Like many brides before me, getting engaged meant I had to stop regularly chopping off my hair and actually let it grow. Dang it.
I’ve had long(ish) hair on and off all my life, mainly because I always think it’d be nice to have it, but then as soon as I actually get halfway to having long hair, I get sick of it and chop it off. It always gets too unruly, or too tangly, or takes way too long to blow-dry and I decide, screw it, see ya, hair.
But I’m holding out, because of this:
Image via Project Wedding
Image via Scruples Hair Design
Image via Scruples Hair Design
Photo by Marni Rothschild Pictures via The Knot
Oooooh, and this:
From hive member ddubzz’s wedding
Which means…I needed to drastically change the way I deal with my hair if I don’t want to hate it and chop it all off again.
Anybody else growing out their hair kind of against their will? Or any hair tips I should be following?
I married. And had long enough hair to do the double french twist I wanted. So that ship has sailed. However, my sister does my hair for me (yay for free hair stylist) and I decided to let her trim it the day I got my wisdom teeth out and ended up falling asleep in the middle of her “snip” which led to a LOT shorter of a cut then I intended and a disappointed husband (he LOVES my long hair) so now I need to read some tips on quicker growth too! I started taking hair, skin and nails vitamins (which is basically heavy biotin) I’ll let you know how that goes…….
I’ve also started getting the “normal” every six weeks hair cut, I hate to admit, but sometimes I’d go 4, 5, even 6 months between haircuts. (yikes! I know). So all for the sake of having glorious hair on my wedding day, I’m doing this. I have a year to get it right. (haha!) I also got fancy Aveda shampoo instead of my normal stuff.
By the way I LOVE that first picture, I might steal..er..borrow it from you! =)
I too am a habitual chopper. I hate spending too much time on my hair getting ready and it gets too heavy for running. Enter my favorite time saver: Dry shampoo! I only wash every 2-3 days. Saves tons of time and better for your hair. I use the Oscar Blandi brand.
I have medium-long hair but unfortunately it just isn’t very thick so as I try to let it grow out a bit to ensure I have a full-looking bun it just looks worse and worse. I have come to the realization that I will need hair extensions to get a great look and that is just the way it goes. AND I am booking a hair cut for the morning before we leave on our honeymoon. 
@misskarianne: Right there with you on the six months between cuts!
My tip: Check eBay!
I know it sounds weird, but hear me out:
I use Redken “All Soft” for my hair, and it can get pretty expensive. More than a year ago, though, I found someone selling it by the gallon for about $50 per gallon.
I know it seems expensive, but if you use it all, it is so worth it. I calculated the price per ounce, and the gallons were cheaper.
YES! I don’t necessarily mind the look of my hair this long, but man is it a pain to take care of. I’m ashamed to admit that it’s been a long time since I’ve gotten it trimmed… that is on my “to-do” list before my first shower. I’m feeling more motivated to keep it long though since my hair trial and the woman who’s doing my hair told me it should be just a little longer to get the look I’m going for!
But yes, I forsee a shorter cut (not a lot shorter, but maybe 2-3 inches?) very shortly after the wedding.
FSIL hyena 
i went to my local aveda salon and had them trim me up. i’m using their shampure shampoo, which was not really much more than my regular shampoo and it has made a HUGE difference.
This is something I laugh about everytime I think of how I want my hair for the wedding day. My fiancé and I have been dating for almost 5 years and I’ve had long hair (belly button length) the entire time… Until November of last year. For the past year I’ve wanted to cut my hair short but I kept telling myself to wait until after we get married. Well last November I finally came to terms with we were not going to get married in summer of 2011, so I chopped my hair shoulder length! Well my fiancé proposed in January… Very exciting! But as soon as I thought of hair I dreaded cutting it!!!
So I have started to take prenatal vitamins because they are suppose to be very good for hair and nails. I am also one of those get a haircut every 6 months gals as well so I’m not sure if I will do it more often…
@Chocolatte: that is the same shampoo that I started using, and it makes my hair sooo hard to comb though after showering. Do you use any product with it? Or do you use conditioner at all?
I’m growing my hair out. Not necessarily for the wedding, but mainly because I have always wanted long hair. But like you I always get sick of it and chop it off, however this time I have vowed to not chop it.
I have the same problem with split ends and damage, and I had super thick hair so its a pain to get it to dry.
I use Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny which helps my dry time decrease a ton.
