If you are sick of your short hair and ready to grow it out, you may feel frustrated by the awkward grow-back stage that plagues girls who are trying to go from short to long. Unfortunately, there are no products that will successfully grow your hair. There are ways to make the process a bit smoother and remain looking stylish while you are growing your hair out.
Start at the Salon
If you are ready to grow your hair out, you may find yourself in a tricky situation: You want to have long hair, but you don't want to spend the next six to 12 months with less than stylish and unattractive hair. Visit a salon, although it may seem counterproductive to get a haircut when you are trying to grow your hair. However, a proper trim can be the best first step toward growing out long locks. A stylist will trim and shape your hair in a way that will allow it to look its best while you are growing it out. It is a good idea to avoid layers when you get this haircut. As you grow your hair out, shorter layers may fall differently as your hair gets longer. Often, this can create an undesirable triangle shape. Be sure to avoid bangs for the same reason.
Avoid Flashy Color Changes
When growing your hair out, it is not the time to experiment with flashy color changes, like highlights or lowlights. Instead, keep a neutral all-over color: This will downplay any awkward layers or undesirable lengths by creating the illusion of evenness and consistency. If you already have flashy highlights or unique color in your hair, try a single process all-over color. Stay away from extreme colors like jet black or white blond: These radical hues can have the same undesirable effect of drawing attention to awkward layers and lengths.
Don't Go Overboard on Product
When growing your hair out, you may be tempted to use more hair product in a misguided attempt at concealing layers and camouflaging an awkward length. However, this usually has the opposite effect and can result in your layers looking even more chunky and unattractive. Instead, give your mane a smooth and sleek look by using a dime-sized amount of leave-in conditioner and give your hair some shape and texture with just a little bit of wax or pomade.
Consider Extensions
If you want to just skip over the whole awkward phase of growing hair out, you might consider hair extensions. Professionally applied salon hair extensions are made of human hair and will give the appearance of a full head of naturally grown hair. However, this option is pricey. Salons generally charge for hair extensions based on two factors: The cost of the hair and the cost of the stylist's time. Since the hair is expensive and can take up to six hours to apply, as of 2009, the cost can generally fall from $400 to $1,500, depending on where you live and how much hair you need. If you are desperate to have a head of long hair and can't stand to wait, this investment may be right for you. If you're willing to wait, you can save yourself a lot of money.
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