the quest for an uncluttered haircut

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the quest for an uncluttered haircut

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Started 1 year ago by luxcat
Latest reply from jbeany
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luxcat
Member

This topic might be easier for some of our male posters, who often only have to decide, short.. shorter.. or shaved?

As a 30-something professional woman with a simply silly schedule I fight with my hair all the time. I refuse to have anything that needs flat-ironing, curling, or even blow-drying unless absolutely necessary. I don't use more than a tiny bit of styling product. I sweep my long, curly, and now greying hair into a bun or a pony tail, slick down the sides, and go! This sounds great, right? Except I look like heck!!

I started getting it colored every couple months a year or so ago, and that's helped... but I toy all the time with the idea cutting it to a short style that will need... gasp... more time (and more product) to care for but might look a little more attractive.

So here I am, caught between vanity and unclutteredness. Anyone else in the same boat? Experienced this dilemma? Have any advice?

Posted 1 year ago #
Zora
Member

I'm sixty-three and have grey hair. I just cut it short and don't do ANYTHING to it. No coloring, blow-drying, no gel, nothing.

Because I've been poor, I go to a cheap franchise hair salon (Fantastic Sam's) and have my hair cut by whoever is available. Sometimes it's nice and sometimes it's not so nice.

When I had more money, I had my hair cut by someone more expensive and he was worth it. My hair looked fine -- even though I didn't do anything to it. Just wash, comb, and muss it up a little with my hands.

My nun-plain style of dress (simple clothing, no makeup, short hair, small gold hoop earrings that I never remove) doesn't sound like it's what you want. However, I do believe that you'd be happy with going short if you could find a good hair stylist. Ask your friends.

Posted 1 year ago #
Nithy
Member

As far as uncluttered, I like layers cut with a razor. You can go longer between cuts without looking too shaggy if you get it cut with a razor instead of scissors. Mine is up off my shoulders, but I keep it long enough in the front to be able to put it behind my ears (which I specifically ask for when I go in to get it cut). I have very fine, mostly straight hair, and I don't blow dry at all. I comb it right out of the shower, occasionally run a brush through once it's dry, and maybe a little wax for volume or silk oil for a soft glossy shine. I have a picture I bring in to Great Clips so they know exactly what I'm looking for.

If finances are an issue, you could hit up the local beauty school. They have lower prices, and at the one near me, they have to get everything approved by the instructor before they start, so you could spend more time talking about what you want.

Posted 1 year ago #
cottagegirl124
Member

Hi luxcat well several years ago I shaved my head with a cheap pair of clippers and everyone loved it. I am 43 no gray and just have normal mousy brown hair. Comments were wow your eyes sure are brighter and I love your hair very smart looking. I know it is not for everyone but it worked great for me. And if you don't like it grow it back out it tends to grow really fast if you cut it this short. And it really looks smarter on people who do have some gray hair. Try it its winter and hats are very in.

Posted 1 year ago #
needtocleanhouse
Member

if you find someone you like at a fantastic sams you can go to them all the time; you don't have to take any one at random. i've forgotten how to make the arrangement but i remember being able to see the person of my choice there.

i now have found a fabulous cutter - and that makes all the difference in the world - just wash and dry and wear - because the cutter and cut are so good.

Posted 1 year ago #
lucy1965
Member

Oh, luxcat, I am so glad you started this topic!

Those of us with curly hair really need to make the time to find someone with experience in cutting it: check local Curlygirl groups, hit your local Citysearch, get two or three names, and then call the salons and ask what they charge for an initial consultation.

I will have more to say on this subject after meeting the dermatologist on Thursday: if he tells me I need to cut it to deal with the hair loss, I'm gonna be sorely tempted to do the full Lennox . . . and then I'm going to bawl about it, because it's midback and I love it.

Posted 1 year ago #
SunshineR
Member

Dear lucy1965: take courage, maybe your hair can be a bit shorter, but not a clipper cut.

My hair is always in a ponytail because I like it off of my face and neck. However, it is time for me to lose about four inches of the ponytail. Not sure what kind of a cut I want. It still has to be able to stay off of my neck, without a lot of styling fuss, like I did half a lifetime ago in the age of Big Hair Styles.

Posted 1 year ago #
Netleigh
Member

About 15 years ago, fed up with my fine and slightly wavy hair, that would not stay in a straight bob. It just did lopsided waves and this was before straighteners were big. I said to the hairdresser , 'Do something', and I came out with an 'Audrey Hepburn' short haircut and I haven't looked back. I wash and brush, occasional product and finger styling and that's about it.

