I am currently growing my hair (a) because I am too lazy/cheap to get it cut and (b) to see how long it will grow (my mom’s hair reached her ankles at one point, so the genes are there).
However, once it reaches your waist, the length changes very, very slowly. On one hand, the long hair is nice, because it fits with my SCA persona quite well. I don’t need extra hairpieces, and I don’t have that bangs problem I did before, which is that I needed to pin them back when wearing garb, and could never slick them down enough to satisfy my own vanity (alas, DEP gel, once a staple in my hair arsenal, is not easy to find so no shell-head for me unless somebody’s got an alternate solution).
On the other hand, it takes two days to dry, a lot of hair dye (I want to switch to indigo, but it would cost ~$75 each time, just for the indigo, in order to dye the whole length), gets tangled around my neck when I sleep, and is nearly long enough to brush the toilet seat when I go to the bathroom (I know! gross!). Obviously it is decision time.
So, Hive Mind, what should I do?
Note: any of these options will be an at-home affair, because while I am willing to be un-lazy, I am still cheap.
knitters = angry mob 
Suggestions for long hair:
1. sleeping – braid it
2. bathroom – flip it forward over your shoulder
3. drying – I’m no help on that front. My hair dries in a few hours.
4. gel/dye – ditto on the lack of knowledge.
I think maybe I need to trim it before I decide; that may make me feel better about it.
Im thinking about pinning it to the crown of my head when I sleep, because it chokes me, even braided (I’m a restless sleeper).
I really liked your Bettie Page look, and I liked the look you had when that was growing out, too (this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/happygoth/4059048145/in/set-72157622698751312).
While I am curious to see just how long your hair can grow, I remember the trouble it caused you in college & wonder if it’s worth it for you to return to those troubles (even if they are just white people problems).
Finally, while a buzzcut may not be a long term solution, if you shaved your head, you could try it, tattoo your skull, and then grow it out again. 😀
You know, I totally expected you to be the lone buzzcut proponent (that’s why we’re friends – we’re equally perverse). Anyway, I did some research yesterday and found some toupee-style clip on bangs, which I think I’ll try in lieu of a cut, since i can just take them off when I do SCA stuff. We’ll see how long that lasts, though.
I vote to keep growing it. Also invest in hair stick and forks and maybe a ficcare clip or two… There is actually a whole online community for “long hair types”… with lots of care tips and style tips ect… plus lots of hair toy enabling!
http://www.ficcare.com/Index.aspx
http://www.etsy.com/shop/NightBlooming
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TimberstoneTurnings
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mairzydozy
http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicholasandfelice
None of those shops belong to me… they are just some of my favorite sellers.
I am on The Long Hair Community though….
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/index.php
I hope that that helps!
Thanks for the tips!
This is mostly a bored-with-my-style issue. I’ve had long long long hair off and on since I was 11, so I’m fairly comfortable with it, but I’d gotten it cut into a shorter style with bangs a few years ago and was really happy that way. My SCA needs are to have a long, luxuriant braid, a la traditional Indian women, and I do SCA stuff pretty often, so I think it really comes down to bangs or no bangs. I found some clip-ins that I may try while I deliberate.