So, I'm ready. Wish me luck.

I think I need a haircut. No, that's not true. I know I need a haircut; I think I might be ready to get one. Seeing as how my last foray into the world of hairdressing was over 18 months ago, and ended with my bestfriend randomly hacking off bits of hair in a desperate attempt at some sort of fix, this newfound willingness to return to the scene of the crime is a big deal. Or a pretty strong indicator of how much I hate my hair right now.

I have nice enough hair. It's very healthy and very thick, with the kind of waves that come from years of being too long and too heavy to follow its natural inclination towards curl. What I don't have is an actual hairstyle--unless you call "tucked behind the ears/sloppy ponytail" a hairstyle. Which, for some, really is a cute look. But me? It looks like I just gave in, pushed it behind my ears, and then stole one of Diva Girls innumerable ponies to keep the whole mess out of my way. Which I totally did. Because I am hairstyle impaired.

Back in high school while other girls were mastering the mysterious arts of the curling iron, hairspray, and the dread blowdryer/brush combo, I was simply mystified. I imagined these girls to be akin to some sort of many armed Hindu beauty goddess, wielding a whirling arsenal of product, brushes, and appliances to create fabulous hairstyles. Hard as I tried, my bangs never achieved that high, graceful fall over the forehead; the closest I ever got was "poofy," which may or may not have been a step up from my usual look, best described as "heavy and flat." Other girls had flips, mushrooms, long bangs, feathered locks, and spiral perms; I had waist length hair that generally ended up pulled into a ponytail, or, if I was feeling fancy, a french braid. I didn't even own a hairdryer, much less know how to use one in conjunction with a round brush.

Needless to say, my formative hairstyling years left me woefully unprepared for a lifetime of haircare. I mean, I can wash my hair ok. But anything beyond that is essentially beyond me. And, sadly, you just can't go with the long, blunt cut look forever. Well, I suppose you can, but I wouldn't recommend it. I've gotten somewhat more adventurous from my first foray into the realm of the actual hairstyle--a shoulder length bob that I'm not sure even really qualifies. I've even bought a hairdryer, and had some success in using it. I've experimented with bangs and layers to varying degrees of success, but somehow I always end up back in a ponytail.

After the "70s lesbian punk rock shag" debacle of 2005, I was more than happy to retreat to my safety zone. I was comfortable in my headbands and ponys, and it's not like I was trying to impress the other moms at playgroup. Now that I'm working agian, however, I've started to feel a little selfconcious utter lack of a hairstyle. Finding myself once again surrounded by groups of teenage girls who clearly understand the mysteries of mousse, I am inspired to venture back into the land of the coiffed and at least make an attempt at worshiping at the alter of that many armed hairgoddess.

Comments

Good luck to ya, just a word of advice seriously think about it before getting most of it chopped off. About 6 months ago I removed my ponytail and replaced it with a nice easy care short cut that would make my life easier (hahahaha). Having realised within 4 weeks that my hair grows too damn fast to make the short cut financially feasible I am now waiting for it to grow out again so I can get it out of my face and yes, back into a ponytail again. Right now I have achieved shaggy dog look alike because I am no longer able to differentiate my fringe from the rest (not a good look with a forehead as high as mine!!). I wear baseball caps all the time just so I can see where I am going!! Have fun with the hairdresser and can ya send us a before and after pic by any chance???

It's a brave step. I wacked off my hair about two months ago. It does grow far too fast, but it is so worth it to be liberated of the pony tail. Good luck with it!

I also have no hairdressing skills. I finally went from my usual blunt cut long "hairdo" to a tapered cut. Because the hairdresser was good, I don't have to blow dry or do any real styling. Thank heavens, because that would be a disaster.

I thought I was the only one. I solved the hair problem years ago by cutting it all off.

Why in the world would anyone cut their long beautiful hair off? I understand if its not that great to begin with, but there is nothing more beautiful on a woman that long healthy hair. The ponytail is a benefit of that not a detractor! Would hate to have short hair in my face all the time... ugh.

I gotta disagree with the PP. Long, healthy hair sounds nice, but more often than not it looks like High School Hair. You know, long, healthy, and utterly lacking in sophistication. I've almost never seen an adult woman with long hair who looked truly professional.

I feel for ya, Kimberly. I'm sorry that I'm nowhere nearby to be ready with my scissors this time. Hey you know what makes a kicky alternative to the headband? The head scarf. They come in many colours, and they look like a fashion choice, rather than a fashion surrender sign. Also, the skull cap can work. A neutral coloured crocheted cap -- excellent hair disguise, and also can resemble a choice. You might get mistaken for your students, though.

Yeah, being confused with the students one too many times is what lead to the initial foray into the world of grownup hairstyling.

