Reaching Hair Milestones and being Underwhelmed

[BraunSugar]

I did a pull length check sometime last week out of curiosity to see where my hair was. It's about an inch past BSL. When the year started, getting to BSL was a really big deal for me. I was even ambitious and decided to throw the possibility of MBL into the universe.

There I was, staring into the mirror at this piece of hair that exceeded a goal I set for myself and all I could do was: look:

My ends aren't bad. The overall condition of my hair is good. The density is fine. I guess I just thought my hair would look... different(?) at this point? I have compared pics and my wash & gos definitely look different compared to this time last year. My twists still have ridiculous shrinkage but they are still longer than they were.

What was I really expecting anyway? Eh, I'm just talking on a Sunday.

Has anyone else felt like this?

 

[Nix08]

I think that's the dreaded hairexia I don't get excited about any goal anymore. I Just want WL and even then it probably won't look how I expect it to look.

 

[kxlot79]

I think ITA. For me, reaching my goal lengths with the quickness means long term protective styling, super low manipulation, minimal experimentation... Which are the opposite three things that make having long hair worthwhile. I went from BSL to MBL in less than a year but I feel like if I had more fun with my hair, it wouldn't be substantially shorter but then again, maybe I'd be a lot closer to WL if I'd played in it a lot less.

Oh well. I guess that's what I get for trying to have my cake and eat it too...

I'm telling myself that once I reach waist length, all bets are off, but I get the sneaking suspicion that WL doesn't really count if I only wear my hair down two days a week... Or if it shrinks to my shoulders with a WnG.

 

[ellereincarnated]

I finally reached BSL and I still feel like my hair is like APL or something. It seems short to me, especially when I bring all of my hair to the front of my shoulders. Definitely not the length that I expected to "feel" if that makes any sense. Maybe when I reach Midback Length I'll be content with it.

It doesn't help that I'm natural so when its in its natural state, it shrinks up to neck length. Ughh!!!!

 

[havilland]

I finally reached BSL and I still feel like my hair is like APL or something. It seems short to me, especially when I bring all of my hair to the front of my shoulders. Definitely not the length that I expected to "feel" if that makes any sense. Maybe when I reach Midback Length I'll be content with it.

It doesn't help that I'm natural so when its in its natural state, it shrinks up to neck length. Ughh!!!!

I could have written this post. This is EXACTLY how I feel.

 

[candie19]

I completely understand you. I waited all summer long to get my relaxer and do a length check. I obsessed looking at strangers in the mall with APL hoping my hair would be as shiny, thick, and gorgeous as their hair. The day I got my relaxer my stylist kept raving about how pretty and healthy it was. It was past APL. When she gave me the mirror, I was over it. It was just-okay. So know I'm trying for BS. Maybe I'll be a little bit more excited.

 

[SEMO]

I completely understand how you feel. My hair is longer than it's ever been, but I don't feel how I imagined I would. I think for me it's because I surpassed my original hair goal and length isn't the most important thing to me anymore. Right now, I'm really aiming for thickness. I'd take more thickness over more length now any day of the week.

 

[BraunSugar]

OK, I thought I was just tripping. I'll mess around and be at WHip length taking about I expected something different.

 

[PeaceFlow]

I think its having fine hair for me.

If my hair was a bit thicker I think I would feel different about my achievements and more exited.

 

[candie19]

I'd take more thickness over more length now any day of the week.

Yas! I feel the same way!

 

[Mahsiah]

I think its having fine hair for me.

If my hair was a bit thicker I think I would feel different about my achievements and more exited.

this.

 

[divachyk]

I wouldn't call it underwhelmed but it's definitely not a celebration as one may think. What excites me more is taking a photo from Jan and comparing it to Dec --- seeing the progress made is amazing. Day to day growth is just not that exciting.

 

[Ogoma]

I didn't really have any expectations for what my hair would look at each milestone so me it has been so this is it? Okay then and I just start looking forward to the next one for some new excitement.

Unlike most, I don't have a problem with the shrinkage I get with my hair. A WnG just touches my shoulders and curlformers/braidouts go to about full shoulder in the back with my bangs at my chin. I don't want my hair to ever fall longer than apl-bsl in its stretched state and I don't think I would ever have to worry about that, even at my goal of WHip. Having really long hair down my back is just not my personal aesthetic.