I'm currently growing my hair out with the long-term goal of getting it to past butt length, and I’m about 5'4". I eventually want to donate a large amount of it, so I’m trying to keep it healthy, thick, and full as it grows.

My hair is very thick/dense and I think it’s around 2B wavy, but I’d also love some help confirming my hair type. I don’t have layers or thinning because I want to preserve as much density as possible.

I included front and back photos because I’m mainly curious about what length you would consider my hair to be right now, whether it looks healthy and pretty overall, how the ends are looking, and whether you’d agree with 2B or classify it differently.

One thing I struggle with is poofiness/frizz, especially when I wear my hair down. My hair can feel really soft but still get very big and fluffy once it dries. I like having volume and definitely don’t want to flatten my waves or make my hair greasy, but I’d love to make it look more controlled, defined, and smooth.

Routine:

I wash my hair about twice a week.

Shampoo: Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo

Conditioner: Dove Intensive Repair Conditioner

After washing, I use SheaMoisture leave-in conditioner on damp hair.

I only use gel if I’m going outside.

Most of the time I keep my hair in a bun or ponytail.

If I wear it down, I usually use a middle part.

Styling is otherwise pretty minimal.

For these photos specifically, I used a lot more leave-in conditioner and gel than I normally do, so my hair is more controlled and defined here than usual. There was also a light directly above me, so the shine/highlights may look stronger than they do in normal lighting.

The last picture is a collage of what my hair looked like fully dry about two months ago, with much less styling/product, so that may give a better idea of my natural texture and how much it tends to poof up.

So mainly: what length would you call my hair right now? Does it look healthy overall, and do the ends still look full and healthy? What hair type would you classify it as? And for anyone with similar thick, wavy hair, how would you improve my routine and manage the poofiness/frizz without weighing it down, making it greasy, or getting rid of the natural volume?

Thank you! ❤️

I’m currently growing my hair to waist length so I can donate it, and I’m trying to preserve as much length and density as possible along the way.

My hair is very thick/dense and around 2B wavy. I don’t have layers or thinning, and I’m planning to keep it that way while I grow it out.

I included a front and back photo so you can see my current length, texture, and density.

Most of the time I keep my hair up in either a bun or ponytail, and when I wear it down I usually do a middle part. I’ve realized I keep cycling through basically the same styles, so I’d like to try some new ones.

I’m honestly open to whatever looks nice, including feminine/cute hairstyles. I don’t really care whether a style is considered masculine or feminine as long as it suits my hair.

I’ve also tried braiding, but I struggle with doing it on myself, so beginner-friendly suggestions would be especially appreciated.

I’m open to ponytails, half-up styles, buns, braids, pigtails, claw clip styles, or anything else you think would work well with my current length and thick hair.

I’d also be curious whether you think my hair would suit higher vs. lower ponytails/buns, looser styles, more polished styles, half-up styles, etc.

My main goals are to keep growing it, avoid unnecessary breakage, preserve the thickness, and find more variety so I’m not wearing the same ponytail or bun every day.

I’m not really looking for haircut, layer, or thinning suggestions since I want to preserve as much length and fullness as possible for donation.

Routine:

• I wash my hair about twice a week.
• Shampoo: Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo
• Conditioner: Dove Intensive Repair Conditioner
• After washing, I use about a fingertip-sized amount of SheaMoisture leave-in conditioner on damp hair.
• I only use gel if I’m going outside.
• Most of the time I keep my hair in a bun or ponytail.
• If I wear it down, I usually use a middle part.
• Styling is otherwise pretty minimal.

For these photos specifically, I used only leave-in conditioner after washing.

Based on the photos, what hairstyles would you try if this were your hair?

Thank you! ❤️

I’m currently growing my hair to waist length so I can donate it, and I’m trying to preserve as much length and density as possible along the way.

My hair is very thick/dense and around 2B wavy. I don’t have layers or thinning, and I’m planning to keep it that way while I grow it out.

I included a front and back photo so you can see my current length, texture, and overall density.

Most of the time I keep my hair up in either a bun or ponytail, and when I wear it down I usually do a middle part. I’ve realized I keep cycling through basically the same few styles, so I’d like to start experimenting more.

I’m honestly open to whatever hairstyle looks nice on my hair, including more feminine styles. I don’t really have a preference for masculine vs feminine — I mainly want something that suits my length, texture, and density.

I’ve also tried braiding, but I struggle with it, especially doing it on myself, so beginner-friendly styles would be really helpful.

