Sometimes it seems that a lot are anti

[Candy_C]

i aint trimmed in 9 months!! i'm maybe anti-trim.

i'm pro-dust tho. i'm snipping my ends right now as i do not want a few longer strands.

 

[Mahalialee4]

More than one concern:
1. If you are talking about long relaxed hair....and trimming....are you suggesting that it should be blunt cut to look the same as how white ladies trim theirs, because that is a cultural as well as a hair industry trend and has been for a long time and will no doubt continue to be a "measuring rod". I have noticed that many other cultures, particularly those who have some curl and thickness to their hair do not necessarily prefer or promote the blunt look, nor are they manic about trimming. In fact, the American culture seems to promote this more than any where else to my knowledge. When I look at the women of color around the world, they are not measuring their hair appeal by this rigid rod.
2. I believe that being proactive as in taking good care of hair and ends, eliminates having to amputate the ends to save the rest of the hair strand. See through ends are a result of many factors that can be recitified, and maybe a good initial trim is necessary in some cases, but I do not think that not trimming= bad hair, bad ends. I prefer the thick bushy look that grows naturally and do not want to be put in anyone's box and labelled as to whether or not my hair is acceptable or measures up. Some of those in the industry of stylists need to take a look in the mirror, because some look like they just took a hatchet to their hair, it is in several layers, chunked out, and with four or five colors thrown in like someone was trying to be artistic, it is gummed with product and just OUT THERE! Some of them keep their hair in perpetual ponytails or with their hair parted and spiked out in different directions, and they want to set a standard for me. Puleaeze! I believe women with 4a hair or women with curly hair like myself, and specifically those who prefer to wear their hair natural, and wear protective styles, should not feel somehow that they are falling into the category of what not to wear hairwhen they do not subject themselves to this rod.We have had to pass the "paper bag test, the pencil test, the straightness of the nose test, the hairline shape test, the eyebrow arech test, the "right color of the year test"...they need to give me a break!
3. I see women on certain programs on T.V. with gorgeous hair, some who have obviously lavished a lot of love and attention on their hair, and do not have scraggly ends! being being belittled and bullied by certain self styled gurus to "cut off that long hair, it is so unnecessary and so dated!....your hair is TOO THICK, it needs to be thinned out!....how long have you been growing this...honey, you need to GET RID OF IT!...You need...and you need...!" and as far as I am concerned, they are just new voices on the old bandwagon of trying to monopolize and control women, and to make them feel "Bad" about themselves and get paid to sound important and with it. Hair seems to be the "safe" way to put people in "their place".
All said, if it works for some to routinely do this, and then they feel that they are better groomed, more acceptable to those who ritually judge and pass and fail, then that is what works for them. If others choose not to march to that beat, and further recognize that unless your hair is 'dead straight,' there will be crinkly ends at times, that it does not grow in blunt, or hang that way, and are satisfied that their hair is healthy and flourishing, then just let them be. Live and let live. I have read in the past, some posts where some get very upset about other people's ends, bushy hair, nappy hair, dead straight hair, limp hair etc. Is it really a contest, do you think? I do what I do for me. But this is just my personal opinion.

 

[Sosoothing]

so you do not go to salons? could you wear your hair out? like when you want to wear it do you have to do a lot to it?

I am not trying to be funny with any of this. I really do not understand how people do not get their hair trimmed and it looks good.

Dont worry, I dont think you are trying to be funny at all . I can only remember 2 times in my life I have ever been to a salon. The first time I was 8yrs old and the next time was in 2002 for my wedding day.

Im so used to doing my hair that I take it forgranted and sometimes its hard for me to imagine how some people can frequent salons so much. It doesnt take long to do my hair depending on what style Im working on. I would say it takes me the average time it would take any normal knowlegeable person/professional to do the same thing (if not less time). I can do almost anything to it on my own. Roller sets, micro braids, wear it out...whatever else. Many times people tell me it looks like I have it done at a salon.

If I had any split ends or if my ends were uneven, I would trim/cut it, but I havent had the need. Also I dont like blunt cuts so I am more than satisfied with the U-shape my hair is growing in.

