Thinking about cutting my hair off and want some advice. Most of you have seen my pics...check my profile if you're not familiar.

I have had long hair most of my life. Had it cut short in like the 2nd grade and then again in the 5th grade...it has been long ever since and I'm about to be 39.

I dunno, maybe I'm just sick of it and need a change, but sometimes I see pics of myself and really think my hair is not doing me any justice. I'm VERY short (4' 11") and sometimes my hair makes me look shorter or dragged down. It's also greying. (bawl) I dye it about every 8 weeks or so which is no small task, so I'm thinking it's got to be easier with shorter hair right?

Anyway, I already expect almost every guy to say "don't cut your hair" yeah yeah, I know, I've heard that my whole life and is probably the reason I've kept it long all these years.

I'd would love to have a hair dresser say "oh I know exactly what to do on you" but all I ever get is... "tell me what you want" I don't know what I want...I'm not a professional! grrrr!

so any hair dressers in the house care to give me some advice? I'll take all advice really.

I've been contemplating a modern bob or even a pixie cut, but don't think I'll go pixie right out the gate...too drastic I think. here are a few pics of hair dos I like.

If I'm going to go really short, I think I'd have to have some kind of funky edge to it like this.

or ofcourse the modern bob and various lengths.

I like this one but...too much in the face.

my fear with the bob is I'll look too....dare I say it. OLD! or matronly. I don't want to appear to be trying too hard to look young too.

Oi! I need some help!

Paintedlady you must have some advice for me!?!?!?!

I love the second cut. I'd do my hair that way, but my hair is very fine and thin.

I have a bob More A-line than bob but still...

tinaz said:

I have a bob More A-line than bob but still...

I like the a-line cuts more! and I didn't mean they all look old...they just can make me look old.

My hair also has natural wave to it and I wonder if it will get more so or less so when I cut it. I tend to think it will be more wavy.

some others I kinda like

this is actually a shag...which I normally don't "love" but this one is cute.

The first pic (the short one) will probably look really good with your face.

Gonna be a big difference, but I think it suits you.

The hair you have on your profile is really gorgeous by the way.

A short haircut is not necessarily less work than a long one. It requires more maintenance (e.g. more frequent cuts) to keep it looking good, whereas with a longer style you can get away with going longer between cuts. Not sure about the coloring maintenance on short v. long, I would think it would still be the same amount of work, but use less product.

If you've had long hair most of your life, I'd suggest going shorter gradually instead of getting a super-short pixie cut. I think bobs work on almost everyone.

Also, if you're cutting off 8 inches or more you might want to consider donated your hair to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths or Locks of Love - something like that. (Check out their websites to see what kind of conditions they have.)

robertlove said:

The first pic (the short one) will probably look really good with your face.

Gonna be a big difference, but I think it suits you.

The hair you have on your profile is really gorgeous by the way.

thank you Robert!

jone70 said:

A short haircut is not necessarily less work than a long one. It requires more maintenance (e.g. more frequent cuts) to keep it looking good, whereas with a longer style you can get away with going longer between cuts. Not sure about the coloring maintenance on short v. long, I would think it would still be the same amount of work, but use less product.

If you've had long hair most of your life, I'd suggest going shorter gradually instead of getting a super-short pixie cut. I think bobs work on almost everyone.

Also, if you're cutting off 8 inches or more you might want to consider donated your hair to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths or Locks of Love - something like that. (Check out their websites to see what kind of conditions they have.)

yes, I agree, short hair doesn't mean easier hair. I'm ok with having to do my hair, I always have anyway.

I think dying has got to be easier though...not to have to deal with all that excess even though I don't dye the excess anyway. IDK.

pretty sure my hair won't qualify for donation. I've dyed it ever 8 weeks or so for the past 5 years. I think they want more virginal hair.

My hair is wavy too and I had it cut like that second picture in the first post and it worked well both wavy and straightened out. I really like that first one though. I think it'd look great on you

Long hair

you'll be gorgeous with any cut, here is one i think would look nice for you. it sort of preserves the illusion of length

The first style would look nice on you and bring out your eyes

nursev said:

The first style would look nice on you and bring out your eyes

I think your natural wave will work with a short pixie cut. Remain heavier up on the crown and the wave will flow.

It will be a bit more work with blowing out the hair, but there are so many fun products to try to mold and shape.

I really think you have the cheekbones and facial structure for the 1st cut.

I think she would be cute as hell in the first one too, but talk about SHOCK! If her hair has always been long she should at least go chin length at the shortest so she doesnt have a heart attack!

Cerebus' advice; go for it all the way, it will grow back!

Cerebus said:

Cerebus' advice; go for it all the way, it will grow back!

Cerebus isnt a woman and cant understand cuz he's probably always had short hair

tinaz said:

Cerebus said:

Cerebus' advice; go for it all the way, it will grow back!

Cerebus isnt a woman and cant understand cuz he's probably always had short hair

Actually, Cerebus had bad ass, all one length, viking hair down to his waist (a little below, even) and a big ass goatee (that grew in red!) for many long years. That's neither here nor there, though, really.

Cerebus is just saying - you only live once, so live large! Those super short haircuts grow back in VERY fast. Like, if you decide you want to keep it you'll have to get it cut ever two or three weeks.

I like the second pic best.

I say go shorter but not really short....yet. I would do it in steps just in case you get freaked out after the first change.

