This is not because I particularly want short hair. I have very curly hair and used to have it short in high school and pretty much hated it. But there are multiple things going on here:
I’ve had it long since I was independent. That is, since I was 20 - I am now 34, so fourteen years. I may have cut the bangs or had it styled in layers on occasion but it’s always been past my bra strap. It’s time for a change.
With all of the cuts, it’s not even. It needs to restart and refresh at an even length, even if I just start growing it again.
There are tons of curly-hair products on the market now and I don’t have to have the awful hair I had in HS - presumably I can cut it short and still keep it cute.
Still, I am afraid. I know rationally hair always grows back and I have nothing to worry about. But WHAT IF I HATE IT??? I have really really thin curly hair (which is why I can keep it long); but so thin, sometimes you can see scalp. It is healthy - just each individual strand is thin.
Plus my SO has always hoped I’d never cut my hair. Now he is certainly not the final arbiter on my hair but I do try to make him happy when I can. So, while it’s MY hair, that’s just one more person who is as unsure as I am of the whole thing.
Please help reassure me that it will be fine and I can just grow it back if I need to!
I’m about a week away from getting a short summer haircut. It grows back. Heck, mine grows so fast, it seems like it was just a couple of months ago that I had it quite short, and now it’s past my shoulders again.
Your hair texture might have changed. Mine certainly did. Also, the shape of your face might have changed. And last but not least, your tastes might have changed. Go for it.
In college, I didn’t really get my hair cut often. I would let my hair grow down past my shoulders, then get it all cut off super-short, and grow it out again. Hair grows!
How short is short? Are you talking a bob or a something like a pixie?
Hair always grows back. That said, and as someone who recently chopped off her hair for really short 'do (sort of a pixie with longer bits in the front), I would recommend having a stylist you know and trust give you the cut. That always helps. Or I think you can always do a consult; bring in some pictures of what you’re considering and get an honest opinion by a professional.
And because it bears repeating, hair always grows back.
Heck, I did it years ago and hadn’t regretted it. And I’ll bet long odds I had longer hair than 80% of the women in this thread or that you’ve ever met.
I am going to a professional salon that has won awards for how they treat curly hair; they are well known apparently all over New York State. I did some research beforehand hoping it would calm me down. It did help a lot; I am still nervous but at the least I know they know what they’re doing and it’s not a Supercuts or something.
And I am thinking something like a pixie cut - SHORT. Above the ears.
Lynn, you are right, of course the texture has changed. It was even thinner in college - with healthier eating and maintenance it definitely has more body now.
Worst case scenario: Even if you hate it (and you probably won’t), it’s good to try new things. Give yourself permission to try all of those new products several times and maybe even in different combinations. At worst, you’ll decide you’re a long-hair kind of gal and can begin growing again.
At best, you’ll find something new and fresh you love and you’ll wonder why you waited so long to change.
(I’m gonna bet that shorter hair will draw more attention to your eyes and smile, so if you have the know-how to play up those features with make up, go for it)
EDIT: Nevermind, you answered that already. Honestly, without seeing a picture of you I can’t tell you how it would look with your facial features. But I would almost guarantee that a salon on the level you’re describing (Is it a Ouidad salon?) will NOT let you walk out the door with something that does not flatter your features. Relax and go with your stylists’ recommendations.
OK, I know you want reassurance, but the pixie cut thing is kind of scary, just because the growing out stages are going to be pretty interesting with curly hair. But hey, what do I know? The one time I ever cut my hair short (in 5th grade) I hated it and it’s been long ever since, so I’m a bit long hair biased. Good luck!
I have really curly hair too and I cut it ALL off several years ago (the longest setting on my buzzcutter) and I loved it! It was so amazing to be able to pretty much wash and go and not have to wait forever for it to dry. Also it was really nice to just stop thinking about my hair for a while.
It’s long again now though, which just proves that it totally grows back
I say go for it! You’re going to love it, and if you don’t you can do amazing things to really short hair with just a few bobby pins.
I’ve chopped off my hair 3 times, but I’ve never gone shorter than chin-length. Still, I think it’s the same idea, and I’m actually contemplating going for a pixie-type cut sometime soon. The worst that will happen is that you won’t like it and you’ll have to wait for it to grow out a little. Most likely you’ll have an adjustment period, and then it will look and feel like you. Also, for what it’s worth, I’ve never met a man who really seemed to understand how women relate to their hair. This is for you. There are some decisions that a couple needs to make together, but I really don’t think this is one of them. Don’t let anyone rain on your parade!
Be sure to come back and let us know how it goes! Also, have you read this book? My curly-haired friends swear by it.
I understand your anxiety, I too have curly hair and cuts or any color processing can turn out great or awful! People with straight hair can’t appreciate just how crazy our hair can react to cuts, color, weather or products. I’m thinking of getting mine cut off this week too.
You’ve already done the most important thing, which is make sure you’re going to someone who knows how to handle curly hair.
Of course, that’s not a guarantee that you’ll like the cut, but at least you’re starting out with someone who knows something about curly hair. Also, I’ve been told that if you’re getting your hair cut short, you should always have it cut by someone who also has short hair. So that might be something to confirm.
I have very curly hair as well, but it’s pretty thick. I’ve been wearing it quite short since I was a senior in college (mumblety years ago). The one tip I can give you is: if you find someone who cuts your hair the way you like it: stick with them. I’ve had the same person cutting my hair now for 10 years or so and it’s wonderful not to have to say much about how I want it cut and know that I’m going to leave the salon with a haircut that I’ll like.
And…no matter what…you’ll be fine, because it really does grow very quickly.
So. When’s your appointment? And, when do we get to see pictures?
Well, count me in as another who is going to cut her thin, curly hair very soon. Mine is definitely not as long as yours (just below my shoulders), but let me tell you - my hair being short was one of the best looks I’ve ever had. I’m thrilled that I’m going back to it.
I just recently cut my hair off. I went from mid-back length (which I’ve had all my life) to a chin-length bob.
The good news is I think I look cute, everybody else thinks I look cute, and I also am getting tons of comments on how much younger I look.
The downside is that my hair is a bit more work now. I have thick curly hair, and now that it’s short, it’s like, “DOWN, hair!” I definitely need to use the flat iron in the morning to stop the more unruly curls from flipping in wild directions.
