Hair Help for a Summer Hothead - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Inspiration

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Hair Help for a Summer Hothead

Anonymous

Posting this under inspiration because I need some!

Looks like our temps will surge from today's 50s into the mid 80s next week. Time for some summer hair. Last year I wore my hair long (pics 1 and 2) and suffered for it: Although the rest of me runs cold, my head gets super hot. Some of you may recall my black extensions -- no good pics handy, but you can see them slightly in 2. I loved the wave and contrast they put in my hair, but they amped up the heat problem horribly.

I've enjoyed my current style (pic 3 at last cut), but want a softer look for summer. I'm hoping some thinning and layers will keep me cooler.

Ideally, I'd love to go pixie short, like the pic Angie posted for Suz. But I don't have a good face for short hair: it's long with very flat cheekbones and a soft, weak jawline (that sounds self-critical, it's not--I love my face but I need to be realistic when it comes to a cut I can feel fab about). On top of that, I've gained a much needed 10lbs, (pic 2, holy mackerel, why did no one but my doctor say anything?). That extra weight adds jaw softness.

Do you fab ladies of the forum have any ideas for me? I was going to go with pic 4, but I'm not sold. My hair is heavy and falls straight down with no wave. I usually do best with bangs. Attempts at side sweeps generally irritate me.

Una, I hear you might have some extra time on your hands right now so perhaps I can call on your expert eye for all things hair.

This post has 4 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

18 replies

Latest reply was from

Anonymous

Found a couple of better hair shots with the extensions.

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Echo

Veteran

I adore your hair the way it is currently, but I absolutely understand how hot it can get. You have a beautiful face and a beautiful natural hair color, and I think the fourth picture in your first post would be a GREAT cut on you. It is short without being at all harsh, and it looks like it would flatter your face and hair colour/texture.

Anonymous

Echo, thank you for the endorsement and for making me feel good too If I could award you wisdom, solution, boost and therapy all at once, I would! I really appreciate your help as I'm anticipating getting a rough time from my stylist over yet another hair change.

Greenjeans

Veteran

Have you heard about the 2.25" rule? Of course, every rule is made to be broken, but I do like a clear guideline now and then.

Anonymous

Oh, wow, Laura, no I haven't heard about that rule. Fascinating! Off to take measurements now...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Aliona, I hear you loud and clear on the thick, hot hair issue. This is a big problem for me also and one reason I've never really been happy wearing long hair.

You look wonderful with your longer hair and extensions, and with your new sharp bob. And I think you'd also look amazing with the new cut you have shown. I love the way the sides are done on that one. My only caution would be -- do you know for certain that your hair doesn't wave when layered, esp. in the humidity? Mine is relatively fine but extremely thick; when blunt cut it seems almost stick straight, especially where the air is dry. However, on a humid day, when layered it will wave as much as the Queen Mum, or so it seems. Especially if the stylist goes for a razor cut in a medium length like this. Longer and it has more weight, shorter and the waves don't come out.

If you're certain about the way your hair will fall, I think that would be just gorgeous on you.

However, I also want to argue with you about the pixie. Because, yes, I also have a long face. I don't know what to call my jaw exactly -- it's not sharp, that's for sure. Anyway, although they always say long faces shouldn't wear pixies, I've actually found the reverse. I don't know what it is about the proportions of the face that make a difference. The big advantage you would have over me is your eyebrows.

Having said all that, you could certainly go for this cut now and then try a pixie another time if you wished. Or if your stylist would agree. Those bossy stylists!!! We are going to have to take them in line!!

Also, really glad you have gained the needed weight; that must feel better.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Also -- the 2.25 rule? My face does not conform to this in the least. And I look decidedly better in short hair. Without question. If anything, longer hair emphasizes the length of my jawline. Shorter draws the attention up to eyes and cheekbones.

For whatever that is worth!

Anonymous

Suz, thank you! You make such great points. I don't know for certain that my hair doesn't wave when short. Now you mention it, I think I did notice some wave as the pixie grew out, mostly in the back. (The pixie itself was too short to wave; my biggest challenge was keeping it from sticking up straight at the crown--that and stopping DH from introducing me as his husband.) My stylist will definitely use a razor, so I'm going to ask him about the wave issue.

