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Hair rut? Suggestions?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I've started thinking about making a more drastic change the next time I get my hair cut. I don't want anything that requires a bunch of styling, but all the wavy styles I see (on Pinterest etc) are not exactly groundbreaking. I'm at a bit of a loss. Hubs thinks I should try something more adventurous too.

What do you think? Any ideas to nudge me out of my comfort zone? Pics and crazy suggestions welcome.

Pic 1: after a recent haircut (I cannot get my hair this straight on my own)
Pics 2-3: both taken within the last week, one blow-dried, one not. Just so you can see where I am now.

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48 replies

Latest reply was from Lyn D.

rabbit

Veteran

You have awesome thick and wavy hair. Hmmm... what happens when you gather the longer hair back at your nape to get an idea what it would look like if it was cut as short as your shortest layers framing the face?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, I'm not sure, rabbit, but maybe I'll try a photo tomorrow. I am a little concerned about chin-length hair on me because of how my jawline is now going south (you can't really see it in those pics because I'm smiling, but as soon as I don't smile, ugh, the jowls... :-(). Maybe it would be ok if it were well layered. I know from past experience that blunt chin length on me is awful, and that was when I was younger and had a firmer jawline!

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

I'm no help because I love that you can have both sleek and soft feminine waves, however, doing some highly technical photo editing using my fingers to block out hair in different ways, I can't help but wonder what you could do with a jaw length that allows for both options (straight and wavy).

Sal

Veteran

I like all these looks but I also get the need/desire for a change.
Of the three looks here I prefer 2, then 3, then 1 - I like the volume.

jackiec

Veteran

Hey I totally hear you on the hair thing. I'm considering change too. I love that you can wear your hair wavy or straight. I'm doing the same as Dashielle - maybe jaw length? I think you'd look gorgeous any way you cut it. Honestly. You have beautiful features and beautiful hair. Can't go wrong.

rabbit

Veteran

Good to know. What about an inch or so below the chin? Just above/not touching the shoulders? I feel like sometimes that space between the shoulders and the bottom of the hair can be very flattering with more mid-length hair.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I really like these for wavy hair. They could feel "rock chic" or "glam" depending on what you wear

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rabbit

Veteran

Yeah caro's first one in particular was exactly what i was thinking of. Okay I'll stop hogging the comments now.

Dixie

What about making the golden highlights burgundy/wine and the rest of the hair a deep brown?
And growing the layers so you can achieve a more blunt mid length haircut (1)? I know, everybody has a long layered, mid length haircut nowadays, but I think it just looks so flattering and fresh on everyone.
What about (2)?

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Summer

Veteran

My initial reaction, and without reading the other replies, is that you could go shorter - about chin length - with some layering. You would still have the option to blow-dry straighter or leave wavy.

You have lovely hair, Janet, and I'm guessing that you can wear it equally well long or shorter.

Carla

Veteran

If short isn't in the cards, keep the overall back length, or trim it up an inch or two, but grow out the front a bit. I quite like Dixie's #2 look. and your wavy look. BTW, have you ever changed the side of the part?

Anonymous

Oh, I adore you hair as is! Sorry, no help am I??

I consider myself to have jaw sag problems and I grew out a chin length bob because I felt the angles of it led the eye right to the offending sagginess! Something a touch longer than that may suit you?

kkards

Veteran

no ideas, but i'm going to follow this because i'm feeling the same way….i'm also concerned about going short do to the dreaded double chin. but i'm ready for a change…

carter

Veteran

Love Dixie's second pic for you! Would it take too much time to get it that straight in the mornings?

Olivegreen

Love your hair long and wavy, the fullness looks especially great on you. Sounds crazy, but lowlights? Rich chocolate browns accenting the curl. And I am usually a "hell, cut it all off!" Girl. So, colour.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the suggestions so far! I'll respond more individually when I'm not on my phone, but it's interesting to see the ideas. Nothing sounds too drastic so far. My hair grows fast, so I'm not too scared of changing it. I'm wondering about letting the bangs grow out a bit and doing a more sideswept thing.

Carla, it's funny, I was just thinking yesterday that I used to change the part from left to right and back, but I stopped a couple of years ago, I guess when I felt like I realized in photos that the side of my part is the more expressive, pleasant side of my very asymmetrical face. The right side of everything turns down more. Again, not so visible when I'm smiling. I'd be willing to try it again.

But anyone care to push me more? Any more adventurous ideas?

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Well, I say try shorter. Because I'm loving having short hair :). I'm not sure I agree with your thinking about "hiding" your jawline... I find that shorter hair draws attention upward, to the eyes. What about something asymmetrical like Dashielle's, in her profile pic?

