I am wavering on chopping my hair...

[ame]

Ok! Finally! I tried last night to use my usual large (1 1/4") hot rollers to see how that works, slightly fuller version of that straight look. Not bad. This morning I put mostly the "smaller" size, which is 1" (not too much smaller), in the majority of the sections, using the large size in the front section on top and a few random sections to break it up. It curled way tighter than I anticipated haha! I looked like Shirley Temple!

It's looser now so I look less goofy. I am still a little like...jarred.

 

[movie zombie]

my usually blunt self: I prefer the longer look on you.
why?
slims your face.
I have the same issue and problem and it is why have long hair.
I too would love to wear my hair at the length you are at now [especially as styled in the 1st picture].......but it just doesn't look good on me.
I do like the 2nd picture better with some curl happening around/under the chin.
sort of off topic: I love Love LOVE the color of your hair!
back on topic: I want simplicity and if I had to use curlers or anything else to get my hair to look good I wouldn't be interested so I admit a bias in that department as well.
do you have a picture of your hair when it was longer and not managed/styled?

 

[ame]

my usually blunt self: I prefer the longer look on you.
why?
slims your face.
I have the same issue and problem and it is why have long hair.
I too would love to wear my hair at the length you are at now [especially as styled in the 1st picture].......but it just doesn't look good on me.
I do like the 2nd picture better with some curl happening around/under the chin.
sort of off topic: I love Love LOVE the color of your hair!
back on topic: I want simplicity and if I had to use curlers or anything else to get my hair to look good I wouldn't be interested so I admit a bias in that department as well.
do you have a picture of your hair when it was longer and not managed/styled?

I don't think I've ever taken one of it not styled, kind of on purpose. If it's not curled or styled, I don't leave the house without it tightly contained in a bun. It DOES NOT get seen without it styled. The more I look at myself, the more I wish I'd not gone so short, and the reason you gave is precisely why. I feel like it makes my fat face look fatter! I wavered for a few reasons, and then did it and then was like hmmm not so sure that was a good idea. Hopefully when it grows back out it isn't so fried though.

The color though: thanks! Lots of work. I need to touch my roots up and run my color conditioner through it for a quick refresh.

 

[GemFever]

Well, I beg to differ -- I love the new length! I think it's still long enough to elongate your face, but now it also frames it beautifully. I like the straight look of the first pic *a lot*. The curls are fun too, but I personally prefer the wave to go through the whole length if possible, not just on the bottom (when the curls are just on the bottom, to my eyes that makes the hair look heavy).

 

[SMC]

I like the new haircut too, especially the second one. You look very feminine.

 

[kindred]

I think the second picture with the curls is adorable!

If you try to grow your hair out again, the best thing you can do is get regular trims. I need to follow my own advice because I go a tremendous amount of time between trims and then I have split ends that end up breaking. Regular trims will keep the ends healthy.

 

[VRBeauty]

You're such a cutie! I like both the "before" picture and the short-with-curls look.

BTW I have very thick hair, but I have the same problem you have with growing it very long. I could grow it to maybe just below my shoulders, but it started to peter out very quickly below there... and growing it below my shoulder blades just didn't work for me.

 

[ame]

I'm glad everyone likes it. I am going to figure out a style that works. If I use my big curling iron, it will be more like the straight look. I used the littler rollers so if I do my usual hot roll set it will probably be more in the middle.

A LOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNG time ago it was really super long. I trimmed it shorter once to get it more "straight across" because my old stylist used to cut hair in a V in back and it made me nuts, and since then it's been like a battle to get it back to that length.

My biggest hurdle in general is the underlayers on the nape. Those get like a rats nest so fast. Just I guess from rubbing my shirt.

I think the second picture with the curls is adorable!

If you try to grow your hair out again, the best thing you can do is get regular trims. I need to follow my own advice because I go a tremendous amount of time between trims and then I have split ends that end up breaking. Regular trims will keep the ends healthy.

