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Original poster

Should I just get a new hairstyle and ignore what people at work say..........

66 replies

Leedsavril · 21/01/2014 15:08

I am in my mid 40's and have had the same hairstyle for about 25 years! It is a typical below the shoulder style, its very thick, highlighted and with a few soft layers in it. For about a year now I have been mulling over having a change for a few reasons. I don't think it looks as bouncy or as healthy as it used to, I am fed up spending 30 minutes blowing it every morning after its daily wash and probably the main reason is that I would love a big change after all this time.
I like the look of stylish short hair and I saw a style that I really liked so I thought I would ask a few friends both family and at work what they thought.
Here are a couple of pics of me and what I'd like.
www.flickr.com/photos/115088476@N06/
I was just not prepared for some of the comments and strong opinions. My girlfriends were mainly supportive and offered advice, some feel I will regret it some say go for it....I can take that but the comments from some of the guys at work were just shocking. I got remarks like "You will look like your mum"......"Don't cut it as you will loose all your sex appeal"....."You'll look horrible with short hair"............."That's not fancyable" I am unsure if I find these comments rude, insulting or just honest but I can't believe that something as trivial as a new hairstyle has provoked such a strong reaction from the guys. I am now a bit unsure what to do, I feel I would like the new style but I want to be sure I am doing it because I want to, not because some guys at work have made comments that I do not like.
Has anyone else had this sort of experience.......what do you think?

OP posts:
buttercrumble · 21/01/2014 15:14

I think it will suit you , it's a lovely style you have picked. I bet everyone will love it when you've been to the hairdressers, go for it Smile

Floisme · 21/01/2014 15:19

Well firstly, I think you should tell your colleagues to do one.

As for the style in your link, it's hard for me to judge whether or not it would suit you but a decent hairdresser should be able to advise you. Anyway, what's the worst that can happen? If you don't like it, you can grow it back. If you don't try it, you'll always be wondering.

monkeysmama · 21/01/2014 15:19

I think you will look great! It is hair - if you don't like it, it will grow!

statisticsthicko · 21/01/2014 15:20

Yes I think you would suit short hair but maybe with a bit more length at the front, like this?

statisticsthicko · 21/01/2014 15:23

Oh and stuff what the 'men' at work think! There seems to be a certain type of man who only think long hair is feminine which is ridiculous!

mirren3 · 21/01/2014 15:24

I really like it too, go for it as it is your hair! If you don't like it when it's done, hey it'll grow. I got my hair cut quite short, and although it was not as long as yours the difference it made was great in both time and ease of care.

mirren3 · 21/01/2014 15:25

I like the longer fringe too!

nipersvest · 21/01/2014 15:25

i think short hair will suit you, but can i say one thing? i'd go for a style with a longer fringe, like charlize theron

i've had short hair, long hair, bobbed hair etc, its long atm but its only a matter of time before i go short again, i loved mine short, so easy to do.

lookatmybutt · 21/01/2014 15:26

I think it will suit you just fine and I rather like it. I also think it will make you look younger.

Some people can be funny about a change in image - I change mine all the time and as long as I'm happy, that's all that matters.

Balls to them, some guys can be a bit funny about women with short hair - I've had that from some exes.

I would say make sure you go somewhere that will style it just like that rather than try to age it up. Fuck that noise. It may come out more bouffant and they also may want to try to 'keep some length'.

Anyhoo, if you don't like it you can always grow it out.

steppemum · 21/01/2014 15:28

Isn't there some survey that most men prefer long hair? It is supposed to be more sexy!
But it isn't any of their business. I personally would take my partner's opinion into account, but other than that it isn't anyone's business but yours.
Your current hair is nice, but less stylish than the shorter one

ChablisChic · 21/01/2014 15:28

I love it - but then it's very similar to my hair! I went very short in my late 40's but it took a few attempts before I got a style I was happy with. I finally found a lovely, male, hairdresser who I told I didn't want a middle-aged haircut. All the young female stylists I'd tried gave me 'mumsy' styles, so make sure you find a good cutter and impress on them the look you're after!

