Thanks so much Manda and phoebe :) I'm so lucky to have you both in my life.

I've been doing ok, a little up & down pulling wise. My hair looks way better after my haircut. I'm going to start going every 5 weeks instead of 7-8 I think.

Haircuts help a lot! If they weren't expensive I'd go more often, too. Glad you're doing better!

They help and they don't. When I feel that my hair looks better, I don't try as hard to not pull it out!! Grr. Gotta put in 100% again. I'm starting a new budget soon and it's pretty tight (saving for a year off). So I'll definitely have to pinch pennies to get my hair cut every 5-6 weeks.

I don't know what style you have but there are plenty of DIY video's on Youtube. If you don't feel you can do it yourself then find a friend that is willing.

I haven't been to a hairdresser in years. I cut my own, even found out how to do layers. (remember I'm a brow/lashes puller).

Ah, I love my hairdresser though, she does such a great job with my hair. I used to cut my hair for years and it looked rubbish. I'm glad you've learned how to do yours, and thanks for the suggestion :)

For the past couple of weeks I've been pretty complacent. Not happy about that.

Ugh complacency sucks....after just two weeks or so of it I screwed ;up my hair a lot. New routines help with commitment - I'm trying to just get back in the routine of checking in here daily! Even a calender seems like a lot of effort at the moment, but any commitment is better than none!

Of all reasons to not be able to afford frequent haircuts, saving for travel is the best one I can think of!

Yep, yep, yep, I feel like I can relate to everything you wrote above Manda. Not using my calendar (slap), not counting (slap). Bad Me.

And yes, ALL MONEY TO TRAVEL :) :)

Sometimes I just need a mental break from thinking about trich...even though the effects later on can be bad, it can be worth it for a few days of just letting it not be an issue. I felt like I needed that for awhile.

Yay, travel money!

hey confident.. great news that you are planning a trip.. you know, almost every time i go away i almost NEVER pull !!
i've travelled for months and the urge has never even crossed my mind.. I went abroad last weekend and realised i didnt touch my hair once.. as soon as i got home, the routine kicked in..

so it thats not an incentive to keep saving... ;-)
keep up the good work x

Hi luleee! Great to see you. That is fantastic for you that you don't pull when you're traveling. Unfortunately that doesn't apply to me. But thanks!

Ok so I'm tracking loooosely. I'll get better. For feb so far my scores have been (roughly): 6, 6, 6, 5, and 5. I'll trying to count more precisely today and maybe get down to a 4 or (oooh) a 3.

good girl.. you can do it.. dont be hard on yourself.. i think we all know that is the key..
kind nice words.. you deserve it ;-)

I can't say I understand your system, but I love that you have it. I bet you love spreadsheets, because I sure do. You have it in you. I know you can get those scores down to 3. You can.

Just in case you're interested Phoebe, my system is this (the numbers on the left are the scores):
0 = zero hairs (Awesome - smiley face with sunglasses)
1 = 1 subconscious hair (Awesome - smiley face with sunglasses)
1 = 1-2 hairs (Excellent - smiley face)
2 = 3-5 hairs (Very good - smiley face)
3 = 6-9 hairs (Good - smiley face)
4 = 10-14 hairs
5 = 15-24 hairs
6 = 25-39 hairs
7 = 40-54 hairs
8 = 55-69 hairs
9 = 70-84 hairs
10 = 85-100 hairs

If anyone wants to use this system they should adapt the numbers so that it suits themselves, as this is adapted for me and me only!

Blah, I haven't even put up my Feb calendar yet. I"m slacking. I think I've been getting mostly 5s or 6s, but I think there's been a 4 in there every so often, maybe. Must. Track. Pulling.

Yes, tracking helps so much, and really isn't that difficult....I think it is more of the mental effort that makes me not want to do it. Like, if I commit myself to tracking pulling, I have to commit myself to NOT PULLING. And when I feel like that's impossible I just don't track anything.

yup.. you have certainly got a system going there girl .. keep up the good work !
I've just put my woolley hat barrier on.. perhaps you could try a bandana or straw hat. ?. i find it helps so much having that barrier.. and then hopefully, you will see more smiley faces with sunglasses to match ;-)