]

I won't post pics because they may not inspire lol. My ends were looking raggedy but I still retained a lot of hair.

I transitioned for a year with no cutting. Then after, cutting my relaxed ends off went one and a half years without a trim. In that time I grew at a rate of least six inches per year. After I passed APL I started micro trimming every few months, not for length retention per say but because I'd like a neater look, if I straighten. Plus I want my LHCF back shots to look good lol. But I still don't have a perfect line if you will.....That's ok because the overall look is not affected.


With that said, if I was still relaxing I definitely would trim more frequently and take a proactive verses retroactive approach to keep the ends healthy and looking sleek. That's when I saw the breakage of small hairs on my collar. I guess part of me thinks I can get away with more, or should I say less now that I'm natural. Time will tell.

ETA Sorry Nonie!

1. Do you have coarse or fine strands? Fine
2. When was the last time you trimmed? Between Nov 2008 and mid 2010 I did not trim. Started trimming every 4 months since then
3. How long was your hair after that trim or if you have never trimmed, how long was your hair a year or two ago? Grew from Chin to APL(sides)/ Collar bone to BSL(tail) before I started trimming. I've trimmed maybe four times in all since 2007.
4. How long is your hair now? MBL grazing waist length
5. Please post two or more photos of your hair (preferably stretched or straightened) showing your hair's progress while on this regimen (Please date the before and after) will do later
6. What regimen do you use to protect your ends and keep them in good shape? I used protected styles but my ends were not in the best shape during the no trim period. My overall retention was satisfactory.

 

[Nonie]

I won't post pics because they may not inspire lol. My ends were looking raggedy but I still retained a lot of hair.

I transitioned for a year with no cutting. Then after, cutting my relaxed ends off went one and a half years without a trim. In that time I grew at a rate of least six inches per year. After I passed APL I started micro trimming every few months, not for length retention per say but because I'd like a neater look, if I straighten. Plus I want my LHCF back shots to look good lol. But I still don't have a perfect line if you will.....That's ok because the overall look is not affected.


With that said, if I was still relaxing I definitely would trim more frequently and take a proactive verses retroactive approach to keep the ends healthy and looking sleek. That's when I saw the breakage of small hairs on my collar. I guess part of me thinks I can get away with more, or should I say less now that I'm natural. Time will tell.

Carrie A, sorry to be a pain but can you answer the questions 1-4 & 6 at least so we can at least have an idea what you're working with.

I would really love it if you posted pics. Remember there are people who may not really worry so much about aesthetics but just curious to see what growth they can achieve. Coz how many times have people said, I'll trim when I get to my goal. And then here comes Nonie with her sermon about how you'll never make that goal coz the hair will break off on its own. So your pics will put holes in my theory which might be something someone really wanted to see because they hate scissors. So pretty please?

 

[Carrie A]

@Carrie A, sorry to be a pain but can you answer the questions 1-4 & 6 at least so we can at least have an idea what you're working with.

I would really love it if you posted pics. please?

I can't figure out the mention feature. I edited my post now but can't post pics 'till later this evening.

 

[mEmYSELFaNDj]

answered these questions:

1. What regimen do you use to protect your ends and keep them in good shape? Although my ends dont look pretty as far as having a thick even hem line, my ends are in pretty good shape(for not having a trim in over 2 years) not really a lot of splits, although I do get tons of single strand knots. I don't do any search and destroys because I need to get a good pair of shears or else I'll be doing more damage than good for my hair. I just let my hair be, I figure I'll when I hit my goal or August 2011 whichever comes first. I was able to protect my ends for the first 1 1/2 year of my hair journey by wearing back to back weave installs. Now I just bun and moisturize and seal nightly to protect my ends.
2. Do you have coarse or fine strands? Coarse
3. When was the last time you trimmed? Dec 08
4. How long was your hair after that trim or if you have never trimmed, how long was your hair a year or two ago? it was CBL dec08-june09(when I started my hj, I didnt retain any length between this time, I didnt know how to take care of my hair.)
5. How long is your hair now? WL
6. Please post two or more photos of your hair (preferably stretched or straightened) showing your hair's progress while on this regimen (Please date the before and after)
   
   Feb 08 (although this was in feb of 2008, this was the same length it was trimmed back to in Dec 08)
   
   
   Aug 09 after being on my hair journey for 3 months. This is my hair stretched after taking it down from a weave install.
   
