Sort of hypothetical hair question

Elly

Ladies, if your hair was in bad shape (damaged, ect) would you cut it and wait for it to grow back, or attempt to make it look nice with the damage until the damage could be cut off without changing your look much?

I'm asking because I have been thinking about it myself. I have hair down past my shoulders right now and would probably keep it that way if it was in good shape. To be honest, it doesn't look good. I lost a significant amount of hair from illness about a year ago and the new growth isn't healthy and is snapping, frizzy ect. I can't hold my hands above my head to blow dry, ect. My hair has started falling out again (medication reaction) and am trying to decide what to do with it.

15 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from krishnidoux

Maya

Veteran

I'm sorry to hear about this Elly. It is not an easy situation to be in. Hopefully Taylor will have some input.

Personally, I would cut it. If your hair is falling out, I don't see the point in keeping it long, especially when it is not in peak condition. Right now, I think keeping it as healthy as possible is more important than keeping it at an ideal length. If you keep it long, it seems like on top of the reaction to the medication, your hair will be breaking off. There is no shortage of fab short cuts out there, so while I haven't seen you, I can't imagine there is nothing out there that would suit. It might not be ideal but it can still look perfectly good and certainly better than a mass of damaged hair.

While my situation isn't as dramatic as yours, I can relate. My hair is not capable of looking good once it hits a certain length. I desperately wish I could have long hair, but whenever my hair grows out to that point, it ends up being...underwhelming, to say the least.

Will you be going off this medication at some point, or will the symptoms subside over time? If that is the case, you can wait to grow it out then.

15 years ago

wilson

Active Member

What a tough thing to have to deal with Elly. Before I give you my thoughts I just want to say that I really hope for your total health to be restored quickly.

Does short hair suit your face? My inclination would be to cut it to as short of a length that suits your face best and let the healthier hair begin to dominate again. Hopefully there will be some stylists and other women on the forum who have gone through something similar who can give better insight to this. I just wish you and your family all the best no matter what you decide to do!

15 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I'm sorry to hear you're having medical issues and that they're impacting your hair. I recently cut about 5 inches off mine. It wasn't so much for condition reasons as it was the style of the cut. I wanted to get rid of heavy layering in the back and that was how many inches had to go to do so. I love it and am so glad I did it. I think that having hair that looks good even if it's not your preferred style will make you feel better and more pulled together than trying to hold onto a style your hair won't support, you know?

15 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Elly, I'm so sorry. That must be distressing.

I would honestly get all of the damaged hair cut off if it were me, but keep in mind that my hair has been short (around chin length, and often higher) for much of my life since I was 14. I did have hair that was below shoulder length for a while in high school and college, but it really didn't look good - I couldn't keep the ends from frizzing and splitting, and when I finally cut it above shoulder length again, I wondered why on earth I had been holding on to unhealthy-looking length for so long.

If blow drying is too painful, could you ask a trusted hair stylist for a good wash-and-wear haircut that involves minimal maintenance? You may need to sacrifice your length, but in my opinion having a fuss-free hairstyle that looks good with minimal work is well worth it.

15 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Elly- I am sorry to hear that. I have a hard time blow drying my hair as well and am having my own growing out issues. In your situation, I'd cut it. It might be easier to get a wash and wear style short, anyway.

15 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

I'm sorry to hear about your problem.

I have to say, I would cut the hair if it's in a bad form, I 've done so myself. My hair was above shoulder length and totally damaged. I wanted nice hair again and I cut it to a pixie when an inch of my natural color was back. That was three years ago and now I'm again just over shoulder length. But it isn't a way for everyone, you have to think about it. Do you think you would still feel like yourself with a shorter cut? How short would you want to go? And what is your hair structure? I think your hair structure is a very important point here, because you say your range of movement is diminished. If you have curly/wavy/frizzy or coarse hair like myself, it's hard to pull of some short haircuts without a bit more styling. I remember some lengths being particular awkward. If you have straight hair, that's not so much an issue. I had to wear my hair super short or it went in all directions. Then it was better again at chin length.
I'm always for healthy hair, and if that means short then I say get a cut. But in the end it's your decision.

