What's the difference between....

[Garnet66]

a dusting, a microtrim and whatever else there is? I'm thinking I would like to get a tiny trim. Then again I don't know if I really need one. If I hold a section of my crown straight up the hairs are all different lengths. Is that normal? Other than that my hair looks fine. Hardly any dryness which I'm shocked by. And if I don't trim and even it up how would I measure? Do I measure the very longest hair or the length at which most of the hairs are? I'm confused.

ETA: Or should I give up measuring the crown and just go with an LHC measure?

[Flaxen]

Measure by whatever method is best for you, but generally, from front hairline, over the head, and down to the hemline is what people do. Most go for the longest length even if there are only three hairs there, LOL.<raises hand> Hairs are continually shedding and growing, so even someone with a straight hemline has lots of individual hair lengths.

Here are the definitions:
Microtrim = trimming a tiny amount from the whole hemline.
Search and Destroy, aka S&D = a term coined by TBear meaning snipping individual splits.
Dusting = the same as a microtrim OR snipping individual splits, depending on how a person learned the term.

[Prettypolly]

Hey..I was gonna type "WW" then, LOL. You've changed your name!

Anyway, I wouldn't trim just yet if I were you. Like you said, no dryness.. just let it grow girl! And you can even it up once it gets longer.. I mean it doesn't look too layery now anyway, you've done well in evening it up! Let it grow now I also think, if hair is feeling and looking healthy then there is no need to trim. As soon as you notice like a small amount of end-crappy-ness, I'd probably trim then.. just a microtrim to keep on top of it.

And hairs being different lengths.. I believe that's normal? If you're finding it hard to measure, then you could always.. not measure Join me in not measuring! hehehee. Or wait a bit, and measure when it's... say.. mostly at all one length and you have a nice "bulk" that you can measure. I guess I am more of a visual person and don't bother with measuring much..it's just meaningless numbers to me! (but the LHC way is more accurate hehe)

[Carolyn]

Wannabecurly is that you? For the last couple days I've been thinking Garnet66 looked a lot like you! A microtrim and a dusting could be the same thing or dusting and S & D could be the same. Dusting has been used to mean both. I know it's confusing. Measure by whatever works best for you. You could keep a record of measuring both ways. Record your LHC type measuring and record your roots to tips measurement. I did that when I was growing out my bangs. I needed a visual to tell me the bangs really were growing.

Are you sure you need a trim? I'm thinking of your past trim experiences. Could you wait and just sort of tough it out? Get some more length on your hair before you trim again?

[1953Diygal]

(small hijack)

I was doing a S&D yesterday, cutting out all the little knots on the ends of my hair, and my hubby looked over at me, shook his head sadly, and said, "You're obsessed."

Ah, what does he know, anyway??

(end hijack)

[Garnet66]

I'm not planning on a trim but I wanted to make sure the different lengths weren't a sign of split ends or something that would be bad for my hair. With my experiences with hairstylists I don't plan on a trim for at least another few months. This is all very new to me so I don't know what normal ends look like. Thanks for all your help!

[Lady Godiva]

As I understand these terms, and as I've heard professionals use them:

"Dusting" and "S&D" technically are the same thing, where you painstakingly go thru your hair, checking as many individual strand ends for splits and trimming them off one-by-one. Visially it makes little difference, as it leaves the overall length essentially as long as before, although it greatly improves hair handling, heads off some tangles, and stops splits before they can split further up the hair shaft. This process leaves a fine amount of hair "dust" on the floor or your lap.

A microtrim is a hemline trim in very small measure, such as 1/8"-1/4"-1/2", compared to a regular trim, which usually is 1"-2"-3". Microtrims do not take much time.

And yeah, having strands of different lengths is more the rule than the exception. I don't know anyone with hair technically "all one length." Nothing to worry about!

[styg]

Originally Posted by Lady Godiva

A microtrim is a hemline trim in very small measure, such as 1/8"-1/4"-1/2", compared to a regular trim, which usually is 1"-2"-3". Microtrims do not take much time.

now the very scary thought is that a trim doesn't take more time than a microtrim ... you just hold the scissors higher
(or how one can lose a whole lot of hair in one snip).

[shelleybean]

Hey there Garnet,

I know exactly what you're talking about with the many lengths. When I pull my bangs, or any section of my hair for that fact, forward in a clump there are a million lengths. I wondered too if I would need to get it evened up at some point or if it would look better to even it up now. I decided to just let it be for the moment. I think mine has come from the manner in which it was shaped when it was cut way back in December 2004. The front and top layers really haven't been trimmed since that last buzz cut.

I vote for no cutting at the moment. Have you thought of setting a schedule for trims? I've found that really helpful. I'm trying to wait 6 months between trims no matter how funky looking the hair gets. Just a thought.

I wouldn't worry about the multi lengths now. My plan is to get about a 1/2" trim of the back hem every 6 months, I'm thinking this will bring things in line in a few years. LOL! It's a very aggressive plan. This way I'll only lose 1" of growth every year. That's not so bad.


-shelleybean