Reevaluating your hairstyle

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Reevaluating your hairstyle

— by Angie

on June 9, 2009

Professional hairstylist Taylor said a fabulous thing in a recent thread about hair on the YLF forum:

“I tell my clients to think of hair as an ACCESSORY, it is part of a TOTAL look”.

I couldn’t agree more (and that goes for blokes too). There are few things that impact your look more than a flattering new hairdo, a bit of colour, or both. Your hair is your crowning glory and maintaining a killer style is as important as wearing the best bra. That’s why I loved Kendall Farr’s suggestion of reevaluating your hairstyle BEFORE you attempt to reevaluate your closet. This makes a lot of sense, because you’ll view your wardrobe and the items that you purchase differently once your smashing new do is in place.

So the question is, if your hair is an accessory, how often should you change it up? I don’t think that there are hard and fast rules, but I do believe that an annual hair evaluation is in order. In some cases you might need and want a dramatic change like going from long blonde hair to a short red crop. In other instances subtle changes are the way to go, like taking off a few inches of length, cutting a fringe or adding highlights. Or your current do is still fab so leave it alone.

I enjoy changing my hairstyle because I like to keep my look evolving. Sometimes the changes are dramatic and at other times they’re slight. I fool around with the length, texture and colour, but I’m always blonde and the length is usually above the shoulder. Those are the elements I like to keep constant because they feel like me. I can’t go any shorter, so I guess my next step is to grow my hair out a little once I’m bored with this look.

Are you happy with your hair and if not, why not? How often do you change your hairstyle? Are you frightened of dramatic hairstyle change?

Grooming

54 comments · Add a comment

Michelle

I’ve always been very leary of playing too much with my hair for the same reasons that I hesitate to wear colours or prints I can’t visualize. It is difficult for me to picture the effects of different hairstyles on specific facial shapes, and I find this to be an area where people have a hard time advising me. People understandably struggle to describe *exactly* what kind of cut they’d like to see. I also have textural issues at play. I like a cut that I can assess and style by touch. I need to know, just by using my hands, whether the hair is flat, whether ends are sticking out in places they shouldn’t, etc. My current style fits that bill perfectly, and I’ve had it for quite some time. I’ve always wanted to wear my hair longer, but it gets stringy and lifeless in no time and pretty much has to be kept above the shoulders if it’s going to have any body.

I’m definitely not averse to changing my style a little, I just don’t know how to go about it at the moment. Suggestions welcome, as always.

June 9, 2009 at 6:49 am

Real Style Real People

(website)

great topic! I’ve tried many different colors and styles when I was in my twenties. But now I stay closet to my natural chocolate brown color and make sure to color my grey and have a shorter do because of my small face (it looks best on me). Healthy, current, shiny hair does make a difference!

June 9, 2009 at 7:00 am

Debbie

This is really a timely topic for me because I am wondering about adding highlights. A hair stylist told me it is youthful to have a few highlights and a solid color ages? Said she heard someone on the Today show talking about this.

I recently had my gray covered up and feel like the color is too dark. I think I could’ve gone a couple shades lighter brown.

I totally agree, Angie. A good hairstyle is so important!

June 9, 2009 at 7:06 am

Sarah

I love dramatic hair changes. I’ve done every color except blonde over the past few years, and have had every cut from pixie to long and curly.
I’m at a point now where I want to make a change. I either want to cut it to shoulder length or leave it long and do the whole curly girl thing. Decisions, decisions!
Pros of leaving it long is that I can pull it back when I run or when it’s extremely hot.
Pros of having it shorter is that I’ve had it long for awhile now and am ready for a change.

June 9, 2009 at 7:07 am

Ritika

I’ve always felt that great hair can really complete a look.

I am blessed with naturally wavy/curly black hair and by keeping it slightly longer than shoulder-length, it’s been beautiful and versatile. I make it a point to air-dry my hair instead of blow-drying.

People compliment my hair all the time and think I curl it every day (hehehe no)! I think a good hairstyle that looks unique, frames your face, and suits your figure is a necessary foundation.

Thanks for the great post, Angie!

