A year down the line...

I've been very busy recently, so I didn't realise last month that I have now been taking pictures of my hair length for a year! Although I've been growing it out for 3 years now, it's only in the last year that I've really started to take far better care of it - almost religiously. In 2011 I joined the Long Hair Community forum, where I've found lots of amazing tips and hair care ideas.

So, here's a year progress...

And if you're thinking that's not all that impressive, here's a picture from May 2010, a few months after I cut it into a bob...


















I think these things have helped the most:

• Micro trimming and S&D
• Oiling, I like coconut, but baby oil was good in the summer
• Protective styling at night, I used to just put it in a pony tail or not both at all
• Tangle Teezer I was using a widetooth comb, but I think even that was too brutal for my fine hair
• Being gentle with it!!

I haven't let any one cut my hair for me in 4 years, but even with trimming it myself I think I either wasn't doing it regularly enough and my splits were getting to far up my length, or I was doing it too often and cutting off most of my new growth.
Protecting my hair from splits has also helped a lot. I don't have to cut off as much hair because I get the splits early with S&D and there just aren't as many to begin with.
The only problem I'm having now it dryness on my ends, but oiling it helping with that. Problem is that my roots/scalp is really oily, so I can't over condition that because it'll look dirty within a few hours. Now that it's longer though I find it easier to condition the ends without getting it on my scalp.

All in all I am really enjoying having long hair, it's the longest it's been since I was 12!!!

Thanks for reading :)