I’m open to things like:

• ponytails or ponytail variations
• half-up styles
• buns
• braids
• pigtails
• claw clip styles
• feminine/cute styles
• basically anything you think would suit my hair

I’m especially interested in styles that work well with very thick hair and are realistic with the amount of length I have right now, rather than styles that would only work once it gets much longer.

I’d also be curious what you think would suit me best aesthetically — for example, whether my hair would look better with higher or lower ponytails/buns, half-up styles, looser styles, more polished styles, braids, etc.

My main goals are:

1. Keep growing it without unnecessary breakage
2. Preserve the thickness/density
3. Find more hairstyles so I’m not wearing the same ponytail or bun every day

I’m not really looking for haircut or layering suggestions since I want to keep as much length and fullness as possible for donation.

Based on the photos, what hairstyles would you try if this were your hair?

Thank you! ❤️

I’m trying to grow my hair to waist length so I can donate it, and I want to preserve as much length and density as possible along the way.

My hair is very thick/dense and around 2B wavy. I don’t want layers or thinning, so if I do trim it, I’d only want a small perimeter trim to clean up ends that genuinely need it.

The first set of pictures is my hair freshly washed and worn down with just leave-in conditioner in it. When I wear my hair down, I usually do a middle part.

The second set of pictures is my hair in a ponytail so you can also see how the length and ends look when it’s gathered.

Most of the time, I keep my hair up in either a bun or a ponytail rather than wearing it down.

I’d also love some general opinions on how my hair looks right now. Does it look healthy/good overall? Does the current length and shape suit my hair, or is there anything you think I should change while I’m growing it out?

Do my ends look healthy enough to leave alone until November, or do you see obvious splitting, damage, thinning, unevenness, etc. that would make a trim worthwhile now?

If you were me, would you:

• keep growing it until November and trim it then, or
• get a small trim now?

Since my goal is waist length for donation, I’d rather not lose length unnecessarily, but I also don’t want to ignore damage if the ends genuinely need attention.

Routine:

I wash my hair about twice a week.

• Shampoo: Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo
• Conditioner: Dove Intensive Repair Conditioner
• After washing, I use about a fingertip-sized amount of SheaMoisture leave-in conditioner on damp hair.
• I only use gel when I’m planning to go outside.
• Most of the time, I keep my hair in a bun or ponytail.
• If I wear it down, I usually wear it with a middle part.
• Otherwise I keep styling pretty minimal.

For these photos specifically, I used only leave-in conditioner after washing.

So overall: does my hair look good/healthy right now, and would you keep growing until November before trimming, or does it look like I should do something sooner?

Thank you! ❤️

Posted here last week about my hair growth, but I finally tried wearing it in a ponytail and wanted some honest opinions. The first four images are my hair down, and the next four is my hair in a ponytail.

Does it look good at this length, or does it still look a little too short/awkward from the sides and back? I actually like how thick it looks, but I’m not sure how it comes across to other people.

Routine: I wash twice a week with Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo and Conditioner, use Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream on damp hair, and add Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Sculpting Gel when I need humidity control. I use a wide-tooth comb for everything and air-dry.

Thank you so much!

Hey everyone! I posted here about three months ago and wanted to come back with an update.

For some background, I’m 20, Indian, and my hair is very thick, high-porosity, and around a 2B wavy pattern. I started growing it out from basically a buzzcut, and I’ve mostly just been trying to let it grow while figuring out a routine that works with my hair and the Florida humidity.

Photo order:

• Photos 1–4: My hair three months ago
• Photos 5–8: My hair now with leave-in + gel
• Photos 9–12: My hair now, freshly washed and air-dried with only leave-in

The leave-in-only version is basically my normal go-to when I’m staying home. I usually add gel when I’m going outside because Florida humidity does not play nicely with my hair.

I feel like my hair has grown, especially around the sides and back, but because it’s so thick and wavy, I honestly have a hard time judging how noticeable the difference actually is.

Do you guys see a noticeable difference in the length or overall shape compared with three months ago?

Current routine

I wash my hair about twice a week using Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo, followed by Dove Intensive Repair Conditioner.

About once a week, before one of my wash days, I apply coconut oil as a pre-wash treatment.

After shampooing and conditioning, I apply a small amount of Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream to my damp hair. I work it mainly through the lengths, distribute it through my hair, and lightly scrunch.

I use a wide-tooth comb for basically everything — detangling, distributing product, smoothing my hair, and arranging my part. I don’t really use a regular brush or fine-tooth comb.

