I Want To Wear My Hair Down

Thistle

About 10 minutes after getting up each morning, I tie my hair back in a ponytail.

Yeah. Why do I pay for those expensive haircuts again?!?

My hair is super thick, shiny, and I do maintain it with regular cuts. But I automatically pull it up almost every day, even when trying to wear it down.

Any guidance? Maybe a self-help book out there?

5 years ago

General

28 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Ugh. You and me, both. Is it any easier in winter? In the summertime, I just want it off my neck, but when it's not hot, I'm much more likely to leave it down.

5 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

SAME. I don’t know why but even when I’ve just washed it, I pull it back after a few hours almost unconsciously. Good haircuts help, and styling products keep the curls curlier and less in my face.

And then the flip side is that ponytails can give me a headache...

I bet if I ever cut my hair really short I’d never go back.

5 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

In summer I go back and forth depending on if I'm indoors or not - outside I usually need to put it up, inside with A/C, no problem, down it comes. I use very soft wide elastic blonde bands and I don't put it tight to wear it up so it's very easy for me to go back and forth. I just put the band in my pocket and keep an extra in my handbag.

I don't like wearing it up all the time because it breaks the hairs so much.

I think you just have to get used to feeling it down. If you run hot, it may be an issue.

5 years ago

SarahD8

Veteran

Texstyle, what brand/type of hair elastics do you use?

5 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I find my head hurts if I wear a ponytail. I only wear one during Yoga and workouts to keep my hair out of my way. I must have the most sensitive skin in the world.
Texstyle has a point. I like the feeling of my hair on my neck. I would miss it if it were gone.

5 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

This is the big pack I bought to share:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod.....&th=1

5 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Mine is cut short enough so it's just about impossible to put it up (half of it would fall out, even at the longer length it is now, without half a can of hairspray). Maybe not the best solution?

5 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

In general, I only put mine in a ponytail for workouts, when I'm out taking pictures and don't want it flying in my face (or in front of the camera, which has happened), or it's really hot out. But while I was on vacation with my husband a few weeks ago, I put it back in a low loop/ponytail, almost like a quick messy bun at the nape of my neck, and my husband liked how it looked, so I've worn it that way a few times with him since then. But mostly I do that when I'm in need of a haircut, to try to hide how scruffy my hair is getting. But I can't stand wearing it back for long -- it just starts to feel uncomfortable after a while, even though I don't pull it back tightly at all.

5 years ago

SarahD8

Veteran

Thanks Texstyle! (I'm on my last elastic band of one of those seemingly endless Goody packs and it's stretched out so this is a timely discussion)

5 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

Do you ever do braids or half up/half down styles?

5 years ago

Cardiff girl

Veteran

There are lots of great hairdos that you can do yourself that aren’t just a simple ponytail but get your hair of the back of your neck when it’s hot.l think it’s just having the time to practice until you can do them as quick as a pony and it’s a great way of giving a different look to an outfit without spending any more or adding accessories.

5 years ago

kerry

Veteran

Is this a weather thing? If not, maybe a half-up like some have suggested will get your hair out of your face but still be down. If you’re putting it up 10 minutes after you wake up because you’re busy in the morning with little ones, soft ties like texstyle suggest would be good. You can put your hair back for the morning rush and then take it out before you head to work.

5 years ago

Anonymous

It is a weather thing for me, Kerry. I sweat along the nap of my neck. Ick.

5 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

Okay, I am a short hair person, because anything longer than my shoulders would drive me insane (sometimes, anything below my chin, which is why I end up chopping every couple of years), so my perspective is obviously skewed. But would you consider an undercut at the nape? If it's the sweatiness/weight, this can really help. I have a couple of long-haired friends who've gone this route. With thick hair, the undercut is totally hidden when your hair is down.

5 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I find I do this when my hair gets overly long. It feels like it has no style and just hangs there, and it is easier to pull it back and out of the way. When I have it cut mid-length, but still long enough to pull back, I almost never wear it back because it looks intentional when it's down. Perhaps you don't want to cut yours any shorter, in which case, have you tried braiding or other interesting up-dos?

5 years ago

Kari

Veteran

What is it about your hair that’s causing you to put it up? Is it hard or time-consuming to style or maintain? Do you love the way it looks down, but find that it gets in the way? Or is it that you feel like you want to “do something” with it so you put it up (and maybe could explore alternatives like loose updos or braiding or just pulling pieces of it back?) I’d explore that, then discuss next time you’re with your stylist.