15 years ago

Kate

Veteran

I would cut it, but not shockingly short. I like my current hair length because it's just long enough that I can put most of it in a pony tail, and it will never be mistaken for a guy's hair.

How short has your hair been before? How short do you think you would be willing to go?

15 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

I love the idea of a hair reboot!

If you can do it (emotionally) I would cut it. I think once hair is significantly damaged, it's really really hard to bring it back. I love the idea of a fresh, new start!

15 years ago

Marley

Veteran

So sorry to hear Elly! I would cut it short - let the healthy strands dominate your head! Perhaps look at it as an opportunity to try a new style - not just with your hair, but with your entire "look." Wear/try different make-up - mix up your clothes - maybe you'll discover a completely new YOU. (Do you have a trusted hair-stylist? They should be able to advise you on what would look best and what you would be able to manage with your limited mobility.)

15 years ago

Kristine

Veteran

I agree! I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through Elly. Unless you're extremely attached to your long hair I would cut it. It'll be healthier and easier for you to style. You might even find you prefer it! I know I've both long and short and while I love long hair, it's very liberating and fun to cut it off once in a while. The key of course is a good cut that you love.

15 years ago

Elly

Veteran

Thanks ladies.

To answer some questions, I have baby-fine, straight hair. Usually it is very silky and I have a ton of it. Recently, since I have been ill, not so much. It is actually really hard to damage, but that was when I was healthy I guess. Right now it is very thin and just hangs in a curtain. I have had two hairdressers tell me that they wouldn't recommend putting layers in it while keeping any length.

I have worn it in every length from longish pixie to below my waist in the past. I personally have like the way it looks the best within an inch or two of my shoulders with some layers, but obviously my hair isn't really up for that. I had originally grown it out from being shorter because I was working and living in a largely Native American community and got less disrespect and teasing about looking like a white girl from coworkers and classmates when I wore my hair long. My family and the man I was engaged to at the time preferred it that way, so I kept it. Then it started to fall out and I was scared to cut it for awhile.

I guess I find this all a little distressing because it was only a few months ago that I had regrown enough new hair from my first bout of hair loss to not have be be careful of how I wore it so people couldn't see the thin spots. I was just finally starting to look normal! Laughs, oh well...

Now I am loosing again and on top of that the hair that has grown in the meantime didn't come in healthy, but drier and more brittle than my hair has ever been.

15 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Elly, do you have a hairdresser that you trust a lot? I would recommend finding a stylist that you are very comfortable with, mention your concerns about the hair damage and the thin spots, and see if there is a cut that they would recommend to make your hair look the best that it can.

I remember that one of my relatives had some issues with this post-chemotherapy - she actually was on a low dose of chemo that did not make all of her hair fall out, but it definitely was thinner than usual. She found a great stylist who cut layers in just the right place and made her hair look fuller than it was - not like her old hair exactly, but stylish enough to make her feel confident and beautiful.

Here's a link I found with some ideas for haircuts for women with thin hair. I also found a link on ideas for shoulder length cuts for thin hair.
Hopefully one of our resident hair stylist pros will step in and offer expert advice, though.

Good luck, Elly, and I hope you find a solution to your problem soon.
(Funny thing is, I have a similar problem with the opposite cause. I have fine hair, but it is very dense, and without a stellar cut and a LOT of layering it hangs "like a curtain" - just like you described. Very heavy and shapeless.)

15 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

Hi Elly!
Have you tried hot oil treatments? You can get those up to once a week professionally, it does make a huge difference on the texture of the hair.

Another thing is scalp dry brushing. It is done with a natural bristle body brush (bristle should be a bit hard, not soft). Do it gently in circles on your scalp once every day. It stimulate circulation and regrowth, and balances the natural oils too. The first time a few hair might fall, don't worry about it, they were supposed to fall anyway. A few hair, that is, not handfuls.

Then watch your hair thrive.

15 years ago

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