If I’m staying home, I usually stop after applying the Cantu leave-in and let my hair air-dry completely. I don’t blow-dry or diffuse it, and I try not to touch it much while it dries.

If I’m going outside and need more hold for the humidity, I apply Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Sculpting Gel after the Cantu leave-in. I distribute and smooth it through my hair, use my wide-tooth comb as needed, lightly scrunch, arrange my middle part, and then let it air-dry.

What should I do next?

At this point, I’m mainly wondering:

• Does my hair look healthy overall?
• Do you think the current shape looks good?
• Should I just keep growing it as-is, or would a small trim help the shape without taking off too much progress?
• Do you prefer the leave-in + gel version or the leave-in-only air-dried version?

I’d also love some hairstyle ideas for my current length. For anyone who has had thick, wavy hair around this stage, what styles would you recommend trying while it’s still in this in-between length?

And looking much further ahead, what eventual length do you think would look prettiest with my hair texture and density? My end goal is to grow it very long and eventually donate it, so I’m curious whether you think this kind of thick, wavy hair would look best at chest length, mid-back, waist length, hip length, or even longer.

Hey everyone! I posted here about three months ago and wanted to come back with an update.

For some background, I’m 20, Indian, and my hair is very thick, high-porosity, and around a 2B wavy pattern. I started growing it out from basically a buzzcut, and I’ve mostly just been trying to let it grow while figuring out a routine that works with my hair and the Florida humidity.

Photo order:

• Photos 1–4: My hair three months ago
• Photos 5–8: My hair now with leave-in + gel
• Photos 9–12: My hair now, freshly washed and air-dried with only leave-in

The leave-in-only version is basically my normal go-to when I’m staying home. I usually add gel when I’m going outside because Florida humidity does not play nicely with my hair.

I feel like my hair has grown, especially around the sides and back, but because it’s so thick and wavy, I honestly have a hard time judging how noticeable the difference actually is.

Do you guys see a noticeable difference in the length or overall shape compared with three months ago?

Current routine

I wash my hair about twice a week using Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo, followed by Dove Intensive Repair Conditioner.

About once a week, before one of my wash days, I apply coconut oil as a pre-wash treatment.

After shampooing and conditioning, I apply a small amount of Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream to my damp hair. I work it mainly through the lengths, distribute it through my hair, and lightly scrunch.

I use a wide-tooth comb for basically everything — detangling, distributing product, smoothing my hair, and arranging my part. I don’t really use a regular brush or fine-tooth comb.

If I’m staying home, I usually stop after applying the Cantu leave-in and let my hair air-dry completely. I don’t blow-dry or diffuse it, and I try not to touch it much while it dries.

If I’m going outside and need more hold for the humidity, I apply Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Sculpting Gel after the Cantu leave-in. I distribute and smooth it through my hair, use my wide-tooth comb as needed, lightly scrunch, arrange my middle part, and then let it air-dry.

What should I do next?

At this point, I’m mainly wondering:

• Does my hair look healthy overall?
• Do you think the current shape looks good?
• Should I just keep growing it as-is, or would a small trim help the shape without taking off too much progress?
• Do you prefer the leave-in + gel version or the leave-in-only air-dried version?

I’d also love some hairstyle ideas for my current length. For anyone who has had thick, wavy hair around this stage, what styles would you recommend trying while it’s still in this in-between length?

And looking much further ahead, what eventual length do you think would look prettiest with my hair texture and density? My end goal is to grow it very long and eventually donate it, so I’m curious whether you think this kind of thick, wavy hair would look best at chest length, mid-back, waist length, hip length, or even longer.

Hello, everyone. I wanted to share my one-year update and hopefully get some advice because I'm kind of stuck right now.

Quick background: I'm 20, Indian, and my hair is really thick and wavy - 2B pattern. A year ago I had basically a buzzcut (1 inch on top, under half an inch on the sides). Now I'm sitting at 9 inches on top and 6.5 on the sides and back. The end goal is waist length so I can donate it.

For the photos - the outdoor ones in the blue shirt are my hair fully dry and loose with a dime-size amount of leave in conditioner, and a 2 quarter amounts of gel raked in. The bathroom ponytail shots are the only ones where I have oil in it. The ponytail is 3.5 inch in circumference. You can probably see the problem: it's sitting in this bob shape right now, and the sides are just barely too short to reach a hair tie, which is its own kind of frustrating.