   
   July 31st 2010, basically a little after 1 year on my hair journey. (Please excuse my momma face I was very tired and had a new baby) As you can see my ends dont look good at all. But im afraid to trim so, I just kept it pushing. Also this was a light press, they usually look a lot better when my hair is pressed straight straight.
   
   Her's my hair as of Feb 2011. This was a super straight press, my ends dont look as bad as in July 2010 since they are really straight this time but I do feel like I need a trim. My siggy has an additional pic of my hair in the back from feb 2011.

Hope this helps. I do think trimming is needed and my hair would look a lot better if trimmed but I dont think it is needed nearly as much as people claim especially if you are trying to grow your hair out and if you are protective styling most of the time.

 

[Nonie]

I can't figure out the mention feature. I edited my post now but can't post pics 'till later this evening.

Carrie A thanks for the update. Looking forward to your pics. To mention someone, you just type @ right before their name, no space.

 

[Carrie A]

@Nonie (just practicing)


Here is my starting point in Oct 2007 ? Cut off my hair. Hair was still relaxed in front but natural in the back/ nape. I used my nape hair for progess pics.
Follow the nape.

I transitioned for 13 months without cutting then in Nov 2008 cut the front relaxed ends. This pic was taken in Dec 2008 for the APL challenge. My nape has grown from the neck to collar bone- and remember my nape was natural already so actually I went two years without scissors.
Please excuse the close up face shot.

My reveal pic at the end of Dec 2009. The nape is past APL.

Here is just a pic of my full naked hair - no product.

After the APL challenge I flat ironed my hair and the ends were not so nice (sorry no pic) so I trimmed about a half inch then a month later I trimmed another inch. I didn't make any major cuts. I entered the BSL challenge. Below is my reveal for Dec 2010. I think I did a mini trim before my pic. I do protective styling but I wear braidouts too. The peak is my nape. My ends look smoother if I keep them moisturized. HTH!

 

[Nonie]

Carrie A, your mention worked. Thanks for posting pics. I'm about to hurt you for tryna withhold this evidence.

 

[LovelyNaps26]

Do you have coarse or fine strands? I think medium
When was the last time you trimmed? December 2010 (the pic below is before the trim)
How long was your hair after that trim or if you have never trimmed, how long was your hair a year or two ago? My longest layer just his shoulder blade
How long is your hair now? about an inch below shoulder blade (same as the December picture below...regained length in 2 months)
Please post two or more photos of your hair (preferably stretched or straightened) showing your hair's progress while on this regimen (Please date the before and after)
What regimen do you use to protect your ends and keep them in good shape?
I wear my hair stretched after washing. ends are moisturized every day or at least every other day. i use heat sparingly.

After January of last year my hair was dusted in May then in December (well Dec. was actually a trim) You can disregard 1st pic as my hair is in braids.

 

[virtuenow]

1. Do you have coarse or fine strands?
   
   Coarse
   
2. When was the last time you trimmed?
   
   Probably end of 2006 or end 07. Its been so long I don't remember!
   
3. How long was your hair after that trim or if you have never trimmed, how long was your hair a year or two ago?
   
   Probably abt 4-5inches (at that akward phase)
   
4. How long is your hair now?
   
   I don't really measure but btw 15-18inches
   
5. Please post two or more photos of your hair (preferably stretched or straightened) showing your hair's progress while on this regimen (Please date the before and after).
   
   I'll hv to get bk to u I dnt really post pics anymore n I'm on cell ph. U can go to my fotki (virtuenow) to see my hair in
   
6. What regimen do you use to protect your ends and keep them in good shape? (I just added this so folks who had to come back, you didn't omit any questions; I'm the one who's at fault for not putting it in in the first place. I beg your pardon.)
   
