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Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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Original poster

Hairstyles - What style do you have at the moment?

33 replies

IvortheEngine · 10/09/2005 21:33

I need to have a complete restyle I think. My hair has almost reached the length I need to put it up comfortably except I'm rubbish at it. I'm thinking of having it cut to chin level in a graduated bob (I think that's what it is called.) I had it once before and, for once, my hair looked okay. I also had it permed a few years ago when it was about this length. What styles are "in" right now? I have a fairly round face and wear glasses if that makes any difference. Oh, yes, and I'm mid 30s. I'd welcome any advice. TIA

OP posts:

spidermama · 10/09/2005 21:37

A bob. As per bleedin' usual. I'm fed up with having a bob year after year.

The trouble with graduated bobs is
a) they need to be cut very well to work.
b) they grow out in a couple of weeks and look terrible.
c) they make me look foolish.

Skate · 10/09/2005 21:39

Mine is straight, no fringe (side parting) and shoulder length. Has a few layers round the front and long layers at the back. I straighten it.

Basically I alternate between this sort of poker straight look or I have bobs. Have done for about, oooo, 33 years?!

Original poster

IvortheEngine · 10/09/2005 21:39

Ooops, I forgot to tie in the title and my first post! Everyone at school and at work seems to have the same style year after year and so I wondered what style people further afield have these days. If you say "Mine's a bit like so and so from Eastenders" that would be fine. I wish I knew a really good hairdresser to help me, but I don't, despite going to various ones locally. Help!

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SueW · 10/09/2005 21:43

Save up your pennies and go to somewhere like Toni and Guy and use their best stylist.

I do this once a year (ish) to get a new shape then get my SIL to trim it in between.

At the moment however, I want more length so I've got the 'fringe growing out, twist and the back and bung in a clip' style

Nightynight · 10/09/2005 21:43

why not look for hairstyles on the internet? google "hair style" Some sites have recommendations for different face shapes.

lou33 · 10/09/2005 21:45

Straightish, layered, side parting, ends at my shoulderblades. I rarely get it cut though, so until the beginning of the week it was about 4 inches longer.

expatinscotland · 10/09/2005 21:46

layed bob. easy to manage. cut every 5 weeks and highlighted every other month.

Pollyanna · 10/09/2005 21:47

I've had a graduated bob for a while now, but went to the hairdressers today and have decided to grow it long (but still layered), despite dh saying I'm too old to have long hair

Original poster

IvortheEngine · 10/09/2005 21:47

Thanks for both replies. They came in while I typed my second post.

spidermama - I agree. I had a graduated bob way back in 1993 (yikes!) when I lived in another town and the hairdresser was brilliant. I can't remember her name or the name of the salon, unfortunately. I think I could convince myself that it was worth the money getting it done regularly if it looked good and it was one of the few times my hair looked half decent.

Skate - That sounds good to me. I wish I could do something with mine. I need an idiot-proof style with no ability needed. One side of my hair kinks one way and the other kinks another so it's not easy to control. Hmmm.

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potty1 · 10/09/2005 21:49

Mines shoulder length and naturally curly. I'm stuck with it 'cos even the blimmin hairdresser can't manage to do a good job of straightening it!

Original poster

IvortheEngine · 10/09/2005 21:56

Thanks for the replies. I can type quickly, I just think slowly!

There is a Sassoon (sp?) trained hairdresser with a good reputation locally but I've been there and didn't think much of him and a work colleague has been there twice since I've known her. The first time she had been given a really annoying fringe and the second, some red highlights that didn't suit her at all. There is a Toni and Guy place but it's too far away (I live in the sticks.) Another work colleague (a chap) went there recently but I couldn't tell the difference.

I will look on the internet for ideas, thanks for the tip.

I wonder if I'm too old for long hair, despite knowing that's silly. I know people older who look great with long hair. The difference is that they do something each day to make theirs look good. I just want to look stylish. Or smart. Or something other than scruffy but have no styling ability and little time.

Off to see if there are more replies. Thanks all!