I get my hair trimmed every 9-10 weeks usually. I used to go way longer, but my hair would get crazy.

 

[minousbijoux]

I like the new haircut too, especially the second one. You look very feminine.

This.

 

[Christina...]

I like the new haircut too, especially the second one. You look very feminine.

This.

I like this one too!

 

[Roxy]

Ame, I too think your new cut looks really cute on you! I also think your idea of trying a hot roller set will work perfectly (just enough curl for that perfect little "bounce" when you move). I've always opted for long layers, so I totally understand getting the balance between straight/weighed down vs curls that are just too "curly".

What does your hubby think? Is he one of those husbands (like mine) who "cares" one way or another about your hair?

 

[ame]

He told me today he likes it better straight vs curled in this length--but he isn't sure etiher.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

He told me today he likes it better straight vs curled in this length--but he isn't sure etiher.

Your hair looks really cute and I love the cut and the color. You're really lucky to have the skin tone to pull off red hair...I've tried a bunch of times, but red just doesn't work for me.

With the new hair cut, the straight styling looks good and frames your face nicely.

 

[lovebug1031]

I was going to reply to this with "I chopped my hair off last week!" but uh. I went waaaaaaaay shorter. Like, my longest hairs are now only around an inch long. My hair is shorter than my husband's. It was so gratifying to do, and I can now check "get pixie cut!" off my bucket list.

I'm always in favor of changing hairstyles. It grows back.

Yes it does grow back...In a decade...

nonsense! I shaved my head March 2012 - kept it short (pixie) until Dec 2012 - I cut it religiously every 6 weeks, and it is now in btwn my ears and shoulders!

PS - Ame, I think the new do looks fabulous!

 

[ame]

Thanks!

I used a curling iron to do the "straight" version today...but it's back in a clip right now since lunch.

 

[katharath]

The second pic of the new cut is *extremely* cute! Looks fresh and just all around attractive. I actually really prefer it to the longer hair, I think it looks great.

(I have what is getting to be insanely long hair for me - I can just about sit on it now - and it is making me crazy - your pic is making me long for shorter hair again!)

 

[Roxy]

Thanks!

I used a curling iron to do the "straight" version today...but it's back in a clip right now since lunch.

With the "straight" version you can really see how the layers fall and w/your hair color it's really gorgeous. The hairstylist did a great job on that cut!!

Are you going to try out the hot roller set as well? I think that might look great (or it might end up looking poofy, which wouldn't be great) and will you post another pic when you do?

 

[ame]

Thanks!

I used a curling iron to do the "straight" version today...but it's back in a clip right now since lunch.

With the "straight" version you can really see how the layers fall and w/your hair color it's really gorgeous. The hairstylist did a great job on that cut!!

Are you going to try out the hot roller set as well? I think that might look great (or it might end up looking poofy, which wouldn't be great) and will you post another pic when you do?

Well in the second after pic that was a hot roller set, I just used the smaller ones. Today I did the curling iron and it was a little more curled than I wanted at the ends, like...straight but not straight. I haven't decided what I'll do tomorrow, but it's gonna snow again (damn it) so I might not do anything besides a clip!

This weekend I am going to do my roots and whatnot, so I might try out a curling rod vertically or something.

 

[Roxy]

Thanks!

I used a curling iron to do the "straight" version today...but it's back in a clip right now since lunch.

With the "straight" version you can really see how the layers fall and w/your hair color it's really gorgeous. The hairstylist did a great job on that cut!!

Are you going to try out the hot roller set as well? I think that might look great (or it might end up looking poofy, which wouldn't be great) and will you post another pic when you do?

Well in the second after pic that was a hot roller set, I just used the smaller ones. Today I did the curling iron and it was a little more curled than I wanted at the ends, like...straight but not straight. I haven't decided what I'll do tomorrow, but it's gonna snow again (damn it) so I might not do anything besides a clip!