   Butters/oils on ends. Now doing oil rinses and cowashing.
   
   Thanks in advance for your participation.

1. 
   
   
   
   Sent from my SPH-M920 using Long Hair Care Forum App

 

[Carrie A]

@Carrie A, your mention worked. Thanks for posting pics. I'm about to hurt you for tryna withhold this evidence.

What's funny is that when I read my old post at the start of the 2009 APL challenge I wrote that I intended to trim every three months . Oh well.

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

I won't post pics because they may not inspire lol. My ends were looking raggedy but I still retained a lot of hair.

Girl you need to stop!!! Your hair is pretty!

 

[Nonie]

When was the last time you trimmed? December 2010 (the pic below is before the trim)
How long was your hair after that trim or if you have never trimmed, how long was your hair a year or two ago? My longest layer just his shoulder blade
How long is your hair now? about an inch below shoulder blade (same as the December picture below...regained length in 2 months)

After January of last year my hair was dusted in May then in December (well Dec. was actually a trim) You can disregard 1st pic as my hair is in braids.

@LovelyNaps26 It looks like you used scissors at least twice in the 2010, if I'm following correctly, right? Dusting in May and then trim in December. Do you have pics that show a year's progress or more when scissors haven't touched your hair at all?

 

[Nonie]

virtuenow can you please give us the actual links to the two photos that represent hair before the no-trim year+ elapsed and then photos that show the after in your album? I always find albums to be such a maze which is why I prefer photos in posts coz it's easier to caption them and make it clear--plus you would know which photos represent what.

TIA.

 

[Irresistible]

I go for a year without trims. My ends are thick and all that, But I don't think I can count for this thread because when I finally do press I cant fight the urge to whack off some major hair-which might be due to how it feels to me from not trimming. Glad I could help

 

[starfish79]

# Do you have coarse or fine strands?
FINE

# When was the last time you trimmed?
JAN 2011 - Before that I cut from WL to APL in August 2009

# How long was your hair after that trim or if you have never trimmed, how long was your hair a year or two ago?
JAN 2011 - trim from MBL to BSL

# How long is your hair now?
somewhere between BSL - MBL

# Please post two or more photos of your hair
No pics but I can definitely say that my hair has thinned all over during the Aug. '09 - Jan. '11 period. I think it's due to the lack of trimming.

# What regimen do you use to protect your ends and keep them in good shape?
I've been sealing with emu oil but am in the process of slowly trimming off the ends due to extreme dryness after henna treatments. I'll probably hold at this length until it is all trimmed off. Hopefully I will regain some of the thickness in the process.

 

[Nonie]

I go for a year without trims. My ends are thick and all that, But I don't think I can count for this thread because when I finally do press I cant fight the urge to whack off some major hair-which might be due to how it feels to me from not trimming. Glad I could help

"Glad I could help" my butt. Girl, stop playin'!

Irresistible, don't make me get my big stick. Since you go over a year w/o trims, can you please respond to the questions and post pics taken a year or so apart. Even if the pics are after the trim, it'll be nice to see how much you end up retaining after so much time elapses w/o you using the scissors. Your oily regimen would also be a great help to folks.

 

[LovelyNaps26]

Nonie

i haven't gone a full year w/ not scissor action. though according to the 'rules' dusting 2xs a year seems to be below average. i know the OP says a year but in reading many threads/blogs i often feel like a rebel with my dusting schedule

 

[Irresistible]

"Glad I could help" my butt. Girl, stop playin'!

@Irresistible, don't make me get my big stick. Since you go over a year w/o trims, can you please respond to the questions and post pics taken a year or so apart. Even if the pics are after the trim, it'll be nice to see how much you end up retaining after so much time elapses w/o you using the scissors. Your oily regimen would also be a great help to folks.

Nonie I almost didn't post cause I knew you were gonna be like @me hahaha

lol@oily regimen....alright here it goes. I don't have pics of my last major trimming session but I have a pic from 2008-which seems to me to be close to where I cut it to last year.

