Thanks Tanya! I'm super excited! (as if you couldn't tell). It helps to have Brendan on board and excited about it, too.

Here, here! I’m dancing with you, Ana.

For the record, if anyone else on this forum asks whether you should go from long to short hair – I’m going to say “go for it”. I’ve seldom seen bad results. But short does not mean pixie short. I’m merely encouraging change, which infers “shorter” hair as opposed to short hair.

So Tanya, how about an Anne Hathaway cut for you!

Oh, that might work, Tanya, because in my head I imagine you sort of look like her, but with big blue eyes instead of brown.

I am afraid there are not going to be any short cuts for me, for couple of reasons:

1) I have a relatively large nose, so I feel that longer hair softens my facial features

2) My hair is very, very fine, so anything shorter would require some styling ( I am a wash&go girl)

3) I actually really like long hair for myself. I admire shorter styles on other ladies, but I don't have the confidence for it. It would make me feel somehow "exposed" if that makes sense. I basically don't think I have either the personality nor the face for short hair. My long hair is sort of my security blanket that I am not willing to let go of ( at least not now).

I totally understand what you're saying Tanya, especially the part about long hair being a security blanket. I don't feel that way anymore (well, obviously), but I did for a really long time. I went through a really rough patch in my early/mid twenties, and so maybe I came out of it more confident, I'm not sure. You're sort of in a tough position now. Maybe when you graduate and move to NM or wherever and you're back together with your bf, and start your career or family, you'll feel differently. And if not, that's okay too. For the record, I think your hair is beautiful, I wish mine looked like that wash and go.

Happy birthday to everyone and fun plans for birthdays all around -- best of all, you each get to be with the one you love (especially for Tanya)! Ana - I think you should definitely try a shorter hairstyle and see what you think. I'm a firm believer in changing hair styles and/or hair color on a regular basis. Worst case scenario, you have to grow it out. I think that you'll look great in a shorter hairstyle.

I hear you, Tanya. Thanks for sharing your feelings. FWIW, you'd also ROCK shoulder length hair. You'd look just as soft and pretty

I agree wholeheartedly with aj. Thanks for the validation. Ana, post pics of new hairdo asap. I hope to chime in while I’m away.

I will definitely post photos! I just called and my stylist was able to get me in tomorrow at 3:00pm, so I don't even need to wait that long! Eeeee!

Oooh! Then may we see pics before I leave? I'm excited!

I'll post pictures tomorrow night after Brendan gets home, so you can see all angles.

Ana, how exciting! I can't wait to see. I used to wear my hair like this as well. I'm due for a new do myself.

Ooh, I'm excited! Can't wait for the pics, Ana. I wish you good luck!

I'm so excited for you Ana! And I'm convinced you will carry off your short do with lots of style.

The countdown to pictures has officially begun!-)

Ana, I can't wait for the pics - I bet it will look fab. When I was much much younger I had super short, bleached hair. Looked a little like Annie Lennox at the time. Obviously not my look now but it sure was fun! I agree with Angie that changing your hair now and then is a great way to shake things up - and it's kind of no risk since it will grow out.

Can't wait to see the pics, Ana! I have *never* regretted chopping off my long hair a little over a year ago. I'm so much more adventurous now to try various styles with my shorter hair than I was before.

Thank you so much for the encouragement, everyone! I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, and feel a lot more confident getting a short cut this time around thanks to all of your and Brendan's support. How exciting!

Wooohoo! Can't wait Ana. And if you’re a little disappointed at first, remember that 2 weeks growth can make ALL the difference and that it might take a while to get use to. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You'll be fine!

JJ, it’s such a coincidence that you mentioned Annie Lennox. I’ve just come back from having my hair bleached and toned. It’s WILD. I feel just like Annie! I’m thrilled with the look. It’s a nice change. No more ash!

Will you post pictures, Angie?

Not just yet!

Okay (sad face). Maybe you can blog about this, "Hair changes" or something, and post it there since it seems like this is on a lot of our minds. I'm dying to see it, since it's really hard for me to imagine. I bet it looks great!

Congratulations Angie on your new do!! Yay! Sounds like you love it and feel great.
Oh boy pictures of Ana tomorrow I hope!

I completely missed this thread!

First, Tanya - did you find your top yet?

Also, having met Tanya in real life, I can say that she looks gorgeous in long hair. Long hair is perfect for her. She has the height to pull it off, for one thing, and her hair is very beautiful (as is the rest of her!). It's glossy and soft and healthy looking - no split ends or frizzes or anything like that (which can happen with long hair).