 

[brownhaired_bonanza]

I can't speak for anyone else, but my hair definitely benefits from regular trims. I'm not all that concerned about retaining a specific length, so I usually trim every 8 weeks to make sure that my ends are neat and smooth.

Well, you're speaking for me.

 

[SweetCaramel1]

I think people are more "anti-trim your hair faster than it grows" as opposed to anti-trim per se. If you are trying to grow your hair out, that's counterproductive.

Most people dust their hair for split ends as opposed to just cutting off the bottom 2 or 3 inches in one fell swoop on a regular basis.

exactly! i was cutting 4x a year 1 inch minimum. just running in place never getting anywhere.

 

[brownhaired_bonanza]

I think it's just great that alot of ladies can go months without getting a trim and suffer none the worse. I wish I could say the same about my hair but I can't. My hair is EXTREMELY intolerant of trim stretching, and I've accepted that. I can tell you right now that at the end of 8 weeks my hair needs a trim like a crackhead needs a hit. Y'heard?

 

[HairPhoenix]

I have seen some pictures of people with hair that is past their shoulders and they are in desperate need of a trim, some even a cut if they want a healthy looking head of hair that they do not have to use a ton of product on or can not go with out rolling or curling at night for the next day.

having long hair is fine if that is what you want. long unhealthy hair is bad period. if you have to use all kids of aids to get the look you want only to have it floop by days end then perhaps you just need to clip the ends. but some people are stretching their hair to bra strap length and it is see through at the ends and scragly.

I think this is just your opinion and nothing more. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I agree with a lot of what Mahalialee4 stated. Some people do not like blunt cuts. They may think it's BOOORING! Some of people have hair that grows at different rates in different sections of their heads, and they don't necessarily have split or dead ends. It may make the hair ends uneven but that doesn't mean that their hair is unhealthy or in bad shape.

I have thick hair and I have gone for long periods of time in my life when I stopped going to salons and my hair stayed just as gorgeous as ever because I took good care of it. I have never used a ton of products on my hair and I refuse to roll my hair at night. I would flip my head upside-down and check my ends against something light colored on occassion and find that... Surprise, no split ends were in the house! I constantly had people accusing me of wearing a wig or a weave. Pleeeease! Constantly getting trims is not always necessary. Hair grows from the roots, not the ends.

Now in parallel, I may look at your pics and think that you are in desperate need of shaving your sideburns. I don't care for sideburns. But you know... that's just my opinion.

 

[SandySea]

I have always been bad about trimming. I have losing even that quater of an inch. However, I do know when to throw in the towel. I have been thinking that it's time to trim soon (last time was in may or june 2005). My ends look good and my hair is not stragly, but I know it will look better with a trim. I'm undecided on this issue, but I do know that in order to see net growth, I have to balance the trims against my growth rate.

P.S. Even if there is a hair length gene, I'm sure many of us have not reached our limit yet.

 

[Miss*Tress]

My hair grows in a V-shape, so there's no point in me getting it blunt cut every 6 weeks - I'd have a permanent shoulder-length bob.

I do get your point about stringy-looking ends though. I often see women to whom I want to say, "Your hair would look so beautiful if you cut x inches." But I keep my mouth shut because I don't want to get punched out. LOL

 

[Lucia]

Very counterproductive. Trimming/Cutting the hair every 4-6 weeks as some stylist suggest would be for someone who wants to maintain a length,style,or who's ends are ambushed by heat,trauma,whatever. Now for someone trying to grow there hair to great lengths, if you want the length you must hold off on the scissors while doing that taking care of your ends so you won't have to trim/cut frequently.

ITA 100%, trimming on that schedule will keep you at the length you are now. All progress cut off little by little. If you want ot acheive length you do have to spread out the trims and do them less often or not at all if you don't wear your hair bone straight and abuse it. If it's relatively healthy all that cutting is not necessary.