My routine (Florida humidity + thick high-porosity hair is a whole thing):

• Wash days (~3x a week): I pre-poo my scalp with Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil and coat my ends in coconut oil before getting in the shower. I wash and condition with Dove Intensive Repair shampoo and conditioner. After, I put in a small amount of Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Cream and scrunch in Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Sculpting Gel, keeping it about a half inch away from the roots.
• Rest days: No wash — I just revive my waves by scrunching with wet hands and do a dry scalp massage with my fingertips.
• Weekly reset: Jojoba oil massage into my scalp, double wash with Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two (clarifying), then I leave my Dove Intensive Repair conditioner on for 10 minutes like a mask. Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in after, and I seal just the ends with a couple drops of Jojoba.

Sometimes when I plan to stay home for the day, I just use a couple drops of jojoba.

Honestly open to any feedback on the overall health and shape. But my biggest struggle right now is protective styling during this bob phase while the sides won't fully tie back yet - and if anyone has accessory recommendations for keeping this length under control (headbands, bobby pins, anything that works for thick wavy hair at this stage), I'm all ears.

Hello, everyone. I wanted to share my one-year update and hopefully get some advice because I'm kind of stuck right now.

Quick background: I'm 20, Indian, and my hair is really thick and wavy - 2B pattern. A year ago I had basically a buzzcut (1 inch on top, under half an inch on the sides). Now I'm sitting at 9 inches on top and 6.5 on the sides and back. The end goal is waist length so I can donate it.

For the photos - the outdoor ones in the blue shirt are my hair fully dry and loose with a dime-size amount of leave in conditioner, and a 2 quarter amounts of gel raked in. The bathroom ponytail shots are the only ones where I have oil in it. The ponytail is 3.5 inch in circumference. You can probably see the problem: it's sitting in this bob shape right now, and the sides are just barely too short to reach a hair tie, which is its own kind of frustrating.

My routine (Florida humidity + thick high-porosity hair is a whole thing):

• Wash days (~3x a week): I pre-poo my scalp with Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil and coat my ends in coconut oil before getting in the shower. I wash and condition with Dove Intensive Repair shampoo and conditioner. After, I put in a small amount of Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Cream and scrunch in Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Sculpting Gel, keeping it about a half inch away from the roots.
• Rest days: No wash — I just revive my waves by scrunching with wet hands and do a dry scalp massage with my fingertips.
• Weekly reset: Jojoba oil massage into my scalp, double wash with Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two (clarifying), then I leave my Dove Intensive Repair conditioner on for 10 minutes like a mask. Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in after, and I seal just the ends with a couple drops of Jojoba.

Sometimes when I plan to stay home for the day, I just use a couple drops of jojoba.

Honestly open to any feedback on the overall health and shape. But my biggest struggle right now is protective styling during this bob phase while the sides won't fully tie back yet - and if anyone has accessory recommendations for keeping this length under control (headbands, bobby pins, anything that works for thick wavy hair at this stage), I'm all ears.

Hello, everyone. I wanted to share my one-year update and hopefully get some advice because I'm kind of stuck right now.

Quick background: I'm 20, Indian, and my hair is really thick and wavy - 2B pattern. A year ago I had basically a buzzcut (1 inch on top, under half an inch on the sides). Now I'm sitting at 9 inches on top and 6.5 on the sides and back. The end goal is waist length so I can donate it.

For the photos - the outdoor ones in the blue shirt are my hair fully dry and loose. The bathroom ponytail shots are the only ones where I have oil in it. You can probably see the problem: it's sitting in this bob shape right now, and the sides are just barely too short to reach a hair tie, which is its own kind of frustrating.

My routine (Florida humidity + thick high-porosity hair is a whole thing):

Wash days (~3x a week): I pre-poo my scalp with Mielle Rosemary Oil and coat my ends in coconut oil before getting in the shower. I wash and condition with Dove Intensive Repair. After, I put in a small amount of Cantu Leave-In and scrunch in NYM Gel, keeping it about a half inch away from the roots.

Rest days: No wash — I just revive my waves by scrunching with wet hands and do a dry scalp massage with my fingertips.

Weekly reset: Jojoba oil massage into my scalp, double wash with Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two, then I leave my Dove conditioner on for 10 minutes like a mask. Cantu Leave-In after, and I seal just the ends with a couple drops of Jojoba

Honestly open to any feedback on the overall health and shape. But my biggest struggle right now is protective styling during this bob phase while the sides won't fully tie back yet - and if anyone has accessory recommendations for keeping this length under control (headbands, bobby pins, anything that works for thick wavy hair at this stage), I'm all ears.