I, too, only had my hair cut once a year. Used to wear it shoulder length. But last winter exzema and psoriosis laid my scalp a ruins, and I lost most of it. I considered just shaving it, but maintained my equilibrium and nursed my couple dozen hairs. My hair did grow back in .... about half of it (I had thin, fine hair to begin with). But it grew in .... Very, Very, Very curly (it used to be very straight). I'm a little freaked. I've heard of this happening after Chemo. I visited my family in the spring, and my mom and sisters were really astonished. Everyone is. I really don't know how to deal with it. It is like some strange body is living on my scalp. Everyone says they like my "new look", and lots assume that I permed it.
Anyway, after living in a small town for 5 years, I think maybe it's time for a good haircut. I simply have been taking scizzors and lopping off the few stray straight bits (that stick out from the curly mass), or spraying it all with a conditioning spray and slicking it back into a bun.