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Original poster

Cutting off all your long hair pixie short, if you have done it was it a good or bad decision?

56 replies

BernicefromLeeds · 14/07/2019 16:11

For nearly 2 years I have been constantly saying that I would love to have my hair cut pixie short. Currently it is all one length below my shoulders, quite fine and poker straight. The sort of look I keep coming back to is the blonde crop that Michelle Williams had at the Oscars last year, I just love the shape and style. I just think that the look is so sassy and stylish and as I am small and petite I really feel the look will suit me. I was unsure about it being a bit limited in style but my hairdresser feels that I can wear it naturally flat generally during the day but jazz it up a bit with product for going out at night. She feels totally confidant that once I am used to it I will adore it but more importantly the look will suit me and my features.
Have any of you been through this dilemma, and if you did how have you felt after you went short?

OP posts:
Soola · 14/07/2019 16:17

Michelle Williams would have had twenty people fussing and tweaking her hair for hours beforehand.

Have you got that much time and staff in the morning? Grin

Short hair is a faff in my opinion.

HouseworkAvoider10 · 14/07/2019 16:17

Depends what age you are.

I did it in my mid-20s, when I looked a lot better facially.
I'm now in my mid 40s and wouldn't get one if you paid me.
A pixie cut can very easily look like one of those "nothing haircuts" that a lot of middle aged women favour. See Isabella Rossellini.

Also does not work if you have a big head, like me. A short haircut will make it look even bigger.

HouseworkAvoider10 · 14/07/2019 16:18

Pixie cuts also look dreadful first thing in the morning, like really shocking, and need a lot of styling.

Crusoe · 14/07/2019 16:22

Do it! I’ve been long and short so many times. It will grow if you really don’t like it but I suspect you will like it lots, at least for a while. Short crops take a lot of work though and some confidence,

BikeRunSki · 14/07/2019 16:24

My hair is very curly, so it doesn't "do" very short cuts without the curly tightening up like an Airedale or Poodle.

However, I had it cut from below my shoulder blades, to an ear length graduated curly bob about 2 months ago and I love it! I have had nothing but compliments. I have a "big" head and round face, but it suits me so much more that the frizzy, fuzzy madness I had before. It does take a bit more looking after, in that it is too short to tie up, but it 2 or 3 mins with some oil and a wide toothed comb. I'm 48 and had had long hair for 10 + years.

HereBeFuckery · 14/07/2019 16:25

I did it, to an extent - my hair isn't cropped short short but it is a pixie, about 1.5" long on the top section, much shorter as it goes down to my neck. It's less harsh that way. I'll never ever go back to long hair now.
Key things:
I'd gone short before so knew I could suit it
I went to a hairdresser who gets how to cut short hair and got me when I said 'please don't give me a "I want the manager" haircut'
It needs a trim every six/seven weeks
It needs product not to look nothingy
It needs colour for texture (on me, my hair is v flat brown naturally). I get a colour/highlights every third trim.

DinoEggz · 14/07/2019 16:28

I had a short cut. When it was styled it was fab. The rest of the time (ie most of the time) it looked a mess. Also it needed trimming frequently to maintain the shape - unlike long hair which still looked good after it grew a few inches.

I also think it suits younger women better. Nowadays my jawline isn’t tight enough to show it off. Even Meg Ryan the queen of short hairstyles has gone longer as she’s aged.

Cocolapew · 14/07/2019 16:31

My hair is short like Michelle Williams, I use wax in it so wash it every day but that's all the faffing involved.

allabouteve1 · 14/07/2019 16:32

I did it and lovely it still. It does take some up keep ( regular cuts) but I find it so much easier to step and feel good about it the. I did when my hair was super long - it spent all its time tied up in a messy bun.

Last time I had it cut I also went Michelle Williams blond and love it even more!

Hair grows so I'd get it cut and see if I like it if not you can always grow it out.

DuploRelatedInjury · 14/07/2019 16:33

I went from bottom of ribs length to pixie a few years back - got fed up of then-8mo DC1 pulling it.

I found I had to wash my hair every day or it stuck up at the back like a cockatoo! And training the parting so it sat right was a pain. I did quite like it, but it required too much maintenance so I grew it out over several unflattering months until it was long enough to be styled into a bob.

