The Long or Short of It?
Last year, I wrote a post to communicate my belief that women have a duty to change their hairstyles. Frequently.
Think about it: the mighty Lord gave us menstrual cycles, unwanted leg hair and varicose veins. But He also bestowed us with lovely locks – and for most of us, we’re blessed with the choice of how to wear our hair… short or long, layered or blunt, blonde or brunette, straight or curly… the list goes on. So, to be stuck in a hair rut is simply unforgivable!
You May Be Stuck in a Hair Rut If…
1. Your husband knows the brand and number of your boxed hair colour.
2. Four out of five friends would describe your ‘do as “The Rachel.”
3. Your hair salon is a barber shop. With a spinning pole outside.
4. Your hair styling routine includes wash, air dry, ponytail, repeat.
5. You wear your hair long because you believe men like long hair.
6. Your stylist uses a rubber cap and knitting needle for your highlights.
7. You never make an appointment to cut your hair – walk-ins welcome.
8. The labels on your styling products say “Aqua Net” or “Dippidy Do”.
9. You truly believe that there is such a thing as wash-and-go hair.
10. You own a banana clip… and use it.
I have fine, frizzy hair… decidedly the most unsexy texture known to womankind. But I battle Mother Nature with a gusto normally reserved for fighting world wars and banishing whale poachers. Because let’s face it – I can’t change my face (for less than $10,000), my skin colour (unless I try out a new age bleaching cream) or the fact that I’ll always be 4 inches too short to reach supermodel status (and 20 pounds too heavy) – but I can change my hair.
And change can be a wonderful thing! A simple thing like taking a few minutes to curl your ends, back-combing your crown for volume or even switching the side you part your hair on can boost self confidence and make you feel like a new person; often for little or no expense. Add a slim hair band or twist your hair into a low bun, and you’re rocking a new ‘do in no time.
So, it’s about that time of year… the time when I start to itch for a new look. I’ve been sporting the same long, highlighted hair for far too long now – probably about a year – and coming from someone that usually changes it up every 3-4 months, that is quite the commitment.
I’m currently caught between two options: short and light or long and dark. My husband, bless his heart, is a huge fan of short and dark, and has been trying to convince me to cut out both the peroxide and my hair. However, that’s just a little to adventurous for me at the moment, so you’ll just have to hear my arguments for each look:
Short & Highlighted
Having the aforementioned fine, frizzy hair, a short cut would work wonders to cut down my blowdrying time. Plus, after a year of being subjected to bleach, it would be great to lop off about 6-8 inches of comatose hair. Finally, I’ll be going down south in the fall so I’d love to keep my locks bright and breezy for the trip, and the light hair would show off my tan marvelously.
Long & Dark
Sometimes, simply abstaining from using bleach is as good as chopping off hair, so a nice, chestnut gloss would be just the ticket to boosting the health of my hair. Plus, with fall around the corner, it would be nice to darken up for the cooler weather, and keeping it long gives me more style options.
To prove that I practice what I preach and DO NOT allow myself to get caught in hair ruts, here is a timeline of my hairstyles from the past four (4) years:
I’m so confused! What do you think? Short and light or long and dark? Or… should I keep the status quo, and keep it long and light? My appointment is on Saturday – need your help peeps, please & thank you!
EDIT.… less than 3 months later, I’m back to being a highlighted blonde. I KNEW I couldn’t stay a brunette for long! Change is in my blood – I embrace new looks, and never look back! However, you’ll notice that my hair is a good 6 inches shorter… I made good on my promise to chop the length! Until the next makeover…
4,5,7…and at least one more are true for me. Ahh, my town is so small the hairdressers don’t do appointments.
You look fabulous all the time. But since you asked…
You should go with what your husband thinks. The results might surprise you.
Or long and dark and mysterious.
So many say dark! The thing is.. the second I go dark, I start missing my highlights :( 48 hours to go and I still don’t know what to do!
8! 8! 8! OR the first one on the bottom row, or last on bottom row.
Er… so do something totally different, or keep the status quo? You’re no help at all! Bah!
Lol. FINE! Short and dark please :) You look stunning in that pic! (obvs in all the others as well, but that one really stands out for me!)
I love the dark and long! Maybe you and hubs can comprimise ;)
Perhaps… maybe dark with a trim? ;)
Long & dark – like me:) I really need to change up my style…
Uh oh, are you in a hair rut?? Thanks for chiming in :)
Def go darker?…..can u get any more prettier ? I love # 14 and 2. My husband too is begging for short hair lol
Oh stop it, thank you! It looks like 2 is the runaway fave so far. I find it so interesting that your husband wants to see you go short! What will you do?
You look great with any color/length combination. I vote with nicolthepickle…see what Mike likes.
