Advice on hair

[todyeornottodye]

I'm 40 but still clueless about hair. I have rarely done anything beyond having my hair washed and cut. I have always had long or a bob hairstyle. I have very few grey hairs.

I haven't had my hair cut for around 2 years and have booked in. What should I do? Options: trim or bob? Layers or not - I have very fine hair.

Finally should I dye my hair. I do like low maintenance hair but wondered if some kind or dye- someone mentioned balayage might be a good option. Will it actually look nicer and if so, what colour- copper, light brown, blond?
Thank you!

Trim.

Thanks. And leave the colour?

A good trim. I like the colour as it is and you may find once you have had a good trim you won’t need a colour.

The colour is fine. You could have balayage if you like but it looks nice as it is. You could try a temporary colour or one of the hair mascaras to see if you'd like it.

Bobs are too high maintenance imo but a blunt trim would make your hair look thicker.

Thank you for the advice. So look to trim off a couple of inches and leave the colour. That sounds easy to me. It just feels like everyone is adding highlights etc, would it not boost my look due to my hair colour?

I'm going against the grain and I think you need more than a trim - might be how your hair is arranged but the ends look a bit damaged, split, and uneven, so a good few inches for your hair to be healthy again. You don't want to treat yourself to a nice new haircut only to still have dry ends.

You're hair colour is nice naturally, but if you did want a change then balayage would work well. It can be quite subtle or more dramatic depending on your preference, and done correctly it should grow out nicely without need to be topped up frequently. I think it would look nice and add extra dimension, it sounds like you want a bit of pizzazz and to feel special, and I think a change in colour might do that. Do make sure you know the full price in advance though - if it includes a blow-dry, cut, and any extra treatments like Olaplex... it is expensive so best to go in with your eyes fully open.

You need a couple of inches off atleast to get rid of the thin ends and it will thicken it up nicely.
Balayage would look lovely, I got mine done last year and haven’t needed to top it up just my roots for the greys!

Your hair looks very dry at the ends to me. Split ends, etc. I think you need to have quite a lot off.
Why not just ask the hairdresser? They know best.

Thanks all. I did ask the hairdresser and she was very nice but not very directive. Along the lines of I could do that or I could do that, what do you want? Problem is I have near zero experience of dying hair and zero experience of balayage, so I can't imagine what it will look like. She brought out a book of colours but again I need guidance on colours. I can't imagine what blonde/brown/copper balayage would look like on me or which would suit me!

It looks to me as though she has layered it a bit at the back so it looks a bit thin which also makes the split and damaged ends more prominent. I would say chop the dry ends off and get it cut to your shoulder or just below and have her cut the ends all one length. Your hair will look much healthier and thicker. I'd say the colour is fine.

Thank you. They often ask if I want layering and I'm never really sure what the right answer is. I would like a more blunt thick end so I think the answer is no layering but then they take about giving body and flick and then sometime I give in and say do what is right!

I did also consider purple steaks, but would that be awful?

Steaks in your hair not a good idea, purple or otherwise.

like this?

Oh god bad typo!

Streaks, I mean streaks!! More like this

Much better. Do it.

Great typo by the way.
Made me chuckle.

I'm not sure on the purple, it looks a bit dated to me. If you do go for it make sure you are really confident your colourist will be able to do this properly. Also, just to note both those pictures are on a much darker base than your hair, so won't look like that on you, unless you were going for a full head of colour and darkening up the crown and roots. Some colours fade really quick, that would also be something to check on, I know pink does, not sure about purple.

@todyeornottodye

Streaks, I mean streaks!! More like this

Don't do these. They're very very dated. I think the colour would probably age your face quite a lot as well and drain you of any natural colouring

Oh no! That's is definitely not the plan! It seems the verdict is trim. Perhaps I have been along the right course my whole life!

Plus to get the purple to show up you have to bleach those bits of hair first. Like alot. So if you hair is a bit dry/damaged anyway then it might not be a good idea.
A really good cut into a lob would look fantastic.

Thanks all. I'll send a pic once I've had it cut.