Find a hairdresser, by recommendation, get them to understand what you need and go for it.

If you go short you can always grow it again, play with your styles as it grows and you can try a lot of different lengths. Or you can go short in stages and try different styles out for easiness.

Posted 1 year ago #
lottielot
Member

I had my hair cut short when I was 14 and kept it like that until I had kids and just didn't have time to get my hair cut very often, so it accidentally ended up quite long (think it's kind of armpit length now). It's thick, dark brown and curly and going grey too but I plan to go grey gracefully! I haven't had it cut for about a year as I just haven't been organised enough, but it does look much nicer with some layers cut into it, they've grown out now. With layers I can decide whether to put it up into a ponytail or bun or whether to wear it loose, right now it sort of hangs when worn loose, not nice. Or sometimes I just pin half of it back with a hairclip, that's the most flattering look for me. I actually find it's more low-maintenance than when I had short hair, not because I ever did anything to it when short but because it needs cutting a lot more frequently when it's short, plus you can't wash it before you go to bed because it'll stick up, you seem to need to wash it more frequently too. I think it's much more important to get a good cut when your hair is short, if you get a bad one then you have nowhere to hide! Finding a good hairdresser is difficult too, they always seem to want to DO stuff to your hair like straighten it (that lasted about 10 minutes) or experiment with you...I liked having short hair and when I had a good cut it looked good and was easy to care for. I also like having long hair as it's pretty versatile and even lower maintenance. What I've never liked is medium length hair, it looks awful on me and just doesn't behave at all. So to some extent it depends what sort of hair you have, which a good hairdresser can help with. But netleigh is right, you don't have to stick with short hair if it doesn't work for you :) Go on, be daring!!

Posted 1 year ago #
RebeccaL
Member

I'm a huge fan of dry shampoo, which lets me go a couple days w/o washing my shoulder length hair- it removes any oil and "boosts" it. There's also dry conditioner, for drier hair.

Posted 1 year ago #
shebolt
Member

I find that the easiest (and most flattering) haircuts work with your hair type and don't force you to spend a lot of time styling it. But that doesn't mean a no-maintenance style is going to look good. The OP already said she realizes she looks like heck.

I have straight, fine hair and am going prematurely grey (I'm in my 30s and already over 50% grey). I'm fighting it, because I'm way too young to "go grey gracefully". All it's going to do at this point is age me. So I realize that getting it colored every 5 weeks is a commitment, but to me it's worth it.

But my cut is another story. I keep it about shoulder length, with long layers. This requires about 5 minutes in the morning after I wash it - a few seconds to put some product in and only a few minutes with a blow dryer. I get it cut about 4 times a year because the cut grows out well.

I can't recommend something for curly hair, but the right stylist will help you find something that's easy and quick but still professional and attractive. The trick is not to fight your hair type. I have too many friends with curly or wavy hair who spend all sorts of money and time making it straight.

Posted 1 year ago #
Lori Paximadis
Member

I echo all the other advice to find a great stylist. Be very upfront with how much you're willing (or not) to do with it, styling-, product-, and maintenance-wise. A good stylist will listen to you and work with *your* hair and requirements and not do something crazy that you aren't willing to maintain.

If you can afford it, avoid the cheapie places. You need someone with skills and experience to do a cut that will look great without lots of styling, and for the most part they aren't hanging out in the barely-above-minimum-wage haircut mills. A great haircut will look good longer than a bad one, too, as it grows out, so you can go a bit longer between cuts. (But hey, if you find a great stylist at a cheapie place, pay the extra they usually charge for requests -- totally worth it.)

Posted 1 year ago #
Periwinkle
Member

Before cutting, I'd say look into how you look after your hair as it is and what you do with it.

I'm a bit of a hair obsessive. My hair just brushes my hips and it's straight, curly and everything in between all at once =P It takes almost no maintenance - I cut my own fringe (every time I've had it done professionally, I haven't liked it, and at least I didn't have to pay money if I mess it up) and about twice a year I get my mum or a friend to cut the ends for me. And I get compliments all the time!

Product-wise, I use shampoo, conditioner, gel (in my fringe), leave-in conditioner (don't actually need it, but already had it) and coconut oil (this is the secret to wonderful hair).

