A Little Vacation

Well, even bloggers need to take a vacation from time to time, and I'm no exception. I am taking a couple of weeks off of blogging and I will return sometime in the first or second week of the new year, with my January update photos.

I ended up trimming my bangs on Christmas Eve, because I just couldn't hack having them in my eyes. I may or may not decide to grow them out. I think the Holidays wasn't a good time to start the process. We'll see what I decide in the next few weeks.

If anyone has any photos that they want to share of hairstyles they've done, please feel free to email me about it.

I wish everyone a joy-filled New Year, and I'll see you in a couple of weeks!

'Til a few days into January, my friends. Much love to all, and extra hugs to anyone feeling hopeless.
xo

Arrgggghhhh! I'm an Oil Slick

I think by now it's clear that I'm in love with my coconut oil soap. From reading the reports of everyone who is using what is now being called "Movie Star Shampoo", everyone seems to need a different ratio of coconut oil to shampoo. Some use more shampoo than oil, others, like me, use more oil than shampoo.

However, the last time I washed my hair, I accidentally doubled the amount of coconut oil in my mixture.

Let me tell you, it ain't pretty.

The ends of my hair are fairly happy, but all of the hair from the forehead to the nape just looks plain oily. Wearing an updo barely helps, because it looks as though I greased my hair back. Yipes!

So, I'll be making sure to be more diligent about my measurements in the future. When I do the correct ratio, my hair doesn't look oily at all. In fact it just looks lustrous and full.

There's a lot going on right now in my life that's distracting me, so I'm not really in shock that I made such a goof. Anyway, one shampoo will take care of that little oops.

My bangs are already at the stage when I would ordinarily trim them. I guess I forget how quickly they grow. They're starting to irk me already, so I may have to start using gel to keep them out of my eyes.

I don't know how this bang-growing-out thing is going to work. I just might not have the patience right now.

I'm starting to get a bit nervous about Christmas. I've had so much on my plate that I really haven't made the proper preparations as yet.

I guess things will get done though, as they always do.

'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.
xo

Thinking of Growing Out My Bangs

I love my bangs, but sometimes I want to change up my look. 

Since I won't be cutting my hair any time soon, getting a perm, or changing my hair colour, growing out my bangs seems like the only way to change my hair's appearance. If I grow out my bangs, I'll be able to include them in crown braids or other hair styles that I really like.

The last time I grew out my bangs, it was a hassle, even once they were fully grown out. Because my hair grows straight down, my hair was always in my face unless I clipped it back or put it behind my ears. It was fine for updos, but not when I wore my hair down.

Ideally, I'd like to "train" my bangs to frame my face, but as much as I tried, it just doesn't work for me. Gel was not an option at that time, because the only gels I knew made my hair stiff and dry.

Since then, I discovered my Morrocco Method gel, which is flexible, hair friendly has amazing hold and requires very little product. I'm hoping I'll be able to use that to keep my hair out of my face.  In any case, it's going to be quite a while before I have to worry about it because I just trimmed my bangs about 2 weeks ago. Mind you, I generally need to trim my bangs every 3 weeks or so; maybe I'll need to start holding my bangs back artificially fairly soon, come to think of it.

Anyway, wish me luck. As many of you know, growing out bangs requires oodles of patience, and I'm already using up my supply.

So I guess we'll see.

'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.
xo

Happy December!

It's December already. I can scarcely believe it. Does last Christmas really feel as though it was almost a year ago? No. Not at all, at least not to me.

Seriously, where does the time go? It feels as though I'm still getting used to it being 2010, and yet in a month, it will be yet another New Year's Day.

When I really think about it, I can see and feel that time has passed. A year ago, I was still on what had become a complete hiatus for 15 months, from any online forums, my own website and Facebook. I wasn't even writing emails. For some reason, I needed to be alone with my thoughts for a while, and it wasn't until mid-January of this year that I returned to LHC and it was in February that I became active on Facebook. It was in April that I began this blog.

Also, a year ago, my hair wasn't even reaching APL length, and now I've just gotten past BSL.

When I think of all of the individual events that have happened in my life and in my family this year, I do realize that it really must be December, but it really is true that time is a relative thing, and as we get older, time genuinely does feel as though it passes so quickly. It's so important not to look to far ahead and wish your life away.

That's why I really do my best not to think ahead much to my next goals where my hair is concerned. Yes, my next goal is in the back of my mind, and I do have some days when I am frustrated by my lack of length, but for the most part, I try to just appreciate my hair the way it is now, and focus on its health and not on the length.


It seems as though just about everyone I know either has a cold or has a family member who has a cold. I am one of the ones who has a cold right now. It started on Sunday, and today, I'm feeling an enormous amount of sinus pain, and I have some chills, although I only have a very low-grade fever. I am quite certain that I do not have a sinus infection, so I know that in just a day or two I'll be feeling better.

