Ideas for an amazing haircut, please - from long to ...?

[Starfish83]

Morning folks!

So, I’m looking for the wisdom and knowledge of the brilliant Mumsnetters. I’m thinking about cutting my hair - I’m looking for a really great style and cut.

The situation is...I’m a Mum to two very young children and am in my early 30s. My hair at the moment is almost elbow-length and all one length apart from a fringe. (I don’t want to get rid of the fringe.) It’s fine, straight hair but I have masses of it (so people often mistake it for thick hair).

I’m looking for a fab haircut that I can dry relatively quickly/style fast in the morning. My long hair takes so, so long to dry and I usually end up shoving it in a top knot or ponytail.

I don’t suit layers and I’m not looking to ‘thin out’ my hair. Precision cuts work well for me, but I just need some inspiration and advice? Pics and thoughts would be great! Any more questions, please ask away. I’m super-grateful I’m advance for your help 😊 x

As someone with similar hair, unless yours is greasy and needs washing really regularly, I’d stay away from having it cut.

Mine when shorter needs tons more “styling” and “brushing” and “maintenance”- I’m growing it back out so I can wash it, run a dryer over it and whack it into a topknot to finish the drying process without a bloody Babyliss/Dyson/set of tongs and handful of oil/mousse/wonderproduct of the week

I second what Pedagoogle said. After having both long & short hair, I found shorter hair more effort to style. My hair takes ages to grow and I’m painstakingly trying to get it to grow back to it’s longer length.

If you feel you still want a change, how about a trim or what about a change of colour? It can make all the difference.

I had long hair chopped into a Bob in November. I do like it and I can do a lot with it - but I have to spend so much more time and money on it now. It changes so quickly - seems to be a different style every two weeks as it grows, and I need it cut about every 10 weeks which seems like madness after once a year! So yes - you currently have the ultimate low maintenance hair and any other cut won't be. Having said that I do like me without constant topknot!

Have you thought about an undercut, looks really cool tied up with a fringe.

Thanks very much for the responses so far! Seems like the general consensus is to stick to long hair?! 😬 Thanks abstract - hadn’t thought of that...

Agree with PP posters about keeping it long... mine is v fine too and doesn’t seem to hold “styles” very well because of this - when I’ve had a bob in the past it just ends up looking lank and a bit sad. Not saying yours will! But I prefer it should length or longer as it takes far less effort and you have the option of sticking it in a bun if it’s not behaving. A good blunt-ended trim every so often is my personal preference!

I think if you're going to go short, it needs to be very short. I've also got very fine, very straight hair, but lots of it. Mine's cut into a very short pixie/crop, a bit like the pictures attached, and it's absolutely minimal effort. I wash it, towel dry (no rubbing, just squidge IYKWIM), and then rub in a bit of styling wax & push it into shape. The only downside is you do 100% need to go regularly to the hairdressers - I go every 8-9 weeks, but 6-7 would be better. Upside is that if you like to dye your hair you don't end up damaging it (as you're always working with 'new' hair) and no waiting around for it to grow out if you don't like a colour.

If you want to keep the fringe you're not leaving many options.

A choppy bob suits most people though.

Louise Brooks bob?

CLASSIC

A pixie cut can look absolutely gorgeous.

However, I would really assess your face and head shape first because it is VERY unforgiving. It would look awful on me, for example (podgy face, flat head, slight double chin). I've seen some very ill-advised examples which were frankly more gnome than pixie.

You would also need quite frequent trims to keep it looking nice, I think.

Thanks folks! I’ve been told that I would suit a pixie cut, but am a bit scared to go from
very long so quickly!

LOVE the Louise Brooks idea, thanks morrisey. I like mixing modern and vintage pieces, wardrobe-wise, and think this might suit my style... 😊

For a real Louise Brooks bob, you need a seriously good hairdresser. The cutting has to be so accurate to look decent.

My DD went from long to shoulder length bob. Long enough to tie back if necessary. She then went shorter bob but let it grow back to shoulder length (sitting on the shoulders). I wouldn’t go very short without inbetween phases. Tying it back is a sort of short hair style?

Maybe try a "lob" (long bob) first to see if you get on with it? Like these pictures. Then you can go shorter if you want to or grow it back out easily if you decide it's not for you. You can still tie it back at this length too.

I've had a classic bob in the past and found it very high maintenance, it's that thing of having lots of fine hair that doesn't hang heavy but tends to fly away.

I’ve had all kinds of bobs over the years and you have to be prepared to style it for it to look good. Just a good cut won’t be enough, it’s mainly about blow drying it properly and getting regular trims.
Agree be very very careful where you get it done - I have had some bob-cutting disasters (and now keep it long as it’s so much easier!)

@NailsNeedDoing. Yes, me too.

In a similar situation to you OP and I am 95% sure I'm going to get a short Bob (slightly above chin length as I think it'll work best with my face shape).

Trouble is I'm pregnant and on steroids so I have gained some definite water weight in my face and know it will look better once the weight is off. But I'm sick of having boring hair that has to be tied back 99% of the time and takes forever to dry.

Let us know what you go with!

I have similar hair to you OP in terms of it being fine but loads of it and have gone from long to the Louise Brooks type bob above. It does need cutting by a very good hairdresser and will need lots of maintenance cuts to keep it looking good. I absolutely love it - it does require styling so is more work than shoving long hair back in a bun etc as I used to do but doesn't take too long. For me it's sorting the anti - frizz situation as my hair can be a bit coarse.

I've just had long hair, fine, lots of it, cut to a long graduated bob. I really like the style and cut and can just about tie it up but it does need regular styling. I tried to air dry it but had to run the Big hair through it to make it look presentable.

I'd be a little wary of a pixie cut. It's the most drastic change from long hair and you really need the right shape of face and features to pull it off successfully.

What about uploading a pic of your face and testing out different styles using one of the hairstyle virtual makeover apps online?

Thanks very much for all the comments - some great ideas and it’s really good fo hear from some peeps who have gone for a bob/short hair and have loved it! 😍 Will update once I’ve decided what to go with! x