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New haircut

anne

Veteran

I got my hair cut a couple of weeks ago.

2 main questions

- how to style it. I'd like more volume and texture. I've been using hair wax, which I like the look of initially, but then seems to make my hair look oily, which it seems to get pretty quickly anyway

- the fringe or bangs, often get in my eyes. Apart from pinning it away with a bobby pin which I've been doing at home, any other suggestions

Most feedback has been positive and some people say I look younger. A child at school did ask DD13 if I was her grandmother though (and I've been doing the sums, and I'm quite old enough to be, and neither I or the next generation would be a teen mother)

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General

36 replies

Latest reply was from Style Fan

rachylou

Veteran

Nice! Can really see your face. My thought is blow dry with a round brush and piece it out with just a little wax, away from the roots.

anne

Veteran

Thanks Rachy, I've not much blow drying experience, but I'll give it a try!

Sal

Veteran

Blowdrying upside down can be helpful:)

I like it Anne - you look great.

Bonnie

Veteran

No tips but I really like it. Your hair is a beautiful color.

anne

Veteran

Thanks Bonnie and Sal - I'll try blowdrying up side down.

The blond colour is a bit artificial. Someone at work told me I should get highlights which I'm considering.

Gigi

Veteran

Super cute! The cut shows off your pretty eyes.

If you want texture without a lot of grease, you could try using a sea salt spray. I have one from John Masters Organics that is just water, sea salt, and lavender oil--so it's not greasy. Some of them have a lot of added oils, so be sure to read the ingredients label.

For accessories, you could try getting a big barrette and using that instead of a bobby pin.

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annagybe

(website)

Veteran

there are dry waxes. Look for matte pastes

anne

Veteran

Thanks Gigi and Anna. I'll look out for both those, sea salt spray and matte paste.

If I'm blow drying, should I be using heat protectant spray?

Bijou

Veteran

Anne this looks lovely, it is a big change. Children have no idea of age, you do no look like a grandmother.

If you want more volume drying you roots upside down will give your hair more lift and is similar to using a brush. Given how short your hair is you won’t really have to use heat protectant because the condition will be good anyway.

I like the idea of playing with different styles and hairpins for variety. If you have a straightening iron you can use that to make your fringe wavy.

Jane

Veteran

Really super, fresh and lovely to see your fab smile. It makes your eyes really stand out.

I think grips can look super - a friend wore two that said ‘girl power’ a couple of days back.

I would experiment with some of the suggestions. Hairdryers and a curved brush can achieve a lot and mouse and salt spray I find useful. I do agree with you that a little wax goes a long way.

It’s a super cut!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Looks fab! Really brings out your face structure and fab skin.
With short hair, you can get away with heat styling and crazy products without worrying much about damage, as it will all be trimmed off regularly. I use a LOT of products for volume: volumizer or mousse or gel applied before blow drying, then dry shampoo for added volume, then brush that out and use either wax/pomade or spray-on texturizer and hairspray to finish. I like BiG hair!

You can decide if you want a shiny/oily appearance or not. Most products come in “shiny” and “matte” versions these days, which I love (I prefer matte).

Adriana

Veteran

I like it Anne. You need to get used to it. Your hair needs to get used to it. And learn different styling methods. My hair behaves very different when I just let it airdry or use the blowdryer. Last year I bought a hairstraightener for my bangs. Wow, I look very different when I use that. I find all those mousses and waxes difficult. Plus I don't like the feeling of product in my hair. I only put a tiny bit of (soft) wax sometimes on the fringe (when getting long) to not get it flop around or stuck in my glasses. Upside down blowdrying sounds like the fastest way to get some lift and volume.

Style Fan

Veteran

It takes time to get used to a new cut, Anne. Your new style shows off your eyes and is very flattering. I have zero talent with a blow dryer and use a hot brush thingie. There are lots of them around at different price points. I have one by BabyBliss, one by Conair and one by Revlon. For maximum volume, I let my hair air dry 60% then dry it upside down with a regular blow dryer until it is almost dry. Then I finish the drying with my hot brush. I use a hair straightener to smooth it out.
I use very little product. I don't like the feeling of those things. My hair is very healthy and seems to survive without it. I don't colour it and maybe that is the key.

anne

Veteran

Thanks Stylefan for introducing me to the concept of a hot brush - I hadn't heard of that.

