Having the chutzpah to cut your hair short is brave and therefore the antithesis of what is rudely dismissed as mummish

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All this talk of I want to go shorter but I'm afraid it's a mum cut.

Argh.

I'm in my late forties with hair 3 inches past my shoulders and I want to go short but my teenage daughter is begging me not to.

What would be so wrong with a mum cut. In any case there's loads of stylish short cuts you could get. Get yourself on Pinterest and have a look. If you want to go short, do it!

I've had short hair since 1991 and i love it. It's most definitely not a Mum cut I keep it funky and dye it a gorgeous deep red colour. Maybe try an asymmetrical style to begin with which is what I'm sporting at the moment and find a good hairdresser. Mine never cuts mine with scissors, he uses a razor (he cuts my 70 year old mums the same way and she looks bloody fantastic with her short 'do'). Go for it!

Not me but this is a very similar style to mine

I like that. It's daring. I know if I had short hair I'd have to do it every day but it'd take five minutes to dry it instead of forty.

There is nothing at all wrong with being a mum and as mums are people and people come in all shapes and sizes ''she has a child'' doesn't give away much but ''she's a mum'' seems too.

Since I cut my hair short I’ve had so many compliments- not just people politely noticing I’ve had it cut, but genuinely doing a double take and saying ‘wow I love your hair!’

I have an asymmetric pixie with a side fringe, with quite a bit of texture from the cut combined with my wavy hair. It draws attention to my eyes and cheekbones. I do think the right cut is important - I have a whole Pinterest board of pixie cuts and they can be very different - but I’m so pleased I cut my hair. 🧚‍♀️ 😀

If someone thinks it’s a “mum” cut...well, I’m not a mum, but I wouldn’t be offended if someone thought I was one -shrugs-. If having great hair is mumsey then I’ll be mumsey 😀

If you're going to go short go for it, don't end up with some sort of apologetic crop.

And ignore your teenage daughter, I presume she doesn't consult with you on all aspects of her appearance!

I don't think I'd be listening to my teenage daughter's opinion on this one. I feel so so sad when I pass the 2 high schools near me every morning. Every single girl has exactly the same really long hair regardless of their hair type and if it suits them.. There isn't a single one that seems to have hair anywhere above bra strap level.
When I was at school in the 90s there was a huge mix of hairstyles and colours. Even lots of pixi haircuts. (inspired by shakespear's sister at the time)There were only 2 girls with hair down to their bums. I think so many young girls wouldn't even contemplate not having long hair now as anything shorter is just not regarded as being feminine enough for some reason. It really feels like we've gone backwards in so many ways.

I do think the obsession with very long hair on all young girls is weird. Long hair simply does not suit everyone. Depending on face shape and hair texture, some people look WAY better with a bob or a pixie.

It is odd. There was definitely much more variation a few decades ago!

feawen Would you mind sharing some pics? I got a pixie two weeks ago and love it but am not sure if I have gone for the right type. My skin is really oily so I want to keep all my hair off my face which limits my options.

Sure - here’s one of my hair styled more neatly for work and one that’s a bit more textured/tousled. It’s cut on a diagonal line so shortest on the left at the back and longest on the right at the front. Might be more on the face than you would like though.

I've had it short off and on since I was a teenager. Its sooooo bloody easy! I love it & I look ridiculous with long hair

Here’s the photo I showed the hairdresser (from Pinterest) - my hair is obvs thicker so it’s not identical, but my cut was based on this image.

Trying again

I always like the look of a pixie cut but my gave us not pretty enough! I hide behind hair

Depends on the texture of your hair. Mine is uncontrollable, wavy and frizzy going short for me was not a good move.

My friend just had her hair cut like Geena davis had hers when it was short. Honestly, she looks so striking now and really stands out in a crowd. Her longer hair really dragged her features down in a way I hadn't realised before.

peoplearepeople I know, I feel it's sad that she sees it as a statement, like I'm rejecting femininity by wanting short hair. Unlike mumsnetters she wouldn't be opening to unravelling her feelings on the subject.

I love these shorter cuts, I think a side swept fringe is very flattering and more flattering that hair pulled back off your face.

There is a perception that if you don't have a perfect face, long hair disguises this somehow. Hmm, I think my features are fairly regular but there is a long distance between my nose and lips. I hate it. Can't think of any slebs who have this. probably because they wouldn't get cast or hired and I've no idea if long hair softens this particular flaw in the way that people believe long hair softens a big nose for example

It's my huge beaky nose I like to draw attention away from

I do think hair looks better if it's a feature in itself. So a well cut short hairstyle, or fabulous spiral curls or lovely shiny long hair.
The problem with short hair it seems to me is having no discernible style. A couple of my otherwise well dressed friends have this unflattering helmet hair.
I guess the equivalent of straggly long hair.

I think that Geena Davis haircut looks very mumsy. She can get away with it thanks to her model looks and a ball gown but it's too safe/ dull for most I'd think.

that Geena Davis do is very newsreader try hard I think

there's so many lovely short styles out there, mine is asymmetric but swooshy...very fine hair which does not layer well

I'd not take hairstyle advice from a teen tbh...as someone said upthread, they are all complete clones atm!

I change my hair all the time (it grows very fast!). Over three decades I've had far more compliments (especially from men) when my hair has been short than when it's been long. The important thing is a good cut and colour that suits you.

I’ve had short hair most of my life, let it grow when DTs were little, but it suits me far better being short. I pay a fortune for my cut and colour - and it’s worth every penny, my hair is complimented far more than anything else about me!

My DD(11) chose to have her hair cut from waist to shoulder length last week and it looks great. I tell my children to think very hard about it if they ever want a tattoo or piercing and please God decide against but to do whatever they like with their hair because it grows back.

I had my long hair cut off short first of all when I was 26 and childless. I loved it but graduated back to longer hair then had it cut off again when DD1 was about 3 months old. I've had it short for over two years now and I absolutely love it.

I have to wash it most days, more because of how I've slept on it than anything else. Some days I wake up and a small miracle has happened, so I can get away with a bit of texturiser and some Kirby grips.

It's only hair. If it looks shit, just grow it out.