In August of 2011, I decided to grow out my hair. I’ve had a pixie short haircut for about three years. EVERY time I tried to grow it out, I would get pissed off and have it cut again. I could never endure or handle that awkward mullet stage that you get when growing out a short pixie cut. My last pixie-style haircut was on July 30, 2011, which was right before BlogHer.
In October of 2011, I was prepping for family pictures and had a little freak out about my dark roots and the mullet look of my hair. I contacted Tera Rae Stephens and begged her to fit me in her busy schedule. I took a picture of Erin Loechner in with me to show what I wanted my hair to look like during the grow-out phase. Tera Rae was able to fix my hot mess and cut my hair so that it would properly grow out. Seriously, my hair has NEVER grown out normal, Tera Rae is a miracle worker.
A photo in July after my last pixie cut, and in October before Tera Rae Stephens fixed my mullet mess.
A self-portrait that I took after Tera Rae Stephens colored and cut (fixed) my hair, and a current picture that I took this past week.
And for a complete before/after, here is a side-by-side from July to October.
Obviously, I am still in the process of growing out my hair. I am unsure how long it will get, but it is a work in progress. My bangs are driving me batty right now and the sides of my hair are becoming a bit Farrah Fawcett circa 1980′s. But hey, the 80′s are in right now, right?
Have you ever endured the awful hair grow out? Did you just want to run out and get a fresh haircut to make it all better?
Side Note, and a little humor: Now that my hair is getting longer, I use a blow dryer to dry the back of my hair when it is still wet. It helps my hair lay down better in the back. I don’t think my son has EVER seen a blow dryer in action. He was totally confused by it, and I had to show him how it works the other day. HILARIOUS!
While I don’t have the balls to chop my mop into a full on pixie, I recently stumbled upon some old photos from a few years ago where my hair was down to the tops of my saggy boobs and I’ve vowed to grow this train wreck out again. It’s killing me. I want to call the gaggle of hairdressers I know to SAVE MY HAIR but I have to commit to this. I just have to.
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Growing hair out totally sucks…and yours is already way longer than mine. It will be totally easy for you.
I’ve never been brave enough to try the full on sassy pixie cut, but I went pretty stinking short a few years back. The grow out phase nearly killed me. I found LOTS of hair accessories helped. I twisted and pinned my bangs back with a bobby pin nearly every day. You CAN do this.
It is pretty brave, but at the beginning it was gradual for me. I went shorter and shorter. I usually twist my bangs and pin them back with clips etc. most days.
I want so badly to get my hair cut short. I hate it in my face, so I usually pull it back in a ponytail.
Also, if your son gets confused by the hair dryer, imagine our cats – they freak out. Once when my daughter was drying her hair, her sister’s cat was on the dishwasher next to a bag of potatoes. She started acting like the potatoes were attacking her and she attacked back. I was laughing my head off.
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When my hair was longer, it was ALWAYS in a ponytail. I’m hoping with the right haircut, I can actually do something with it besides put it in buns or ponytails.
Oh ya, cats freak big time. They are quite hilarious when you point a blowdryer at them.
Totally hear where you are coming from. I too have a pixie hair cut and every single time I try and grow it out well I get pissed off and I cut it. Figure I will always have pixie hair. Your hair turned out totally cute.
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Thanks! I love my pixie cut. There was nothing wrong with it. But there are those days when I wish that I had long hair. I’m trying to see if my hair even looks good long. It has been so long that I can’t remember.
You are a brave girl…I have been trying for the last year to grow my inverted bob out…I get frustrated…get another cut, listen to the husband gripe that he wants me to have long hair and the whole ordeal starts over again!
An inverted bob is hard to grow out. I totally understand. The worst part of the grow out was that most of my hair was razored, which cause split ends if not maintained. My husband doubts that I will grow it out. I’m trying to prove him wrong.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! Especially the Farrah feather! It looks soooo good Julie!
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Thanks so much Jen! It is a work in progress.
Look at that progress!!! Maybe it’s time for a bang trim?!
Hang in there sister, it’s looking good!
Thanks!!! It is probably a good thing that I take so many self-portraits of myself so that I have before/afters. Ya, I probably need a bang trim.
Your hair looks seriously gorg! I’ve been looking for a new hair stylist so now I’m inspired to call Tera:) thanks!
Thanks Gina! She is fab! She is on 17th and Orange in Costa Mesa.
Julie,
Hi! I finally decided early last year to let my hair grow out for the first time in about 6 years. It had been short like yours, and I really wanted to be able to have a pony-tail when it gets hot down here in FL. Mine is about shoulder length now, and I’m aiming to let it grow a little longer. I used to think that as we got older, women were supposed to cut their hair shorter, but I’m starting to disagree as I approach 50 this year.
I like your new hair style!
Aww thanks, I’m not sure how long I want to grow it out so we shall see. Good luck on your grow out!
I spent nearly three years growing mine out and then this fall whacked it all off yet again. I’m not happy and today made the decision to again grow it out. Good luck…me too!
I grew out a super short pixie cut (I loved loved my pixie cut, but it was time to let it go) about ten years ago. I was so traumatized by it that I refuse to let my hair go too short again. It was hard!!!!
Your hair looks great! Good luck!
You are so pretty : )
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It looks great! Keep going!
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Seriously, your hair is looking so much better already! Part it in or near the middle, put barrettes on the sides and you’re on your way. Flaunt those waves, Girl. Never get discouraged.
Love the grow out! You’ll look awesome with longer hair
Hi, came across your blog looking for how to grow out a pixie. I had mine cut 27 July 2012, very short to get rid of dyed hair. Now one month down the line I am desperate to have my hair back (even though I know it was worth it not to have horrible black dyed hair). Please give me some hope, how long before hair is over my ear lobe???
with much thanks …. Paola
It takes a few months to get past your ear lobe. It took me over a year to finally get it to bob length. Just be patient and it will get there.