 

[FlowerHair]

Yes, trims are necessary IMO.
Regular trims will actually help getting your hair longer because there are no split ends that travel up the shafts making your hair shorter as it grows!
But everyone has to decide for themselves. If you don't see 4-6 inches of extra length each year, and you know your hair grows that much from the roots...maybe you need a trim every now and then.

I'm talking about trims, not cuts, maybe 1 cm each time every 8 weeks.

 

[msniq]

Whoa that is a lot and the return key is your friend.

the first part i could get through and no i am not talking from a get it like a white womans hair. i am not even talking about a blunt across the bottom look either. i am saying healthy, whether it is layered or blunt or whatever. that is what i am talking about , see through ends are not healthy and they look scragly to me.

i am in no way saying people with long hair should cut it. that would be horrible to say. all i was asking is why does it seem that people are anti trim. holding on to those ends for dear life like it is going to end the world if the ends get trimmed and look healthy. again i am not talking about a specific style or person. just a generalization.

i am not upset about anything or anyone. i just asked a question becasue i think that some people get mad at stylists because they need a trim. the stylist (if they are worth anything) does not want you getting out of their chair looking a mess. if they can not style your hair ( which may include a trim) then they are left to work with what you have. beauty is not in the length, remember that.
and ..... no i am not a stylist.

and mahalialee whoa girl you got a lot from this thread huh? you are holding in some mess. never once did anyone here say anything about standards and bag tests and all that mess. healthy hair is not a white thing . i don't know why you even went there.

More than one concern:
1. If you are talking about long relaxed hair....and trimming....are you suggesting that it should be blunt cut to look the same as how white ladies trim theirs, because that is a cultural as well as a hair industry trend and has been for a long time and will no doubt continue to be a "measuring rod". I have noticed that many other cultures, particularly those who have some curl and thickness to their hair do not necessarily prefer or promote the blunt look, nor are they manic about trimming. In fact, the American culture seems to promote this more than any where else to my knowledge. When I look at the women of color around the world, they are not measuring their hair appeal by this rigid rod.
2. I believe that being proactive as in taking good care of hair and ends, eliminates having to amputate the ends to save the rest of the hair strand. See through ends are a result of many factors that can be recitified, and maybe a good initial trim is necessary in some cases, but I do not think that not trimming= bad hair, bad ends. I prefer the thick bushy look that grows naturally and do not want to be put in anyone's box and labelled as to whether or not my hair is acceptable or measures up. Some of those in the industry of stylists need to take a look in the mirror, because some look like they just took a hatchet to their hair, it is in several layers, chunked out, and with four or five colors thrown in like someone was trying to be artistic, it is gummed with product and just OUT THERE! Some of them keep their hair in perpetual ponytails or with their hair parted and spiked out in different directions, and they want to set a standard for me. Puleaeze! I believe women with 4a hair or women with curly hair like myself, and specifically those who prefer to wear their hair natural, and wear protective styles, should not feel somehow that they are falling into the category of what not to wear hairwhen they do not subject themselves to this rod.We have had to pass the "paper bag test, the pencil test, the straightness of the nose test, the hairline shape test, the eyebrow arech test, the "right color of the year test"...they need to give me a break!
3. I see women on certain programs on T.V. with gorgeous hair, some who have obviously lavished a lot of love and attention on their hair, and do not have scraggly ends! being being belittled and bullied by certain self styled gurus to "cut off that long hair, it is so unnecessary and so dated!....your hair is TOO THICK, it needs to be thinned out!....how long have you been growing this...honey, you need to GET RID OF IT!...You need...and you need...!" and as far as I am concerned, they are just new voices on the old bandwagon of trying to monopolize and control women, and to make them feel "Bad" about themselves and get paid to sound important and with it. Hair seems to be the "safe" way to put people in "their place".
All said, if it works for some to routinely do this, and then they feel that they are better groomed, more acceptable to those who ritually judge and pass and fail, then that is what works for them. If others choose not to march to that beat, and further recognize that unless your hair is 'dead straight,' there will be crinkly ends at times, that it does not grow in blunt, or hang that way, and are satisfied that their hair is healthy and flourishing, then just let them be. Live and let live. I have read in the past, some posts where some get very upset about other people's ends, bushy hair, nappy hair, dead straight hair, limp hair etc. Is it really a contest, do you think? I do what I do for me. But this is just my personal opinion.

