One thought to consider is this: unshaped hair is not enjoyable to wear and can be difficult to manage. If you have a heap of medium length hair with a problematic shape, for styling, or  keeping a put together look, that road to long and glamorous hair is going to be frustrating and most of the time feel like it’s not worth it. Then come the ideas every morning, as you struggle to get some bounce in your mass of  weighted down hair, of how easy it would be to just cut it all off and give up. NO, It is worth it. It is SO worth it and growing your hair longer can be easier.

Shaping and style aside, manageability has other factors involved namely health and integrity of your hair. The condition of your hair obviously determines how well it will look styled or not(why wouldn’t you? Ever!? Okay, the gym. fine.) That being said consider this: the hair closest to your scalp right now will be, at the least, months old by the time it plays with your earrings. When growing your hair long the hair at the very ends is being expected to fight aging and the likelihood of this depends on both the texture of your hair and the care you put into protecting it. If you grow your hair out expecting that which is at the top to at some point still be around when it constitutes the bottom, chances are the ends of your hair will look like very old people standing at the bar in a club. They’re old and tired and should have been gone a long time ago. In many cases you can see discoloration at the tired old ends of long hair, a sign that it is ready to retire.

I know that the desire for longer stronger locks leads to a fear of the shears. I am also aware that many, not all, but many hair stylists can tend to be a bit scissor happy. Cutting large amounts of hair is usually not necessary when growing your hair longer. Proper shaping and then trimming, however, is absolutely necessary. I like to get my clients on a system where we trim and then see each other again when its time to trim and sometimes skip it for a conditioning treatment, but we still see each other every 6 weeks. If you really want beautiful healthy longer hair there is only one way, communicate and commit to someone who cares enough to help get you there.

I am very pleased to report that, fashionably/stylistically speaking, we have far moved beyond the times of “This is cool, if you wish to be cool put it on!” Hair, clothes, makeup, all things encompassing personal style are no longer subject to the narrow scope of the world before the internet. I do believe it is our rapid exchange of information that has led to the opening perspective of the masses and individuals alike. We are now capable of studying and admiring the styles of the world all over. Before the internet became what it is today, programmed television and magazines were the primary sources for current information. Farrah Fawcett was the “it” girl with the “in”-hair-style in the mid to late70′s because television and magazines were inundated with her image. Today we know what people are doing with fashion all over the world, if we care to look. This Is what has brought us to the exciting and liberating time we live in today.

What is your personal taste, what is your body shape, color palette, lifestyle these are a few of the determining factors in deciding what is right for you as it pertains to your personal image. And even when considering all of the relevant factors this does not narrow the scope back down to a “this is what’s right for you, this and only this” option. All over the world, for quite awhile actually, we have been seeing an emergence of new artists, with an array of influences and cultural upbringings, that are introducing new perspectives in a new world. This has led to an expansion, for industries that progress through creativity, in how they produce as well as how they market what they produce. And for us, the fashionably focused, this means options options options! And not just for a select few but for anyone who cares to look in all the boxes as a way of staying out of just one. So don’t find yourself falling into the “what is in right now” box. Rather find yourself realizing who you are right now and use that as your guide to finding your personal style.