Ask Angie and others: should I cut my hair short? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie and others: should I cut my hair short?

Parsley

Veteran

I haven't had short hair in a while, but lately I've been having the urge to take the plunge again. I'm thinking about a longish pixie. My hair is quite fine and curly, and I'm getting sick of trying to tame it into straight bob styles. I've been going shorter and shorter, and I tried a keratin treatment, but I feel like I'm fighting against it all the time. Of course I'm not completely sure that it will be easier shorter.
When I had it short before, in a lot of ways it was easier, although it did require some time to wash and style it every morning. It tended to go completely flat on top and stick out in weird places on the sides as the day went on, but I'm wondering if that issue can be solved by using more product on it.

Some of my reservations about having it short again are that I always felt I needed to modify my style somewhat to go with the shorter hair. I made a point of wearing more feminine styles to balance the more masculine look of the short hair, and also wore more makeup, earrings, and scarves. I'm pretty happy with my current wardrobe, and I would hate it if it didn't look good to me with my new "do".
I also don't want to look like the stereotypical practical, asexual old lady.
When my hair was short the last time I got kind of tired of being told that I looked like Jamie Leigh Curtis all the time. I really don't, but no one could see past the hairstyle, evidently.

My husband is totally on board with the idea of me cutting my hair. He always liked it short on me, so he's encouraging me to go for it if I want to.

Many of you here have amazing short hairstyles: Angie, of course, Suz, Deborah, Shannon, and Sveta all come to mind. I'd welcome your thoughts and any styling tips. What products do you recommend?

Here are some old pictures of me with short hair (some of them look terribly out of style, but they're from a while ago). Hopefully they give some idea of how it might look on me, though.
And here's a link to my Pinterest board to give you an idea of what I'm thinking about. Are there any that you think would work for me?

So what do you think? Yay or Nay? Or do you have any other style ideas? I'd appreciate your thoughts and recommendations!

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General

36 replies

Latest reply was from SarahTheWhite

Stephanie

i just did long to short and really like it, but it may be too soon for me to give a balanced opinion.

i can't see your pictures, but Pinterest looks good. some lovely cuts, there

stephanie

Parsley

Veteran

Oops, the pictures disappeared somehow! I've added them again.

MsMary

Veteran

I think you look fab in all those photos. And your style is so unspeakably fab that I can't imagine a short haircut would require any major changes! It's only hair -- I say give it a try!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm un-resting my arms and wrists to chime in for special you, Marcy.

YES, YES, YES. You look gorgeous with short hair. A billion blessings. And bless hubs for his support too. Cut it short, but with length. Perhaps a few fun low lights too. I like these styles for you best and don't worry about changing your current style. Wear more lipstick. The two will marry perfectly:

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Deborah

Veteran

Parsley you look equally stunning with the bob and with a short do. One of the best things I have done is go short:)

I think modern short do will work fabulously with your current wardrobe, so I see no issue there. You have a beautiful face and look very feminine so no need to over compensate there either

I have naturally wavy hair, as do you, and I do have days where my styling of my short hair can be a challenge but I am starting to see it has a bit to do with the products I use. I need to keep my hair very hydrated and well conditioned so it is soft and can be styled easily and is not to voluminous. This is the opposite to what I had to do when I was wearing it in a bob:) I won't recommend products as those I use are Australian and designed for my blonde colour.

One of the bonuses for me is I can now sleep in an extra half hour in the mornings!!

Go for it:)

Classically Casual

Veteran

I vote for going short too. It's fun to change things up....it doesn't have to stay short forever.

Recently I went shorter than I'd been in a long time. It's so easy! No flat ironing, don't even need to blow dry if short on time. My bicycle helmet doesn't squish it flat, it's so freeing. The only downside I've discovered is one needs a haircut more frequently.

You'll look great whatever you decide.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Parsley, I think you look great with shorter hair (but I may be biased ) So exciting!!!
My hair is fine but straight and I find that I have to keep the top part pretty short or otherwise it will all weigh down and lay flat.
I suggest you go for a short do with a bit of edge: asymmetry and / or textural cut. I never equal a short do with "old lady"; on the opposite I think that a short, modern and edgy 'do looks wonderful on mature ladies (he-he, I am including myself into this category).
I really like you in #5 so how about this or this for wavy hair?
As for the products I am still struggling myself as my hair is very stubborn and hard to style. I use mousse and styling cream from Rusk.

