More hair talk--is long hair always less stylish? - YouLookFab Forum

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More hair talk--is long hair always less stylish?

Samar

Reading about haircuts in several threads lately (and I LOVE Suz's pixie!) has got me wondering. It seems like many (most?) fashionable women have a definite preference for short haircuts, and I guess I understand that, because a short haircut is inherently more "edgy", in most cases (I think Angie has posted about this).

I've had both short hair and long hair and have liked things about both. Sometimes I am self-conscious about my apple body combined with a short haircut (long hair balances out my bulk below, I think?) but I do like the ease and "fashionable" feeling i have with shorter hair.

My question is, are there longer haircuts that still look fashionable--that look like you chose your haircut and didn't just accidentally let it grow out? Or if you want to look cutting-edge (ha), do you have to go short?

General

26 replies

Latest reply was from HelenInCanada

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I'm definitely an edgy dresser. I am in the process of trying to grow my hair. Angie herself said it provides a counterbalancing softness to my sometimes hard looks. I do not have fine refined features which I believe help when you have short hair.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think one can be perfectly stylish with long or short hair! It just depends on the cut and style, and how they suit the wearer. Frequent trims and/or color touchups go a long way to making a hairstyle (no matter the length) look purposeful.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I think Janet hit on the real issue - upkeep! Short hair has to have upkeep whether you like it or not. With long hair you can get away with letting things go a bit between cuts. But I think long hair can look great.

DressLover

Veteran

I'm glad you are here, Mo. I was just going to type "have you seen Malina's hair?!" Seriously. Fab. Hair.

Fruitful

Veteran

Samar, my niggling question about long hair is not so much about looking sharp as looking age appropriate. I worry about long hair dragging my face down or seeming like I'm wearing youthful hair hence making myself look older.

Having said that, since I stumbled upon the way to grow my hair (which I thought couldn't grow past shoulder-to-bra strap - turns out it was just breaking off), I am trying to see how long I can actually get it!

I find that the way I sweep, quiff, or clip my hair gives my face the lift I want.

With short hair in the past, I looked like a giant mushroom head.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I hope long hair can still be stylish!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh my goodness! Long hair can *absolutely* be a billion percent stylish.

We have a forum member called Auburn, who I met in NYC last month. She has the most magnificent head of long healthy hair. I told her that if she ever cut it - I would have several apoplexies. And that goes for Mo too.

Rae has killer tomboy style - and her long straight black hair contrasts well with that look.

Anna, is a very edgy dresser - and I love the way her soft whimsical locks soften her harder edge. A great complement.

It really depends on whether long hair suits you and your style. It looks awful on me, which is why my hair is very short. It also does not work with my style or personality.

It's very important to get the right long hair style.

Kari

Veteran

I don't think that either long hair or short hair is inherently more or less stylish than the other. What I think makes the most difference is getting a haircut that really complements the person's face and style, and paying attention to grooming. That being said, I have a strong personal preference for above-the-shoulder hair on myself - I've been told repeatedly that I look much better with shorter hair than I do when it is long, and the shorter hair is much more fun for me to play with and easier to care for. Also, I feel like it's a shame when a long-haired woman simply lets their hair grow out without trimming or shaping or grooming it, especially when the hair looks unhealthy - I feel like it can really drag down a person's style. And ungroomed, shaggy, unhealthy looking short locks can do the same thing - I've personally been guilty of going too long between hair cuts after the cut stops looking fresh and stylish.
In addition to the example of stylish, long-locked forum members mentioned above, Phoebe, Angie's friend who was featured on the YLF blog earlier this summer, has long hair that looks gorgeous both straight and curly.
I have another friend who has had *very* long hair since before I met her - and to the point where she can easily sit on her locks, which is far longer than what looks good on most other women - but it really suits her. Her hair is thick, straight, and totally healthy and she makes sure to trim it regularly and condition it well. Most of the time she wears it in gorgeous woven/braided updos. But I honestly think she's an exception to the rule, because I've seen a lot more women with extremely long hair that looks shaggy and unhealthy, and think that most women look better with hair that's above mid-back length (at or above the bra band.)

Sylvie

Veteran

I hope not because I'm never, ever going to cut my hair short. (Did it once and I looked *hideous*)

Auburn

Veteran

Haha, Angie, this made my day!