And I use Head and Shoulders shampoo. Its not expensive, but it works wonders at keeping my hair smooth, pretty, and damage free (plus the expensive shampoo and my hair do not get along for whatever reason). Head and Shoulders is definitely worth a shot for you to try.
Seems like we’re all in good company. I, also, get to a point of not wanting to wash and blow dry my longer hair and chop it. I would go months without cutting it, essentially growing it out to an annoying length and then continue the chop/cut cycle. My hair is thick and gets knotted easily. I have been using Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner since I started growing it out for the wedding (over a year and a half now). It has drastically reduced the amount of knotting! I still use whatever shampoo is on sale (Herbal Essences, Suave, etc.) and this conditioner works just as well with any of them. I have had several bouts of wanting to just chop it all off, especially when wedding planning is at its most stressful, but so far I’ve been able to fight the urge by reminding myself how awesome my wedding look will be with my long hair worn down!
While growing my hair out, I’ve become a big fan of braids!
@WonderTwin: I love braids as well! Somedays they are just so easy to do! And way better for your hair than throwing it up in a messy bun!!
I too am growing out my hair….and much to my disappointment, have changed my blonde locks to RED. It was a BIG mistake on the salons behalf, and after their 3rd attempt to fix it, I still have red hair. So now onto having the color stripped and starting over…
I also have the same oily hair after a day or two of washing problem. What shampoo are you using that ceases that problem?!? I have yet to find one….
And thank you for posting those pictures…I think I found my big day style
Hyena, it sounds like we have the exact same approach to our hair. I’m also growing it out for the wedding, and I’m trying to be better about trimming. I’ve also been using a split ends serum from Avon – I doubted it would work, but tried it out anyways. It actually does seem to help! I can go longer before my ends start to feel dry and I need to get a trim.
As it is, I’m glad FI thinks I look sexy with a shorter bob – I want long hair for the wedding, but I’m going to be very ready to chop it after December!
So I am totally bookmarking this post for my hair trial. I already have long hair, but am still bad about getting trimmed eveyr 6 weeks. I usually go about ever 7-8. I have found a drugstore brand Loreal’s Sulfate Free brand. My hair always is pretty soft and shiny when I use this stuff.
@honeyoats22: Thanks for the tip!
@misscoffee: Oh yeah, I’m totally cutting the crap out of my hair as soon as the wedding is over!
@Mrs.Horvath2be: No worries about having slightly shorter hair! I’ve got a post about that coming up! I usually keep my hair around shoulder-length as well.
@FLBride: I’m sorry about the color mishap! I hope they fix that up. I’m currently using Redken’s All Soft, and I haven’t had any of the greasy problems that I did when I was using Pantene.
I actually just realized its been a year since I had my hair trimmed. I’m so sad I’ll probably having to end up losing a couple inches when I finally go have it cut next week. I should really get my butt in gear and focus on being good to my hair for the next month and a half till the wedding.
I’m trying to grow my hair out too, even though I’ve never really been able to get it past shoulder length before. 1457 times the charm, right?
Some things I’ve heard to reduce that greasy-after-an-hour problem: Use shampoos without sulfates (like Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Ammonium Laureth Sulfate). These strip your hair of its natural grease, causing your hair to overcompensate and produce even more grease. Organic and high quality salon brands are good kinds to look for.
Also? Shampoo less often. I know it sounds weird, but for the same reason if you shampoo your hair every other day or even only 2-3 times a week, it breaks the “grease cycle” and stops overproducing. You’ll have some gross hair days to begin with, but push through and it’ll ease up.
Try searching about “no ‘poo” and shampoo-free solutions. Even if you don’t go completely shampooless (I couldn’t) there’s a lot of good tips for hair care.
I’m a rare sight at the salon. Maybe popping in 4 times a year if I’m feeling shaggy. It just never occurs to me until my split ends start snarling.
Mrs. Hyena, College Station, TX Age and Occupation: 23, Marketing Specialist Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Aerospace Engineering Grad Student Engagement Date: January 8, 2010 Wedding Date: May 2011 Venue: Downtown 202 About Me: I'm a Texas girl who met my future hubby in high school, then headed up to Oklahoma for a college education (BOOMER SOONER!) before moving back to the Lone Star State to be with him. I love reading and recycling, Photoshop and reality TV, making lame jokes and then laughing at them, quoting movies, and Mr. Hyena most of all. I'm perpetually early and I like to get things accomplished. When my cat meows at me, I meow back. We're planning a laid-back, unintentionally DIY wedding with a cocktail-party vibe, and can't wait to celebrate our nuptials with our nearest and dearest!
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