And um, thanks for the vote of confidence there, Kirs :) BUt I promise, I will not go to a five dollar haircut place again. I learned that lesson the hard way.

I so related to your hair woes;) I was always mystified by all that too and remember burning my forehead once with the curling iron, lol. Although I had short hair almost my whole childhood and most of my adult life and only grew my hair long a few years ago. Although as Kristen said it's true, it doesn't always look professional and so I've been debating chopping it off again, except I've never had a decent short hair style. Good luck, it's a big change, but your head will feel a lot lighter:)

I just have to coment on this because I absolutly love long hair. I am 19 years old and I go to college and work as a security guard. I have really long hair that is about five inches past my waist. Some of you are saying that you cant really do anything with long hair and you can't look professional. That is so not true. There are so many hairstyles that you can do. When I am at work I have to have it up so I either put it in a bun or braid or a french roll. I look very professional. My normal hair style is down and free. I love showing off my hair and I believe it is the best style for me. I love the feel of it and I love taking care of it. So if you have short hair and you can't find hairstyles for it, try long hair and just leave it down. It's great! It also looks awesome if you curl it.

Ah, but Audrey, that assumes that you're actually capable of creating a decent bun or frenchroll, which I'm really, really not. Plus, trust me when I tell you there is a world of difference between not yet 20 and into your thirties when it comes to what looks sophisticated, professional, and age appropriate. I had hair like yours at your age. But I'm no where near your age anymore, and it's time that I actually got a hairstyle to reflect that :) Even though it scares the heck outta me.

I understand that but don't you have girlfriends that could teach you? Or couldn't you practice on something like a doll? And you may be right you are older than me but that doesn't mean that you can't look professional because of your long hair. You just have to get a little help. Or if you must you could chop it off but to me that is a real shame because I love long hair. I would never be able to cut my hair. I would be devastated if it had to be cut. All I can say is think about it before you whack it off because to me and this is just my opinion, long hair is so much better than short. This is also my opinion, who cares if your older? Who says that you have to cut you hair when you are older. I just don't get why so many people think that they can't look good if it is long. To me that is a bunch of bull. I don't think that I will ever cut my hair.

Audrey I agree whole heartedly with you and I am a mid-30's professional female (in a mans world to boot). I refuse to cut my gorgeous very long hair! I find that I use very many EASY and PROFESSIONAL hairstyles with it and when I'm not at work, let it free, loose, feminine and sexy. Dont let anyone make you think you'll have to cut it off to be professional or taken seriously when you get older Audrey - just take good care of it like you are now and enjoy your beautiful hair!

Absolutely Audrey. So long as you are happy with your hair, by all means keep it long. And friend, I'm glad that you've found a way to feel that your long hairstyle is both easy and professional. However. That's just not where I am. I have no desire to go through the growing pains to grow my hair to any great length at this point in my life. I'm ready for a change. I'm hoping to get a short, sassy cut. I'm excited about it--when I don't think of the many armed appliance goddess, anyway.

Kimberly, I can sympathize! The only hairstyles I've ever had are long or hacked-off-at-the-chin, and then grown out long again right away. I can braid it and pin it, but all that moose/spray/serum out there is a mysterious, bizarre world to me. But I'm 21, and the hip-length-hair thing is getting old again, so I'm ready to try some honest-to-god STYLES for once...as long as I don't have to use a blowdrier or round brush every day. Honestly, I'm slightly alarmed at some of the fetishistic comments I've just read regarding long hair! I mean, I think it looks good, but it's just hair. It's there to be played with and decorated, and if you cut it it grows back. I have two feet of hair, and am proud to say that there's not an ounce of sentimental emotion attached to a single inch of it. When people compliment me on it I say I'm just growing wigs for cancer patients.

I keep waiting for someone to nominate me for a makeover on a TV show so someone can show me the haircut/style I should have had all along. Until then, I'm a member of the "never had a haircut I loved" club. Wash and wear (and hate).

I am so sick and tired of women who hit some certain age and opt for that awful middle-age-I-give up helmet head style or whatever it is (not short not long thing??) Why age yourself? True, I don't think most 30somethings can wear hair past mid back and still be taken seriously, longISH hair will help you NOT LOOK YOUR AGE!

Plus, earrings rock. Messy bun with cute earrings looks great with a suit. Or, for going out, get some wild earrings.

I too am completely inept with a hair dryer, curling iron, barrettes, pony tail holders, or anything else that might help create a different look for my hair than its everyday look. I do not know how to make my hair look amazing, or even different, from how it looks. I have nearly shoulderlength brown hair, straight as a stick, parted in the middle. This is my look. I am always wanting it long, long, long, but I never am patient enough to let it grow. I have not had long hair since high school seven years ago, as I'm 25 now. My husband likes it "as it is," and this seems to be at any length as long as it's not "too short," which is any shorter than it is right now. I don't know what suits me. I can't figure out what some girls do in order to create their looks. I just can't make fixing my hair, makeup, or anything like that a huge priority day to day. I put on mascara, sunscreen and chapstick... that's it, and brush my hair, sometimes I put it up in a ponytail when I work out or wait tables at work.