Samar, I have almost always had long hair (since I had a say in my hair length, anyway) so I obviously think it can look good but I definitely understand your question and I do think that long hair styles are rarely (accurately) described as edgy, cutting edge, fashion forward, modern, etc. In my world, those descriptors seem to fit better with shorter cuts and styles.

For long hair, I think the extent to which it works depends on your hair type/texture, the cut itself and your bone structure. I have SUPER thick hair and a very oval face shape. Short hair is not my friend (and I have pictures to prove it). But this doesn't mean that I don't look wistfully at pictures of Suz's new cut and Angie (in person) and wish I could pull that off with such aplomb. On the cut front, I can go a long time between cuts (4 months is typical) but I am adamant about having long layers and other cutting techniques to enhance movement and give my hair a "look." I do feel that long hair that is ALL one length often looks very juvenile and unkempt. If you are feeling restless about your hair, I would consider having a new stylist (provided you aren't overly loyal to your current one) shape your curent length before jumping straight to a much shorter do. Just my two cents...

Heather

Veteran

Another long-haired gal chiming in! I agree with everything Auburn said. ;D

Queen Mum

Veteran

I've seen just as many short hair women looking frumpy as long-hair women. It's not about the length, it's about creating a purposeful and current style with your hair (and yes, long and straight CAN be a style... it just needs to suit you)

catgirl

Veteran

Agreeing with QM here... I don't think it matters - what matters is how well it suits the individual. I had hair like Rae's down my back for the longest time. I finally cut and donated it, and it's been too hard to grow it out that long again. I like change more than anything, so that's what I aim for - grow, cut, grow, cut.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I agree 100% with QueenMum. Short is NOT inherently stylish and cutting edge (ha ha). It's only fashionable if it's a fashionable cut and it is regularly trimmed.

Interesting what Malina said about upkeep, though. For me, apart from the cuts themselves (which I need every five or six weeks with short hair) I find short is much LESS upkeep for me. Virtually none, in fact. Whereas with long hair I have daily battles to keep it looking good, and although I can go much longer between trims, it doesn't necessarily look well kept. I think this goes to show how important it is to work with your hair's natural texture. The best and most fashionable cut will be the one that flatters you and that you are able to maintain in top shape without too much bother. For some women, that will be long hair. For others, some type of bob. And still others will do best with short.

Sara L.

Veteran

I have long hair at the moment although I've worn it short in the past. Personally I found short hair required more maintenance than I cared for. I don't like to wash my hair every day and found that I had to when it was short since it looked awful after it had been slept on. Like others have said here, I think long hair can look very stylish if it's styled and cut well. It needs to look purposefully long and not just accidentally long.

Kari

Veteran

Auburn and Sara also articulated what I was trying to say about the pitfalls of long hair better than I did - it needs to be intentionally styled, and I think that cutting *some* layers can go a long way to taking a long haircut from juvenile and lazy-looking to being more fashion-forward.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Is long hair less stylish? No, certainly not. It can be just as fab as short -- BUT, as Auburn, Sara and Kari have suggested, long hair has to look intentional. If hair is left to just grow long for nine months (which I admit to having done in the past), chances are it will look style-less, frumpy and terrible.

Also, you've got to be blessed with the right kind of hair for it to look awesome when long. The hair needs some weight and swing to it, or else you need a thicket of curls. And you need the right shape face, of course. Youth helps, but I don't think it's a prerequisite for long hair.

It's true that short cuts can be ultra-stylish or edgy, but for every great short 'do I see, I'm sure I see four short cuts that are either dorky, boring, grandma-ish or too severe.

ETA: I just got my hair cut short again -- and I have to admit, on me in particular, I feel more stylish with short hair. Partly that's because I'm much more likely to wear hats when it's short, and I think hats are stylish, and also perhaps because short hair suits my face. HOWEVER, I have lots of thick, shiny hair that grows quickly, so I grow it long quite often, and I like that too. I cycle back and forth between long and short, because I do feel that what's more important in terms of style is changing your hairstyle on a regular basis. Whether it's long or short matters less. I think changing the hair helps keep your style evolving.

taylor

Veteran

Beautiful long healthy hair is always in style!
I ditto what Angie and Kari said so very well!!
Is anything more beautiful,feminine, stylish and elegant than an up- do for a formal occasion or stunning and practical than a super sleek ponytail!
Not everyone looks good in a pixie...in fact most people don't!
You have fabulous hair...keep it long:)

Ali

I'm addicted to change too - since I was 12 it's been cut, grow, cut (never shorter than a short bob since a short disaster at 15!)
Now I'm growing again, but I'm collecting interesting things to do with long hair on pinterest so that I don't get into the ponytail/clip rut which is generally my downfall.