Gail

Veteran

Have to say that I am pretty envious of them all !! I have very thin mousey hair which when highlighted tends to break :((

Anonymous

I feel that if your hair is cut well it doesn't focus on the negative features, but accentuates the positive. Find someone who is an expert in cutting wavy hair because they know how your hair will fall and behave after they cut it.

BTW, my hair is short and I style it messy most of the time and all I get complimented on is how great my eyes look. No one focuses on the saggy chin area.

Anonymous

Oh wow, you look great in all these pics. I like styles 2 and 3 better on you than straight. You have such versatile hair, lucky you! I agree with Diane's comment about chin length--I've just realised that what she describes about that length drawing the eye is the problem I'm having w/my own hair. I honestly think yours looks great as is -- not much help sorry.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Playing with the waves please!- I love your idea of a side swept bang. Maybe longer hair in the front and slightly shorter in back (but no extreme wedge or layering in back). If done right, undercutting the back to be slightly shorter than the hair on top can create a nice sort of lift to the overall look. I used to have a hairstylist who did a great job with that. She's in a different city now. Leaving a little space between the hair and the shoulder can also create lift. And I think lift is usually good.

If you were to go shorter, the advice I've seen says to keep the ends or front layer ends or waves (anything that "points"), where you want the eye to notice first - so if you don't like your jawline, then you wouldn't want it to end there - it would need to be either higher or lower. You can also add a few front layers on purpose right where you want to direct the eye - which is why I like the idea of waves on you because in #3 your hairstyle seems very young and fresh and the wave of your side bang is directing the eye to your own eyes which are a beautiful feature.

Oh, and of course highlighting very specific strands of hair once you choose your style can also direct the eye. You may have to do this on your own to get the effect to be where you want it for your own styling.

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

A couple of additional comments Janet. If you want to go farther, I agree that adding in an unexpected color might be fun. I have highlights on the underlayer on either side of my face, which I've just colored cobalt. I like the idea of a series of wine pieces for you, however, the more the stylist has to do, the more maintenance. Also, to the point about jaw length hair...I gave up on trying to 'hide' my lack of jawline because I don't really have an option which fits with my style and thinning hair. Ultimately, I tire of trying to work within the ever decreasing box of feature flattery and am going to embrace the fact that I still have hair (who knows how thin it will get) and my health is still good. Until I make the decision to go 'under the knife', my personality will have to be my dominant positive feature. I see where I"m headed, as my wonderful Dad gave me his neck genes and he has no jaw definition anymore. He is well-respected and loved, and when I get there, I can only hope that I've inherited other, more important qualities! Try anything and embrace what you love when you find it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I vote shorter. How about an asymmetrical cut?

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Angie, funny you suggest that. I am oddly attracted to the look pictured in #1 here, although I doubt I would go that short. And while I like it from the angle in this photo, I saw another photo from that session that showed the other side of her cut, which I don't like as much (the front is long, but it's cut short behind the ear). But the idea of asymmetry appeals to me. It would have to work with the wave in my hair because I don't have the patience (or the ability) to straighten my hair every day, especially in summer when the humidity renders my efforts useless after an hour or so anyway.

My hair is not as thick and curly as it used to be. I wouldn't go so far as to call it thin, but it is finer than it was when I was younger. Layering has always worked well for me -- in the past to thin it out some, and now to make sure it doesn't look too flattened out on the top. I get triangle head very easily as my hair grows out! So you can see how my hair used to behave, the second shot is a funny bonus: what my hair looked like at age 19. LOL Oh, the 80s!! But hey, at least the styles of the time were very compatible with my big curly hair -- this took no effort!

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Style Fan

Veteran

Hey you look really cute with the Olivia Newton John haircut. I am useless with giving advice about haircuts because I lean towards longer hair.

gardenchick

Veteran

My hair is somewhat similar to yours...it's naturally wavy and I'm always wanting it to behave. I totally had that 80s haircut in your picture above around 30 years ago--and it looked pretty similar!

After going shorter and longer, my conclusion is that a look that frames my face is softer...it may be the same for you. Just wanted to say that I empathize, this is a challenging area for me. Good luck!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I REALLY think you should go short like those photos, Janet. Why not? It suits you. And will bring out your beautiful big green eyes. Not as short as mine, but definitely as short and the pics I posted. Anything longer won't feel like a dramatic change.

Kristen Stewart has straight hair - so I suspect that style will be a mare to maintain with your wavy curls.

(Fab '80s 'do).

rabbit

Veteran

Taking a photo with the back layers held back but the front layers still framing your face might be able to give you/us a fresh perspective on what the various lengths might look like on you. For example:

#1 with the longest visible layers being about an inch or two above the shoulders

#3 with the longest visible layers being jaw or chin length

#4 pulled back like a ponytail with the bangs and volume brushed far to the side to mimic Angie's fav cut.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

How about keeping the long hair but adding a contrast colour to the mid lengths?

Or for a complete contrast

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