June 9, 2009 at 7:12 am

Violet

I definitely enjoy experimenting with different hair styles. In my senior year of high school I had shoulder length hair and then got it cut off into a really short style. Just a few years ago I did the same thing – my hair was past my shoulders and I got it cut around chin length. I am definitely not afraid of dramatic changes. I love it!

Since then I’ve kept the length the same, but I’ve been trying some different variations. My hair is naturally wavy, so right now I’ wearing it wavy for the summer. I’ll probably go back to straight hair in the fall.

I definitely agree that hair is an accessory and it is a good idea to re-evaluate hair styles every now and then. Also, since I’m now in my early 30s I also want to make sure my hair is age-appropriate and not too young.

June 9, 2009 at 7:14 am

greenglove

The main thing that remains constant for me is my hair color. I work my wardrobe around my red hair. I have thought of shorter hair but it really doesn’t work for my features or my style. I have to add variety by layers and different ways of wearing it up. I totally think of my hair as an accessory!

June 9, 2009 at 7:15 am

Christie

I experiment quite a lot with my hair. Mostly, this is because I have a very fashion-forward and crazy stylist who keeps changing things up. In the last two years, I’ve had boyish-short hair, a red bob with fringe, super-short pixie, bleached blonde, and now I’m growing it out with fringe for a Jane Birkin look. It’s only right now below my ears, so it will be a little while. I’ll probably get bored before it makes it to my shoulders. For the last year or so, I’ve kept it blonde with different highlights per the whim of my stylist.

June 9, 2009 at 7:19 am

Ele

(website)

Hmm, I have mixed feelings on this. On one hand, I completely agree that having a current hairstyle can do wonders for your overall look, not to mention your confidence. I also think the issue of hair texture comes into play, though. As someone with curly hair, there are only so many things that I can do with it that still practical and attractive. Yes, I can go anywhere from long to short (I’m currently chin-length) but it’s always going to be a version of the same, really. Some layers to avoid “triangle head” and encourage the curl, and some shorter bits around the face to frame it. I can’t really have a fringe, or anything too blunt or architectural, because it just wouldn’t work for me. When I was younger, I always wanted straight hair because it seemed so versatile!

I could, of course, play around with colour, but I choose not to. I sort of tread the line between light brown and dark blonde (depends who you ask), and I don’t mind that. I did used to have blonde highlights, which I loved, but in the end they dried my hair out too much. We’ll see in the future though. I never say never!

June 9, 2009 at 7:21 am

Laura

I agree that a fab hairstyle is the basis of your entire look. The right style for your hair is worth its weight in gold! You have to keep trying ’til you find a style that you love, that suits your hair type and facial features, and that works for your lifestyle. Not easy!

This fall, after discovering YLF, I took myself to a great salon and went from having a blonde bob to a dark pixie cut (now with an auburn stripe … gotta keep changing it up!). I instantly felt a million years younger and a million times better about myself.

June 9, 2009 at 7:27 am

Melody

I tend to make slight changes … added longish side-swept bangs a couple of months ago, and added a touch of red to my all-over dark hair color for the summer. Length has been about the same (hits right below shoulder blades) since I grew it out after the last drastic change I made, shortly after my daughter was born almost 6 years ago. Guess I had forgotten that my hair curls when it’s shorter because it ended up looking nothing like the photos I took in. And the worst thing was the highlights I got at the same time … my dark hair was striped with an ugly orangey-brassy color. I keep my old work ID with my photo of that awful hair-do in my purse to remind me to preserve my hair! I was so scarred that I dyed my hair at home and went over a year without a haircut from a stylist. Fortunately, I have learned to trust again, and found a rockin’ stylist.

June 9, 2009 at 7:45 am

Patience

My hair always feels like one of my biggest challenges. I just feel like I haven’t figured out how to consistently style it well. I’ve decided to accept the fact that it’s so organic– changing day to day, week to week and month to month– and maybe that’s the first step.

I also agree that without a fab hairdo, your level of polish goes down the drain, no matter what you are wearing. I think I do try to reevaluate at least annually because I do get bored of the same hair and I do love dramatic changes with respect to my hair (which is a departure from my usual personality). In fact, I need a haircut right now.

