Keep growing my hair out or go for the chop?

[toffeefee]

Hi,

I have been growing my hair out for the last year or so. It was in a really short bob style and is now about collar bone length. Trouble is, it looks quite boring and I think it is making me look older (am 35). I had visions of a lovely mane of hair that I could put up or curl to have different looks. All I actually do with it is wear it down, or in a pony tail.

So, is this just frustration and I should keep going past this awkward stage, or should I just go for the chop?

I'm having a similar dilemma. I've been growing my hair for nearly a year. It's taking so long! I was thinking of a nice blunt fringe to make it look a bit more interesting. I really regret having my hair cut as it was lovely and lOnm, I feel gutted when I see pictures with my lovely, long hair.

I used to have long hair a few years back, but I don't think it ever really looked that good on me. My problem is that I am tall, flat chested and broad shouldered, so I tend to feel unfeminine when I have shorter hair.

I would love a nice blunt fringe, but they really don't suit me! I think they can look fab, though! I have a side fringe at at the minute, but again, re-thinking it and might grow it out again. May be i need to go my hairdressers and see what they recommend, although I can almost guarantee I will come out with a bob style again!

Something layered that you can add volume to is good if you say your shoulders are on the broad side, it helps to balance you out more than if the hair is one length, especially with straight hair.
Have you played with those virtual hairstyler things. They're quite good!

I have some long layers through, but it just feels as if they are making my hair look thinner. May be it is how I am styling it, though. My hair is very straight and blond, so it is easy for it to look thin.

I'll have a go on one of those virtual stylers and see what I think! Ideally, I would like someone else's hair!!

I'm also 35 and often have the same dilemma. I generally have a short, neat bob and then, as it begins to grow, I start to ponder whether I should grow it longer!! I think, at my age, it might be my last chance to have long hair!!!

Inavriably though, as I did last night at my hair appointment, I end up going back to my bob! TBH, it suits me, looks healthier and I just don't think I'm a girl who's really destined to have long hair!!

That's it, Meggles! Every time I grow it long, I have the urge to chop it into a bob! I think I'll go for a long bob and see how that feels. I'll then know if I want to carry on growing it, or go even shorter! TBH, the only time that people comment on how nice my hair looks is when it is shorter, so may be they are trying to tell me something!!

Grow it, nice and long :) buy some spin pins for putting it up, plait it, wave it by taking out plaits or with babyliss wave envy. Use rollers, easier than a curling wand. Don't get layers, they ruin long hair and make it thinner and look shorter. Also use coconut oil on it to deep condition and a good silicone free conditioner normally.

....

I think I definitely need to grow the layers out. Sometimes I feel a bit 'mullet-y' as there is bounce and fullness at the top of my hair, but it can look quite thin at the bottom. Typically, it is looking ok today after I had all but convinced myself to chop it off and, if I had been at the hair dressers yesterday I would have definitely told her to chop it off!!

Ooh I've just googled those spin pins. They look quite good. I do a messy bun myself but it takes 2 hair bobbles and loads of hairgrips!
Might have to buy myself some of those.

I had shoulder length hair 3 1/2 years ago and it took two years to get it to long long. I've been 'maintaining' it ever since with just regular trims 3x a year. I love it tbh, so versatile, but I still feel I should do more. I say go for it!

I alternate between growing it long enough to tie back, and cutting it shorter to make sure I don't just tie it back.

Mine's really curly and I'm no good at styling, so if it's not tied back it just looks like a straggly mess. However, it doesn't suit me tied back, and because it's curly there are bits stuck out everywhere, unless I cover it in gloop and tie it back so tight I give myself a facelift.

That's no help to you at all, is it? Sorry.

I was in your shoes a year ago and kept on growing as I wanted to donate my hair (which you can't do with less than 8inches or so).

Mine is dead straight and half way down my back now (last had it cut at the end of 2010 I think?) and looks boring as hell, it's now long enough for it's purpose (to donate) but I wonder if I'll regret chopping it off again!

I'm rubbish at styling though and mines always in a pony tail or bun at the moment because of work! So I'm not much use, just wanted to share your pain!

Kiwi, it's getting past that awkward shoulder-length stage that is hard for me! I find once I'm past that, it looks better, but at the minute, it just looks dull and it's not quite long enough to so much with other than a pony tail. So may be you are right, I should stick with it!

Donkey, I have always dreamed of having curly hair as mine is so straight!

Confused, I should really have donated mine when I had it cut off a few years ago. I had about 12 inches off, cut into a really short inverted bob. I think that when you chop it off from really long it just feels so thick and shiny! I am always swishing my hair when it's short. It has no swish at the minute, though.

Perhaps I need some lessons in how to actually style my hair. I would love to curl it, but worry that others would laugh, or think it looks odd. Same goes for putting it up, or even just slipping my fringe to one side. I need to get some hair confidence!