This weekend I am going to do my roots and whatnot, so I might try out a curling rod vertically or something.

Oh!! Okay, thanks for explaining Ame. I thought you'd used a smaller curling iron in the second pic, sorry for missing that. I have a bunch of different sized curling irons that give a bunch of different effects, but it's hard to have the patience to deal w/them every morning so I'm living vicariously through you LOL !

Have a happy Valentine's Day tomorrow (even w/ the snow and all it brings)!!!

 

[ame]

Thanks!

I do not have time in the morning to screw around with curling irons in that manner. If I use one, it's to curl the ends under really quick, smooth out the weird kinks, and get out the door as fast as possible.

 

[monarch64]

Ame, I think the new 'do is great. It looks healthy and bouncy and fun. That said, if you realllllly really want to grow it out (from a person who's had long hair for quite some time and battled the same issues as you):

1. regular trims are a must. Even a half inch helps, every 6 weeks, no questions.
2. heat styling is the death of hair, period. Either let your hair rest for weeks at a time, or use copious amounts of treatments if you MUST heat style.
3. take a prenatal vitamin. Yep. Even if you're not TTC or pregnant. There really is merit in this, I've witnessed it firsthand. You can get them OTC at any grocery/drugstore.
4. get your neck hair trimmed to a healthy point and don't worry about its length so much if you're covering it anyway. It's getting snaggly because it's rubbing on fabric most of the time. Cotton/wool/polyester/whatever are going to suck the life out of it no matter what when its down. All you can do is keep it trimmed.
5. never let a stylist use a razor on your hair to shape it. Your ends will get way frazzled way faster. Hairdresser friend of mine told me this once, and I call true story.
6. your color formula--too chemical? See if there's a way to achieve a similar color with less chemicals.

All of that may be preaching to the choir, but thought I'd throw my little bit of knowledge out there for you. Maybe some of it will help, maybe not. I think your hair looks great, long or short, though.

 

[LLJsmom]

Ok! Finally! I tried last night to use my usual large (1 1/4") hot rollers to see how that works, slightly fuller version of that straight look. Not bad. This morning I put mostly the "smaller" size, which is 1" (not too much smaller), in the majority of the sections, using the large size in the front section on top and a few random sections to break it up. It curled way tighter than I anticipated haha! I looked like Shirley Temple!

It's looser now so I look less goofy. I am still a little like...jarred.

Your hair cut looks great Ame!! You look super cute, not at all Shirley Temple?

 

[Hospatogi]

You cut it ! it's shorter than I thought you would go but I actually love the way you styled it. You look gorgeous with big curls!

 

[missy]

Gorgeous color and gorgeous cut ame...looks great on you!

 

[ame]

You cut it ! it's shorter than I thought you would go but I actually love the way you styled it. You look gorgeous with big curls!

Gorgeous color and gorgeous cut ame...looks great on you!

Thanks! Yea it's definitely shorter than I expected it to be haha! But I am adjusting. I've figured out how to do the curling now in a way that doesn't look "weird" to me.

I didn't get to doing my roots yet like I planned last night, but hopefully tonight.

 

[GliderPoss]

I just cut off like 10 inches last month and donated it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. My hair went from below boobs to just below collar bone length. I don't regret doing it, but purely from a looks perspective, I prefer my hair longer. It's really weird to run my fingers through my hair and have it end abruptly. My hair does feel healthier though! And it dries so much more quickly!

Both of the models in your inspiration photos appear to have thicker hair than you do so your hair may not end up looking like that unless you use a lot of product. However, shorter hair will have a little bit more volume at the top since there's not as much dragging it down.

I think if you are wavering on it, you shouldn't do it. Just cut off a couple inches and get additional layers to create more volume and movement.

Hey I did the same thing in November! Mine was mid-back length - cut it to jawline. Best thing ever - no regrets! My hubby loves it and I wondered why I spend so many years agonising over it...

OP - LOVE your red hair - divine colour but confess I preferred the longer length on you.