Okay, so I’ve been wanting to grow my hair out for a while, but I always get stuck at that awkward just-below-shoulder-length stage. It’s not quite short, not quite long, and just kinda…blah. This time, I’m determined to push through! Here’s what I’ve been doing:
Phase 1: The Initial Chop
First, I started with a decent haircut. I went to my usual stylist and explained I was trying to grow it out, but needed to get rid of any dead ends and shape it up a bit. We decided on a blunt cut, just skimming my shoulders. This gave me a clean, healthy base to start with.
Phase 2: The Awkward Months
- Patience is key! Seriously, this is the hardest part. My hair felt like it wasn’t growing at all for, like, three months.
- Experiment with styles. I played around with braids, half-up styles, and ponytails to keep things interesting. Headbands and cute clips became my best friends.
- Deep conditioning. Used deep conditioner treatment once a week to keep my hair moisturized.
Phase 3: Embracing the Length
Finally, my hair started to feel actually longer! It passed that annoying stage where it flips out at the ends and just started to lie a bit flatter. This is where things got fun.
- Continued getting regular trims. Even though I’m growing it out, I still got the ends trimmed every 8-10 weeks to prevent split ends.
- Tried some new products. I switched to a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to keep my hair healthy.
Phase 4: Loving It!
Now, my hair is definitely past my shoulders and I’m loving it! It’s not super long yet, but it feels so much healthier and I can finally do some of the styles I’ve been wanting to try. Took about 6 months to get here from that initial chop. It’s a process, but definitely worth it!