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Happier hair-thanks Suz

Jenni NZ

Veteran

In my post the week I got back from holiday Suz noted my hair growth and wondered if that was relevant to my dissatisfaction. I went the next weekend for a cut. Just musing here about how it always seems to end up the same with any stylist no matter what I say! My stylists change because I go to a relatively cheap ( for NZ ) chain called Just Cuts for $30 per cut. I recognised the same one as last time though and she was available. She was incredibly careful the previous time and I liked what she did. So I asked for a bit longer on top but I think it's the same!
Pic 1: old cut from October
Pic 2: new cut right after being done
Pics 3/4/5 this week.
Angie has suggested I try asymmetrical. DH didn't like that idea at all. I'm also concerned it would get in my eyes and annoy me.
I'm happy with this cut but it looks similar length to the last one to me. I feel sharper somehow, less mumsy in some way? All good until another few weeks when the whole rigmarole happens again

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22 replies

Latest reply was from Jaime

Suz

(website)

Veteran

A haircut always helps!

It is tough to tell the difference but in 2nd photo it does look longer in front for sure.

Do you bring photos of styles you might like to try, Jenni? That is often the way stylists work -- they tend to be visual people. And sometimes when the hair is short, there will be a rough "growing out" period to get the new style you are after, even if it is also short. You have to grow it a bit sometimes in order to cut a different shape.

Because your hair is curly/ wavy you might want to look for a stylist who has special skill with that type of hair.

Anonymous

I love this hair cut on you! If my hair had any body whatsoever I would get the identical cut.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Cheers Suz and Sterling. What I did this time Suz was show the last photo and say I'd like similar again but a bit longer on top? I have taken photos of Jamie Leigh Curtis along several times in the past and once a really really short pixie I liked from an ad. Another time last year I searched images of longer curly grey hair and showed those. I wrote about that on the forum https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....e-somewhat

Runcarla

Veteran

Maybe like this?

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taylor

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You look terrific . Yep , repeat the rigmarole again in a few weeks

Christina F.

Veteran

Looks great! It’s such a boost, isn’t it? I just cut mine too - mine is longer so I do it less. But I get to a point where it loses shape at the ends, and I hate it and I feel like I need to go to the hair salon NOW. I had reached that point.

ETA - added this find accidentally. My phone won’t remove it when I edit, for some reason.

Sleeveless peplum top in stretch cotton poplin

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Vix

Veteran

Hi Jenni --

I like the new cut a lot!

Here's the thing...Mr Vix is like you -- he goes to the chain and never knows who'll he'll get and some cuts are pretty crap. I say, "can you make an appointment with a specific stylist?" and he never pursues.

So my advice to you is: ask to make an appt for the one you've had twice now! Or find out her usual schedule, then call before heading over there. And don't go if she's not working.

Alternatively, start looking for a regular stylist whose rate is about the same. I'm betting you can find one, because I'm in a HCOHaircut place and my long-time stylist was about half the regular rate. Anytime you see a woman whose cut you admire and whose hair looks to be about the same texture as yours -- ask who does their hair! You never know.

I'll add that IME fancier salons and higher prices don't necessarily get you better cuts, but of course they can.

Personally I've been beyond annoyed the year+ because the stylists at two different spendier curl-cut salons kept cutting off the same damn 3 inches (2 months growth) despite telling me my hair was in perfect health and sure, they'd "dust" the ends. Grrrrrr. Finally found one today at 3d salon who got it. So...move on if you don't like 2 cuts in a row.

Also, since you seem to be a "Gravy" (grey + wavy) like me --

There's a common misconception that grey hair is more COARSE but according to top hair folks like most aging hair it's almost always more FINE and easily dehydrated, which made strands look wiry.

I'd make sure you're trying to keep your hair conditioned but not over-conditioned. [Spoiler alert: tricky!] Fancier salon places here almost always deal with dyed grey so they were steering my undyed greying self to products that made things worse, another grrrr. I've almost written a boring post on my Hair Rehab project a zillion times since I started it last summer but so boring haha.

So just watch out for that, as too-dry hair can lead to breakage which can it turn throw off cuts (before/during/after!).

Good luck!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Vix that if you like this stylist, best to try to keep her! A good stylist -- and one who KNOWS your hair -- is worth waiting a few extra days for if you have to! The longer you go to her the more likely you'll be able to communicate exactly what you are after (if you want a change, that is!) I do think playing up the waves would be a really fun change for you. But also I love your hair super short.