I’m in a different situation in that my hair was too short to even pull halfway back for pretty much the last decade-and now it’s “long” for me but I can create sort of a short-hair look with an extreme side part, asymmetrical bob, heavy bang. I have also transitioned to washing it way less often. Now I tend to wear it down for the first couple days after washing, and once it’s got more product in it, I play with soft updos or a low, short ponytail in a clip (elastics pull my hair too tight/flat to my head or else slip out, clips give me more leeway and allow me to pull strands out to soften the look, add curls, etc.)

5 years ago

jussie

Veteran

I’m the same. I actually like the look of long hair pulled back. I sometimes do a very low, lose pony on the front left of my chest as shown in the pic. It kinda of provides the comfort and styling ease of a pony but looks a bit softer and more feminine imho.

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5 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

You are lucky to be able to wear a ponytail so much. I find I get a headache from my hair being pulled if I wear a ponytail for too long. I mainly wear my hair tied back when exercising and occasionally at other times.

Because I do wear my hair down, I find my styling wand so very useful. I am very quick at making my hair straight or curling it, so I feel that it looks polished loose.

5 years ago

Anonymous

I’ve been wearing mine up tons too, but it was sparked by heat/humidity & a lot of hair shedding at spots in back. I am able to disguise the hardest hit spots when it’s up.

5 years ago

Daisy Avalin

Active Member

I got fed up with just pulling my hair into a ponytail and not wearing being able/feeling it looked good with any other upstyle, plus down it just looked blah/got in the way.

I had it cut into a pixie just after I had Child, and it's brilliant! I can wash and go, or style it in spikes/bed head, or can get up and walk straight out the door without doing more than finger-combing it!

5 years ago

Anonymous

My hair is not short like Angie’s but it is too short to tie up or back. It forces me to be on my game each day. Believe it or not- it can be a good thing for someone who spent 20-30-40’s having hair tied. I look at pics and find look was aging and not flattering on me.

5 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I would NOT look good in a pixie. I wish I would. I love the look.

I want to wear it down. But, it touches my face and neck and drives me bonkers.

My whole childhood, my mother yelled at me to get the hair out of my face, sooooo... (and yes, I let my girls have hair in their face all the time. Unless my mom is visiting.)

I like my hair, and I'd like to make it more a part of my style.

I'm wondering if I started with wearing down for 20 minutes, then moving to an hour to make myself get used to the feel of it down.

5 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

I do this every summer. My hair is so stinking thick that it is almost gross in summer. I just use ponytail holders or jaw-style clips when it's hot and enjoy a warm head in winter.

5 years ago

Jane

Veteran

I wonder if it is worth having a good trawl through amazon and buying some different clips and things and seeing if there is a part up part down solution that will work. I do like Jussie's side pony tail.

5 years ago

Joy

Veteran

It is summer. Maybe if you think of it up or back as a temporary fix it would help. Embrace it and play with styles for daytime, wearing it down at night. How about a bit of braiding? DDIL wears a bit of French braid on hot days along the front hair line that keeps it out of her face and looks cool and attractive.

5 years ago

Anonymous

THISTLE- I didn’t know we were sisters - mom always made the same comment to me too.....lol

5 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I haven't read the above comments in detail...I see that you say that your hair gets in your face and drives you bonkers. Have you tried a headband? Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Free People all carry nonjuvenile hair accessories.

5 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I also haven't read all the comments. All I can say is this is exactly why I cut my hair shorter the first time (at least 15 years ago, maybe 20?). I was constantly pulling my hair back in a pony or a "bun" which was more like a nubbin because my hair is so so thin. It looked okay in front but horrible in the back.

So I told the hair stylist to cut it short enough I couldn't put it in a pony. And didn't look back.

In past couple of years since we've moved I've been trying to find a new stylist and my hair had grown long enough to put it in a pony again, I thought I'd try longer hair one last time. But sure enough, I kept pulling it back.... so CHOP it went again!

I am due for another hair cut and I know it because I can pull my hair back into a just barely pony right now...

If you think about it, a reverse bob is basically the equivalent of someone cutting off a pony tail.

P.s. if anyone cares I am trying to go natural! I haven't had my hair colored in about 5 months or so. I have no idea what my natural color is anymore so I figured I'd find out. I do have one completely white shock growing in in the front, though you can't really see it unless I pull my hair back severely like a Robert Palmer dancer.

5 years ago

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