My husband loves my short hair, and everyone says it suits me (my daughter told me it was very Annie Lennox when I had it done, which is OK in my book!). As long as it suits your face shape it'll be fine, and it's so easy, a quick rough dry in the morning and then a bit of a scrunch through with some putty stuff (not wax, it's too heavy and makes it look greasy).

Go for it!

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 21/01/2014 15:28

Hmm. To be perfectly honest, I think hairstyles like that are very ageing. And hideous to grow out if you don't like it.

Your hair looks better in the second picture where it's slightly shorter though.

OuterFromOutersville · 21/01/2014 15:28

I cut all of my hair off last year (pixie cut), and I love it. I look heaps better, and I hate not having the ubiquitous ponytail that I'd had forever.

Google short haircuts, select a few that you like, take them to a good hairdresser, and see what they think Smile.

kingbeat23 · 21/01/2014 15:30

I think you'll look great with short hair and am quite envious as I don't think I do suit it.

However, I agree with pp that I prefer the cuts with longer fringes at the front as I feel they look more on trend, however, that's just personal taste and not in stone as fact!

coffeeslave · 21/01/2014 15:31

Despite what the guys at work say, it's not your job to look "fancyable" and sexy to them. Or to anyone, really.

I love having short hair. Do it!

statisticsthicko · 21/01/2014 15:31

Yes avoid too bouffant and those awful red highlights that some older women go for, or you risk the 'funky mum' style. I'm not entirely sure about that Charlize very long one sided fringe tbh, I think just a thicker longer fringe than the one in your pic. That's just my opinion though, overall I think the short hair will be a winner!

MissScatterbrain · 21/01/2014 15:37

I would go for a hairstyle similar to Anne Hathaway's current style (pixie with long fringe). I agree that the cliche of long bouffant hair in middle aged women can be aging.

I would go for it just to shut up the guys at work but that's me Grin

slug · 21/01/2014 15:39

Nice to know your colleagues are concerned with your fuckability Hmm

The thing about hair is you can rely on it to grow back, unless you are a guy that is. So do what you want with it. Your sex appeal or otherwise should be of no concern to them, and if it is I would be seriously questioning their professionalism.

So sayeth a woman whose hairstyle can be best described as 'skinhead'

Casmama · 21/01/2014 15:40

I agree with those suggesting going a bit longer at front/ on top.
I think very short cuts like the ones in your pictures are great if you have dainty little features but might look a bit harsh on you or even worse grannyish.

It looks to me that the model in the pictures has a wave to her hair which works with that cut but if your hair is naturally very straight the it may look very different.

Margene · 21/01/2014 15:42

I think you'll look good with short hair, but that style risks being a bit bouffant and mumsy - getting short hair right is very nuanced, I think - it's all in the details. I think these are prettier, younger-looking and more stylish:

Michelle Williams

Longer at the front

More

Casmama · 21/01/2014 15:43

For those objecting to OPs colleagues comments- it appears she did ask for their opinion on a new hair cut so not exactly an exchange of a professional nature.

IDugUpADiamond · 21/01/2014 15:48

I'm afraid I agree with FruitSaladIsNotPudding

burnishedsilver · 21/01/2014 15:50

Its a lovely style and I think short hair will suit your face. Comments about sex appeal are ridiculous. Hale Berry is far from androgynous!

My only comment, as someone who went for a short cut and then grew it back again, is that short hair isn't as low maintenance as it seems. I grew it back because there was too much work involved in stying it.

Give it a go. Is only hair. It's not permanent.

Cocolepew · 21/01/2014 15:57

I have mine cut like the first Michelle Williams photo that at Margene linked to and I'm gorgeous Grin.
I would go for a heavier fringe if you haven't had short hair before, its less of a shock, then if you want it shorter, after a few weeks, its easy enough to do.

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