Hair - going from long to short - opinions?

[badkitty]

I have had long, straight(ish) hair for pretty much my entire adult life - however I am FED UP with it and contemplating drastic action. I don't think I have worn it down once since DS was born 15 months ago, it is always pulled back in a ponytail to keep it out of the way. On Sat night was going out for dinner, a rare occasion, so thought I would wear it down but after blowdrying it it just looked horrible, curtainy and dull and so I ended up tying it back as usual. It seems pointless to spend ages washing and drying it just to tie it back, and it is a total non-style. SO I am thinking of having it cut properly short. Given that it is always pulled right back off my face anyway I don't think it would make much difference - or would it? I am not sure it is worth doing an intermediate length cut - if it was long enough I would just tie it back anyway, and I look dreadful with a bob so that is out. I love Carey Mulligan's short haircut so was thinking of something like that (of course it is easy for her to pull it off!)

Anyway obviously you don't know what I look like so can't advise in that respect but has anyone gone for a drastic cut like this and not regretted it? Will I still be able to feel feminine with short hair? Do you think it is aging? And is it a dreadful cliche to have your hair cut off after becoming a mum - am I waving goodbye to my youth forever..?

I think short hair on a new mum is frumpy. It's like you have given up.

I did the whole cropped hair look when dd was about 10 months old, I looked unattractive. It took ages before it grew back.

Can you go to the hairdresser and have it styled? ASk them for ideas?

Just don't be hasty and hack it all off as you may regret it.

I think if you never wear it down it might as well be short. In fact it's only the bit of hair around your face that affects your appearance (iyswim). I'd say go for it - I also love Carey Mulligans new style. Is you face a similar shape? Must confess that I think long hair can be very ageing and there is nothing more frumpy than a ponytail - it just looks like you can't bothered. I'd bite the bullet, go for the chop and maybe get some colour/highlights and give yourself a bit of a makeover.

Don't do it. Unless you are incredibly beautiful with elfin features it will probably make you look like an old, frumpy politician

What about a mid-length style instead? Get some layers, volume, a fringe.

Are you fair? What about some highlights to brighten it up? Or a new colour? Under consultation from us or a hairdresser

I have gone from long to short several times. Except one very notable occasion when I cried and cried I have been thrilled with the initial results. The problem comes later, I often find with short cuts they can't/won't/don't keep cutting it exactly the same each time so the cut slowly evolves away from the first style, normally for me into something I don't like as much. Also they take a lot more regular salon visits than long hair.

I always go for it. But I normally leave my hair short for about 3 cuts and then start growing it out again.. so maybe that should speak for itself...

How about something shoulder length?

Can be tied back when needed, but also styled & still longish?

Short hair can look great on the right shape face.

I do think with short hair you need to take a bit of trouble to wear a little make up to soften the look though; esp if it's v short.

I have dark hair - had a few highlights last time I went to hairdresser but they were too subtle to make much of a difference I think. I could do with a new colour as well as a new style! No I don't have a heart shaped face like Carey Mulligan which looks good with any hairstyle - I guess my face is more square than that, can never fit myself exactly to one of the standard face shapes though. The problem with getting it styled is that, I go in asking for a few layers and stuff, it looks great when the hairdresser blow drys it, but then I get home, wash it, it flops back in the same old way and I think "oh well" and tie it back again. It would be great just to be able to shove some wax in it and mess it up a bit and to have a style rather than a boring ponytail.

But I accept that it could massively backfire and leave me looking like a dog's bum.

I think you do need to have petie or striking features to carry off short hair.

If I had short hair I would look like Harriet Harman.

I did this in 2008 and it was fantastic all the time it was being trimmed up and regularly cut, but I did miss being able to put it up.

The up side is that it will grow back, so I would say 'go for it' as it does give you a great lift; my confidence level shot up.

I do this quite often, I love the feeling of all those inches of hair on the floor and a whole new me! And you know, it always grows back if you don't like it.
The big problem with short hair and small children, IME, is that it needs cutting back into style quite often otherwise it looks appalling. (Quite often for me = every 4 weeks, which is not practical, hence I have a sort of mid-length style ATM. Does it have to be all or nothing?)

I'd got for it but not cropped - not straight away. I went from long and ignored style-wise last year and my mum said it took years off me. And I felt like a proper woman again. I did it via the mumsnet haircut which was a move in the right direction but not great for my hair (a LOT of it).

I've gone to a bit longer than shoulder-length with shorter (not too short) layers. I wear it down all the time which I never thought I'd be able to after having it tied back so long. So there actually some point to having hair now! It moves, it has volume just automatically because length isn't pulling it down and I feel so much better about it.

