How to Let My [Bad] Layered Hair Grow Out?

Updated on May 10, 2011
S.G. asks from Fort Eustis, VA
16 answers

For the past year or so, I've had a kind of shoulder-length and above shag cut, lots of layers. I like to change my haircut pretty frequently so I'm ready to grow it out again. How have you ladies handled this in the past? Should I have my hairdresser cut everything really short so it will all kind of grow out the same length? Or just let it do its' own thing, even though it's really looking rough these days? (I won't use the word "mullet" but this hair has seen better days, for sure.) Any tips or suggestions on how to make the grow-out process easier? Thanks!
Kristina M.: I know a picture would make it easier, the irony is I am HATING my hair so much these days that I would hate for you-all to think I really look this way!:) Also I hope to remain anonymous in cyber-land. Thanks!

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Featured Answers

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

As my hair was growing out I just kept getting new cuts that worked with the lengths I had. When ever I got the mullet thing going on I would get it cut until the sides finally got longer. I think I had about 4 different styles before it finally all got long enough to just let it be.

2 moms found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

You're going to have an awkward stage, but let it grow! Throw a headband in and let it do it's thing... just stop cutting it! One of my BFFs constantly complains about her short hair, but I can't get her away from the scissors!

Good luck :)

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

E.B.

answers from Seattle on

I would let it do its thing. I have choppy hair right now and I am growing it out. I am never ever ever cutting it again. I went boy short after having my third. And well I looked like a 12 year old boy...for a long time. I have found that pulling it back up top is the best way to deal with the chop, until the chop is longer. I do the POOF up top or I will clip it back..braid it. I am almost there with mine!! I can curl the short pieces and they blend in better with everything else!!

Good luck !!

3 moms found this helpful
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M.O.

answers from Chicago on

I'd say, cut it into a chin length bob and just let it grow.

Make sure you go to a good salon and an experienced person. Look through their mags and talk to the stylist about what your goal is.

See if you can find a style you like NOW, then while it's growing, and eventually what you want it to look like.

Whenever I get frustrated with the same style or trying to grow it out, I get some fun highlights to keep it peppy.

2 moms found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Honestly, a pic would help better suggest, however from what you have said, I would go to the hair dresser and ask what she thinks is best for grow out ... it could be as simple as a few handy styles to conceal it for a few weeks. An almost no fail style for the mean time is a wavy curl ... here is a tutorial link so you know for sure what I am talking about. You can use any curling iron size clamp or no clamp it is a no fail look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuY5ASiRqWw

2 moms found this helpful

C.C.

answers from Sacramento on

It's almost summer - pin it up in a twist, or a ponytail, or a messy bun. All three are in fashion right now, and are good for growing your hair out!

2 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Just let it grow out....
and in the meantime, just wear headbands, or barrettes, or wear a pony tail.

It has to grow out.... so the length increases.
Then you can do more things with it.
If you keep cutting it... and/or shorter, you will be waiting a long time for it to ALL grow out.
Unless you want, short hair, to then grow it longer again. But that will take more time.

1 mom found this helpful

J.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would either braid it, pony tail it, a bun, or some hot rollers. I had my hair layered, and it looks funny unless I put my rollers in. I use jumbo rollers, so its not all curly, just really a slight curl at the ends, which takes the shagginess away. (I have so much hair, I have to do the rollers twice, to get all my hair done.) cleans it up really nice. On lazy days, I take a large barrel (1 1/4 ") curling iron & go over all my ends.

1 mom found this helpful

A.F.

answers from Chicago on

I am going through this :) Have your hair dresser cut the back off shorter so it is like an asymetrical bob (little longer in the front) and use a straight iron. It looks great and helps it grow out a little less harshley .... I was close to sporting the mullet myself as the back was looking very very rough and longer than the sides :P

1 mom found this helpful
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B.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Could your stylist recommend some 'in-between' styles to get you through?

I sort of had to laugh because when I talk about going somewhere else (as in having someone else cut it) to have my hair done my husband always says 'It's just hair. It will grow back!' Easy to say until you are the one that has to live with it... Needless to say I still go way out of my way to get my hair cut and get the same old thing done because I am too chicken!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.M.

answers from Boston on

I am doing this and my hairdresser has me get it cut every 16 weeks. Looks pretty rough but is getting longer finally. I was cutting it every 6 weeks and getting no-where before.

1 mom found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Houston on

I am a hairstylist. What i would recommend is to get the length cut a little shorter, and for the layers to be trimmed up, but in longer lengths. If oyu go to a good stylist, she/he should be able to turn those layers under in a way so that they aren't removing much length, so the cut will still be graceful and updated enough to grow out. I also recommend dong some fun updos, buns, low side chignons, ponytails... I wrote a post not to long ago on some easy styles:

http://littlelovables.blogspot.com/2011/04/easy-and-simpl...

1 mom found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

You need to watch out....so many stylists are preconditioned to shag hair out. This has happened to me so many times...I will finally have my layers pretty grown out and they will all of the sudden use a razor to 'lighten it up" and I come out looking like Rachel from friends!! Seriously-I am almost ready to find out the age of my next styleist to make sure that she was not working in the 90s during that era. But anyhow-you can grow them out by getting the bottom cut only and tell them to not touch the other layers. This is the only way that I have found they grow-if you let them "blend" them or whatever it just keeps the layers going. You could also go a little shorter to a bob.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.P.

answers from New York on

Regular trims (every 4-6 weeks) so that the layers aren't ratty while they are growing AND so you can get rid of a layer every once in a while. That's pretty much what my stylist told me after I made a rash hair choice following a bad break-up!

1 mom found this helpful

J.B.

answers from Houston on

I just do hair hardware when in a hair funk. Half up half down, little puffed up bangs with bobby pins in the front, pony tail with some cute bangs etc. That is how I have always gotten through when the hair is lacking a bit. I don't like to cut bc I like to have more hair to work with the next time around, whatever I decide to do. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

You can have your stylist do some reshaping into a new style without being too drastic or dramatic while gradually (over the next several months) cutting to trim off the new growth (at the bottom, I mean, without cutting the old layers). You could just chop it off, but I think that would be more frustrating to have to wait to grow out since you can't just pull it back. Trust me. I went with "just chopping it off to start fresh" and I've regretted it for years. I lost a lot of length doing that and I'm only just now starting to get my length back.

1 mom found this helpful
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