Astrid, I have curly hair too, and I see exactly what you mean. Every curly girl has had that happen to her. Its really a matter of finding a good stylist. No worries though, because the angled bob works for you. Have you been to naturallycurly.com?

Astrid, I ADORE the side view!
I think the front is nice too but wonder about a longish bang or long tapering around your face to soften the cut a bit? I don't know the technical term : )
Besides, you're too cute for a haircut to look bad : )

Hi Astrid --

Man, I'm really not much help because I went for that cut deliberately a few years ago. Looks much better on you!

I do see what you mean about the shorter pieces not blending in as well as they should in the side view, but the average person won't notice. I also want to echo the "hair in shock" thing...mine seems to take several days to settle in post-cut as releasing the weight of the longer hair sends the wave pattern in lots of random directions.

For your next cut I'd advise you to have her start cutting dry. It really helps her see what the wave is doing where. [I don't do this any more now that my hair is longer, but it made a big difference when ears-y.]

Also: I know you hate product, but try starting with a bit of conditioner raked through your hair when damp. I find that works better for me than no product in terms of giving wave formation.

Most importantly: ENJOY that gorgeous-on-you new cut!

Truly Astrid the cut looks great to me! Remember other people aren't looking at you with the same hyper critical eye that you give yourself (at least that is what I tell myself!). Definitely give it a week or two to settle before you do anything else.

Astrid, I love this haircut on you. WOW. Honestly. LOVE.

It's really not so bad, it does look good on you but I do see what you mean of the shorter top layers...the way I would "fix" this cut would be to use thinning shears on the ends of the top short layers leaving length in general but helping the layers blend better.

Astrid, I love your cut so much, you might just see me post a copy cat in the next week of two, only I'm growing out a bang I know better than to have got, but did anyway.

I see how some of the top most layers are perhaps a little shorter than a true angled bob, but your second cut was a stylish fix, and I would not suggest any more cuts for a while. No to razor, thinning shears, or bang! Keep it short and bouncy for summer, with a trim in 6 to 8 weeks while the topmost layers get some length. Re-evaluate again in the fall.

Cheaper and more effective than another cut is experimenting with some product. I have 5 different leave in products that I rotate through depending on the humidity I'm dealing with, and the effect I want.

For maximum curl activation I use an alcohol based l'Oreal product ( scrunching curls ) or an A / G curl activator. I just rub the product on my hands and rake through my hair and let air dry. I get really defined curls, butjcthey are a little stiff or 'crunchy'. After my hair is dry, I might run myfingers through my hair, or break up the curls with an Afro pink.

My favourite product is Sebastien Potion # 9. It gives shiny but looser curls, that are very soft to the touch. It is really a curly hair leave in conditioner. A close second is a Dove leave in conditioner. It too promotes softer curls.

If I'm blow drying my hair, I use one of the leave in conditions, and Frizz Ease. Sometimes I flat iron, but usually only on the winter. I do air drying and curls in the summer ( May to October).

Pictures below to establish curl cred. #2 a little frazzled after a workout.

Are you kidding, Asrtrid? I don't know about the curly hair's problems, short layers on top or about the first and second cut, but in the end, this is a gorgeous look on you!!!!! Hey, I'm in awe for you!:-)
Esp love the side view!

Thanks Shannon! Yes, I agree about waiting a bit before I do anything else.

Thanks Ornella! And yes, bobs seem to work well on us. I just have to take care that I don't have pyramid hair -it's no good if your haircut mirrors your bodyshape. And I'm really not sure about posting a WIW everyday, but I'd like to post more often than I have so far. And you're right that it's quite a drastic change to get used to. But I have no worries.

Thanks Suz!

Thanks Debora! I promise I won't fret. I know that there could be a lot of improvement done, but I already do like it like it is now.

Thanks Sheila!

Thanks Liz! Problem is that I still haven't found a stylist that really knows how to handle curly hair. I've asked other people where they go, but most of my friends have straight hair and so no tips for curly hair stylists. I even asked a girl with gorgeous curls I saw at Uni one day, but she hadn't been to an actual hairdresser. I do know naturallycurly.com. When I first started to let my hair grow longer than shoulder length I read some about the topic and also came across this site. But I think they work a lot with (leave-in) conditioner, right? I'm not sure if it's because our products are different, but it just didn't work for me. So much conditioner does bring my curls out, but I also get massive problems with my scalp, I'm sensitive when it comes to that.

Thanks Pil! I do have a shorter strand on each side, but they get lost a bit. I will keep those short and I think they will be more visible If it's grown out a bit.

Thanks Vix! I'm glad you think it won't be noticeable to the average person. Makes sense about the wave pattern, I will keep an eye on this. And good advice about cutting dry. Now I just have to find a stylist who can do this! I'm definitely going to try that conditioner thing you suggested, maybe it helps. I know that most people think product is necessary with curls, but I just don't like most of them. Especially because leave-ins often have a certain smell and I'm very sensitive to it. I can't wear perfume either.