I won't lie though; a sinus headache along with a migraine is really not much fun. The weather went from a balmy 57F/14C yesterday down to about 32F/0C today, so I think the drastic change accounts for the migraine. That should stabilize soon too.

On days like this, I am very happy that my hair is long enough to put up so that it can be kept out of my face.

This morning I took my hair down from my bedtime bun, gave it a brushing to get rid of shed hairs, and I just put my hair back up in a bun. Voila, hair done for the day!

I know that a lot of people find that having bangs is a lot of work, but with my hair type and the thickness of my bangs, mine are completely maintenance-free. They just lie straight down from the time I comb them down after a wash and they stay that way until the next wash. Once in a blue moon, they stick up on one side after sleeping, but a quick pat with a wet hand, and a couple of strokes with a comb, and they're as good as new.

I guess I'm lucky in that way.

Anyway, I do wish a very happy December to everyone.

'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.
xo

Decisions, Decisions On A Rainy Monday

If anyone reads this blog and doesn't really know me they would think:

• I have nothing more important to think about than hair
• I have nothing to worry about other than my hair
• All I think about is my hair

None of that is true, of course, however sometimes thinking over minor hair dilemmas is much more pleasant than thinking about other things. It is definitely a pleasant distraction.

Today I was debating again about whether or not to grow out my bangs. I ran across a photo of me from when I had grown out my bangs, and it looked so pretty. It was nice to be able to part my hair on the side from time to time, and to have all of my hair in an updo.

Then I realized that it looked pretty because I had done a damp set with curlers, so I was easily able to create a nice swoop and have my bangs out of my face.

So I looked at some other photos of my hair without bangs, and I wasn't so impressed by how it looked on a day-to-day basis. I had to always have my bangs pulled back into an updo or if I wore my hair down, I had to keep them behind my ears, because my hair is so fine and straight that it falls straight down into my face.

I've heard tell of people "training their hair" to naturally go into a certain direction, but I can assure you that try as I might I could never train the front to my hair to stay out of my face. And believe me, I tried.

Also, like it or not, bangs are part of my identity. I've pretty much alway had them, and I feel more like me with them.

I know that bangs are work for some people, but mine are straight and thick enough that they behave and stay straight down with no work whatsoever. Once in a blue moon, I'll wake up with them sticking up, but all I have to do is give them a light mist with water, comb them down, and I'm ready to go.

They also soften the look of an updo. Since I have such straight hair, when I wear my hair all pulled back, it's pretty severe. I used to try to offset that by French braiding the top of my hair, but it didn't work miracles.

Well, it looks as though in the process of writing this, I've answered my own question. For me, having bangs is less maintenance than not having bangs, so for now, they stay.

This evening is another night out for the boys, so I have the house to myself this evening. I didn't sleep much at all last night, so I plan on going to bed early. I've done about all of the work I could do today (which wasn't much), so I guess I'll look for a movie to watch.

Much love to all. 'Til tomorrow, my friends.

Another Exercise In Patience

It seems as though if nothing else, this long hair journey is going to teach me patience.


Shortly before I began this blog, I thickened and widened my bangs, because I wanted a bolder look, and I wanted my cheekbones to show more.

However, I've come to think that maybe I cut back too deeply, so I'm growing out part of my bangs, so they won't be as deep from my hairline or as wide.

Eventually, the grow-out will become face-framing layers, but right now, the sides just look neither here nor there and they are starting to look a bit awkward. The tips of the grow-out are just now touching my cheekbones.  It will be months now before they are down to the edge of my face, or to the length of my chin.

I did give it a lot of thought before increasing the size of my bangs--more time than the 2-week rule that I've mentioned before, and I did like them, but I realized that too much of my hair was being used for bangs.

So on top of having the patience to trim regularly, which will delay my overall long hair journey, now I have these face-framing layers to grow out.

I am not at a point of frustration with it as yet, but as the length of my side bangs becomes increasingly awkward-looking, I am quite sure that I will need all the patience I can muster to keep growing them out.

Time and patience. That's what we who are growing our hair need. Time and lots and lots of patience.

How to Trim Your Own Bangs--It's Easy!

If you wear bangs or a fringe, you'll find that you'll need to trim them fairly often.  Many hair salons will trim your bangs for free between regular cuts.  However, if you're growing out your hair, you may not be going to a salon regularly anymore. 

If you already have straight-across bangs, here are some tips for trimming your bangs yourself.

You don't need much in the way of supplies for this.  A mirror, clips or a headband, scissors (preferably barber's shears) and a fine tooth comb are the only tools you need

First of all, make sure your hair is dry when you trim.  Wet hair will shrink as it dries, and your bangs may well end up being too short.