June 9, 2009 at 7:57 am

Ana

I definitely agree that a great hairstyle can make or break a look. I actually think it does more for you than clothing. I like to watch makeover shows like, “What Not to Wear,” and the clothing does make a difference, but I think the hair and makeup make a bigger impact than the change in clothing. I think if someone’s hairstyle, haircolor, and makeup are neat and flattering, you are less likely to notice what they are wearing (to a point). But I’ve seen people dressed like a million bucks, and their hair is a mess, and I think it diminishes the overall look a lot.

I grew my hair out really long and then chopped it all off in one fell swoop. It was great because I had enough hair to donate to Locks of Love, and I felt instantly liberated with my short new pixie cut. I spend way less time styling it, and I’m a lot more adventurous with color now. I went from blonde, to dark brown, to light brown (my natural color), and now back to blonde. I think I miss my natural color though, so I’m going to dye it again in a few weeks when I have my next appointment.

June 9, 2009 at 7:57 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Michelle, post your hair questions on the forum and we’ll help you out. I’m sure Taylor will chime in and offer her professional suggestions too. Thanks for letting us be your eyes, but you do a fabulous job on your hair using your other senses and I am in complete awe. Your hair always looks shiny and healthy.

Sarah and Christie, I’ve seen your dramatic hair changes over the years and you looked great sporting every single one of them. Amazing!

Ele and Debbie, you both had exquisite curly hair and I appreciate that you have to keep it a certain length and style because that’s best suited to your type of hair. It sounds like Ritika is in the same boat. In your cases, your hair style changes are subtle and very much part of your signature look which is fab too. Anna Wintour does not have curly hair, but for the last 35 years she has kept her hair bobbed with a heavy fringe changing up the lengths and colour over the years. Her hair makes her look and I doubt she’ll ever go for a dramatic hair change.

June 9, 2009 at 7:59 am

QuiteLight

I used to be scared to play too much with my hair, because I didn’t know how to style it & had been scarred in the past. (“Mary, can you come over here? I can’t get this cut even…” Already several inches shorter than requested…)

A few years ago, I took the leap from a long bob (although I guess the Betty Page bangs were bold) to a long messy shag. I loved it. Then my beloved hairdresser died suddenly, and not only did I lose a friend, I went through a YEAR of TERRIBLE haircuts trying to find a new one I trusted enough to lop the whole mess off!

When I did (Tess! I love you!), I hacked it all off into an ever-evolving chin-length bob. While the Year of the Mullet was traumatic, it really forced me to loosen up; bad hair grows out, and a new look can make everything look new again, and it’s worth the risk. And I love my bob! People called me CHIC! Me! But I’m already sort of window-shopping for my next look… just looking.

June 9, 2009 at 8:07 am

Danja

(website)

I love changing my hair, and have experimented a lot with cuts. However, in the past 10 years I settled on short hair. I would not mind growing it out if it could grow overnight, but I don’t have the patience to wait 2 years. Plus, I find getting a haircut so liberating as if all the bad energy is being released with cutoff hair which poses problems when trying to grow hair long. I am currently debating if I should go with some color (either red or blonde), but I have not made up my mind yet.

June 9, 2009 at 8:11 am

shiny

I always wondered why on WNTW they saved the haircut for last. The haircut always makes such a huge difference.

I am always experimenting with my hair and trying something different. Sometimes it’s a radical change (I’ve had perms, I’ve had super-short pixie cuts) but most of the time it’s a subtle change. Through experimentation, I’ve learned my hair cannot be any longer than shoulder length, because it gets too thin, ratty and just won’t grow much longer than that. I also can’t really do bangs because of too many cowlicks. And I can’t go too dark because it just looks all wrong on me. Those are the main limitations with my hair.

I’ve learned through trial-and-error that shorter hair works best on me. Part of this is my height: shorter hair tends to add inches at the crown. It also seems to fit my petite frame better than longer hair. And part of it is that my hair gets wavy and looks a lot fuller than it really is, if it is shorter.

I’ve also learned I like a certain amount of asymmetry with my cut, such as it is now, with it shorter in the back and longer in the front, and parted on the side. I like dramatic side parts and look goofy in a center part. I think my features are asymmetrical so this is probably why I like this look the best.

