Should I hack my hair off?

I’ve had my hair long since the age of seven (Disney princesses did play an influential role in prompting me to grow my hair out) and now at the age of 18, I’m in a rut with my hair. Currently my hair is- straight, red, bang-less, and layered.

Things I DON’T do with my hair:
-braid it
-dye it
-curl/wave/style it
-throw fancy clips and bobbles in it

Things I actually do with my hair:
-put it in a bun
-put it in a ponytail
-leave it down
-yell at it when my layers go all flat and volume-less and stick to my head

Now, I see all of these pictures of chicks with really short, pixie-ish boy hair, and THAT gets my attention.. and even tempts me to whack off my locks for a similar ‘do.

The problem is that I was born with rare, auburn hair, which happens to have natural blonde highlights. I also happen to be a first-generation Irish immigrant, so you can the imagine the usual BS I get when people fondle my hair and say “*gasp* ur hurr is so Irish an’ purtty” and “OMAGAUD, GIRL, YOU A MERMAID..” and proceed to touch my hair…

My grandfather was my #1 fan of my hair, and I promised him and a bunch of other people that I would not cut my hair.

Well, now I’m tempted to break that promise.

So hear are my questions:

1. Does anybody have a dramatic long to short hair story? Any advice? What was your overall experience like? Did you make the right decision?

2. How can I be sure I’m ready to rock short hair with total confidence? I once pitched the long-hair extermination to my cousin who said I wasn’t going to look like a sexy Jessica Rabbit if I did.

3. Is this the wrong decision if I have doubts that won’t look beautiful or sexy? Am I only trying to change my look, or I’m I trying to change something else about myself I don’t see, or perhaps what others perceive me as?

Help?

Category: Beauty & Style Tags: #hair change confidence asked March 29, 2014

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MM//2121

6 Answers

0 accepted

Maybe go mid-way and see how you feel about the change? I had long hair for a time and then one day decided to have it drastically pollarded, but actually hated it and missed my long hair so much, and it still hasn't grown back to how it was. It does grow back, but every inch adds months to the time you will have to be without it. I don't know, maybe now is a good time to go with a new look and sharpen up the oldschool do. Trust your feelings.

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Quiet Island

555

Take a lawnmower to that mop and revel in the heart attacks! Vivè la resistancé!

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Humanist Hope

16,417

I say you're over thinking it. If you're hair is a hassle and you really feel like trying something different, just go for it. Let's not forget, it grows back too! I've had medium to longish hair for a long time and I'm a guy. I pull it off pretty well and people say it suits me. I hate it! Well not really. I like looking at it but I'm sick of it being all unruly and doing whatever it wants. Every time I take a bite to eat, it jumps in my mouth. It's pretty annoying but I refuse to think that I look good with short hair so I live with it. Seriously though, if it's something you want to try, there's no point in stopping yourself.

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Rob!

187

I went from pretty long hair to hair that doesn't even reach down to my shoulders. I loved it and still like it a lot though it does take a bit more maintenance because hair grows. Like previous people said you're over thinking it a bit and it will always grow back given time. It is really easy to manage and light. Find a hairstyle that you think would work for you and go for it! There are so many styles for short hair so you can have almost anything you want if you can find a decent person to cut it.

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LoverOfPitBulls101

253

There's sites where you can kind of see what you look like with a different haircut. I would check out one of those if you are unsure about it.
Here's one: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/virtual-haircut-makeover

Don't just hack it off because you're tired of the compliments. Do it because you REALLY want to do it. Not in rebellion. I know it grows back but still.

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Vivid Melody

1,794

Well my father used to cut my hair REALLY FUCKIN' SHORT when I was at the kindergarten. It wasn't bob, it was so short that no one would have known I'm a girl if you had dressed me up as a boy. Like K-Pop boybands' haircut.
So I protested and finally he let my hair grow till my hip until it was my 5th grade when he took me to a beauty salon and cut half the length of my hair. I don't quite remember what was my feeling back then.
Going to the 8th grade I had an assymetric bob hairstyle, and the fuckin' weird thing was I just let the front part of my hair grow until my chest while I constantly trim the back part and I ended up looking like... I don't know what's the best word to describe that.
FYI I have a kind of straight, drenched black hair and when I used the extreme assymetrical bob it exposed my tough jaw and my face looked like a square-faced alien since I'm asian. I have double eyelids tho.
Two weeks ago my aunt took me to a salon and I had the length of my hair justified. Now it's lob. My hair now looks more volumized and it frames my face PERFECTLY.

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Beautiful Beast