Thanks Shevia and Sarah!

Thanks Tracina! I'm not sure that would help. I remember when I was a teen and stylists couldn't deal with my hair they ended up using thinning shears - with not so good end results. I always ended up with hair that was even more 'bushy'.

Thanks Runcarla! First of all, I LOVE your hair. What gorgeous curls! Are you a natural redhead? My sister has red hair too, but hers is stick-straight. Your plan sounds good, that was my thought too. I felt like it might need some more change yesterday, but you all convinced me to be patient. Letting the top layers grow and trim in a few weeks is really the best solution. And thanks for the product recommendations. I mostly do air drying, even in winter. I always wash my hair in the evening, so the cold outside is not a problem.

Thanks Lyn!

Astrid you and I must be related

Jokes apart!!! Yup naturallycurly tricks doesn't work for me too... My scalp doesn't like live in conditioner and my hair the comb :D:D

Oh yes and I have not yet found a stylist who understands curly hair

May I ask what are your tricks

I'll join the chorus saying it looks very cute!

I don't do it every day, but sometimes I use either a very tiny dab of my regular conditioner (like pencil eraser sized) sort of scrunched into my hair as a curl enhancer, or a larger dab of alcohol-free hair gel. I do both of these on wet, freshly-washed hair before I "plop" it with a towel. Also, I have found that switching to conditioner-only washing most of the time (be sure to find a "cone free" conditioner -- one without silicone and related ingredients) has helped a lot with my hair looking and feeling greasy.

Lol, Ramya! I wouldn't say I have any big tricks, my routine is actually very short and boring...

I wash my hair every two to three days at the moment (I've done every four days a while ago, but that didn't work as well as I wanted). I always use product without silicone and try to buy shampoo with little alcohol and glycerin in it. The alcohol dries my hair out and my scalp doesn't like the glycerin. I always dilute my shampoo with water, I have a pitcher for that in the shower. I found that pouring this mix over my head while using my fingers to make sure shampoo gets everywhere results in a clean scalp that isn't irritated and hair that's not so dried out. I don't use conditioner everytime. If I do I just use it on the ends and wash it partly out again. When I had long hair I carefully squeezed excess water out before I let my hair hang overhead and put it in a towel (not exactly plopping, but similar). I remove the towel when the hair is only slightly wet and then let it airdry without touching it. When it is dry I use my fingers on it. Sometimes I also use a wide toothed comb later on. No hairbrushes or blowdryer. And my hair's never been dyed or tinted since it grew out, I have what some on the web call 'virgin' hair.

ETA
Thanks Mander! I think I'm going to give conditioner as a leave in another try, Vix also suggested it. I'm normally washing most of it out again.

I've found that some of the really super light natural oils work well on my curly hair. Although I do relax my curls into waves most of the time using a giant curling iron. After I'm done styling dry hair, I sometimes just use pure almond oil (a very small amount like less than a pea size) and first rub it into my hands and them just sort of smooth it over the hair very lightly, starting at the back to help calm things down. I'm not sure if the oil is good for the hair or not, but it seems to help on those humid days.

I don't use much leave-in conditioner either, and I concentrate it on my ends, keeping it away from my scalp. You may have better luck if you use a bit of leave-in followed by some gel, then diffuse on low for a few minutes. The diffusing really does the trick for me. I also stay sulfate and silicone free. I hope that helps.

I think your hair looks fantastic!

What you're experiencing is very common for those of us with curly hair. Please give it a week or so before you make any other decisions. I think when you wear curly hair short and layered you have to give up a little control. Curly hair does what it wants. I can style my hair exactly the same way two days in a row and get completely different results.

In general, curly hair needs a lot of moisture, and generally needs some sort of styling product. It's rare you can wash it and go. Even when my hair is in fabulous condition, if I don't use some sort of gel or styling cream it looks crazy. I rarely get good second day curls.

Make sure when you put on conditioner that you don't start at the top of your head and smoosh it down onto your scalp. That will usually give you a greasy scalp and the dreaded flat top. A good way to apply any sort of product to curly hair is to bend over and rake it through wet hair, starting a few inches from the scalp. I don't rinse conditioner out, but everyone is different. You may find it works best to leave just a little bit in, or to wash it all out and then apply just a tiny bit more. As for what products work, that's really just trial and error. Moisture, moisture, moisture! (On the hair, not the scalp.)

You have exquisite hair, and I think it looks amazing, so please don't worry. Sure, you can fine tune the hair cut if you want. It may take a while to find a good stylist, but you will. In the meantime, you look fabulous!

I really don't think it looks bad. Unless you really want short hair just let the top layers grow out & get the bottom layers cut a little shorter every 4 weeks until everything is back to normal.

Astrid, i don't think your mirror reflects reality...like some magick distorting mirror. Because all i see is gorgeous. I really live this do on you. Very very flattering and grown up but youthful, know what i mean?