As for color, I was a natural blonde until my late 20s, at which point my hair turned dark and dishwatery. It was on a visit to my sister, whom I hadn’t seen in a few years, that I first began highlighting my hair. When I got off the plane, she cried and said, “You don’t look like my sister anymore… you’re supposed to be blonde!” (She is a red head and we used to call each other Rose White and Rose Red). So she scheduled an appt for me and I had my first highlights put in. I have been coloring ever since – about 10 years now. I ask my hairdresser to give me a color that is between my DD14’s scandanavian platinum blonde hair, and DD16’s caramel blonde Jennifer Aniston haircolor.

I’ve got a lot of red in my hair (as I mentioned my sister is a red-head and so was my mom) so I’ve always been tempted to try red. My current hairdresser however insists the ONLY color for me is blonde! He keeps urging me to go lighter and lighter… but I think I’ve reached the lightest I am willing to go.

June 9, 2009 at 8:17 am

The Other Linda

I am in the boat with the other curly girls. In practical terms, my goal is to find something that works (especially in the various weather conditions) and then cling to it with a death grip, LOL. I have found a lovely stylist who knows what she’s doing, so that would be all sorted if they didn’t keep reformulating every product I use. In style terms, my curly hair is really part of my identity, and I have no desire to change it even if I were the least bit competent with the styling tools.

Sometimes I think idly about color, but really I am too lazy, and a surprising number of people claim to love the sprinkling of gray (I think it would be a discrete streak if it were straight) that has been holding steady for a number of years.

But yes, I would have to say I am quite averse to dramatic hairstyle change. Plus, my boyfriend would never be able to find me in a crowded place if I changed it. The hair is how he knows it’s me.

June 9, 2009 at 8:38 am

Rose (aka rosemerin)

Great post Angie. I also took note of Kendall’s statement on getting a good haircut/style, and I agree it is a key accessory for me. Also, if you watch TLC what not to wear, it is obvious how much a haircut/color positively enhance an outfit. This brings up a current point for me that I would LOVE input on. I have moved a lot for work, and just moved again. I need a haircut/color, and would love to find a hair stylist that has a vision for what works for me. Does anyone have recommendations for how to find the “right” stylist for me? I have had several good and bad haircuts over the years, and it always seems to be luck, despite the fact that I do look into finding the good stylists, based on reading online reviews, talking to locals, etc. I am tired of luck– so this time I am requesting consultations prior to committing to a haircut appt. Has anyone tried this, would love to know if this has worked for anyone else.

June 9, 2009 at 9:19 am

Chris

I totally agree. Nothing seems to age us as much as sticking to that same old hairstyle. It doesn’t say “I care about myself” at all.

I’ve taken advantage of not working during last six months to grow out some layers and finally got a cut into a short bob with sideswept bangs last week.

Since I went “Short” a few years ago, it has been so hard to grow out my hair as it gets to that horrible,no style growth point and I go back to the short cuts.

I color at home since discovering some shades that work for me and also try to find styles I can maintain – easy, fast styling; low fuss; modern but soft ; youthful yet professional.

June 9, 2009 at 9:35 am

Libby

(website)

I agree with you 100% on this. The outfit can be gorgeous and put together, but if the hair is off, or unkempt (gasp), the entire look will be blown.

I have always been a short hair girl… I think that too much hair overwhelms my face. But I’ve recently grown it out until shoulder length, with lots of layers, and I am quite happy with the results! If I feel that I am being overwhelmed by the hair, I can always tie it back.

June 9, 2009 at 9:57 am

Sal

(website)

I JUST said this in a video blog and got such an outcry in response! I do believe that a yearly hair rethink is valuable, and even if it doesn’t lead to drastic change, will help keep a person’s style fresh and evolving.