If all goes well you can think about going shorter for summer.

DownyEmerald what is the mumsnet haircut?

Maybe I should try some sort of interim mid-length style first, I just don't really know what would work and be easy to deal with.

I really feel dragged down by this mass of dull hair atm, it doesn't seem to be nice and glossy like it used to be. I think like boogeek says it would be good to feel it all being chopped off, it would feel sort of symbolic to get rid of it and start again, a new me (have had a fairly shit year).

I'm a big fan of short hair and didn't know if it would suit me when it was cut short (done while I was unconscious after an accident).

I'd say go for it. There are many styles and your hairdresser should be able to help with a style if you don't feel too confident.

I never felt like I had given up, it felt liberating. Easy to manage, short, sassy and it does grow back if you hate it. I gooled short hair styles and the choices are endless..... before and after piccies please though

Go to a decent hairdresser and get some advice, talk through some options.

I had my hair chopped off a couple of years ago from waist length to a longer version of victoria beckhams slanted bob thing after seeing it on sheridan smith and loving it. I loved it and haven't looked back since.

There are loads of things you can do with it even short - sometimes i have a fringe cut in, sometimes i have extra layers. And at the end of the day it'll grow back if you don't like it short - though if you do have it short you'll need it cut more often but you know what? I love that new hair cut feeling every 6 weeks!

have just had mine cut from bra-strap length to this style, as like you, I was wearing it tied back constantly, struggling to keep it looking nice etc.

Am thrilled with it, and people keep telling me it does look nice. I do need to wear make-up every day now, or risk looking about 12, but 5 mins before school run is enough for a bit of blush/bronzer, a quick swish of mascara and a smudge of liner.

Sounds like you're ready for a change! The crop might look fab, but will take an age to grow out if you don't like it.
I'd say go for it in stages - I've had my hair like yours a few years ago, had it chopped off pretty short (funnily enough when my DD about the same age too!) and its now a bit longer again, about shoulder length - long enough to tie back, but I usually wear it down - few layers etc - all very easy and minimal styling etc!

I have had my hair cut from half way down my back to crop twice and hated it. I also found that it needed a lot of styling and took about twice, if not three times as long to do in the morning.

The last time I was desperate for a change I had it cut to my jaw line. I was very pleased and 90% of people gave me serious compliments on it. I thought it made me look a little older, but everyone else said I looked younger.

Ask the hairdresser, but I would advise going for a haircut in the middle first. If you like it but want it shorter still, it will then not be as drastic and you will have a slightly better idea of your final opinion.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Pre children I went from v long to v short and I'm not elfin or small featured. It was fab and very liberating but it did require cutting every month to keep it looking good. Most people who knew me with long hair didn't really like it but I got lots of positive comments from complete strangers, mainly women asking where I had it done! Funnily enough I grew it out when I moved from a city to the suburbs as I suddenly felt very mumsy because it seemed all the mums had short "functional" hair.

Since I had my DD my hair has been in an absolutely awful state - dull, lost its curl, frizzy. DD is now 3 and it's finally beginning to get back to normal. My guess is that's why your hair has lost its glossiness and is generally looking a bit dull. Apparently it can really take ages for your hair to "recover" after pregnancy. Honestly, I would have an in-between cut and try and have it done fairly regularly to make yourself feel as good as possible cos if your hair's not back to normal yet having it cut short is not going to bring back its gloss and shine. There have been many times over the last 3 years where I've wanted to cut my hair short again as some kind of cure-all and my hairdresser has always encouraged me not too cos she felt it wouldn't make me feel better or my hair look better - and with hindsight I do think she was right!

Still the best haircut in the world

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Stiil the 2nd best haircut in the world

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This is gorgeous also

www.phijhe.com/wp-content/hairstyle/2009/02/short-choppy-hairstyles-3.jpg

Just back from hairdressers - I did it! Well kind of - she talked me out of going straight for total crop so I have a very short graduated bob, layered in at back so doesn't require any styling really (so hairdresser claims anyway...)

It was the best feeling in the world having all the hair chopped off! I feel so much lighter! Hope it is as easy to look after as she says, no regrets though at the moment it is fab. DH hasn't seen it yet though and is going to get a shock, expect I will get the pouty lip from DS as well...

Get a good couple of inches trimmed off it and buy yourself a set of heated rollers or velcro ones- but personally find the heated ones more effective- they will give loads of volume and sexy glam hair-you can still tie your hair up for day time/mummy time.Don't cut it you will regret it short hair takes so much more up keep.

Pics, OP!