After my last haircut a couple of months ago I realized it was time to break up with my hairdresser. I've been going to her for at least 5 years now, and I think she's just not understanding me anymore. This last time she hacked off my bangs before I could tell her I'd been trying to grow them out. The time before she blurted out something about a mutual friend we have that I'm quite sure the other woman would not have wanted anyone to know about. The cuts and color just never seem right anymore. I think it's time for me to move on.

My hair is currently that awkward length that's not really long enough to do anything with, and not short enough to look polished. And I can't figure out whether to grow it out or chop it off.

On the one hand, I've worn it shorter for years and would love to try and grow it out again. I've had long hair before and I think it looked fairly nice. I also feel like I'm getting so close, why chop it off now?

On the other hand, I know it can look more polished when it's shorter, and part of me wonders if I'm getting too old for longer hair.

(Oh boy, that's a whole different thread, I know!)

I have crazy thick wavy hair that I think can look shaggy and overwhelming. I keep reminding myself that most of the women on television with pretty long hair have most likely had it styled by a professional, and it doesn't look that nice all the time.

I worry that I'm buying into the idea that longer hair is better, or still having hair issues from all the really bad haircuts I've had in the past.

But then, I often see women around town with bad looking long hair and want to run home and schedule an appointment to get a sophisticated cut right away.

So really, I have two issues, finding a new stylist when it seems like everyone I know goes to the same two women already, and trying to decide whether to chop or not.

<sigh>

Any advice?