June 9, 2009 at 10:01 am

san

Great post Angie.
Rose I think having a consultation with stylists sounds like a great idea. Getting to know the individual’s personality, rather than the media “personality” of the salon sounds like a smart idea to me. I have gone to the large chain salon, off and on for years. They promote stylish quality, and charge accordingly. It seems like they are trained to do a set of things and that is it. The creativity has gotten lost. I just didn’t fit the mold of the woman on their billboards all over town, wearing a gown and gorgeous makeup and hair.
I am going to a tiny salon now because I asked a stranger where she had her hair done. I feel I lucked out because this stylist still has her creativity untarnished. I told her that everyone wants to cut my hair in a bob, and my hair does not cooperate and lay nicely. She said the reason everyone wants to cut my hair in a bob is because I look conservative. Well I’m in my 50’s so I will tend to look somewhat conservitive, but my hair still doesn’t cooperate in a bob. I feel such freedom now that she has done something totally difierent with my hair and we are working with my natural texture and waviness now. I had to walk in with my hair scrunched for her to see that I want to go with the curl, it wasn’t her idea, but she is happy with it.
It could be that hair stylists are afraid to make big changes for people. I swear I have been asking for something choppy for 25 years, and they just wouldn’t do it.
Now back on topic. In the ’90’s I worked with a guy who had so much fun with his appearance. He was in his 30’s, married, and a father. He was not afraid to change his hair from long to spikey to inbetween. He would say, “you have to mix it up”. He was a breath of fresh air. Ofcourse he must have had the right features to be able to get away with it.

June 9, 2009 at 10:32 am

Tanya

I am one of those boring people who have had the same hair style for years ( 17 to be precise) – long, very slight layers, natural hair color! I keep it healthy and do regular trims, but that’s about it. I guess I like my hair long and am not up to experimenting with color a lot. However, I am planning of adding highlights and doing more serious layering once I am out of school and have a real job .

June 9, 2009 at 10:43 am

Anita

Great post, right on par with what’s on my mind right now–the big CHOP for my hair.I have chin-length super curly hair right now and am planning for the pixie cut in the next few weeks(after I prepare my daughters for the change).I have had it several inches below the shoulders and pixie-short over the years.The way I feel best is when it is super-short even if not the most versatile at the time, because it looks put-together and stylish everyday without much effort. I ask for miracles–a good hair day without much effort.Is that too much to ask?
I think most women actually have a good gut feeling about a hairstyle that may suit them.Asking too much input from too many people can be very distracting and unnerving. I have always been gutsy about haircuts, but not haircolor, so I think you do what makes you comfortable too. I am glad about this post and the Kendall Farr post mentioning it–just supported my decision to crop crop crop!!!

June 9, 2009 at 10:46 am

Taylor

(website)

Oh my, Imagine my surprise this morning. I am humbled. Thank you Angie:)

LOVE reading everyones thoughts on this. Such a fashion savvy group of stylish women.

I enjoy the changes women make here, and hair is such a big part of that, glad you all see it the same way.

Here’s to beautiful women everywhere, and every age.:)

June 9, 2009 at 10:51 am

Maya

I never do anything with my hair color. First of all it would be too expensive for me to maintain right now. Second of all, with my coloring, there isn’t really a whole lot to do. I can’t have anything but black hair. The most I could do is get some highlights put in, and to be honest I just find that it looks a bit fake. If you have true black hair, highlights just end up looking like weird stripes.

I last had short hair when I was maybe 19 or 20 and vowed to never cut it again, until this year. I am so glad I did. It is much easier to style and suits my personality better. Of course for now I am swearing off it, but I’m sure in a few years I am going to want long hair again. I think I have my limitations though. I will not go any shorter than chin length as I really do not have a very nice chin line, and my features are too large to carry off a very short style. Basically, I gauge my limitation by asking “would a boy ever have hair this short?” If the answer is yes, I know it’s not for me! I think in order to carry off a boyish cut, you really need to be very feminine and dainty. I also think you have to step up your makeup regime to balance out a short do, and since I do not wear makeup, that would be a problem.

I do not know that I believe in an annual evaluation. I just change my hair whenever I feel like it. Very simple.

June 9, 2009 at 10:56 am

Taylor

(website)

Rosemerin,

Consultations should always be free of charge, and I highly recommend them.

June 9, 2009 at 11:00 am

Brianna

(website)

I’m considering going back to a dark ash blonde with highlights. I don’t like how my dyed brown hair takes on fake-looking reddish tones very quickly after colouring.