Good answer! (says Mike, LOL)
For the reasons you mentioned, short and highlighted. Then when the temperature gets colder long and dark. ;) Look forward to seeing your new style!
Ah, sage advice… although if I cut my hair short, it won’t be “long and dark” when the cold weather comes… it’ll still be short, LOL!
I’m so glad I ditched my ponytail and chopped mine off! You look great with any style/length/colour! I love your colour in photo #2. Have you ever gone in to a salon and said “do what you want!”?
Ah, you look FABULOUS with your new do! And yes, I did that once…. notice the cherry red highlights in photo #3? Yeah, I won’t be doing that again!
I vote for 8 – I think it would look great in the fall – and with a tan :-)
You always look gorgeous so anything would suit you!
Thanks Ella – but, sometimes I FEEL prettier in highlights, you know what I mean?
OMG, I’m stuck in that rut! If I were to create a timeline there would be no change.
Either way you go Lena you can’t go wrong you look fab – however I would like to see you in dark brown with medium brown highlights keeping it long.
I would like to see me in that too! I think you’re on to something with the darker highlights… hmmm…
I love the darker colour. You’re so lucky, though, because EVERY hairstyle looks absolutely fabulous on you!
You’re too kind, Victoria! Got it – another vote to go dark!
WOW that is a lot of hairstyles – you weren’t kidding!
I would say long and dark (I am a sucker for long hair! Mine is a light brown and I would LOVE to go DARK but I think I’m far too pale!) It’d be great for the cooler seasons, as you said!
Thanks Nicole! Wow, you guys are really making me want to go dark!
I support Mike….short and dark…I’ve always loved that look on you. I always say that if you can pull off short hair, do it!
I know, I know… I still think back to our clubbing days when I had short hair throughout… dunno… I just hate growing my hair out once it’s short, and I know I won’t be able to stick to the style!
Thanks for sharing…. I have to say I’ve changed my hair more in the last decade than before. I think being older I realize it’s just hair and ok to have fun with it…more confident. I’ve grown out mine really long with full bangs and will be ready too for a change. I want it to be more drastic instead of the suttle tweaks I’ve done…You are lovely and looks like you can do any style.
Thank you Rhonda – and I’m so pleased to hear that you’re not afraid of a change and have been changing it up. I must admit I’m jealous of anyone who can wear full bangs! Lucky you! Mine are wispy and I have a cowlick, so they never sit flat :(
You have a beautiful head of hair. Highlights!
Thanks Tania! I’m leaning towards lowlights this time!
well since you’re asking, I say dark too. I like the third row two on the right, the bangs look cool, are they hard to do, do you have a cowlick? I do and can’t make my hair stay down for bangs. Def, dark in winter, light in summer. So says me who wears blond all year round (L’Oreal excellence cream “BB” light blond) time for a change…
Thanks Amy! Yes, bangs are hard to do for me. My hair is thin and I do have a cowlick, so it’s torture trying to get them to behave :(
Good luck with your change – maybe this winter you’ll do it!
You look gorgeous in all of your pictures Lena. I love your hair colour in picture # 2. A nice warm brown.
Indeed! Everyone seems to have chosen that look for me – a nice warm chocolate brown! Wish me luck!
I like them all – your husband :)
Love you xx
wow, you totally rock all those hairstyles and colours!
Thanks Jenny! I JUST came back from the hair salon – feel like a new woman!
the best friend votes for darkish and a bob.
Darkish is complete. Step 2 coming up shortly…
Thank you for this post, Lena…I have had my hair short before many times but find it more expensive to maintain. My hair grows so fast! I am getting my hair coloured on October 5th…my hairdresser told me that I have enough gray hair that instead of highlights I can go for an all over colour…oh :( He must see something that I clearly can’t. A little bit cheaky he is :)
Haha that’s certainly one way of hinting – but I say do whatever makes YOU feel amazing!
LOVE the new color! So rich and warm! Looking forward to seeing the new cut soon :)
Thanks so much Kat! It’s definitely growing on me!
Beautiful!!
Thank you luv :)
You look gorgeous any shade, length or style!!!
You’re too kind. After soliciting so many opinions, I think next week I’ll be going shorter – but not necessarily short. Just a trim!
Dark is nice for fall and winter then you can highlight for spring/ summer again. I am a long haired girl. I still think you are too young for short.
Haha Paula my mom told me exactly the same thing last night! She said “get a trim, but don’t cut your hair”. Think I’d better listen to both of you!
Beautiful! I love it!
Have you ever done a Pixie cut? I think you’d look great with a dark pixie!
Tee hee hee no Anne, my head is too small for a pixie cut :( I’d look like a peanut!