So to start , a video of my last press (Jan 2010), which was after my first trim-little did I know I was going to end up doing major whacking off later
http://www.youtube.com/user/IRRISISTABLBTCH?feature=mhum

This is about where it was when I was done cutting-probably shorter than this even (back to end of 2008 length)

just remembered I had this pic-probably one of the only pics taken in the middle of my cutting sessions-which didn't end until April. (Feb 14 2010)see it getting shorter (it's pressed here which is why I kept cutting at it)

and after leaving it alone totally for the rest of the year, this pic is only my nape/stretched and taken on 12/12/2010-I reached TBL and I don't know how LOL yes my man fed me well and thickened me up but that's another thread

Nonie I have not seen/felt my ends pressed yet and don't know what is to come when I do, but I don't just go by the 'thickness' of the ends, I go by the 'feel' also.
*coming back to edit post to answer questions*

ok whew, Nonie puttin me to work

1. Do you have coarse or fine strands? I think my hair is fine? but course? oh girl I dunno for sure actually
2. When was the last time you trimmed? I think I finally stopped the series of trims in April 2010
3. How long was your hair after that trim or if you have never trimmed, how long was your hair a year or two ago? MBL?
4. How long is your hair now? TBL
5. Please post two or more photos of your hair (preferably stretched or straightened) showing your hair's progress while on this regimen (Please date the before and after)
6. What regimen do you use to protect your ends and keep them in good shape? (I just added this so folks who had to come back, you didn't omit any questions; I'm the one who's at fault for not putting it in in the first place. I beg your pardon.) coconut oil all the time (The oily regimen) I always leave coconut oil and conditioner in my hair

 

[wavezncurlz]

^^^^LOL at your man feeding you well! I'mma use that one from now on!

Oh well, I've always loved your hair. I can't believe you are TBL now!

 

[yamilee21]

... Coz how many times have people said, I'll trim when I get to my goal. And then here comes Nonie with her sermon about how you'll never make that goal coz the hair will break off on its own. ...

I wish I had pictures from when my hair finally grew out, but that was before I was participating on hair forums. In February 2005, I was BSB, with my V-tail (aka "lead hairs") approaching MBL. I was also pregnant, which made me too tired to pay attention to my hair. I think I straightened for Easter, and maybe a lazy pseudo-attempt at straightening once or twice later that year, but for most of the pregnancy and then once the baby was born, it was nothing but buns and ponytails, which were usually braided. Never trimmed, or did much else besides wash (with conditioner) and put away. Finally in February 2006 I took a few hours to do a real straightening job, and was very surprised to find myself at full waist-length... even more surprised when I had someone come trim my ends, and she trimmed less than an inch to even it all out. Prior to this experience, I always trimmed regularly (3-4 times each year) - was firm believer in the "your hair won't grow without trimming" camp, and had never, ever come anywhere near waist-length hair.

I usually trim once a year, but I also clip end split ends or single-strand knots whenever I see them, and I really don't care about the blunt ends look, because my hair always has some curl to it even if it is out, so the ends are not particularly noticeable anyway. (And having 10 different kinds of hair strands doesn't help either.) I think a portion of my hair is probably at terminal length though now, because I've had very little growth past tailbone, which is where most of it has been for at least a year. I also had a lot of shedding this year due to a serious illness.

Since I do S&D, I'm not sure whether you want my answers to your questions, but just in case...

1. Do you have coarse or fine strands? Coarse and medium strands.
2. When was the last time you trimmed? Late January, 2010 - on wet hair (what was I thinking, ).
3. How long was your hair after that trim or if you have never trimmed, how long was your hair a year or two ago? Hip-tailbone.
4. How long is your hair now? Mostly tailbone (mid-pants-pocket-length stretched, last I looked).
5. Please post two or more photos of your hair (preferably stretched or straightened) showing your hair's progress while on this regimen (Please date the before and after) Sorry, I haven't taken hair pictures in 6 months, and I have no straightened pictures since the end of 2009.
6. What regimen do you use to protect your ends and keep them in good shape? Moisturizing and sealing (when I remember), mostly wear buns so the ends are rarely exposed anyway.