June 9, 2009 at 11:30 am

Melody

I found my stylist at my workout place where she was also a member. She has such a great personality, and would walk up to people and tell them what would look great on them … basically a consultation on the spot whether they asked for it or not! Ladies would go to her, and come back looking fabulous, so I took the plunge and made an appointment.

The problem I always had with short hair is that it had to washed & styled in the morning because of all the cowlicks I woke up with. And styling short hair, for me, has always been more difficult that styling long.

June 9, 2009 at 1:01 pm

Joelle

I have very straight black Asian hair and wear it very similarly to Tanya–long with some layers around the face. I’m not at all daring with cut or color. Any color besides my natural one looks fake on me, and because of my height I can’t go any shorter than shoulder length without getting the pinhead look. So when I want to try something new I tend to just experiment with various updos and hair accessories.

June 9, 2009 at 1:19 pm

Karin

Very timely post for me – last week I went from a stacked chin-length bob with bangs to a pixie cut with blonde highlights (my natural color is a mousy light brown with more than a few grays). I’m so glad I did it. I feel so comfortable in the heat now, and the highlights seem to wake up my face and help those grays to blend right in.

June 9, 2009 at 1:19 pm

Ronni

Loved reading everybody’s posts and wish I could change my hair but don’t probably because I can’t. It is curly and over the years every time I’ve tried to change the hairstyle the curl takes over. Too long and it goes wild. Too short and I have trouble styling it. Plus I have a long face and chinlength just looks best on me. Now I do straighten it out so have fun going straight and curly and like the chin length because I can play with it wearing it up or down or with combs etc. But the stye, cut with layers and length just work the best on me so I’ve stopped trying to fight it and just let it be what it’s supposed to be.

June 9, 2009 at 1:58 pm

Wendy

(website)

I think a big part of a fabulous hairstyle is how it fits with your lifestyle. I’m a masters swimmer, so I’m in the pool 5-6 times a week for workouts, and I don’t like to fuss with my straight hair (or spend much time drying it). Short styles work best for my face shape and my tendancy to be all wet! I can wear it as is or put some product in and play (spike it up a bit). My stylist makes subtle changes, but generally, my cut hasn’t changed a great deal since I’ve been seeing her, and I’m happy with that.

June 9, 2009 at 2:00 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This post does seem timely. I wonder if the start of Summer has anything to do with us reevaluating our hair?

Many of you have hit the nail on the head. If your hair looks best a certain way then that’s how you should keep it, but with subtle variations now and then just so that you don’t get bored. Making sure your hair is a current version of what looks best is a good way to go. Again, Anna Wintour and her bob is a good example and by the sounds of things, Wendy has the same idea.

San, that’s an interesting story. I guess hair professionals do assess your style and try to compliment your look.

Maya, you are in the habit of reevaluating your hairdo which is why you don’t think of a time frame. But it’s easy to get into a rut with your hair which is why an annual evaluation is in order. This does not necessarily mean change though. It’s just good housekeeping especially as you get older.

June 9, 2009 at 2:12 pm

Oneirix

(website)

I totally agree. Hair is definitely an accessory and an asset.

That said, why do I feel like I always covet what I can’t have? I have volume out the wazoo, like serious, intense, Texas-style volume and soft waves. But I would love nothing more than to have sleek, poker-straight hair so I could do something really edgy with it.

Up until last year my hair was never shorter than my shoulder blades and I never, ever colored it. Then I sort of got bored and had it all chopped off, and my hairstylist is a good friend, so I’ve been doing some hair modeling for him and the color has changed quite a bit. It’s much darker now with some highlights.

I just wish I could find a way to get the super clean, edgy feel I want so badly without having to fight my hair!

June 9, 2009 at 2:16 pm

GoXtina

I agree with you that a great hairstyle is important to the overall look. I recently got bored with the same hairstyle for two or three months and I recently went to the salon to get a new haircut and streaks my hair red. No pictures of my outfit yet because I recently clean my closet, I’m looking for a new style. Will post pictures of my outfit once the weather got better.

June 9, 2009 at 2:23 pm

Hilary

I think hair style can make a huge difference in your overall appearance.

I’m personally not big on coloring (high maintenance for me and costly), and I know I don’t look good with super short hair. Lopped my hair off after a coloring fiasco just after high school so I’ve seen everything from an inch long on out and the shortest I can go is chin length.