Bijou

Veteran

You new do is lovely and it is great that you are feeling more like your stylish self. You have pretty hair, so I would like to see you play with the waves and length a little, although your pixie is so fun and fashion forward too. It is always nice to have options. I like how the lady in Runcarla's photo pinned her fringe to give her a different styling option.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thanks Taylor, Christina and Runcarla- no problem about the Find Christina! It's actually a really cute red top and I'm happy to see it!
I saw you add those pictures before Carla- they are great, especially the one from the side, I like that one better.
Vix that's all excellent information- thank you! I think over some years (decades) I've found that the fancy salons didn't necessarily do any better than the cheaper ones. I started going to some fancy ones at 17 but after a while would sometimes get new styles at the fancier places and then just get those copied for a while at the cheaper places. Then twice since we have lived in this area ( for almost 30 years) I got a moderately priced stylist I really trusted for several years at a time, maybe 2-3 years. Each time they moved on. About 10 years ago I was going to a really, really cheap place that started up- the $10 Haircut Bar, and we were visiting friends. The sister of our friend couldn't believe I had only paid $ 10 for my cut- she had recently had her hair done for $ 200 and TBH I certainly couldn't see that it looked any better than mine. It just kind of looked messy and in my head my "shoe currency" really kicked in- which is, I could have bought a realy great pair of shoes with that money, and those I would get to keep for way longer than a haircut.
I have had the same trouble as you though with hairdressers taking too much off when promising not to- which has also happened to both my daughters.
I might try to see this stylist again - I do know her first name, so could ring beforehand and ask if she was on. She does work on Sundays which is often when I go, a less busy day.
Thank you Bijou- you're always so generous with your praise!

Jane

Veteran

(Shoe currency!!

I think you are feeling better in yourself? Haircuts always make me feel better - rather like not letting my hair boss me around!!

I’m nodding along with Vix. I’m also thinking that it might be worth playing with products in your hair, just for fun and seeing what might happen. I’m almost thinking spikey at the back and front. Then perhaps another time some mouse for volume.

kkards

Veteran

Vix said exactly what i was going to....you dont' need a fancy or expensive salon to find a stylist....but i do think that you need someone who gets a chance to get to know you and your hair.

JAileen

Veteran

When you see a different person each time, they don’t know you. They might think mumsy, not realizing you’re actually someone to contend with. I think that’s the advantage of having a relationship with a stylist.

I love the picture Carla posted. That might look great on you..

BTW, my haircuts cost $40 plus tip.

rachylou

Veteran

I like it Short hair does mean going more often... I think it looks longer... I think it looked longest on the first day actually, so there may be a styling thing going on. More money definitely doesn’t mean more skilled cuts, but I will say this... the way the business works, chain places definitely mean a certain set of cuts. People go to school and then develop their real repertoire on the job. The salon teaches them. To learn more cuts/go farther afield, stylists have to hop around, take themselves off to seminars, find the willing to experiment on. This usually means leaving a bread-and-butter salon...

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thank you Jane, kkards, J'Aileen and Rachylou. That's a good point Rachylou, that perhaps these places can mean a certain kind of cut, could explain why they all end up feeling similar. See, for a while there were two women there who really did know me and my hair. Tammy and Maria, and I had a great chance of getting one or other of them. One time I took my older daughter when she was visiting as she was complaining about the cost of her edgy asymmetrical cut. She got Tammy and I got Maria- I think Tammy was better and my daughter was really happy- she said it was the best rendition since she first got that cut.
Funnily enough there have been so many Marias- that was Spanish Maria, I've also had Samoan Maria, Indian Maria and this latest one for the last 2 cuts is Chinese Maria! So I can remember her name to ask for her! And then as I was walking to another part of the mall just after the cut, in a different chain haircut place there cutting someone's hair was Spanish Maria! Perhaps the terms and conditions of employment were better? She did a double take and smiled when she saw me, so obviously recognised me, and I could go there as well. I would chase Tammy up if I knew where she was- Spanish Maria may know as they seemed to be friends and told my daughter and I that they always cut each other's hair.
In the end, though I could play with the styling more, the lesson is probably just go once it starts to look mumsy and annoy me, because I get that feeling Christina mentions when I have to go to the salon NOW. And it does make me feel so much better. Even if my husband prefers it a bit longer. His life will be better when I'm happy- as he has quoted to me before "Happy wife, happy life"!

karen13

Veteran

I like the new cut and know exactly what you mean about the short cut needing maintenance. I am growing mine a bit longer, for no real reason just to see if I like something new, and just went for 10 weeks without a cut. Boy was it a hot mess yesterday when I finally got in to see my overbooked stylist. It looked lovely when she finished, but today will be the test as I'm not much of a hair fusser.

Invest in some styling products and play a bit when it reaches the frumpy stage. How about something like these? A bit of spikiness at the top, but not mohawk territory.

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Runcarla

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Here's another! I thought you and this woman have similar facial features. Don't you have a curly haired daughter with a style like this?

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thanks Karen and Runcarla! I'm not much of a styler either Karen, so as you say the day after is the test. I do own 2 different styling products though- whoa!
And yes Carla my daughter has hair very like that- hers is even thicker and curlier than mine ever was, thanks to her Dad having thick curly hair as well as me.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I see the difference and I like it! Yes, what I save on dye I spend on haircuts. Going for one in a few hours actually!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thanks Shevia. Hope it goes well. Out of interest, do you use product? I only use one of my products on the very odd occasion ( the more clay-like one) because I HAVE to wash it out the next day or it feels horrible. The other one which is much lighter, called Smooth and Groom, I don't have to wash out as it still feels/looks OK if I don't.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I really like #2. Nice longer front.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Jenni I always use Tigi Catwalk curls on my hair and scrunch it in to maximize the curl and prevent it from becoming a puffy mess. I also use a lot of conditioner as my hair is very dry. Haircut went well (I think!), thanks!