Long hair to short hair - will I regret it?!?

[ImSoMagical]

50 something with long hair. Had it down my back for so long as an adult because when I was younger mum always cut our hair short and I was always mistaken for a boy 😆. I don't have time to wash/dry/style and inevitably wear it up with a clip or in a ponytail. Any advice or positive long to short transitions?!?

I don't know what to do for the best. This is SO stupid! I don't eat crusts. Mum said, if you don't eat your crusts, you won't get curly hair. And I didn't and never have, ever, eaten crusts. And here I am, with hair so bloody spirally curly. My hair comes down to my waist. It used to come to my knees. I keep it tied up, out of the way. Why do people keep wanting to touch it? I was stood in a queue at Barclays Bank and felt a strange movement in my hair. I turned around, and a woman I had never met, was trying to stick her fingers up my spirals!

It’ll grow if you don’t like it ,

If you don't like it it'll grow back.

I'm the opposite I have short hair and apart from a couple of years always have. I grew it longer for a while but never really liked it. Got it cut again and OH confessed that he didn't like my hair longer he thought I was prettier with short hair, maybe just more used to it. He hadn't said anything in case it bothered me.

I’ve had my hair all the lengths... from really short to just above my bum.

Mostly I go back to about jaw length because that’s what my hair prefers (it’s wavy, it has opinions).

If you’re used to being able to put it up, I’d be cautious of going so short you can’t do that straight off the bat tbh, because shorter hair needs more styling IME, as in long hair takes longer to wash, dry and style at once, but short hair needs doing every day and if it’s too short to tie back, you’re kind of stuffed if you’ve no time to do it.

@BigFatLiar I’ve done. Both over many years, but always feel more me with short hair. I think to feel right, our hair needs to reflect our personality in some way. Interestingly, my husband says he always preferred long hair on women until I cut mine short again a few years after meeting him, but that he likes me with short hair 🙂

Thanks for all the opinions today is hairdresser day and I can't make my mind up. Points people have made re feeling feminine with long hair are probably what's making me dither. Stupid I know, as many have pointed out (including dh) it's only hair! 😆

I had, just past shoulder length hair and cut it short, short. I have never looked back. I found with long hair, I just kept scooping it into a ponytail and only did it when going somewhere. I hated it. Cut it short, absolute freedom. Dries quick, can style it quick, dye it, if I don't like it, it grows out quick, downside, it grows, so have to visit salon more often than previously. Which was the odd trim before, but you can change the style more often.

The great thing about hair is, it will grow back. Take the plunge. The hairdresser will be more nervous than you and will keep saying are you sure. YEP, do it. What you got to lose, except hair freedom.

Go for something in between and try a month of only wearing it down then see if you want to go shorter.

I've been slowing going shorter and shorter over the last ten years. My hair is very short now. I don't think I'd have coped well doing a drastic chop but if you do it gradually you have time to get used to each length and work out what you like or don't like about each cut. It's fine to have a 'hair plan'.

I went from elbow length hair to shoulder length- loved it.

I went from shoulder length to chin length- loved it.

I went from chin length to pixie cut- Regretted it instantly Still growing it out. It is now just past my ear.

However shorter hair definitely makes your face look younger!

Oh I wish this was true for me. When I’ve had my hair cut any higher than the collarbone I just instantly look my age. Annoyingly my face suits longer hair.

@KnitFastDieWarm

I also disagree that long hair is aging - my grandmother had waist length pure white hair at the age of 75 and she looked like some sort of druid queen when she wore it down Miles better than the ‘flattering’ bobs haircuts all her friends had, in my opinion.

I think that depends on your hair type though. I've got really thick wavy hair but I don't think I'll ever be fully silver-haired as my genes are fairly resilient in that department. An ex colleague has really thick straight white hair and she looks AMAZING with her long locks, really stunning.

Then there's women (and men) with lank, thin, straggly hair down their back, and it just looks awful. No amount of styling would make it look good.

I've had short hair that needed lots of time every day to look good (and hated it) I've had long hair that took aaaaages to do every few days so always ended up 'up' or in a ponytail on day 2 because I cba to do it every day (and hated it).

Currently I'm unable to put in a ponytail or traditionally blow dry due to a broken arm, but I've found a great cut to jaw-line and I love it.

@ImSoMagical - if I were you then now I’d go for in between because due to Christmas etc if you’re going out, socialising etc at least you’ll be able to put it up. If it was in January I’d be tempted to get it all off as not so much socialising.

It's done!! Chin length choppy Bob from halfway down my back 😁 I feel light and free! Don't think I look younger or older but pleased I did it. Thank you mumsnetters!

Congratulations!

Congrats!

I hope you enjoy it!

@dropitlikeitsloth

However shorter hair definitely makes your face look younger!

Oh I wish this was true for me. When I’ve had my hair cut any higher than the collarbone I just instantly look my age. Annoyingly my face suits longer hair.

Same here, found some pics of me aged 33 (14 years ago!) with shorter hair and look older than I do now! It's longer again now thank goodness but never back to its glory, refuses to grow past shoulder length annoyingly. I should never have cut it. However my hair is very very curly and shorter just looks microphone/brillopad. Curly hair is a tricky customer. Enjoy your shorter hair op!

I'm 60 and keep my hair like this.