Now, clip all hair back, leaving only your bangs exposed.  Comb them straight down with a fine-toothed comb.

With the fingers of your dominant hand, pinch the bangs together and place them right at the bridge of your nose below the brow line.

Take your non-dominant hand and grasp the bangs horizontally against your forehead between the index and middle finger. This frees your dominant hand to hold the scissors.  Slide your fingers down to the length you want your bangs to be.    Make sure that your fingers are truly horizontal and not tilting to one side or the other.  The fingers will serve as your guideline.  However short you think you want your bangs to be, lower your fingers by about 1/4 of an inch, to prevent accidentally cutting too much off.  You can always trim more later.

Now take your scissors.  Hold the scissors almost vertically and make repeated vertical snips until your bangs are at your finger line (the guideline).

Comb bangs straight down with your fine-toothed comb.  Look for any errant hairs that may have escaped your scissors during the trim and snip them off.

Now, check the length.  If you're happy with the new length, you're done.  If you need a bit more cut off, repeat the process with a slightly higher guideline.

You're done!  You've cut your own bangs.  With the almost-vertical cutting method you'll not have the straight as an edge home-made look, and by having pulled the hair to the center of your forehead, to the bridge of your nose, you'll have a nice natural line.

For those of you more visually oriented, I'll make a video the next time I trim.

I'll give instructions for cutting bangs for the first time in a future entry.

Remember cut less to start with.  You can always cut more.  Good luck!

Ah, The Controversy!

I had no idea that my choice to wear bangs was so controversial.

I came across this article from the New York times.  It was written almost three years ago, but I suspect that the opinions likely remain the same.  There are so many things wrong with this article, I don't even know where to begin.

I have no doubt that there are women who get a particular haircut believing that it will somehow change their lives.  I think most of us have had that feeling about either a haircut, a fashion accessory, or an article of clothing at some point in our lives.

However, this article makes such sweeping generalizations that I can't believe the Times printed it.

First of all, there is a statement that women with bangs over the age of 30 are making a cry for help and are trying somehow to recapture their youth.

Secondly, there are numerous statements that imply that women have bangs cut have unresolved childhood issues or are somehow emotionally unstable.  The quoted hairdresser actually asks women who ask for bangs if they're on their period!

Thirdly, the article quotes a businesswoman as saying that no one with blunt bangs can be taken seriously in business.

Also, there are a lot of implications that women who wear bangs are high-maintenance women trying to be "cool".

While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I was shocked that there were almost no arguments to refute the ones I mention.


I am so tired of being told by society and media how I "should" look or dress at my age.  Is it so wrong to just want to wear hair or clothing in which I feel comfortable?

Myself, I have bangs because they are the most easiest style for me.  My hair is so fine that when grown out, my hair won't stay out of my face without a clip or hairspray.  For me, this is a no-maintenance, no-fuss style.

It's certainly not that I'm compensating for growing older. I don't think I'm anymore emotionally unstable than the next woman.  This is just me.  And I'm okay with that.  When will the rest of the world let us just be okay with who we are?

Bangs, Fringe--It's All The Same

I've had bangs all of my life, with the exception of about 2 years from 2006-2008 when I grew them out. I loved the way they look grown out, but with my fine, straight hair, they were always in my face, and I had to clip them back, even when they were well grown out. I finally caved and cut bangs again.

Not everyone is a fan of the fringe, but I guess it's just part of my identity. I'm including a photo of me at the age of 10. Basically, I have the same hair style now as I had then. After years of perms, curling irons and even crimpers (yipes) in an effort to have bigger, wavier hair, I've finally come to love my straight hair, and I find it ironic that I wear my hair the way I did when I was 10. It's all come full circle.

My hair grows fairly quickly, so I need to trim my bangs every 2-3 weeks. Fortunately, I have a good pair of scissors and I've learned to trim them myself. It's quite easy. In fact I cut the bangs I have now from the grown out bangs myself. I am quite pleased that I don't have to worry about going to salons for those trims anymore.

So, today, the bangs are falling in my eyes, and I guess it's time for a trim. Again.


The clarifying yesterday went well. I didn't end up having time to do the hour-long deep conditioning, so I loaded my hair with a ton of conditioner in the shower and left it for about 5 minutes. I'll have to do the deep conditioning tomorrow.

Nonetheless, my velcro ends are gone, and my hair feels less tangly. So if you ever find that your ends are tangling, don't forget; clarify before doing anything else, like getting a trim.

I can't say that my hair looks any different after clarifying, but it feels different and is better behaved. So much about hair is not visible to the eye but is visible to the touch.


After a gloomy week of rain here in Southern Ontario, I'm delighted that the sun is out again. It looks to be a promising week of Spring weather. I hope that everyone is having a great weekend.

Off to trim the bangs.