I measured my face following the instructions in Laura's link and came in at exactly 2.5 inches. I'm taking that as license to wear either long or short.

I've never thought much about my brows, apart from covering the grey (thank you, Anastasia brow pencil). I've learned a lot from the discussion on Angie's thread. I think you'd look utterly fabulous with that cut, too. The woman in the inspiration pic reminds me a lot of you.

I feel I look a lot better with the extra weight back, but my knees and hip have started bothering me again. Sigh.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, it's always something, isn't it? So sorry that you're feeling pain. Hopefully things will adjust a bit over time and you can build a bit more strength.

Absolutely --- you can look great with either long or short. You have a beautiful face with striking features and your hair is a gorgeous colour and texture.

I think the facial "rule" is a bit peculiar because it does not account for the fact that people's heads are different sizes. My head is disproportionately large for my size. It's not just longer, it is bigger overall. Yet another reason why short hair is good for me; it reduces the apparent size of my head, esp. considering I have such thick hair.

I think the woman in Angie's picture would probably fail the 2.25 rule as well -- or at any rate, the drop from her earlobe to jaw seems relatively long -- but everything is in some kind of balance anyway.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Ok I will check out the 2.25 rule, but meanwhile I will say that I don't have a sharp jawline (to put it delicately) athough my face is round rather than long. For years I would ask hairdressers to give me a short haircut and they all demurred (wimps!) until I found my current stylist who suggested it herself. I have been returning loyally ever since. So I say go for it!

Anna

I am the same way. My hair looks good right after I style it but if I get the least bit hot my hair goes flat and starts to wave and it doesn't look good. I tried wearing it wavy and um no, not a good look.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I wish I had some wisdom to offer. I just want to say you look fabulous in each of these hairstyles. I like that jeans outfit on you in the latest one, too! The super chic jacket, cool oxfords, and the necklace that finishes the outfit--altogether great look.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I've loved ALL the stages of your hair, Aliona. #4 looks super cute. How about something asymmetrical?

Anonymous

Your hair always looks so good, Aliona (laughing at your DH introducing you as his husband though - that sounds like something mine would do too) but I do like the inspiration photo you showed for a shorter cut. Looks very soft and pretty . I've never heard of the 2.25 rule and am now off to go check it out (that said, I really don't want to find out that I should have longer hair, as it ain't gonna happen at this point in my life -:) )

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Forgot to say how pleased I am to hear that you are back at a healthy weight. Well done.

Some more hair inspiration - a little radical, but who knows what your stylist will do with it once the creative juices flow.

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Anonymous

Shevia, your hair is utterly, utterly fabulous. I wish I had your wave. It looks like your stylist is a master, she's definitely a keeper.

Anna, yes I wish I'd paid more attention to my hair wave when it was shorter. There's definitely a chance of that in the back, and I'm not good at resolving those bits I can't see. In fact, I have no patience for styling at all, which is why I like my current wash and go cut.

Firecracker, thank you! I have been much happier with my hair overall since going grey.

Angie, I absolutely love your second inspiration pic. Definitely sharing it with my stylist, who is from Rome and will likely be all over it. It's a great take on asymmetry and a wonderful balance of edgy and soft. Thanks for the ideas!

Lisa, I'll know for sure that the 2.5" rule is bunk if it decrees that you should only wear short hair. Your fabulous cut and style is one of the reasons I'm inspired to go short.

Anonymous

Phew, I passed I have been looking for a different style to work towards for some time now, but haven't found anything really inspiring or different. I have the biggest hair Pinterest board going with everything that crosses my line of vision on it, but haven't settled on a goal yet. I'll be interested to see where you go with yours.

Anonymous

Lisa, I adore your hair. Its so perfect for you, though I also understand the hair ennui that can happen when we have the same style for too long I'll post pics of what I end up with next week. I'd love to do the cut Angie suggested above but I've been so slammed at work that I can't go for cuts as often as I need to for a more structured style.