What are your complaints about the way your hair looks now? Possibly a different way of washing would help, or putting it up in different ways. I strongly recommend you look at the forums at longhaircommunity.com - even if you're not that fussed about long hair, chances are you'll learn a lot.

Posted 1 year ago #
jbeany
Member

I'm with lottielot on the "they always want to DO stuff." I always get the "Why don't you try something fun? A stylish cut or a new color?" I'd have more faith in their idea of "fun" matching mine if the stylist offering the high pressure tactics didn't always seem to be far south of 30 yet still shopping in the juniors department, while keeping her punk shag hairdo in a color not found in nature. I freely admit that I'm not 20 anymore - I need quick, easy and professional, no matter how boring that is to cut! As for color, I already use it - a wash a shade just a touch lighter than my natural color. It turns my gray to low-lights but doesn't change my color.

At least now that my formerly straight hair has gotten wavy, I don't have to hear them insist that a perm would be FAB on me. I want an uncluttered, easy hair style, and there's nothing uncluttered or easy about fighting the texture you already have.

Posted 1 year ago #
bandicoot
Member

i suspect that stylists who want to "do stuff" to your hair are pretty much upselling you on service or product.
decide what YOU want and then stick to your guns.

shebolt, i had to giggle: you are fighting your gray and your friends are fighting their curls.

i get a few foils in the very top layers of my hair three times a year or so.
it gives it a tiny bit of texture, otherwise my hair would look like a swimming cap.
i look high and low for good stylists.....my hair (jaw length graduated bob) just needs a light daily wash, a comb through, then left to dry naturally.
and at night i brush it with my 20-odd year old mason pearson hairbrush (now there is a good example of quality/frugality/minimalism....that hairbrush cost me an absolute fortune, but i have looked after it and it has looked after me for 20-something years and it still looks like new).

Posted 1 year ago #
Demerna
Member

It sounds less like you have a problem with your hair and more like you are struggling with your current look. I would suggest instead of making a radical change to short hair, which generally takes more time to style than long hair, is to try new bangs/fringe.
I have tailbone length hair. For work my hair gets slicked back into a neat bun. I looked great with my hair down but when it was up it was harsh. So I had a stylist cut bangs specifically to flatter my face while my hair is up. Now I still have the same quick and easy bun with an added minute to style my bangs and out I go with little hassle and no new products, looking chic and put together.

Posted 1 year ago #
Olga
Member

My hair used to be thick and had some nice curl, after the big C , it grew very thin and straight.Luxcat, check out hair styles when you are out and about, if you
like something just ask , most people will tell you where they go for haircuts, that's the way I found my last two beauticians.Getting a good cut is a must,your
hair will just fall into place. Good luck!!

Posted 1 year ago #
Ella
Member

Hi all. I'm new here but I'll just jump right in. Demerna's suggestion about bangs is what I've recently done since my hairline was starting to look thin and uneven. Get a professional to cut your bangs so you have the options of wearing them straight or side-swept or off your face. I have long wavy hair with bangs. I just give the bangs a quick spritz with water and blow-dry them smooth while the rest goes into a low pony tail. Quick and easy, and I've been getting lots of compliments.

Posted 1 year ago #
djk
Member

I keep my hair really quite short (if I didn't need to keep my job I would shave my head I think. I have always wanted to see if I had a Gorbachev lurking under there.

While a good cut can make one feel perked up, and a bad one or too much growth doesn't make you feel your best, it must be said some people are MUCH more emotionally connected to their hair than others. I am not especially emotionally tied to how my hair looks. I have two criteria: it must be easy, and, it must flatter my face. I don't love my body size nor shape, but I have a pretty face and smile therefore my hair must draw attention to my assets and not my ass. :)

with extra weight, it is important that long hair doesn't lie along all the bumps and emphasize one's width. Not a problem if the hair has a lot of natural body and fullness, which can make a heavier woman look more in proportion, but is a problem if the hair is fine and limp, like mine.

If I were a rail I would probably let my hair grow long, for the purpose of putting it up in a chignon. I love buns and chignons! Even long though, my hair was too fine for them to look convincing!

Posted 1 year ago #
Claycat
Member

Wow, Zora! You and I have a lot in common! :)

I vary my hairstyle between short in the summer and a chin length bob in the winter. Both haircuts are wash and wear. I have a hairdresser who gives great cuts that aren't terribly expensive. I only get it cut every couple of months.

Posted 1 year ago #

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