Have booked in for a big haircut/restyle tomorrow. Come look at photos and advise please.

[NeedANewHairCut]

Ok, am a 40yo frump. Photo of me included.

Have booked in at hairdressers tomorrow for a pixi cut. Hair is currently past boobs. Really thick. I wear it tied back in a high pony tail all the time and need to do something as it's so boring.

So really cropped? A bit bouffant? Something in between? Or cancel the appt?

Your hair is lovely.
I think the cuts you are considering have the potential to look very frumpy. Don't do it. Play around with the colour if you fancy a change.

If you are struggling to maintain the colour (to cover greys) then this will be more difficult with short hair.

No offence but I think very short hair would not be a good look for you. You really suit your hair down the way it is. Why not explore new and flattering ways to put your hair up?

What about a short bob like Fleabag - you've got the volume and bounce in your hair to carry it off, and could add some colour too.

I like your glasses. I think they really suit you.

Not sure about a pixie cut on you. Maybe try something just a bit shorter first. You can always get more cut off later.

I'm in the it's only hair camp and will grow out if you don't like it.

Are you going to your regular hair dresser, who you trust to be honest with you about the style you've chosen on your face shape. I've gone with pics and they've then explained alterations that might need to be made for me because I have lift in odd places that can make styles sit oddly.

Thick hair is great for short styles

Disclaimer: I recently had one side of my hair shaved off, so I'm firmly in the 'it's only hair camp'

Good call on the Fleabag suggestion

Another 'it's only hair'. I did abdicate all decision on my hair to my hairdresser years ago, he's a genius with hair and gets bored regularly so keeps my hair current. The only rules he has is no colour and easy to style. I've got pretty good hair, thick and fast growing with enough of a wave to easily go straight or curly. In the last few years I've gone from a shoulder length layered cut to an asymmetric bob with layers to a very short pixie (when I was pregnant my hair went very curly so it was no longer than 3 cm) to a bob with a fringe and back to short again with a variety of styles in between.

My most recent pixie is fab and I think it takes years off whereas my last bob really highlighted the grey because of where the parting was (and the fact that I swam a lot). Thick hair is great in a pixie, it looks youthful because you don't see skin at the partings and with a natural wave you'll be able to finger dry it and have lots of texture (I use no product). You will get comments about 'how brave' you are from people who have always had long hair but I've also had loads of compliments from people who said they would love to have short hair and are jealous I can change my hair so much.

As long as you're going to a good hairdresser go for it. I love short hair on women and think it's much more flattering than long dyed straightened hair - yawn.

Very short is all about the face and not so much about the hair. The same short haircut can look completely different on two different face shapes.
Being blunt, I don't think you would get the effect you want.

I agree that a messy longer bob would look great. Make the most of your fabulous hair. Do you always wear glasses or sometimes contacts? If so, play around and see what a fringe would look like.

Your colour looks good but hard to tell in the photo. You want expensive looking lowlights.
Do not go for a 'bright' colour in the hope you will look younger and funky. It always has the opposite effect unless you are 19.

Disclaimer* I couldn't get away with short hair either.

I just hope you won't be crying your head off like Fleabag on exiting the salon.

I would caution against, and I say this as someone who had my hair cut very short two years ago (and have since grown it back).

As (many) PPs have said, the same hair on one person's head and face shape will look very different on another's.

And also - long hair pulled back in a pony tail (to fully expose the face) actually looks quite different from a short hair style that fully exposes the face.

I agree with people who say 'it's just hair, it'll grown back', but if you're doing it to move away from a look you think is frumpy, I would definitely go for something else.

Been there done that - super short hair is actually soooo much more hard work than long hair! Have to style every day rather than just fling it up! Love the skilled idea - funky and fab but still able to just put up in ponytail and go - and ponytails look fab with the shaved side!
Let us know how you get on OP!

Skilled
Meant to say skrillex

You're not frumpy at all but I think you'll feel it with a really short cut!

Noooo! You'll end up looking frumpy,older and more masculine if you have a pixie cut/really short hair

Another vote for the Fleabag look. You need to be super striking to look good with really shot hair.

This is a hairdressers busiest time of year so don't cancel your appointment last minute. And only go for a restyle if they have time to do it.
A good tip with regards to the pictures you like is to scribble out the face of the model so your only looking at the hair, 9/10 times it's the model wee actually want to look like.

I really don't think a short bob would suit me, I would end up in LEGO woman hairstyle territory as my hair is so thick it would just stick out and look weird.

I've found a photo of the fleabag actress with linger hair which looks nice.

That pic is nice. Go for something like that. Change your glasses. They look as if you're wearing someone else's that are too wide at the sides. You need something a bit more delicate so people see YOU not a pair of specs. I think the shape - oval-ish- is right for you as you have an angular face- a rectangle / square shape, so oval frames can soften it. But make them smaller and with thinner frames maybe?

I like the alternate pics. I think they're so short if you go for the pixie options and if you hate your hair it will bring very long to grow out! I think try something around bob length with some colour maybe?

Please show us the after! Enjoy

Don't do it.

Just get a Fringe.
Imo you need to be tiny to have cropped hair

I second not having such a short hair cut. What about having a fringe cut in, and more layers framing your face?
You have such lovely hair. If I were you, I would definitely go a little bit shorter but go for more definition around my face.

Good luck- let us know how you get on.

I am going against the majority but I say go for it!

However for a short cut and a big style change you need a hairdresser you trust ans also is good at short hair.

Take lots of screen shots with you of the styles you like. Go through them with the hairdresser. A good one will talk you out of ones that wont suit. Or not suit your lifestyle.

Fwiw I am 39 and have a short cut too! I went from midlength bob a few years ago to really short. Everyone I know says they prefer it short. Styling wise I wet my hair, brush in the parting and fringe, blast it for about 3 mins with hairdryer then shove some gelaca spray on and fluff it with my hands. Takes about 5 mins!

I really like the pics that arsey posted.
I have a bob and I do think it's super boring, and fairly high maintenance (my hair is thick and slightly wavy). There is an anti-bob thread running too.

You look weirdleylike the long hair Fleabag picture! Best short cut is the one you posted twice with the swimming pool in the background. I have a round fat face and nevertheless have had pixie cuts etc which everyone admired and, most importantly, made me feel funky. Go for it.

Will also add that when I went shorter it was much harder as you have to di more to it weirdly. Longer hair much more forgiving especially curlyish as just a spritz of curly hair spray and job done. I would cut some off but go for chsnging fringe maybe and having new colour.