Hair always looks bad and i'm trying to grow it shoulder length?

Well, I'm a male TRYING to grow my hair shoulder length, and to be perfectly honest, it isn't working out so well at the moment. I'm finding that it's either a. very dry, or b. very greasy. I rarely have days where it looks full and good.

Actually, well, take that back. Here's what will generally happen. I'll shampoo/condition my hair, and then the next day, it will look, in my opinion, really good (volume, texture, shine, etc). But for some reason, the NEXT day, it will look dull as can be. Should I just be washing it/conditioning it everyday if that's the case? I've heard it's bad for your hair, so i'm kind of on edge about that.

Or, should I just simply condition my hair everyday? The thing is, I've noticed when I condition my hair, it will actually look really nice and full of life, but soon thereafter (the day after) it will look as bad as can be. Should I just condition my hair then instead?

What should I do if my hair looks bad when i'm trying to grow it out? Here is a pic of what it looks like now, parted to the side? (I think). I mean all I want is my hair to look like this

But yeah, how can I make my hair look at least somewhat decent while I'm TRYING to grow it out? It seems like it's taking forever

I have to wash my hair every day. If I don't it looks greasy.

Hair growth depends on many factors such as the type of shampoo and condition, what you eat and drink, how you handle your hair, hair type, etc. I can't exactly recommend anything since all hair is different(it's all trial and error), but using all-natural ingredients tamed this frizzy and tangled beast on my head.

One thing that I'm certain about is if you wash with shampoo everyday, use the shampoo only once every 2-3 days. That greasy feeling people keep getting is actually a good thing: It's your hair's natural way of compensating for dryness and a way to protect itself, the shampoo strips away those natural oils and dries out the hair if used too often. If your hair's flexible enough, if could reach the ends of your hair and protect that as well.

Judging by the description of how your conditioner works, I'd say that something may not be agreeing with your hair, that or if you don't have a moisturizer to aid that conditioner (which could increase the lifespan of the conditioners effects), then you probably just have to look for one. When you find the right moisturizer, all you should have to do is use it everyday.

Looking at the photos, I think your opinion of your hair might be too harsh. Growing hair out is always a grueling test of patience - especially when it's at that weird in-between stage. But the way your hair looks now, when it does grow out it'll look like the other photo. Just, yeah, keep it clean.

Sometimes I use a dry shampoo near the scalp for the hair that gets oily before the longer strands. Or you can sprinkle talcum powder on your hair and brush through well.

Washing: I was mine every other day, to every 3 days depending on how dirty it gets (after a work out, I usually only rinse it in the shower). Washing every day as has been stated will severely damage not only your hair but also the folicles.

Shampoo: Since you're in the states, I can say there are a lot of good products you can use but take care what they are made to do, and for what type of scalp they are made to maintain. Garnier has a wonderful shampoo that is very gentle on my hair (I have very fine hair but a LOT of it)...I've also used Pantene but the hype didn't play out. Also used 'mane and tail'....found it better than pantene but left my hair feeling a bit heavy on the second day.

Conditioner: Again, Garnier has my vote. They also have a de-frizzer that is amazing, however, very little is needed and I only put it on the hair just at my ears and down, NOT on the top or scalp. Brushing regularly moves the de-frizzer up to cover the rest of the hair without making it look stringy or greasy. (btw...a good de-frizzer, if you don't have any handy, is belive it or not, Trojan jelly---it's slickery and usually has no scent. Avoid the one that gets warm on contact--not sure what that would do to your hair lol But seriously, if you try it once, you'll see just how effective that stuff is!)

Good luck, and as has been said, be patient. I've been growing mine out a little better than a year (3/4's down my back now), using the products I mentioned after much much trial and error. And take care with that 'dry shampoo'...the stuff is fiendishly flammable. I won't use it, but if you do, don't smoke for at LEAST an hour after application!)

You have gorgeous eyes and great bone structure, but your current hairstyle isnt doing you any favors. I do like where youre heading with the new do. I think you can get a modified version of it now, instead of the side part, which would be much more flattering, and why not learn to handle your hair at whatever length? Dont be afraid to get it trimmed regularly as you grow it longer, and do brush it with a natural bristle brush (backwards from how you usually comb or brush it) before you wash it - it will help it grow thicker and faster or at least seem like it. My t (a gorgeous straight man) says he uses more product than most women and i tell you i envy his hair. I am pretty much an old hag, but my hairdresser can make me look like i should model for them. With your face, the right hairdresser and cut should make you stop traffic. Even with dandruff! Are you blowdrying it?

Be careful of "trimming while growing out." Speaking as someone with long dreadlocks, waiting for your hair to grow out takes patience. Talk about an exercise in mindfulness...nothing is more so than waiting for hair to grow. Trimming is cutting, not growing.