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albert · 10/09/2005 21:58

Mine is the very popular 'dragged through a hedge backwards' look - very easy to maintain. And by the amount of people who have this look, very fashionable too I would say

lou33 · 10/09/2005 21:58

How old are you?

merrygoround · 10/09/2005 21:59

I have spent a lifetime pondering the quest for the perfect hairstyle, and have concluded that for some of us there is no such thing. I get bored, even though a graduated bob seems to suit me too, sometimes I just want something else. I have bought various magazines to see what is going on hair wise, and it seems things are pretty "folksy" at the moment - ie long and flowing, waved, put up in clever ways that look easy but actually require a degree. The poker straight look still looks good, but I can't help but think that the best haircut is the one that flatters YOUR face and makes you feel good. If that graduated bob worked for you then why not go back to it? The length can be varied a bit. However, I agree with whoever said that they grow out quite quickly so you may need to think about booking up regular 6 weekly appointments. Buy a magazine or two and make sure you show the hairdresser what you like. If you go to a slightly more trendy hairdresser you are more likely to come out with a modern looking style - but it might be one that requires straighteners and the dreaded "product" to make it work. Round faces I suppose don't want to made extra round, so avoid a classic bob and go for layers that slim the face and kick out a bit at the bottom? Not sure about what impact glasses have on a cut. Seems more important that the glasses are flattering.

Original poster

IvortheEngine · 10/09/2005 22:00

potty1 - I'd be grateful for curly or straight. What I've got is odd hair that's straightish but kinks in silly places. At the moment it sort of peaks on my forehead as if I've got a fringe of some kind. It looks awful so I really must do something with it. Perhaps I should just learn how to put it up. It makes my face look thinner when it's up. It really changes my whole face.

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Original poster

IvortheEngine · 10/09/2005 22:03

albert - I think I'm one of the people you've been looking at!

lou - I'm thirty...cough. Sorry about that.

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lou33 · 10/09/2005 22:07

I have long hair still and i will be 39 in the new year! If you like it, keep it!

albert · 10/09/2005 22:09

Yeah! We are dead trendy aren't we!

starshaker · 10/09/2005 22:09

mmine is the i really need to do something with it ie wash it look lol

Original poster

IvortheEngine · 10/09/2005 22:10

merrygoround - You're right. I can't be doing with straighteners and product. Yes, I remember having a style similar to Lulu when she had her kick out type style. It did suit me. I have splashed out on new glasses recently and they look so much better. I wear lenses sometimes but can't at the moment because my eyes are too dry. I'll take a look at magazines and I'll make an appointment for a consultation perhaps. If I like the sound of what the hairdresser is suggesting, I can make the appointment. I can use the time in between to be sure that I'm happy with it.

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Original poster

IvortheEngine · 10/09/2005 22:16

lou - I've got the advantage over you because I've seen your piccie and you're gorgeous. I think that your hair suits you. I'm a little bit younger than you. My hair is rather thin and lifeless though. I don't think I'd mentioned that bit. It looks okay long and up. Okay short when in a great style. Okay when longish and permed with long curls (I think. There aren't any photos of me then.)

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merrygoround · 10/09/2005 22:18

Ivor that is SUCH a good idea - I mean the consultation appointment. I CANNOT STAND being greeted by the hairwasher before I've seen the cutter. How on earth can I explain what I want when my hair is wet and lying flat? I don't have the hairdresser jargon, and I need to explain by pulling and fiddling with my hair, and showing them what I find irritating about the way my hair is by the time i finally get round to going. I know what you mean about the lulu style - although she is a lot older than you the flicky choppiness of her cut seems very appealing. I guess it is a bit like that old Meg Ryan cut that was a staple a few years ago.

lou33 · 10/09/2005 22:21

What are you veering towards atm? Long or short?

blueteddy · 10/09/2005 22:32

Mine is long, no fringe & I straighten it when I wear it down, as it is naturally wavy.
I wear it up a lot, as it takes forever to straighten, because it is really thick.

Original poster

IvortheEngine · 10/09/2005 22:34

lou - Both. It changes every 30 secs. Pro for short - when it's cut really well (almost never) then I just have to wash, condition and dry and it looks good. Except when I have it layered and short in a stupid style and it just lies there. Pro for long - I've been growing it for about 3 years (I think ill health meant that my hair grew really slowly - at least it seemed to effect every other part of me so it doesn't sound unreasonable to me) and I think I'd go nuts if I cut it and went short knowing how long it would take me. Okay, that's not really a pro. Um. Pro - if I was to go somewhere nice, I could have my hair put up by a hairdresser and look nice and have a thin face for the evening. Am I going around in circles or what?

merrygoround - I sound such a drip (no pun intended) when I try to explain how useless I am at doing hair (remember, they're brill at it), the lack of time in the morning (to someone young and gorgeous and child free) and how awkward my hair is to style, and it is made much worse when it is wet and looks like butter wouldn't melt. I've been back at work a few months, I've slimmed down a lot recently, I've changed my awful glasses to nice ones and I really want to sort my hair out. It's a self confidence thing, isn't it? Look good feel good.

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