Cerebus said:

tinaz said:

Cerebus isnt a woman and cant understand cuz he's probably always had short hair

Actually, Cerebus had bad ass, all one length, viking hair down to his waist (a little below, even) and a big ass goatee (that grew in red!) for many long years. That's neither here nor there, though, really.

Cerebus is just saying - you only live once, so live large! Those super short haircuts grow back in VERY fast. Like, if you decide you want to keep it you'll have to get it cut ever two or three weeks.

Cerebus SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO needs to photowhore!!!!!!

tinaz said:

Cerebus said:

Actually, Cerebus had bad ass, all one length, viking hair down to his waist (a little below, even) and a big ass goatee (that grew in red!) for many long years. That's neither here nor there, though, really.

Cerebus is just saying - you only live once, so live large! Those super short haircuts grow back in VERY fast. Like, if you decide you want to keep it you'll have to get it cut ever two or three weeks.

Cerebus SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO needs to photowhore!!!!!!

I actually posted some of those pics once. I don't think they're in my PhotoBucket anymore, though. Sooooo

JustErin said:

I like the second pic best.

I say go shorter but not really short....yet. I would do it in steps just in case you get freaked out after the first change.

But her signature also says not to listen to her.

Cut it off!

Cerebus said:

JustErin said:

I like the second pic best.

I say go shorter but not really short....yet. I would do it in steps just in case you get freaked out after the first change.

But her signature also says not to listen to her.

Cut it off!

Hey, I may not know much or have my shit together but I do know hair!

Cerebus said:

tinaz said:

Cerebus SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO needs to photowhore!!!!!!

I actually posted some of those pics once. I don't think they're in my PhotoBucket anymore, though. Sooooo

Dammit!

JustErin said:

Cerebus said:

But her signature also says not to listen to her.

Cut it off!

Hey, I may not know much or have my shit together but I do know hair!

Can't really argue with that.

Cerebus does like the short cuts, though.

Okay, step aside. I am the expert in getting hair whacked off in one chop.

The first time was when I was in middle school. It was 1973 - when all the girls in my class had "Marcia Brady" hair - long, straight, and parted down the middle. And the boys' hair wasn't far behind. I went from hair that was long enough to be put into a high bun to about an inch long all over my head.

My mom's hairdresser (who cut it) put the drape on, looked me in the eye and said, "Are you sure you're psychologically ready for this? Because I don't want any tears in my chair." I said, "Yup - cut it." He told me later that he'd never seen a kid that age so sure of what she wanted. It was adorable - and made me look like I was about 17, which was totally awesome.

Since then, I've gone from long(ish) to very short at least 10 times. In the last year, my hair has gone from chin-length bob to this (the cut - not the color)...

[img:$uid]http://www.ukhairdressers.com/style/hairstyles/17906/2.jpg[/img:$uid]

So here's what you need to think about:

Understand your hair. Make an honest appraisal of your hair and what it can do. Is it curly? Straight? What's the texture like - coarse or fine? Thick or thin? All of these will weigh into how a style will work on you. If you have wavy hair when it's long, it might be a lot curlier than you think when it's short. Are you prepared to flat iron it every day or can you live with the imperfection of a curl that's slightly wild? It's fine to take pictures to your stylist - but unfair to ask him/her to turn your hair into something it isn't.

Make sure your hairdresser is adept at a short cut. Simply put, the margin of error on a short cut is very narrow. And there are a lot more things to consider with a short cut - it becomes very apparent if your hair is thicker or thinner in a spot, or if you have a cowlick (nobody's hair growth is symmetrical). If you aren't sure your stylist can do it - find one who can. Don't be afraid to accost a total stranger whose short cut you admire - and ask who did it.

Your color schedule probably won't change (much). The biggest factor here (believe it or not) is whether you part your hair. Since I've gone short, I no longer have a defined part - which means I don't have to "get my zipper fixed" quite as often. But I need to get it cut slightly more often - which means I settle at about six weeks for both (same as before). You just won't need to get the ends refreshed as often - if ever. (My ends took a beating whenever I did a show that required lots of heat styling or Aqua Net. So I'd get refreshed after that.)

Having short hair is a blast, actually. A short-haired girlfriend and I are fond of saying that, because we have the right kind of hair and good bone structure, it is our duty to wear short hair for all the women who can't.

i think something like this would look great on u!!!! add a bit of red tint 2 the ends and WoW!!!!!

u have a perfect profile 4 it!!!!

Do it do it do it!

I'd love to see you with short hair.

Genesia's advice is all really sound.

Ya'll are inspiring me. I finally grew my hair out and it's about the length I want, now I feel like I want to cut it off again.

CarrieMpls said:

Do it do it do it!

I'd love to see you with short hair.

Genesia's advice is all really sound.

Ya'll are inspiring me. I finally grew my hair out and it's about the length I want, now I feel like I want to cut it off again.

It's a vicious cycle.

Shorty said:

Some of you may recall that I was actually thinking about getting this haircut a few months ago. I didn't - know why? Because I've had this kind of cut before. And there is only one thing you can do when you're tired of it (which won't take long) - and that's to cut it all to match the shorter side, and go from there.

You cannot grow out a haircut that is this asymmetrical in a direct way. If you try to grow the shorter side out to match the longer side, it just looks like you got a lopsided haircut.

Trust me on this one. I had this haircut over 20 years ago and I still think about how cute it was - and what a pain it turned out to be.

If you cut it like this, you will ultimately end up with very short hair.