You’re right. But I was so happy about my new length ...
@lalla ,
I believe I understand your disappointment.
The one thing I've realized is that people outside of LHCF and hair boards in general, do not value hair they way we do. I am not saying our way is better or worse, it's just different.
We value and nurture every strand and every length gain. For example, even though our longer newer length may not be over our entire heads, we embrace and celebrate that length. It serves as a marker of the new length we have reached, the new lengths to come and a sign of possibility that the rest of our hair will reach that length.
Hairstylists tend to see strands of longer lengths as strays that detract from the asymmetric 'beauty' of hair. That is how they were trained. They like to see thick, even ends. Unless, one allows them to 'try out' a new cut that they want to do, on your hair. That new cut may or may not be asymmetric or all even, but because it's something they get to create themselves on your hair, that's a different matter.
With this stated, and with a whole lot of assumptions in place I do the following for myself. I allow my hair to gain a significant amount of length
BEYOND my goal length. ONLY then, do I go in for a professional trim.
From 'my' experience, I have learned that when I reach a new length, if all my hair is NOT at that length, the stylist is very likely to trim that length OFF and away. Psychologically, for me that is disheartening and I just plain feel bad after my beauty salon visit. Every time. So, I've adopted this aforementioned philosophy and process.
Today, in my case, I am working hard to preserve my ends in an as healthy state as possible. I have planned to get a trim in February 2020, and not before. Why? Because, by then I will have a significant amount of length BEYOND my dream length. Hence, when I go in and get my hair trimmed, even if they cut off more than I want, I will probably retain hair at my newer, longer length.
I am not always successful. What I do now is go into the salon and visit the person who is going to do my hair on several occasions. I broadcast that I am coming in and express my concerns and desires. When I get in the chair, I look at my hair right before they begin the trimming process. I ask them to show me and to TOUCH where they are going to cut my hair. I then stand up and look at it in the mirror. Then I allow them to cut. Here in France, they like to trim while they are blowdrying the hair straight. This WON'T be happening to me in February 2020.
Sometimes, they ask me not to come back.* 
But whatever. That 1 to 2 hours of discomfort is worth me having my hair at the length I wanted. Otherwise, I am the one who will have to suffer for months and possibly for years if they were to cut beyond what I have asked.
Thus, if I have grown my hair beyond that length, when they inevitably trim it 'back', I still end up with a gorgeous result at my new, dream length.
* I
t's something along these lines, "Perhaps you might be better served by finding someone who can better satisfy your needs and preferences". I know this line well because I have received it from medical doctors, dentists and other service providers. This is MY body and MY life.