I have to say in all honesty that I don't look as good as in this photo. There's some sort of beauty filter on the camera that I can't work out how to turn off! (I have more wrinkles)

lyn67

Veteran

Great pixie with a pretty fringe! YLF! Is the back all short?
Yes, I think using volume shampoo and mouse then blowdrying upside down and using a hot brush to lift the roots will help them to stay up even if edges will weight down themselves. A little dry shampoo sprayed on roots (just after blowing and styling with the brush) will also help.
Then, my newest discovery is a wax spray (wax cream or gels are too much for my thin hair) . This will add more texture (on each hair piece on its own) and a great flexible hold -which I could never achieve by using any hair spray (no matter the special kinds they all give a very fragile hold and dry feel to me- I mean, they can set the style and looking great till the first wind...then lost the form, get all a mess, hair pieces feeling even dryer and thinner-style was very hard to repair-(without washing) using only a hair spray again will set the look again but looking like a grandma...:-(.

viva

Veteran

I'm flagging this thread, Anne! I've noticed your short hair in some recent posts and I have to say that I LOVE it on you. I think it's a fabulous look. (And it's not just the beauty filter that is making you look so pretty.)

I just got my hair trimmed (it was short to start with) and I'm stumbling with products while I try to recreate the "nonchalance" my stylist achieved when he cut it. He used a big round brush when he dried my hair but whenever I try to use a brush, my hair gets very round, which is not the look I am going for! I do have success drying everything pushed forward; that seems to help build some volume. But I really like the idea of dry shampoo and/or spray wax to help with volume and shape. I think it's going to take some work and trial and error to get it right. Good luck (to both of us)!

anne

Veteran

Bijou (sorry missed you before). Of course you are right about children. I remember often coming home on the first day of school and our parents asking us to tell us all about the teacher and, among other things how old they were. We would have no idea beyond "grown up"!

Thanks for the reassurance on heat protection and idea about using a hair straightener (which I do have).

Lyn - of yes - I need to have styles that work in wind. I'm in a windy city and my hair can get windswept in the 40m it takes to get off my bus and in my building! (on the days when I don't cycle, but I redo my hair on those days). This is a very informative thread! WIll now look our for wax spray

anne

Veteran

Viv - we were writing at the same time. There's been such a wealth of suggestions here, haven't there. Good luck to you too, and thanks for the compliments!

Scarlet

Veteran

Um, wut? Your skin looks amazing. And I am sure it does even without the filter. But anyway, the hair. I love this style on you! Maybe try mousse? That should give a little body and hold without the heaviness of wax. Besides that, if you are a lazy blow dryer (like I am), you can just use a round brush to train the bangs to the side.

Sara L.

Veteran

I think it looks great! You've already got some great advice on tricks and products to try. Good luck!

Katerina

Veteran

Love it!

Anonymous

Really nice change for you Anne, and once you get the hang of it, a cut like this is easy to style . Mousse, or dry shampoo spray /powder can add some grit and volume, and then some matte paste to separate the ends .....all you need!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Super cute. You have beautiful skin.

I GET the fringe and specs problem. You are at the in-between stage here. Go shorter or longer and things work out.

Have you tried bringing out the natural wave with product?

Vix

Veteran

Hi Anne --

Minimal help with products...try looking for ones that say "texture cream," perhaps? (can barely manage ones for my hair type).

But love the cut on you and hope you enjoy playing around with it!

JAileen

Veteran

Anne, you do NOT look like a grandmother. I like your new cut. Yes to cute barettes, and maybe a little product as Lisa says.

Joy

Veteran

There are lots of volumizing products out there now. I like the salt spray, blow drying upside down and spraying a little hairspray on the underside while hair hangs upside down, and dry shampoo, also used with a blow dryer. You may need to wash your hair daily to keep oiliness down. That will help volume too. Have you ever tried a flat iron? It can also be used at the roots to add volume.

Runcarla

Veteran

You're channeling Claire (played by Robin Wright) from 'House of Cards'!

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anne

Veteran

Thanks everyone. I tried blow drying upside this morning (doing it with a round brush was less successful; it kept blowing off the brush) used some dried shampoo.

I have now bought some salt spray (haven't worked out how to open it yet) and some matte paste (tried a tiny bit).Pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive they were. Didn't see wax spray but I'll keep an eye out for it.
My girls do have some gel at home (for dance concerts) but I haven't tried that yet.

Angie, not sure how much natural curl there is; how do I bring it with [which] product?

Joy is a flat iron the same as a hair straightener - I do have one of the latter.

Carla - thanks (love your new cut , btw)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Anne, you need wave-enhancing product, and let it air dry.

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