To give my hair the big chop?

[sadsack78]

I am a full time carer for my chronically ill DH and am increasingly wanting to chop my hair short.

I currently have waist/ hip length hair and it takes an age to wash and forever to dry. I have to scrape it up in a bun to keep it out of the way and it gets soaked in sweat when I exercise each day. As a result, I never wear it down. I am also only able to leave the house every few months so I never see anyone.

I am thinking about cutting it into a bob so it's much quicker to dry and I don't have to plan out washing it and how to keep it out of my face. The only thing holding me back is the fear that I'll regret it and miss my long hair, which my DH also likes, and how long it would take to grow out if I regretted it.

Have any of you cut your hair short recently? How are you feeling about it? Any advice/ suggestions welcome!

My hair has never been as long as yours but I quite often go from mid-back length to quite a short bob. Maybe every year or so? It grows back pretty fast and I like dramatic changes!

Do it in stages first, elbow length, boob length and then collar length, I think hip length hair to a bob would be too much of a shock to the system!

Do it, start at collarbone length so you can still tie it back if you want.
Typically, the first time you cut long hair short, it grows back very quickly. However, the average is between 15 and 20 centimetres in a year.
So sorry that your DH is chronically ill.

I cut mine from bra strap length to my chin last week! I made my boss cry once too by cutting y hair, which was long enough to sit on at the time. Got fed up with it and chopped my plait off mid shift 🤣 (in my defense, it was a really hot summer day, the AC was broken and I felt like I was cooking!)

I would start with a mid length cut first. Shoulder length maybe. If you’re not used to short hair it can be more difficult to maintain than long hair and can need daily styling. Better for it to be long enough to make a ponytail for days when you don’t feel like styling it.

I think if you have up all your time then it’s a good idea to try a shorter style.

I agree with everyone about keeping it long enough for a ponytail. I find long hair much easier to maintain than short because I can just put it in bun when I can't be bothered, but a bob I need to straighten everyday if I want to look half decent.
I'm very jealous of your hip length hair though, mine doesn't grow past mid back.

Have a lob. A long Bob. Shoulder length

My hair a a similar length to yours and I think you would really regret it if you have it cut short. I cut mine when I was in my late tees and didn't stop regretting until it had grown back to its previous length, which took several years.

I tie my hair back very occasionally if I gardening or decorating, but other than that, I wear it loose - I've never put it up in my entire life, and I'm 66 now 😆. I don't find that it takes much maintenance - I wash and condition it in the shower every two days, which takes less than ten minutes and leave it to dry naturally. I don't own a hairdryer but do occasionally straighten my fringe if I'm going out. I can't think of anything that would make me cut my hair short !

I do this every few years - I was waist length at the end of lockdowns and went back to chin length as I was sick of it. I'm back to under the shoulders now and DH is already cackling because he knows I'll chop it again soon - I'm predictable!

If you're unsure, maybe a good haircut will help anyway - layers to reduce the thickness and bring it up towards the shoulders? You can always go shorter!

You still want to be able to tie it back because otherwise you have to style the bob.
You can donate the long hair to children's cancer charity wigs

Do it in stages. You can always cut more off but you can't put it back on once it's gone!

Go for it. Get some inspo pics and tell the stylist what you want and how much time you want to spend on it each day. A flattering cut can make you feel so fresh!

You might struggle to find a hair dresser who will do it. I struggle and have to show photos to demonstrate I've had it really short before.

A bob is much harder work than long hair. As others have said, maybe shoulder length.

Just chopped my waist length hair to just above my shoulder this week! Didn’t account for how curly it would be without the added weight was just wavy/fizzy before! But so far I’m loving it!
I always had it up in a mum/nurse bun due to work and children and never had time to wash,dry, straighten it.
Advise defiantly keep it just long enough to tie up for exercise and caring for hubby ?personal care.
hope you love your new look xx

I've just had my mid back length cut to just above collar length. It looks and feels so much better and I can still whack it up in a claw clip if I fancy it.

I can't scrape it in a Trunchbull type bun anymore so even though I have to 'do' it if I want it down, I look and feel much more polished.

Go for it - it will always grow back!

I don't know about you, but this really pisses me off. If I want my long hair chopped and a massive deep ^ shape undercut (my last big chop!) put in then that's what I want!

I'm in my 40s, I know hair grows and if I need it off, please cut it. Or give me the damn scissors and I'll take the big cut of the ponytail and then they can make it look nicer!

I cut mine myself before I go in! They never do it - but I guess they've had people say they're fine with going short then have a really bad reaction when it actually happens!