So… basically my biggest problem is that as for cut, with curly hair that I can straighten I don’t want to go with anything focused on super straight lines. But I seem to get the same boring hair cut by any stylist I go to no matter what I ask for and no matter the cost. It’s frustrating and it’s even more frustrating that my hair looks better when I cut it myself (but I can’t give myself the cut I want either!)

When I like someone’s hair (maybe not complete strangers) I do ask who they go to and I have tried a few that way but still no success. So yes I agree, change can be good and a polished hair style (even without change in cut … maybe just a flat iron and new styling products) can make a big difference in your overall look.

June 9, 2009 at 2:37 pm

Imogen

(website)

I change mine slightly most times I have it cut (about every 6 weeks to 2 months), sometimes it’s more radical than others. In winter it may get longer layers, in summer shorter.

I think that if you haven’t had a style change in 3-5 years you are probably in desperate need of one, but yearly, not so much.

June 9, 2009 at 2:41 pm

cciele

I’m another one who is stuck in a hairstyle rut! My pattern is:
– get my hair cut to shoulder length (pretty much an even length, with subtle shaping)
– let it grow out until I get sick of it
– get my hair cut to shoulder length
– repeat

This happens twice a year, at most. Boring.

In my 20s and 30s, I did highlights. Expensive, but fun!

Now I have a bunch of gray hair and I do experiment with color there. I have enough gray (50%+) that whatever semi-permanent color I chose really shows up in my Asian black hair. Sometimes I do a chestnut color, sometimes neutral brown, sometimes golden brown. Once, to be different, I did violet. People never noticed until I was in the bright sunlight, and then they stared.

June 9, 2009 at 2:48 pm

yublocka

(website)

I have a love-hate relationship with my hair.

Love the dark colour as its “me”, but hated the way it meant I could never experiment too much with colour.

Love the curl MOSTLY, but oftentimes long for sleek, straight hair. Yes I do plan on getting a hair straightener one of these centuries.

Love the volume, but hate the dreaded frizzies that I am still yet to conquer successfully.

I also wish I knew how to do more with it than have it down, in a ponytail or a messy bun. Haven’t progressed beyond that!!!

June 9, 2009 at 2:55 pm

Taylor

(website)

Michelle,

It sounds like you are happy with your current style. Being able to feel your way through your style is such a wonderful way to tell if it’s working. I always FEEL the cut when I am finished, alot of info transferred from your hands to your brain!

When you are ready for a change, may I suggest you bring a trusted friend or family member, not to convey what you want,…. but to be sure the finished product is looking like you had invisioned..
Someone who knows you well

June 9, 2009 at 4:01 pm

Kari

Ha! I have been somewhat of a hair chameleon in the past ten years (I’m young & was trying to nail down a style and color that worked for me.) On the whole I prefer it above shoulder length and red. I’ve been wearing a bob between chin-shoulder length for the past couple years, but I change it subtly every time I get it cut – angled, choppy/piecey, blunt, adding layers or bangs. I was very lucky to find a stylist who really “gets” the quirks of my hair and how it’s likely to behave when I style it with my clumsy hands. She cuts it into the basic shape that we want, dries and flatirons it, and then REALLY goes to work cutting each section into a perfect shape. I’ve received great feedback about her cuts, and they grow out very well. I love that I feel “new” every time I step out of her studio.
(By the way, I have always yearned for hair that would curl effortlessly like Tam’s… I guess the grass is always greener. When I had my hair longer, I also never mastered anything beyond a ponytail or very messy bun or very, very messy French braid – but unlike Tam’s, my hair didn’t look too great when I left it down.)

June 9, 2009 at 4:27 pm

sinead

Hair! Wow, Angie, you touched a nerve here. I’ve been fighting my fine, limp hair for ages and through the years let stylists talk me into perms, body waves all of which did nothing but give me frizz. I kept it shoulder length after trying short cuts and thought I’d just have to live with my fine, limp hair.