I so agree...I was always told...when growing out hair, you need to 'trim' an inch or two off the bottom every month to 'make the hair grow'...never made sense then and I know is a load of crap now.

The trimming is to get rid of split ends and does nothing for growth. Avoid split ends and harsh shampoos etc and you're hair will grow just fine.

I read to trim a quarter inch. My parents wouldnt let me get my hair cut and as a result i had the worst split ends ever and it wouldnt grow past my shoulders. Earlier this year i got it trimmed every month for a few months and it was growing like crazy and looked pretty good, except that it was dyed. So now im trying again with my now natural color. Wavy hair is the worst to deal with, cuz the stylists will razor it and that eventually deflates and frizzes it.

I think your hair looks just fine in your pictures! I only wash my hair every two or three days, and I already have over my shoulders hair and a beard I've been growing for 5-6 years! I also have heard about getting your hair trimed often. But I don't hows it going to grow longer if you keep triming it?
Anyway do what you feel works for you and good luck!
KFace
the long haired wildman LoL

Sorry the lack of response here, I do apologize. I'm going to make an attempt to answer every question so *inhales

"I have to wash my hair every day. If I don't it looks greasy."

Yeah, that's pretty much the same for me nowadays

"Hair growth depends on many factors such as the type of shampoo and condition, what you eat and drink, how you handle your hair, hair type, etc. I can't exactly recommend anything since all hair is different(it's all trial and error), but using all-natural ingredients tamed this frizzy and tangled beast on my head.

One thing that I'm certain about is if you wash with shampoo everyday, use the shampoo only once every 2-3 days. That greasy feeling people keep getting is actually a good thing: It's your hair's natural way of compensating for dryness and a way to protect itself, the shampoo strips away those natural oils and dries out the hair if used too often. If your hair's flexible enough, if could reach the ends of your hair and protect that as well.

Judging by the description of how your conditioner works, I'd say that something may not be agreeing with your hair, that or if you don't have a moisturizer to aid that conditioner (which could increase the lifespan of the conditioners effects), then you probably just have to look for one. When you find the right moisturizer, all you should have to do is use it everyday."

Yeah. Ya know, I use the VO5 Conditioner and honestly, and surprisingly, it works amazingly. Pretty odd though how the shampoo is on the complete opposite (the stuff is terrible.).

"Looking at the photos, I think your opinion of your hair might be too harsh. Growing hair out is always a grueling test of patience - especially when it's at that weird in-between stage. But the way your hair looks now, when it does grow out it'll look like the other photo. Just, yeah, keep it clean."


You really think so? I mean, idk, at the moment it seems like it's growing incredibly awkwardly, but yeah I might just go to a stylist to have her give it a trim or w/e.

"Sometimes I use a dry shampoo near the scalp for the hair that gets oily before the longer strands. Or you can sprinkle talcum powder on your hair and brush through well."

Thanks I'll try that

Sorry for my absence, my computer kept messing up -____-

Thanks for all the answers, all are useful.

Sister, wow really? That's awesome news; I hope it does grow to look like that. Wish it wouldn't grow so awkwardly though

Thank you Hank! Yeah I'll try to experiment with new hairstyles until I get more weight on my hair

Also, yeah I don't blowdry at all, not once in my life

How about trying a sulfate-free shampoo? These are less drying/damaging to the hair shaft, especially if made of mostly natural ingredients. There are several options these days, but try each until you find one that works best for your hair. To keep your hair moisturized and healthy-looking between shampoos, you could try a serum which contains natural oils like argan or olive oil or even coconut oil. Make sure you apply it all the way through to the ends, since our ends tend to dry out pretty quickly, especially if you wear your hair out all day and are in a very drying environment. Warning though: natural hair products are generally more expensive. But for me, they are worth it.

Condition it every day if you want but dont shampoo it everyday. You could use silicone free gel to style it, and dont use any heat.

PS I only wash my hair twice a week (every 3-4 days) and it's growing like a weed. I am a girl and have longish (boob length) hair but its dry and this seems to be good for it.

Just make sure you do a LOT of rinsing with these. The point of a detergent molecule is that one ends hates water but loves dirt, and the other end loves water. (This is why detergents are far easier to rinse than soap.) Sulfate-free detergent molecules don't hitchhike on your rinse stream as easily, and need extra help.

Hair always grows awkwardly. The trap most people fall into is wanting to grow their hair out, but getting it trimmed too much and losing hope that it will ever grow out.

In my opinion, moisture adds weight to your hair, causing it grow down. I know it because my hair is light and curly, when it's short, it grows 'upward' like an afro.... but when I grow it longer and wash my hair every day, the moisture makes my hair heavier, and it grows 'down', like I want it to, the problem is keeping it that way because it dries up pretty fast on sunny days.