I have never been able to grow my hair longer than a few inches past my shoulders without it getting limp lifeless and split-endy, so I noticed this and admired this about Tanya's hair immediately when we met.

And Tanya, it's no "security blanket" that you are hiding behind!! It frames your face and falls gracefully down your back. It's, as my mother likes to say "your crowning glory." You look quite chic with long hair.

Okay enough making Tanya blush.

Ana - I'm so excited about you going short!!! Like you, I went through a very long phase where I had shoulder-length hair but nearly always pulled it back in a ponytail. Like you, my DH didn't want me to cut it short. Except he REALLY didn't want me to go short - he prefers long hair on women.

As a quickish aside - this is something I've never understood. Between my two marriages I briefly dated a man who had long Fabio-length hair. I have to say that, um, when we were kissing and such, his hair kept getting in my mouth and I just couldn't figure out how guys can put up with that. LOL.

Anywayyyyyyy.... now that I've said way too much....

I'd had super-pixie cuts in the past (when my kids were babies) and enjoyed the wash-and-go nature of such a cut. But, as Angie rightly points out, super pixies definetly require some sort of color or highlighting to add depth. Otherwise, you end up with what I call the "dreaded mom helmet" look. I have pics and when I get around to scanning them, you can see me sporting the mom helmet. Looking at the pics, I now realize it wasn't the cut per se, it was the lack of coloring to add interest.

I finally went short with this graduated bob - despite DH's reservations - because it's my hair and my decision. And it helped that, having worn ponytails for so long, my hair started breaking off right were the elastic would always go. IT also helped I had a really bad dye job that fried off all the ends and left them all crispy, so I had to cut them off.

When I came home with the short cut, I was worried about DH's reaction - but it turns out he LOVED it. And now he can't imagine me going longer again. And yes, he likes to kiss the back of my neck a lot lately.

Finally - when I turn 50 or 60ish, I'm planning on going back to the super-short pixie and putting my blow-dryer away forever. DH has been warned. He's seen the "mom helmet" photos and I've explained that I would add color or at that point my hair would be naturally white/silver anyway. He's got his fair warning and he thinks it will actually be cute, now that he's gotten used to me at this current length!

Shiny! I know exactly what you mean about the "mom helmet!" lol. Last time I had a pixie cut (when I was 19), I just went into Super Cuts. I didn't have a regular "stylist" or anything, and had no clue about how different cuts work with different hair. So the person just cut all my hair the same length--2 inches. The sides, top, everywhere. And my hair is fine, but there's a lot of it, so it sort of poufed out due to the nature of the cut she gave me. And, I didn't have it highlighted or colored either. I had serious "mom helmet" (or as Brendan likes to call it, "bowl head"). Since my face is round, it just added to the roundness, which is why I haven't tried it again. Brendan pointed out this time though, that I know the stylist is competent, and I'm getting highlights, so hopefully it will turn out better this time! (I hope, lol). Brendan really likes long hair on me better (at this point) too. He's sort of freaking out a little bit, but he's excited about the short cut. He told me either keep it long, or go really really short. He doesn't like those in between cuts on me because they look like bowls, hee hee.

Shiny, you indeed made me blush! Thank you for all the wonderful compliments on my hair! You are so so sweet!

I ended up getting the Express cowl neck top in wine, did not have time to go downtown and see what BCBG has. I will post photos later today.

http://www.express.com/catalog.....egoryId=13

Ana, I am so excited about your future haircut! I can't wait for the photos!

That Express top looks nice. Plus, you can layer a cardi over it or something and wear it with slacks or jeans for a more casual look.

(Wow, Shiny, you have a novel in you. I can scarcely believe the speed at which you “speak” and type!!!). You burn calories typing.

Richly deserved compliments for Tanya for sure. It’s easy to look pretty and graceful with long hair when you are Tanya

Love the look of your new cowl and can’t wait to see the ensemble mix!

I'm so excited about all of the haircuts! And now I've got to add-- when I was 19... I actually shaved my head. I didn't bring out the razor but my hair was cut down to about 1/4 inch. My thinking at the time was that I would see how it looked at different lengths. I never thought of myself as having a mommy helmet but I certainly didn't style it. My husband is one who likes long hair on women but we started dating soon after I shaved my head. He always says that it was his chance to snap me up.

LOL, Patience!