Stephanie

picture #1 looks super Hollywood. perfect cut and great sunnys. after seeing that picture, i'm going to try the sunnys' look with my new cut.

stephanie

Parsley

Veteran

I'm excited by the support for giving it a try!
Mary, you're so right: it's only hair, and it will grow again if I decide I don't like it.
Angie, thanks so much for chiming in! I like the ones you've chosen a lot!
Now you go back to resting this minute- Doctor's orders!
Deborah, how did I forget you and your gorgeous short hair! (I edited the original post to add you in!) Thank you so much for the practical tips. Is it hard to keep the back or sides of yours straight?

Style Fan

Veteran

I agree that you have a beautiful face and the cuts that Angie picked out will really emphasize this. I am no help with products because I have always had longish hair. I do have fine, wavy, thick hair that does what it wants. I try not to fight the natural tendencies.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think Angie's picks would look fab on you I've gone back to a pixie-ish cut & the only downside is it is more trouble in the mornings.

Deborah

Veteran

Parsley you are sweet!

The lower section of the back of my hair is clippered, so that is easy, there is no length there at all. Then there is the longer lengths that fall and meet the clippered section and I find that is again easy to style. I use a small round brush to stretch it straight. With the sides I use a wide flat brush (forget what it's called) and brush and blow my hair this way and that to dry it off a bit, not too much, and then I style with the small round brush again. I don't like any wave in my hair so it has to be smooth and straight. Two hair cuts ago I went quite cropped with longer lengths on the top and that was too short for me. Now I am growing it a tad longer and the sides are at a tricky length for styling but only because I am so fussy and I like it 'neat' looking. But keeping it well conditioned and soft helps with the stying. I don't use any styling products, just a heat protector when I blow wave.

Parsley

Veteran

Clasically Casual and Style Fan, thanks for the encouragement!
Sveta, I like both of those a lot. I like the idea of not going too, too short, because I have a small face and need to be able to have a little bit of volume to not look like a pinhead!

Parsley

Veteran

Deborah, I'm amazed that your hair looks so good without a lot of product!
I appreciate the specific pointers.

What I worry about with mine is that if I get the least bit warm and perspire a bit, my hair immediately goes into a wild curly mess! I think maybe I'll need more product to keep it from doing that.

Anonymous

You look fantastic with short hair! As someone who cut her hair short about 10 years ago ( or it could have been longer than that) , I would never go long again. I think my short hair is totally feminine because it suits me.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

First of all, you are SOOOOOOO pretty.

Just had to say that, for the record.

Secondly, I love your bob. Love it! So sleek, smooth, and soigné.

Thirdly, I LOVE how you look in short hair and feel excited about how it would bring an extra measure of spunk and sass to your already fantastic style. Far from thinking it would make you look like an "old lady," I think it would amp up the youthfulness quotient on you. This doesn't work for everyone, agreed. But it's clear you have the bone structure and the confidence to carry this off.

I adore the textured styles that Angie has selected for you. Something like that would most likely be a breeze to look after.

My hair is extremely thick and relatively fine, with a slight wave. The easiest cut for me to manage is a textured pixie similar to those that Angie has selected. I wake up, put a bit of pomade in it to isolate some "spikes," ensure that I have some highlights or lowlights to add definition, and get it cut every six weeks. C'est tout, Chérie.

The cut I have now is not quite as low maintenance as that. If I want the longer, asymmetrical bang to lay flat, I sometimes have to resort to a flick of the flat iron -- especially in humid weather. But since this takes all of 20 seconds (literally) I do not feel it is a huge pain to style. I do put in Moroccan oil after washing and also use a sort of smoothing product at times. And if I want a more textured look I can use some kind of pomade or wax, although it won't really stay "up" or "in position" very long on me unless it's cut quite a bit shorter all over. YMMV depending on texture.

Anonymous

Are you kidding? You are blessed with a classically feminine and beautiful small face. The ideal for short hair- as proven in your first pic. Do it!! As a devotee of short hair myself- the cuts and how you style them have come a long way in recent years. In fact, the less product , the better. Become friends with a good hair oil or protector, a flatiron and you're done. In my mind, short hair is sexier and more striking than long hair when done right- and you can do it! Angie's photos are perfect. Go for it:)

Parsley

Veteran

Suz, you are so sweet! Thank you so very much for your kind comments!
It does sound like yours is pretty easy to style, and it always looks good. So you don't usually use any wax or pomade? Wow!

