A few months ago I went through the experience of a horrific short haircut where they buzzed my top and crown too short. I'm a 35-year-old man. I couldn't see my regular barber that day, and in many of these barber shops you can't choose who you see, there's a long line and you have to see whoever's available. This itself is a problem, but more on that later. When I got home and examined myself in the mirror I was in shock.
I was nearly "bedridden" for a week after this, but I noticed that subsequent regrowth was the fastest I could remember. After 2 weeks some small gaps filled in and at the 4-week point I was almost back to status quo. This leads me to believe now that the much-ridiculed "myth" of hair trims leading to faster growth is not a myth at all. Subjectively I don't recall this rate of growth from my usual smaller trims. I found a
site that says hair always strives to maintain a "critical length" so it will grow faster/slower to compensate for any deviation (sounds supernatural but maybe it isn't).
The first 1-2 weeks just have to be survived. Take it one day at a time and count the elapsed hours by day (24, 48, 72..). In public places you can put your hand(s) on the head during the first week to obscure any lack of coverage. Also,
- Use Extra-Volume shampoos: Head&Shoulders
Extra Volume, Hydrating Shampoos like "Biolage." They should make the hair silky.
- Use a volumizing brush only, never a comb.
On a broad level you have to understand what caused this traumatic event to avoid it in the future. You need to trust your instincts if you see a random barber and you can't choose your regular one. When they start cutting, you may notice they're sloppy with the tools, making the hair get stuck or pulled out, and this is a bad sign. This was in fact the red flag in this particular instance. Or, as the haircut progresses, you may not like the way you look or something worries you. If this is the case, get up from the seat immediately, pay, and leave. Don't take the chance if you have a bad feeling. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