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I agree with QM - you need to have long hair with a purpose (I think I used that phrase to describe GP's new cut)!! I have had very long hair in the past, it's currently just to my shoulders, in a sort of layered bob. My hair grows really fast, like a weed, so I have it cut and coloured every six weeks - it's seriously spend-y maintenance-wise, but I love my hair the way it is now, and it makes me feel good.

When I'd just had my second son (probably in a fit of some sort of hormonal brainstorm) I cut it all off and dyed it red I did like it, but it was much harder to look after, I needed to wash it every day, colour it often, and cut it every 3-4 weeks. So I think it very much depends on your hair type.

krishnidoux

Veteran

I'm with Janet and Angie. As a recently gone short hair girl, I completely agree with Suz. You have to consider your hair strength and health. I think one of the reasons that push some older women towards shorter hair is hair thinning and hair loss. After a certain age, some hair just won't grow past a certain length even with the best of care. If your hair is not too thin itself (meaning, coarser), if you didn't loose a lot of hair, and prefer longer hair on you, then by all means keep it long!

If you hesitate, may I recommend this weird but tested trick: go to a hair wig shop and do try some short style wigs, for fun. Be sure to check your whole body in the mirror.

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Thought I'd resurrect this thread, since it's such a fun topic!

Personally, I have sported both ultra-short and ultra-long hair throughout my life, as well as the all-popular shoulder length. Long hair camouflages my super round cheeks (oh, to have high cheekbones!) and can be very versatile and feminine, but I also love the creativity and easy chic of of well-cut short hair, like the pixie a la Angie, Suz, and citygirldc, to name just a few on YLF! I agree with those saying all lengths can be stylish, depending on the health and cut of the hair. Of course, bad grooming, frazzled ends, no shape are not the most chic looks ever! Definitely the wisest advice is to have a hairstyle that suits your personality, lifestyle, face, and hair type! I guess that means I tend to be a bit...eclectic...lol.

Recently I had my very long hair cut into a nape-length angled bob with long bangs, which I quite love. Much easier, and it definitely feels a little more 'my age' (39). I'm experimenting with different "texturizing" products like pomade and hair mud, etc., to see what I can design.

One ironic - and strangely irking - thing I've noticed, though, is that quite a few celebrities who are considered "stylish" happen to have long, shaggy-like hair which I think makes them look less polished! I.E. Sarah Jessica Parker http://somecommentsonthetheatr.....ca-parker/, and Penelope Cruz
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=.....#038;ty=69
(Sorry, no idea why those links are soooo long!)

Anyway, just piping in to say to each her own, I suppose! Perhaps to my eye these ladies' looks are a tad umkempt, but to the beauty biz they're just sexily 'tousled' as they like to say. But SJP even gets away with major roots showing! Ah well.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

How funny - I happen to think this is one of the best of SJP's many hairstyles! To each their own, indeed. I have been told I resemble her by more than a handful of people, so I sometimes check out what she's doing and if it works or not. To me Cruz's hair is a bit beyond fashionably touseled but again, to each their own!

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I didn't read the other comments yet but i say NO! Long hair can be beautiful and super stylish! I think the key -- just like short hair -- is to keep it maintained and in a style. Keep your ends trims, your layers healthy etc.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

According to my parents (who know nothing about style, like you know how parents are); short hair generally means you're more confident and assertive, but long hair means you're more feminine and delicate.

"Short hair is for boys. Not girls who want to get married." -- My dad.

*tee heee.* My short hair drives them crazy.

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Oh no he didn't...lol! Your hair is super nice! I've heard many from the male species say they like the "girl with the cute short hair" or that short hair shows off her beautiful face. I agree with you that a chic cut also gives a very confident and independent vibe.

You can remind your dad that Halle Berry - queen of the short hair - just let go of Husband #3! LOL. http://www.oceleb.com/halle-berry/