I like the idea of having a little bit of length in front for some versatility and vplume, but it may be a trade-off with ease of styling. The trick will be to find that happy medium!
Lisa, thanks so much for the encouragement and the nice comments! It's interesting: I was convinced that the answer was going to be to use more product, but I'm surprised to hear that you ladies with fabulous hair don't use much! I hope I'm so lucky!

krishnidoux

Veteran

I really like the fluffier, healthy look of 2 and 5 on you! Gosh, if i had hair like yours, this is how I'd wear it for sure! It brings out your fantastic eyes and great cheekbones. Plus, lovely color. I think the difference is that in these picture, the nape seems to be squarer, i.e. not long and wispy, but more defined. And sides are left fuller, providing a good underlying structure from which light, feathery strands can depart in all their romantic freedom in any shape you fancy. I can see that Angie's suggestions also follow the same basic principles short, well defined nape, longer sides, volume on top, lots of texture. Love ir, love it! Can't wait to see your result. Be sure to post!

Parsley

Veteran

Thanks, Krish! It's great to hear from another YLFer who has rocked a short hairstyle!
I agree that it seems more current- and also easier with my hair- to keep the nape shorter and have some volume and texture on the top and sides.

I will be sure to post pictures!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Your short-hair photos are so gorgeous, Marcy. I agree that you will look fab in a short cut. I like the suggestions you've gotten here. I'm surprised to hear your hair is wavy, because it seems so smooth and straight. When you go to get it cut, I would suggest raising your concerns about styling with your hair stylist. Concerns like having it stick out in funny places, curling up in the heat, etc., that you have mentioned here. See how the stylist addresses them.
My experience is that I wore my hair kind of pixie short (or a little longer on top) for years and years. Then after I had grown it out a bit, I went back to a similar short cut and found it looked really, really odd on my by then much older face.You all are making me want to try it again, though. (By the way, Marcy, I don't foresee this problem for you. I agree with Lisap that your face shape is super well suited to a short cut.)

Deborah

Veteran

Ha! Parsley I forgot my most important styling trick!! I wash and style my hair daily.... once dry and styled, I pop my beanie on for 5 mins lol... honest... it just helps to flatten my hair and stop it from getting fluffy if it's having 'one of those days".. Strange but true

deb

Veteran

Go for it!!!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

That's right, Marcy. I use the Moroccan oil after every wash. Then, I often use a smoothing product (more like a gloss, I guess). I also have something that is sort of intermediate, -- a kind of glossing gel that can add a bit of definition. I do own a wax and a pomade, but seldom resort to them -- really only if I am trying to do something a bit different with it, or if the weather is especially bizarre, or I'm way overdue for a cut and need help to tame the "puff."

Mind you, when it was more textured and piecey I did use the pomade more regularly to give the bangs the "points" I was aiming for. (Similar to the photos Angie showed.) Mostly just a bit at the roots and then a bit at the tips of the bangs to make them hang together.

Parsley

Veteran

Sharan, good points about talking to my stylist. She knows my hair well and how difficult it can be. It may be that I'll need to continue having keratin treatments to keep the frizz and curls at bay. Hmm, that may be difficult with the shorter parts, because it has to be long enough to flat iron...

And good point about it looking different with an older face! I wondered about that, actually, because I'm not as thrilled with my jaw line / neck as I used to be, and those will show more with shorter hair.

Deborah, that's funny that you should say that about the beanie trick! I read the same thing on a blog somewhere- can't remember which one. I may have to buy one!

deb- thanks!

Suz, what is the glossing gel that you use?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's by Osis. http://www.beautybay.com/hairc.....eglosswax/

Great idea to talk to your stylist, also. Absolutely.

Parsley

Veteran

Thanks, Suz!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Can't wait to see the new cut - I think you look gorgeous with shorter hair and it will suit your style beautifully!

Makrame

Veteran

It's interesting that you posted this now - I was debating whether to ask for haircut advice on the forum since I have been growing mine out and am trying to decide what to ask for when I finally go for a haircut.

I think I had a secret dream of having a bob that looks as sleek as yours - I am surprised to learn this is not a natural shape for your hair! I have to say, I did not think your hair could looks better than it usually does in your outfit photos but you look amazing with short haircuts! This sounds like a fun change, and it looks like you got some great suggestions! Hope to see the photos of the new style!

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