 

[msniq]

I think it's just great that alot of ladies can go months without getting a trim and suffer none the worse. I wish I could say the same about my hair but I can't. My hair is EXTREMELY intolerant of trim stretching, and I've accepted that. I can tell you right now that at the end of 8 weeks my hair needs a trim like a crackhead needs a hit. Y'heard?

you are funny!

 

[LovelyZ]

Im usually pro trim...but this year anti trim....ive been on this board for nearly 2.5 years and have seen zero progress in terms of length because of my constant trimming. I could have been past shoulder length right about now but now Im going to try to hold off to see how my hair will act.

I feel the same way, Ayeshia. I used to trim after every 6-8 weeks and I saw zero growth. In fact, my hair seemed to be getting shorter. When I stopped the trims, suddenly my hair was growing longer and now that I keep it in buns all the time, my ends stay protected so I don't need trims as often anyway.

 

[msniq]

I think this is just your opinion and nothing more. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I agree with a lot of what Mahalialee4 stated. Some people do not like blunt cuts. They may think it's BOOORING! Some of people have hair that grows at different rates in different sections of their heads, and they don't necessarily have split or dead ends. It may make the hair ends uneven but that doesn't mean that their hair is unhealthy or in bad shape.

I have thick hair and I have gone for long periods of time in my life when I stopped going to salons and my hair stayed just as gorgeous as ever because I took good care of it. I have never used a ton of products on my hair and I refuse to roll my hair at night. I would flip my head upside-down and check my ends against something light colored on occassion and find that... Surprise, no split ends were in the house! I constantly had people accusing me of wearing a wig or a weave. Pleeeease! Constantly getting trims is not always necessary. Hair grows from the roots, not the ends.

Now in parallel, I may look at your pics and think that you are in desperate need of shaving your sideburns. I don't care for sideburns. But you know... that's just my opinion.

Where have you seen my picture? I do not have one up and I don't have side burns either. Now if you want to get catty i suppose you should at least make some sence.

Where did I say anything about beauty? Where did i address you specifically? Where did I say blunt cuts? There are hundreds of women on this board but you choose to take this personal? What is that all about?

and for the record, that is lisa bonet in my avitar. so you need to tell her about her side burns i am sure you are flawless. smh its a shame how some people can turn so catty over hair. this is such a black woman issue is SOME cases.

 

[msniq]

some of you need to go back and read my first post. some people are making mention when replying to me of "not everyone wants a blunt cut" well duh no kidding but where is it that i said that everyone should? i said see though ends are horrid, because they are. holding on to them is silly because it looks unhealthy.

taking issue where there is none is silly.

 

[lala]

Trims are necessary, IMO -- fortunately for me, my hairdresser isn't scissor-happy, so she usually trims when I get my retouch...

 

[Poohbear]

trim.
it seems that a lot of people do not want to get the trim. why is that? you soo need trims. it makes the hair look healthy and it aids in styling. you have to do less to the hair when it is cut well. stop fighting the scissor. what is the goal? healthy hair or long scragly hair?

I think it all depends on how you take care of your hair. For example, if you use chemicals, heat, a lot of hair products, or style your hair a lot, you may need to trim your hair more often than someone who has natural hair and doesn't use heat and a bunch of stuff in their hair. It also depends on the thickness of your hair and the appearance of your hair. I know if I don't see thin scraggly ends (whether I'm natural or relaxed), I'm not going to trim my hair.

You can't just flat out say "You need trims" when there are ladies walking around here with long, healthy-looking hair and haven't had a trim in months or even years. I do believe you need a trim if you have some thin see-through split ends, no doubt about that. The goal with not trimming is to keep the hair that you have grown. Now in the process of not trimming, you must take extra care of your hair.