The years of hair color and blow drying were turning my hair to straw. It’s so fine and easily damaged it’s ridiculous. So I started really working to bring it back to life- no blowdryer (that was hard) lots of conditioning treatments and trying more gentle hair color. Then I went to a stylist who cut layers, scrunched up my hair and gave me…waves. Who knew? It doesn’t always look the same way from one day to the next, but at least it looks a lot healthier. It took me almost 2 years to go from straw to hair I actually get compliments on…occasionally.

June 9, 2009 at 4:51 pm

Dena

I have the most fabulous stylist, Mel, who has been my hair constant over the last few years. She really listens, and though we have had a few miscommunications, she gets my hair & understands that I don’t have her hair skills. I have had longer hair for some time & am flirting with the notion of a shorter cut. I would love to do a pixie but don’t feel that I have the bone structure for it. I have a VERY round face, round eyes, and a pretty round figure too, if I’m honest. So the gamine look just doesn’t work that well for me now that I’m in my forties( I rocked it in high school!) Any brilliant ideas for adding some retro flair? I’ve been doing longer layers with bangs, currently sideswept. I tend to favor anything a bit vintage, but I’m none too choosy about my decades. There is something to like in all of them, though having lived the eighties & nineties to bits I tend to skip those!

June 9, 2009 at 8:21 pm

Cricket

I’m in total agreement with the other curly girls who have commented … my hair has been long or short version of the same basic cut for years … some layers to keep it from becoming a triangle, varying between chin length and shoulder blade length. Currently I have it it an angled bob which is a fun variation I’ve done over the years. I think I’m going back to some layers around my face soon.

June 9, 2009 at 8:39 pm

Tammy

(website)

I love this topic! I have recently been on a quest to discover my “signature look” which definitely includes hairstyle and color! While I am loving my color (4 stylists and 7 months of trying to acheive it), the style isn’t quite what I want. 2 more inches and some minor detail changes and I think I’ll have the hairstyle I dream of

June 9, 2009 at 10:58 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good point, Tammy. Sometimes, the difference between a good and a bad haircut is two weeks. A bit of growth can make ALL the difference.

June 10, 2009 at 7:21 am

Gigi

(website)

My hair has been basically the same style since my senior year of high school: medium length with a side-swept bang. Every now and again I apparently enjoy torturing myself and getting a permanent because my hair will not hold even the tiniest wave. Having stick-straight hair makes things difficult because there is very little that I can do with my hair.

June 10, 2009 at 10:01 am

Dawn

(website)

I totally agree that hair is a central part of the style package. This year, I chopped the best part of a foot off my hair and now have a short pixie cut. I completely love it and it suits my style and personality at the moment and I would be reluctant to change it. However I am continuously re-evaluating it to see if another style or colour would suit me better.

June 10, 2009 at 10:52 am

Yvonne

I have a lot of hair and it is course and wavy in the front more so than the rest of my head. My hair changes every 7 years or so–more curly or less curly. It does tend to get frizzy. But since I have so much hair, I don’t spend a lot of time trying to “pull” the curl out of it. Besides, I have a tender head. I wear it just below my shoulders most of the time. Sometimes I will cut it above to try something new. When it is short, it wings outward and looks too full. I like my waves, though they can be frustrating. I have never colored my hair. (although there are some grey ones coming!). While it is course, it does get shiny somewhat. I have to be careful–some products want to strip it of moisture. I find that my bangs have a mind of their own and I struggle with getting them to do what I want. I have tried numerous products. Love your site Angie–your topics are so interesting. And I love Kendall Farr’s books.

June 12, 2009 at 7:03 pm

Style renewal on a budget: start with visual impact | youlookfab

(website)

[…] hairstyle: It’s true: your hair can make or break your look. Kendall’s Farr’s suggestion of getting your hair style sorted BEFORE you assess your wardrobe is one I have begun to introduce to my clientele. Your hair is the […]

June 18, 2009 at 7:24 am

Chenine

(website)

I always try to match my hair with the latest Hair fashion style guids. Trying to find a balance between my hair and my outfit because all things should match togheter. Because I got long hair I can change it to a lot of styles. Also with short hair u can use extensions so u can always adjust your hairstyle to a situation.

June 29, 2009 at 2:34 am

Fleur

(website)

My advice is just to change your hairstyle twice a year. It gives your ego a boost.

November 23, 2010 at 12:19 pm

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