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Original poster

Growing out a short haircut after DECADES - Help!

23 replies

LarkRize · 20/05/2023 21:20

I’ve had short hair (pixie cut at longest, often very short) for years. I’ve loved it but for some reason I suddenly have an urge to grow it out.

Problem is I have wavy hair which will just get bigger and frizzier, I suspect, and could look dreadful. Has anyone got tips on how to manage what will be a long and ugly transitional stage?

OP posts:
mirro · 21/05/2023 02:28

I am 9 weeks into the same process with the same beginning length and type of hair. I just let it grow for 8 weeks then went to the salon. My hairdresser cut the sides to go back eventually behind my ear, the back is cut shorter to allow the sides to even out with it. He tapered and thinned the hair at the bottom to control the waves and frizz until the sides match up. The back is straight across. He took some of the volume out of the top which is parted to one side. Blow drying is essential to style my hair and give it a bit of lift. I was told to come in every couple of months or so to get the hair trimmed to even it out and control the waves until it grows out. I am going for a short bob after having pixies since I was in my twenties. I am now 73. So far so good but wish me luck!

Sussyknowsthemeaningoflife · 21/05/2023 03:00

I have no advice, but I'm 2 months into doing the same and my hair just keeps getting bigger and wider, not longer😖
So watching for tips!

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 21/05/2023 05:40

I did this last year. No advice as such. But I invested in a lot of scarves/baseball caps and then a load of clips and pretty hair accessories. Finally after a year it was down to my shoulder blades and I’ve had it cut into a layered, graduated Bob. I think a hairdresser might have made the process easier …. But life kind of got in the way!!!

Original poster
LarkRize · 21/05/2023 09:00

@mirro love that you are ahead of me on this - thank you and please keep me posted on how it goes, I know I will be tempted to chop it all again after a few weeks.

I think my hair will do exactly the same as yours @Sussyknowsthemeaningoflife - I literally haven’t had long hair since I first started work so lord alone knows how wide mine will get 👀

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LadyWithLapdog · 21/05/2023 09:39

Very similar here. I’ve been growing mine for the past 10 months and it’s still not properly nice. I’ve had it trimmed once during this time. I think it’s just about time to have a cut to give it some shape. I think I look better with a pixie cut but I thought I’d give longer hair a go. The kids don’t know me with long hair, so must be 20 years.

LadyWithLapdog · 22/05/2023 16:08

This thread reminded me to tidy up my hair, so I’ve just had an updated Rachel haircut. It looks great. All those shorter bits are now layers and it will work for me for the next months while it grows some more.

TheOGCCL · 22/05/2023 18:29

My hair was very, very short and now I'm just letting it grow as not sure what I want next. I've been having a bit of luck with air dry creams which are controlling the frizz and giving it a bit of shape on its own with all the short bits.

Sometimes I also wear headbands like this https://www.accessorize.com/uk/floral-paisley-knot-headband--6860399900.html

Somewhereoverthesea · 22/05/2023 18:35

TheOGCCL · 22/05/2023 18:29

My hair was very, very short and now I'm just letting it grow as not sure what I want next. I've been having a bit of luck with air dry creams which are controlling the frizz and giving it a bit of shape on its own with all the short bits.

Sometimes I also wear headbands like this https://www.accessorize.com/uk/floral-paisley-knot-headband--6860399900.html

What air dry cream do you use? I’ve been looking for one but am bamboozled by choice!

Justbetweenus · 22/05/2023 18:44

I’m part way through this too! Stage 1 was growing the top layers longer but keeping the sides and back short (undercut). Then stage 2 was growing the sides to the point where they could kind of get tucked behind my ears, but keeping the back shorter. I have wavy hair so now (stage 3 I guess) I use salt spray and sometimes a bandana tied on top. So far it’s not been terrible … and I think from here I can just keep growing it. The bad news is that every time a woman’s hair catches my eye … it’s a short cut.

declutteringmymind · 22/05/2023 19:00

In the past I've pinned it back while it grows and asked the hairdresser to tidy it up periodically. As soon as it grows into a short bob it gets easier.

Maybe something like a baby big hair for smoothing - straightened hair is longer

LadyWithLapdog · 22/05/2023 19:26

This is mine now. I think I’m over the worst and can let it grow.

Growing out a short haircut after DECADES - Help!
Chesneyhawkes1 · 22/05/2023 19:31

I started growing out my pixie cut last year.

I think I lasted about 3 months before I got it chopped again.

It just seemed to grow out and I started looking like Toad from Mario Kart.

LadyWithLapdog · 22/05/2023 20:17

The growing out is grim, especially the 3-6 month stretch. Then you can use a hair band or just about pin it up for a bit.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 22/05/2023 20:31

@LadyWithLapdog I wish I'd not given in now 🤦‍♀️

Original poster
LarkRize · 22/05/2023 20:50

Thanks all, some great motivation and tips 🙏

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MaterialGirl1978 · 22/05/2023 22:58

Same process here… which hair dryer are you using for fine hair please? They all seem too powerful… thank you

TheOGCCL · 23/05/2023 08:21

@Somewhereoverthesea https://www.boots.com/kristin-ess-weightless-shine-air-dry-cr%C3%A8me-150ml-10285753

Also want to try the JVN one

Somewhereoverthesea · 23/05/2023 09:55

@TheOGCCL Thank you

Taperjeanwoman · 23/05/2023 10:01

I grew mine out and it grew into a triangle. Until one day, I swapped shampoo and tried a cheap one for "gloss / shine"

And then scrunched it while wet. It became less triangular / stiff and more wavy and lightweight. Someone asked me if I had a "French pixie" - Whatever that was. As it grew it looked more like a "French bob"

It was this time last year and I bought a nice hat and wore it for 12 weeks. Which actually made huge improvements to my skin as I protected my face from the sun at the same time!

Even now my hair is only jaw length as I get sensory overwhelm from long wavy hair 😂

Mumsnut · 23/05/2023 10:25

I did this after 20 years of a pixie. I found GHDs indispensable, not for full on straightening, but to tame the bits that insisted on curling off at an angle.

it took the best part of two years to get a Bob, and then I cut it off again because I looked boring af, and it took a lot of work to keep up. That was 20 years ago

Justbetweenus · 23/05/2023 16:29

it took the best part of two years to get a Bob, and then I cut it off again because I looked boring af, and it took a lot of work to keep up. That was 20 years ago
Loool. I see this happening - short hair is a way cooler look IMO! I want to retire and travel for a bit and partly I think that not needing 6-weekly trims will be easier.

HappyAsASandboy · 23/05/2023 18:26

I am growing mine out from longer than you, but o have managed to somewhat tame the frizzy volume!

I cut out silicones and hair dye, and my very very very frizzy big hair has calmed down a lot. It still has a lot of volume, but is smooth now, and slightly wavy. I have been amazed at the difference.

Original poster
LarkRize · 23/05/2023 19:03

@Justbetweenus and @Mumsnut I do agree with you - I love short and sassy, it may well be that the call to cut short again is irresistible 🤣

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