 

[msniq]

Trims are necessary, IMO -- fortunately for me, my hairdresser isn't scissor-happy, so she usually trims when I get my retouch...

Thank you!!! A long haired woman, with what appears to be really healthy hair who is not anti trim.

May I ask this? Are you the only one in your family with long hair? Did your mom or grandmothers (both sides) have long hair?

 

[qtgirl]

This is really the comment that got to me, because it's so obvious by being on this board that A. there are people with wonderful hair that do not go to salons. B. That can and do wear their hair out and not have to do "a lot" to it (although, I don't know what you mean by that). and C. people that do not get a lot of trims and their hair looks VERY good.

It just sounds like you're trying to be antagonizing.

so you do not go to salons? could you wear your hair out? like when you want to wear it do you have to do a lot to it?

I am not trying to be funny with any of this. I really do not understand how people do not get their hair trimmed and it looks good.

 

[HairPhoenix]

Where have you seen my picture? I do not have one up and I don't have side burns either. Now if you want to get catty i suppose you should at least make some sence.

Where did I say anything about beauty? Where did i address you specifically? Where did I say blunt cuts? There are hundreds of women on this board but you choose to take this personal? What is that all about?

and for the record, that is lisa bonet in my avitar. so you need to tell her about her side burns i am sure you are flawless. smh its a shame how some people can turn so catty over hair. this is such a black woman issue is SOME cases.

See, girlfriend, now YOU are getting catty. I said that I MAY look at your picture. May doesn't mean that I did. I know that is Lisa Bonet in your avitar. Here is what you said:

I have seen some pictures of people with hair that is past their shoulders and they are in desperate need of a trim, some even a cut if they want a healthy looking head of hair that they do not have to use a ton of product on or can not go with out rolling or curling at night for the next day.

Baby girl, all I am saying is that what you said is YOUR opinion as to whether someone is in DESPERATE need of a trim. And it does make reference to beauty if you think they need a trim or a cut to make their hair look more beautiful.

My other statement is in parallel to your own. Yes, I do have a thing about sideburns. And IF I saw your picture and thought you were in desperate need of a shave then that would be MY opinion and NOT a fact. Get me? I'm not taking this personally. You asked some questions and I gave some answers. There's no need to get all heated about this. We're all cool here.

Bottom line... trims are not always necessary.

 

[msniq]

See, girlfriend, now YOU are getting catty. I said that I MAY look at your picture. May doesn't mean that I did. I know that is Lisa Bonet in your avitar. Here is what you said:



Baby girl, all I am saying is that what you said is YOUR opinion as to whether someone is in DESPERATE need of a trim. And it does make reference to beauty if you think they need a trim or a cut to make their hair look more beautiful.

My other statement is in parallel to your own. Yes, I do have a thing about sideburns. And IF I saw your picture and thought you were in desperate need of a shave then that would be MY opinion and NOT a fact. Get me? I'm not taking this personally. You asked some questions and I gave some answers. There's no need to get all heated about this. We're all cool here.

Bottom line... trims are not always necessary.

yeah ok you have issues. no one else is taking this personal. whatever. you make no sense. get you? no i do not get you? where did i say beauty? i said healthy. RIF. it is a fact that if the ends are scragly and see through that they need to be cut. now no where in there did i say you need a trim. i said HEALTHY HAIR.

Your examples or what ever that was when you brought up my picture makes about as much sense as a pork chop at a bar mitzvah.

 

[LizLeila]

 

[msniq]

This is really the comment that got to me, because it's so obvious by being on this board that A. there are people with wonderful hair that do not go to salons. B. That can and do wear their hair out and not have to do "a lot" to it (although, I don't know what you mean by that). and C. people that do not get a lot of trims and their hair looks VERY good.

It just sounds like you're trying to be antagonizing.

why did it get to you? i am not being antagonistic. i asked a question. i believe that there are many people here who have beautiful hair never doubted that and they may not have been in a salon since their first communion. that is great. the second paragraph of the post said I am not trying to be funny.....