I’d just love nr 8. You look really great in that hair style and the color suites you very nicely. Well…I’m a few days too late on my comment but hey… ;)
You’re not too late Hanni, because I’m still sitting on the fence re: a cut! Thanks for weighing in ;)
Experiment is key. Your hair color is outstanding. I have dark brown hair, just recently decided time for a change. Went and had my hair streaked with light Brown. Well in the last two months with the sun beating down on me, the streaks have actually turned blonde ash. I really like it. I am somewhat of a Tomboy, so hair colour, nail polish…..girlie things are foreign to me. But aw delving into my uncomfort zone, who knows could transform ….where are those glass slippers ?
I LOVE your glass slippers reference! And you`re right – sometimes sun-lightened locks alter the colour in just that perfect way. I bet you look smashing!
I think short and highlighted would be better. Especially with kids :P Sometimes its just easier to maintain! Great pics though… I like them all!
I am currently short and highlighted, so you were right Laurie!
I like the ones where it is on the dark end, on the long side.
:) Thanks Tazim!
long and dark looks great – I’m at that stage too..I always change it up..light in summer, dark in fall..I’m lighter now than I’ve ever been and i find it hard to keep up..but I never go short – I’ve stuck with curly so I don’t fry my hair with a flat iron on top of bleaching..but I want to go straight again..
I’m looking into a flat iron that doesn’t kill my hair too, Sharlene!
I havent’ changed my hair in years. Guess it’s time.
Do it! No time like the present!
I love the picture, Lena. Simply, beautiful. I had my hair highlighted this week :)
Thanks Teresa! I’m sure the highlights look great on you!
I love your willingness to change your hair. You are so right. I know I have needed to do something different with my hair and I’m thinking some colour would be perfect for winter!
Hope you’re currently sporting a fabulous new shade Tania!
I haven’t cut my hair in 12 years. I have died it.. but just slightly darker brown than what I was born with. I love the different looks you’ve experimented with… I need to be braver so I can make a hair change.
Gah! Time for a trim, Nikki!!
I need to change up my hair, I died it 2 years ago it didn’t turn out so I died it back and haven’t laered it out in forever.
Sometimes we take a hair risk and it doesn’t work out – but you have to try again!
I think that you could pull off almost any style or color! But I do love the update photo..looks great! I am soooo in need of a haircut! I prefer not to dye my hair at the moment..I’m only 26 so no grays yet and I like my natural dark brown. BUT I am looooong overdue for a haircut..it’s been almost a year. My last haircut was last spring….. I have been trying to grow it out but have been needing and wanting a cut for a few months now. Just to freshen it up and clean up the split ends. Unfortunately, being a mom, I put everyone else in front of me and have not yet went in for a trim. I am sooo looking forward to it because, like you said, a cut can really make you feel good and boost your confidence. So this post has made me want it even more and I think I’ll make it a priority to get it done by the end of the month :)
It’s the end of the month Mandy… I hope this means you’re sporting a fabulous new cut!
loved seeing the various styles… I have been stuck in hairstyle rut for far too long… rut #4 to be exact : ) but I think I will make a change soon you’ve inspired me!
That’s awesome Jane! Change is good!
wow Lena some great looks over the years!!
Thanks Angie!
My best friend is my sytllist…sheamazes me. Last time I went in with my dyed red hair I came out as a blonde…I had no idea until she rinsed my color and i turned and looked in the mirror! First time as a blonde ever and love it!
Ah, it’s nice to have a best friend who is a stylist! We all need one of those!
I just got my hair cut last night I was getting sick of it and always end up wearing it up in a bun but I love the new cut and I always stick with the same haircolour which is lightest blonde…( hiding greys shhh ) lol I love all of your styles but I think you look the great with blonde streaks and curls :)
Thanks Jennifer! I’m back to blonde streaks – looks like I need to whip out the old curling iron :)
Omg how adorable are you….Honestly, look very sophiscated, but laid back at the same time if this makes sense!!!! I loveeeeee it to say the least!
Thank you so much Hollie! xo
I wish I was as dedicated as you to change – I have been in a bit of a rut for oh, I don’t know,probably 4 years or so! But I think that is over now because I have found a fabulous new stylist and love him so I think I will try branching out a bit more now.
Oh no… 4 years is much too long to be in a rut! Embrace change!
I have med hair. So want to get it cut short but just too scared. lol
But that’s the great thing about having medium hair… there’s MUCH less to re-grow if you change your mind :)
wow you look amazing in all the pictures, I like to change up my hair color at least, hair style, well my hair is long which gives me options, I do want extensions badly though :)
I want extensions too :)
Just found your blog yesterday..absolutely LOVING it. These hairstyles are inspiring me on so many levels, makes me want to book an appointment. You are beautiful!!
Thank you Andrea! Welcome to my blog!
If I looked like you I would not hesitate to change up my look! Anything looks good! But I do like the last pic. Suits you and your glasses are great!
Hahaha thanks Karen! Have been embracing my glasses lately!