My first trim and treatment in YEARS!

The above are the before and after pictures from my George Michael Trim and Treatment.  The important thing here to notice is not the curl, which is part of the process, but the shine.  Because of the way my hair looked when it was short, I felt the need to heat style it most of the time.  But as you can see, it did take a toll on my hair, particularly on the ends.  For those of you who would like to repair your hair so that you can continue growing it, or if you feel you just want your hair to look better whatever your length is, I highly recommend this process.  I know there are some of you out there that have naturally awesome hair (Ana, my lovely belly dancer friend), but for those of you who want a real boost to the health of your hair, this works.  Denise barely trimmed anything off the ends, which if it was probably up to me, I would have chopped off a couple of inches that I thought were dry and brittle.  This is why I love Denise....she saves my hair every time!  She looked at her records and the first time I visited her was actually in 2005!  Almost 10 years!

Now, I can't wash my hair for another couple of days...which is difficult when you work out like I do.  So, I took a break yesterday and probably will for the next couple of days, just so that I'm not totally funkafied.  I love the smell of this George Michael stuff, too.  Even after teaching NewVo, my hair still smells loveleh, IMHO.  Okay, maybe not so H.   

The bad and ugly of long hair...

Growing long hair is a major commitment.  It takes at least two years to grow hair to a length that is considered "long"...and then the long hair itself comes with its disadvantages.  Here are a few I can think of.

1. Long hair everywhere!  Ask any dude that's married to someone with long hair and they'll tell you.  Hair in the drain, hair on the floor, hair on the couch....hair everywhere!  Yes, they were attracted to that long hair, but did they know that they were marrying a human version of a long hair cat?  Good thing my hubby isn't allergic to me :-)
2. Headaches.  If you thought that stress weighs on your head, try an additional few ounces of hair that constantly pulls on your scalp.  It is even worse if that bun or ponytail is placed on a particularly wrong location on the head for a long period of time...it doesn't hit you until it's too late.  Ugh....Calgon and Tylenol, take me away!
3. Kids pulling on your hair.  Once when I was swimming, my cousin pulled on my hair to get out from under water.  Perhaps, he was panicking and my hair was the closest thing to save him.  Or he was just ghetto.  In either case, kids are insensitive to things like your hair nerves.  Which may be a reason you have...  
4. The need to always tie hair back or up.  Moms, teachers, chefs, welders, etc....whatever your dangerous occupation, hair needs to be out of the way.  If only we could just lie around, being fed grapes, while our hair is allowed to flow freely, being pampered by conditioning fairies....
5. Split ends.  I have to admit it...hair is dead.  And the longer it is, the older and deader the ends are.  The hair fresh out of the follicles is shiny and bouncy while the hair at the ends is dry and frizzy.  During my free time at work, I used to take my scissors, look through my hair, and attempt to trim off my split ends.  It seemed like a never ending battle.  And then it was time to go to lunch.      

As you can see, these are a few of the reasons some people just haul off and cut off all their beautiful hair.  I dig it, I understand.  So, that's why I am here....to support you in your endeavor.  If you want your own long hair, you need to commit.  Commit to being as healthy as possible, so that your hair is in its best condition straight out the gate.  Eat healthy and take your vitamins.  You need to turn away from the hair magazines and salons that try to tempt you to get that new en vogue short cut.  You need to wait patiently as nature takes its course, through all the protecting and tying it up.  It will be worth it when you unleash that long hair upon the world.  You need to marry that hair.  I, Cherry, take you, Hair, to be a part of my being....to have and to hold until death or an accident with scissors do we part.  Ooh, that sounds serious.  But we can do it, y'all!