Some of you are soo sensitive about questions that are not even directed specifically to you. get bothered when i mention you or anyone else by name.

lighten up people it is a discussion. sheeesh some of you act like i came to your door with scissors and handcuffs to cut your hair.

 

[goldensensation]

Wow. This thread really blew up.

My guess is that there are as many people pro-trim as there are anti-trim. People choose their position based upon the condition of hair that will satisfy them personally. Being on one side or the other doesnt makes someone right or wrong, as beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So of course anti-trimmers will behold that pro-trimmers are "crazy" and vise versa.

 

[HairPhoenix]

Wow. This thread really blew up.

My guess is that there are as many people pro-trim as there are anti-trim. People choose their position based upon the condition of hair that will satisfy them personally. Being on one side or the other doesnt makes someone right or wrong, as beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So of course anti-trimmers will behold that pro-trimmers are "crazy" and vise versa.

Now that's what I'm talking about!

 

[LizLeila]

Wow. This thread really blew up.

My guess is that there are as many people pro-trim as there are anti-trim. People choose their position based upon the condition of hair that will satisfy them personally. Being on one side or the other doesnt makes someone right or wrong, as beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So of course anti-trimmers will behold that pro-trimmers are "crazy" and vise versa.

I just dont get what there is to question about what other people do to their OWN hair. If it isnt on your head, what is there to be concerned about? How can you push a philosophy about hair that doesnt even belong to you? If you are a person who likes trims, then trim away. But to me it is obvious that the people who dont trim often do it because that is what works FOR THEM. If you dont like how their ends look, get over it and concentrate on your own. What looks beautiful/healthy to one, may not be to someone else. So you can think someone's ends look bad, but to them it may look beautiful. I just dont see what there is to debate. Just because we have an opinon doesnt mean that it matters . At the end of the day people are going to do what they want anyway.

 

[MizAvalon]

Wow, you guys really fell for the okie-doke with this one.

 

[balisi]

I certainly don't want to add fuel to this fire, but allow me to share my observations.

In my experience as a student stylist, it seemed as though the ladies who would benefit most from a trim were least likely to agree to one. I would never push the issue. If they said no trim, then no trim it was and we kept it moving. Now, the reason I would suggest a trim was because the ends were very see-through, tangly and broken off. My purpose was not to achieve a blunt look, but merely to remove the damage, and never all at once. I would recommend gradually cutting off the damage over the course of a month or two, taking off no more than 1/2 inch at a time. Some customers would fearfully allow it, later admitting that the small trim amount really made a positive difference.

The damaged ends make for a difficult roller set, and often do not allow the hair to be styled properly. One customer's ends actually felt like steel wool. She was a regular customer of mine, but she NEVER allowed or requested a trim, and it was obvious she was not trimming it at home, even though she later told me she was a licensed, non-practicing cosmetologist.

Conversely, I had a customer who came in JUST for a haircut. She explained that she could no longer comb through it without the comb catching on the ends, and she wanted the style re-shaped. Mind you, her hair and style looked very nice when she walked in the door. Her ends looked smooth and even, and comb-through really was not a problem. I took off about 1/3 of an inch at first, but she requested that I take off even more. And yes, she is a black woman with shoulder length hair. In all, I cut off about 3/4 inch and she left very happy. She tipped me $5 on an $8 cut, so I was happy too.

I say all this to say that I agree with the O.P. I don't believe that the issue is one that is overly important to her, but that she was merely making an observation and perhaps pointing out something that some women may have never realized -- that there are women out there who are holding on to damaged ends just because the ends are long, and never realizing that the length does not look good because they are damaged. It's all about healthy, vibrant looking hair, no matter the length. Long hair at any cost is not the answer.

 

[msniq]

wow.

i asked why some people were anti trim. i said that raggedy ends look unhealthy.

i followed up with questions about people and salons and how they style.

there was no where in there anything to make an issue of as far as i was concerned.

it is not that deep. i feel that some people put more emphasis on long hair sometimes instead of long healthy hair.

i am not telling anyone what to do with their hair. if you trim, dye, fry, braid or whatever it is your hair.

i just asked a question lighten up!