Tips for better hair

[ChocolateCakeOverspill]

I’ve had every hair colour under the sun and every style from pixie to long, fringe short and long. I’m easily bored. It’s currently home dyed brown, over greying hair.

I went to a new hairdresser on a whim and she cut layers in (to paraphrase a previous poster - like Suzie Quatro’s Nan) since then I’ve grown it to make it easier to get rid of the layers. Now it sits around shoulder length, it’s fine and sort of silky.

It’s so flat, boring, lifeless, not in a style. Fringe isn’t quite long enough to even go in a messy bun.

I like it blonde (highlighted), but the price went up, it was costing over £100 every couple of months and taking four hours.

I like it short but last time I had it done someone cut it too short and I looked like that meme about wanting to talk to a manager.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Do you have a hair and beauty training college near you or training nights at local salons? You can get really good prices for cut and colour and advice on style from salon manager - ask for Level 3+ or the trainer to do it - I've paid a fraction of what I pay in salons and been really happy with it - they often throw in treatments, head massage, manicure too as the students are keen to practise! I love that they don't push products on me, don't tell me I need full head highlights every visit - I have a T section, a root colour then full head on rotation, sometimes another T section when it's summer and my hair is naturally lighter.

In terms of condition, lockdowns allowed me time to see just how much my hair improved leaving it air dry to the very nth degree then I would use a Big Hair to give it bounce and body that lasted a good few days (I've got shoulder length very fine highlighted hair with grey roots I'm keeping at bay.... Just!) . Pureology Color Fanatic leave in conditioner has worked wonders for me. I wash my hair every third day - use mix of Olaplex, Olaplex for Blonde hair, KMS.

I had a lovely hairdresser (although she did talk a lot about her love life which did my head in), and then I got impatient for roots and a trim and she wasn’t there so I went to the salon manager and he did the meme haircut. I felt like I couldn’t go back.

That was years ago, I could go back to her maybe? Or I’ve just seen there is a level 3 trainee at their salon, maybe I could ask her? The college don’t seem to have a salon.

It’s in really good condition, that’s maybe part of the problem, it’s so shiny and silky, at this point it’s just flat but in a cut which I think isn’t designed to look flat.

I have a big hair thing and use that, but it flops quickly - I don’t use styling product though. I probably should but I don’t really know what to use.

This time of year (summer to winter) is not kind to my self esteem! I’m definitely someone who looks better in the summer so this is a bit of a transition while I find my feet again 😂

The talk to the manager haircut is usually an unflattering wedge type bob isn't it?

It's not the only short style...there are millions out there. Bixies are in as well as pixies. It sounds like you don't like longer hair so find a short style you like and a good cutter (ask women you see locally with styles you like where they go, or look at all the insta pages of local salons). Also look at styling options for the current length...heatless curls, velcro rollers etc.

If your hair is straight, shiny and silky I imagine a really lovely precision cut bob or lob would work for you - get the right cut and it would look styled and cool without you having to do much to it.

Not sure if I should post a meme on here, it feels mean to do that to someone who probably didn’t sign up for it! Essentially it’s sort of graduated at the back to the point of being very short at the top, then longer at the front. For me it was how short he cut it at the back / top - about an inch or two in length.

Before that it was much softer, a slightly shorter at the back version of Natalie Imbruglia in the 90s. I loved it but I’m scared I’ll end up looking like the mum from the Kardashians now it’s dark.

Styling options is definitely something I need to look at. I went and bought hair mousse, volumising spray and hairspray today so will have a play tomorrow.

Maybe this is the way to go, I’ve spent my life trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear, perhaps I should just accept my lot in life!