Cutting off long hair stops your face looking fat apparently - talk to me about tonight's hair cut...

[cherryburton]

I read an article on MSN a week or so ago which claimed that having long hair can drag your features down, and that shorter hair is more flattering.

Now as it happens, I've got an appointment tonight, and as I've had long hair for years am a bit bored and debating chopping it right off...

I don't have a particularly fat face, but I'll take any help I can get.

There are just a few things that I want to establish about new short hair:

1. I don't want a Posh bob or anything like that. My style in general is a bit scruffy laid back and I don't want anything to sensible looking as it'll not work

1. Am I going to regret chopping off long wavy (though bloody scruffy and annoying) hair and spend the rest of my 30's with a short sensible mum cut?

I might have a bash at uploading some pictures - I need to get it straight in my head what I'm asking for...

I suppose, what I'm asking (in around about, dithery sort of way) is, do we think it is true that shorter hair is more flattering? And does anyone have any pics/suggestions for shorter styles? I've 98% decided I'm going to take the plunge and chop it all off, but it's a lot of hair and the 2% is making me over-deliberate...

katy - that's exactly my worry. I'm not ready to look all grown up and polished, it's enough that all these damn grey hairs keep appearing; I'm 34 and am going to cling onto my youth as long as is feasible!

I quite like Scarlett Johansen's shorter hair but was thinking about something even slightly shorter...

Well I'm regretting having my hair cut shorter as it requires so much more maintenance to look decent. At least with long hair, you can tie it back and split ends are easier to disguise. I am now growing my hair out and plan to keep it at least shoulder length for as long as I can. It may look scruffy long, but not as bad as short hair looks when I can't afford to go for yet another haircut.

I had my hair cut (very) short a few years ago and loved it......am tempted to do it again although it has just got long again so am holding off for the time being. I found it really liberating!!! (although I was terrified beforehand).
The worst thing was coping with it when it was growing long again;)
But when it was short it was a million times easier tHan now ;)

i much prefer my slightly longer than shoulder length hair because i think it looks quite nice tied back or worn loose. I am a sahm though. When i had shorter hair it looked silly tied back and meant i had to do my hair every morning and straighten it. Slightly longer and it looks lovely loose and wavey. I also thought bob length made my face look fatter and yet i can wear my longer hair tied back and not feel like i have a round fat face, so that makes no sense.

I had my hair cut from bra strap length to my chin.
Looks so much better and healthier but is a PITA as it needs straigtening every day to look half decent.
That of I have to tie it half up-half down

I've got lots of hair and it's quite thick, which is another reservation about going shorter again - I don't want a mushroom head.

I love that Scarlett J cut, but it's hardly short! I think if you have thick enough hair that would be nicely bohemiam but still flattering.

I have wavy hair, and for it to work it either needs to be a crop or bob length (or longer). Anything in between is hideously mumsy!

I have v long super straight hair and wouldn't cut it off as I can put it up or down (though fav look is half up half down). Had a trim yesterday to keep in shape and always makes a difference plus mine grows like weeds, so a short do for me would never be an option as I'd always be in the hairdressers getting a trim to keep in shape. Could you not get a "good" trim (ie maybe 3 inches off) and see how you go? Take it in stages and see how you feel? If you're nervous, don't hack it all off at once, as you can always go back in a wee while and have another bash. Good luck, new hair is always so exciting!

I don't agree with the theory personally; I think it depends on your face shape. I look awful and about ten years older with short hair (as in not a bob; really short hair with ears out). Therefore I will be hanging on defiantly to my long hair for as long as I can (and probably much longer than I should).

I think long hair is only ageing and a bad look if it's just long and hanging there without a definite style and structure to it. And I think adding a fringe does just as much for your face as having the lot cut off.

Yes, definitely agree with MooMooFarm re fringe. I have a thick straight slightly retro one and it's great, though does need a regular trim to not look too 90s boyband curtains effect..!

I cut off my very long messy quite hippyish wavy hair when DS1 was 2m, and regretted it bitterly. Also, it made me look a bit fatter, I think. But everyone is different.

The way I look at it now (have very long hair again!) is that I'll probably cut it chin length when I'm older- I think it's easier to carry off long hair when you're a bit yonger- So I'll keep the short cuts for when I'm older... :)

I had my hair cut off yesterday! I do feel a bit exposed as my face is so visible but I tended to just put my hiar in a pony tail when wet so atleast now it is doing something.

I think having like a neat bob midlength can make your face more neat and compact.

its also take so much quicker to style

See, I have experimented with fringes of all kinds but they really do make my face look round like it did circa 1985.

Am looking for a photo of some hair that I liked - does anyone watch Neighbours? I'm going to sound really sad now but Carmella came back for about one episode with short hair but it was a bit choppy and I thought it looked quite good. But on trying to google her I keep getting some very dodgy porn site suggestions...

Some days I quite like my hair when it's having a good wavy day (can't brush it though or it goes ridiculous) but the last haircut I had involved a bit of a wedge being taken out of the front which I can only get rid of by taking it all off. It grows fairly fast, I suppose, can probably grow it back within a couple of years... (By which time I'll be late 30's, wonder if that's too old for long scruffy hair? Sigh....)

cherry I have wavy thick hair which is just below my shoulders at the moment. I have had it short in the past, and found it VERY difficult to manage - the dreaded mushroomhead, as you mention, was a problem, and just general maintenance was difficult. If it got wet it frizzed and stuck up. With it long, I find it is much better behaved as it weighs it self down more.

I actually feel it's more flattering long too...I have a long face, if that helps at all. And I also think it makes me look younger, definitely.

pants - this is about 75% in favour of not cutting, is it?

I have wavy but not hugely thick hair and found that cutting to bob length has done wonders for the curl. It must be lighter, so I can scrunch it a bit easier. I just spray, diffuse and go and feel that the waves/curl keep it a bit less mumsy than when I do it straight. I realise I may be deluding myself though... Short, unless you go pixie short is definitely more work and I've grown mine a couple of inches so that I can tie it back on lazy/gym days.

Sheesh...at 34 you're too young too worry about this. I got mine chopped at 32 as I tthought I should be more grown up and I looked older.

Mine's back to being long and wavy and messy...I put it in a posh up-do if I want sophistication.

I think the key is a style that suits you and a good hairdresser. I had really long hair but gradually have had it cut short and since the last chop to ahttp://www.stylebistro.com/lookbook/Michelle+Williams/9I_OVBzF7Vs/Hair michelle williams style cut months ago I am still getting compliments over how it suits me and it make my face look thinner.

Cons are that it needs a cut every 5/6 weeks but as long as I blow dry it which take 5 mins then it takes me less time to get ready and I love it!

At the end of the day it'll grow back if you don't like it and probably quicker than you think!

My hair is short - not in a polished, grown up way, but more funky. I will never have it longer than chin length again. I look much better with short hair. Long hair does drag my features down. I do spend a bit of time on it each morning but I'd rather do that than have long hair that's just tied back all the time.

I'd say go for it.

This thread makes me very nervous. What is the accepted cut off for long hair? My disclaimer is that my hair is curly, so to avoid it looking like two triangles I need to have it long.

I'd love a swishy bob, but I can't be arsed straightening it every day.

I have very recently had my bra strap length wavy hair cut off, I'm also roughly the same age as you & I love my new cut, very easy to pull straightners through the front & gel up the back in a messy style.

before

after

The first thread has loads of pictures of short cuts btw.