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Original poster

Grown up hairstyle for young 17yo

30 replies

TeenMinusTests · 25/04/2021 09:14

My DD is off to college in Sept. She is under 5ft and has always been young for her age, which has been exacerbated by MH issues in last year and missing a year of school. It's like the others have continued growing up and she has stayed still or gone backwards.

Her hair is currently long, pony tail, beautiful blonde/honey colour.

Any suggestions for an easy to look after hair cut/style that might make her feel & look more grown up and help her confidence?

OP posts:
Whatwouldnanado · 25/04/2021 09:18

What does she think about her hair? If she wants to change perhaps look on Pinterest for ideas, or take her to the best hairdresser you can afford for a trim and assessment. If she decides to go shorter how about suggesting she donates her hair to the charity which helps children being tested for cancer.

GreenClock · 25/04/2021 09:25

Is she off to university in Sept? I think the beet thing would be for you to identify a good quality modern hairdresser, and give her a decent budget. Leave it to her.

I hope she feels better soon OP. It’s been such a tough year for teens and MH has been a real issue.

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 25/04/2021 09:36

No not university, she should have been doing GCSEs this term, off to agricultural college.
She isn't currently at a point where I can 'leave her to it', that's part of the problem.
We could look on pinterest, but we wouldn't have much idea what needs a lot of upkeep and what doesn't iyswim? I'm completely out of my depth.

OP posts:
Chatanooga1 · 25/04/2021 09:38

What is her face shape?

Chatanooga1 · 25/04/2021 09:40

Personally I think a ‘structured’ hairstyle on a young person may e something you both regret.

If her hair is long and lovely what about looking at different ways to wear her hair up or partially tied back?

Howshouldibehave · 25/04/2021 09:41

99% of my DD’s sixth form have very long straight hair-no hairstyle, just long! I would probably say that is the easiest style to look after. There are a few girls with a ‘short back and sides’ type cut-that looks much higher maintenance.

Bananarama3star · 25/04/2021 09:43

My Dd is 16 and her hair sounds much the same. She has decided she would highlights to pick out the blonde more. She has looked on Pinterest and saved a few ideas to show the hairdresser in a couple of weeks.

She has previously had long layers put in round the front. This looks nice when hair is up too as the shorter bits fall out to frame the face. It's not too drastic a change either so if she isn't keen she can just grow them out.

Bananarama3star · 25/04/2021 09:45

Agree with pp that most girls this age don't have a 'style' as such as it is just long!

She may prefer to have something like highlights to add interest rather than change the style at the moment?

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 25/04/2021 10:04

OK, thanks.
Any other suggestions to help her feel/look a bit older that aren't makeup?

OP posts:
Howshouldibehave · 25/04/2021 10:08

Does she need to look older?

Nice bag, shoes with a bit of a heel if she wants to look taller, getting nails done, simple nice stud earrings?

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 25/04/2021 10:22

Does she need to look older?

It's a confidence thing, not thinking she looks about 3 years younger than everyone else. When she was 15 she got 'id'ed buying a 12 DVD.

Nice bag, shoes with a bit of a heel if she wants to look taller, getting nails done, simple nice stud earrings?

This is going to sound like I am pushing back on all ideas, but she also has motor skills issues, she can't manage earrings (we tried), nail polish not allowed (due to specific course).
Some boots with a bit of a heel would be good (for when she isn't in metal capped safety boots).
She probably needs a rucksack type bag - any suggestions?

OP posts:
Howshouldibehave · 25/04/2021 10:34

If she’s doing a course that involve no make up, no nail varnish and steel toe capped boots, it’s unlikely she’s going to be able to make herself look much different! Is there a uniform as well?

My DDs had rucksacks from Superdry when they were in the lower years but nobody has them in the sixth form-they all use shoulder bags.

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 25/04/2021 10:46

How
Basically there is a uniform for the practical elements (overalls or polo shirt/work trousers), and that's where the no nail varnish comes in, and I can't see her wanting to put nail varnish on one day and take it off the next. The makeup is an issue due to skin sensitivity...

But on the non-practical days she can wear what she wants.

I/we might be worrying about nothing, but she has had such a truely awful 15 months I want to try to help her feel as confident as she can with her fresh start in Sept.

OP posts:
Echobelly · 25/04/2021 10:50

Is she interested in short, cropped hair? I always looked very young and I generally wore a pixie crop for most of my 20s and 30s - it's pretty much 0 maintenance and it creates quite a strong impression. But you do need the confidence not to have much hair.

In between, there are various types of bob, maybe shoulder or chin length would work for her? 'Choppy' texture ones are quite in right now, if her hair's not dead straight, and again, it can be very low maintenance.

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 25/04/2021 10:56

I think she'd look great with a pixie cut but she's not convinced.

OP posts:
DefinitelyOdd · 25/04/2021 11:04

I think that getting a short hairstyle might not work with the practical aspects of her course. It might be worth getting her booked in for some highlights and a trim to make her feel more grown up?

You could also take her shopping for new clothes to wear on the days when she isn't in overalls? Get some ideas off Pinterest for her age group and see what you can replicate.

HiGunny · 25/04/2021 11:07

If she wants to go shorter I'd suggest a lob, it's less drastic than a pixie and she could go shorter again then if she wanted to. I had a choppy lob for a while and it's very versatile, you can wear it sleek, waved or tie it back, and with a centre parting it would be on trend. It would certainly take away the little girl look.

She's young so can play around with colour as much as she likes, maybe some wash out ones to experiment with?

dementedpixie · 25/04/2021 11:07

Can she not just tidy up her existing hair, maybe get highlights.? My dd is 17 and has long straight hair with a fringe. She hasn't any interest in changing it and it's easy enough to tie up when required

Howshouldibehave · 25/04/2021 11:12

I would say that anything with a style like a pixie cut would be very night maintenance as it will need cutting frequently to maintain it.

I wouldn’t encourage drastically changing the hair unless it’s something she really wants (it doesn’t sound like it is) but instead take her shopping for some new clothes, shoes and bag-that will probably help.

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 25/04/2021 11:16

Thank you all.
(Is this a good place to say I don't really understand 'highlights'?)

Shopping itself is sadly a whole other issue right now (shops, noise, people, germs).

OP posts:
Howshouldibehave · 25/04/2021 11:27

Highlights are where you have streaks of bleach/colour put in your to make it look lighter. Most people get it done by a hairdresser as it’s fiddly-it used to be done by putting a plastic cap on and pulling through bits of hair with something like a crochet hook but now done with putting small sections of hair in foils/papers with the colour in.

You don’t have to take her shopping if it’s stressful-order a load of stuff to try on and return stuff she doesn’t like.

FlossieTeacakesFurCoat18 · 25/04/2021 11:31

I'd suggest some swishy layers - try googling "long layered hairstyle" and if there are any pictures she likes she could show them to her hairdresser

Chatanooga1 · 25/04/2021 11:32

Why not wait until she has been there a few weeks and see if she wants to look different to the majority of other girls?

Some people, perhaps more extroverted actively seek to be different/quirky/rebellious in the way they look and enjoy the attention but equally a lot of young people people feel ‘safe’ in conforming and not standing out.

See how she feels once she is there and then she can make her own choices about her individual style whether it be clothing or hairstyle etc.

Cocolapew · 25/04/2021 11:38

I'd let her keep it long so she can tie it up. My DD has different curling tongs that she uses to change it.
What about a tattoo Wink

Cocolapew · 25/04/2021 11:39

I also agree to not trying to change her look atm. If it's forced it doesn't feel right, she will evolve and change as she gets older/more confident.

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