FloofenHoofen · 14/07/2019 16:35

There's a lot of maintenance that goes into having short hair. I've had short hair many a time and you'll find it sticks up when you've been laying on it too long. You'll basically need good straighteners, and styling product to keep it at bay.

It's better to be able to put your hair up into a pony!

Original poster
BernicefromLeeds · 14/07/2019 16:37

Thanks for the replies, just to give you a few more details, I also feel that this is a look for a younger person and if I don't do it now, I am 23, I may never do it at all. My hair colour is sandy brown naturally and I would like to keep it natural but maybe have some blonde hi-lites put in on the top.

OP posts:
Cocolapew · 14/07/2019 16:39

Why is it for a younger person? Confused
I'm 50, should I grow nice bob?

CaptainPovey · 14/07/2019 16:39

No. Biggest mistake ever

I pretended I liked it and kept it up

But in the end I grew it out took me about two years to realise during that time I also put on weight and I looked terribly butch, which I am so not

I now have hair half way down my back and I would NEVER do it again

CalamBalam · 14/07/2019 16:46

If you've been craving a pixie cut for two years I think you just need to take the leap and go for it. Michelle Williams looks SO much better with short hair than long but it's impossible to tell if it will suit you until you do it. Theoretically Kate Moss and her amazing bone structure should have looked amazing with a crop but it did nothing for her. The pixie gods are a fickle bunch!

Just don't go for a half hearted apologetic crop.

jackstini · 14/07/2019 16:48

I would say go for it if you have the features
Best tip is to try on a wig first and see if you love it!

daphine2004 · 14/07/2019 16:50

My colleague did, she was early thirties and looked amazing. Takes 10 mins in the morning.

IWriteCode · 14/07/2019 16:53

I did it in my early 20s and then again in my early 40s. I loved it both times! but eventually grew it out because I get bored easily and you can do more with longer hair.

ethelredonagoodday · 14/07/2019 17:00

I've had my hair very short, and also fairly long, and various lengths in between. I think that it's maybe wise to go for a mid stage cut first and see how you feel about that?
I think if your hair is very straight, then it might require more styling than if your hair has a bit more texture, but sounds like your hairdresser is fairly confident it will work! Good luck!

ZazieTheCat · 14/07/2019 17:17

Nearly waist length to pixie after a bad break up. I was thirty. Went blonde soon after.

It was a mistake. I mean, it was right emotionally at the time, signified a clean break but I did regret it a bit over the next couple of years.

It looked ok, just not quite as good as the long hair did. It was a lot more time to style each morning than I anticipated. Lot more upkeep at the hairdresser, even growing it out. And it was a lot of hassle to grow out. And I would have gotten the same emotional effect from a short bob tbh.

There’s some formula for the distance between your jaw and your chin to work out in advance if it’ll suit you. Here it is:Who suits a pixie formula

Bubblysqueak · 14/07/2019 19:29

I did and loved the no fuss. Shower, towel dry, hair putty then tada ready to go with styled hair. After 5 years I've started to grow it out for a change.

WeWantSweet · 14/07/2019 20:45

I hear you, but with salt and pepper grey roots look at Judi Dench for reference and how it suits her. The technology for superimposing a hairstyle on your face must have improved tenfold now surely?

Epanoui · 14/07/2019 23:31

I did it and have not looked back. I'm fifty and I don't think this is exclusively a cut for younger women. I look great and get lots of compliments. It's a hundred times easier to style than long hair. I take five mins in the morning with a hairdryer and a bit of salt spray and that is it. Regular cuts are a must, though. If you don't do that you'll spend a lot of time looking a bit messy.

StarryGazeyEyes · 14/07/2019 23:48

I went from long to pixie in my mid 20s and hated it. The cut was lovely but I have quite an angular face and it just didn't suit me, plus I needed to straighten it to keep it looking ok, which I found hard without singeing my ears. I also felt weirdly exposed, and realised how much I hid behind my hair - dancing was really peculiar without my hair swishing about! In your shoes I would try though - it's only hair and it grows back.

Triack · 15/07/2019 08:23

GO FOR IT! I am in my fifties & I have had short hair of & on through out my life. However, I had always wanted to have it shaved to a number 4. 2 years ago I did it. I gave my self a number 4 and bleached it......& I LOVE IT! It looks faaaab! ITS ONLY HAIR, IT GROWS BACK! Be brave👊💪Take the plunge! Xx