Gee, and here I always blamed not having a mother for my inability to do anything with my hair.

Mine is almost to my ass, and wavy. However, it knots in seconds when down. I look like a moron with short hair (especially with it shaved off-I'm STILL growing it out 10 years later). I dye it. That's as exciting as I get. Plus, I'm a little football player like to be looking all girly.

The best I get is two little pippi braids.

my hair is to my bra strap and i am fed up with people presuming i am twenty one or thereabouts i am twenty nine with freckles soon to be thirty i really would like to be taken more seriously but i think the way i look affects this i have two kids four and two and other mothers my age and older are quiet bitchy to me . i am no great beauty but i just love long hair last summer just as my hair was waist length i was talked into chopping it back to just below my shoulders. i missed it already i feel as soon as it gets waist lenght women with shorter hair feel threatened.what do you think ? this is just my experience.

I don't know about threatened, Karlene. As I said, I've had the waistlength hair. And the mid back length, and that between back and shoulders length. Now it's chinlength, and I'm loving it.

I do agree about the long hair making you look younger thing, though. The second time I decided to cut my hair short was prompted by an experience I had supplying in a school--I was there as a substitute teacher for the grade 8 class; the lovely young girl who showed me to the room thought I was a new classmate.

The simple fact is that among other things, for women with youthful looking faces, a shorter, professional yet fun haircut leads to being taken more seriously.

So many outdated beliefs and misconceptions. I've had long hair, waist/hip length, just about forever. I'm 37 now,no plans to chop it off to a freakish bob,dye it red and zebra stripe it. My hubby would be devastated. Short hair is more professional? How so? I work in an office,have no trouble making it look business like. It’s NOT hard to do. Long hair is easy to care for, much more versatile. Long hair is for school girls? One of those old beliefs that refuses to die. A fetish? That’s a laugh. You’re taken more seriously with short hair? You’re joking! Let's not forget the obvious, that long hair is sexy and feminine. My husband loves my long hair as all men love long hair. He can't keep his hands out of mine. I have a couple of gray hairs in there but so what? Does that mean it's time to chop it off and become a grandmother? No way. I get compliments all of the time. We (women) can't all have big breasts like our men would like but we CAN take care of our hair and let it grow. What’s there to be afraid of?

AND, if you're planning to cut your hair off so you can donate it to Locks of Love, be aware that LOL is a scam. 99 percent of the hair donated to them is sold or auctioned for profit. Check with the Better Business Bureau if you don't believe me. BAD reputation. AND, most of the wigs they do make go to cancer patients who would be better off with a synthetic hair wig because their hair will eventually grow back.

Michelle, if you love your long hair, that's great. Knock yourself out and grow it to your ankles. But do it for *you*, not to please some man. That argument holds no water, or allure for me and I suspect for many women here. To be honest, it kind of squicks me out.

Oh, and speaking misconceptions and stereotypes, your comments about all liking big breasts fits that definition exactly.

I'm loving my new, short 'do, btw.

Actually, Michelle sounds to me as if she and her DH have a fantastic relationship. She cares about what turns him on, and I'll bet her love is returned in spades. Bob

Man, I think some people take hair way to seriously. I have had long hair most of my life, and extremely healthy long hair. I chopped it in college because I fried it, trying to dye it my usual red color. It was orange, purple, and pink, some how. I have grown it off and chopped it off again and it is now most of the way down my back. There are some girls-like me(!) that find themselves with no desire to style long hair, even if they love it. It is fun for a while, especially since supermodels have it and it CAN BE hot. But seriously, don't think that women with short hair are less attractive than women with long hair. Very not cool. I know many men who are attracted to short hair, so long hair is NOT the only way to go. Go with what feels good and right too you. May I suggest Meg Ryan picks for those of you looking for easy, feminine cuts for all hair and face types. I'm going with one of hers in a week.

BTW Pantene also has a donation program for hair over a certain length, though they are very picky about the condition of the hair. I will probably go with them.

I have gone with tapperd around the face and med length so when i am running around the soccer field with the kids i can still pull it up in a pony tail or put it up on my head tried the to short to pull back counldnt wait for it to grow back out
when i am working it hangs down very nicely
just find a good stylist and be honest with what you want your hair to do she can help you pick a stlye that is right for you good luck

when i was a freshman in high school i cut off my shoulder length hair into a short spikey in the back type look.thinking it would be easy and cheap to deal with.wrong..i had to buy all okinds of products that was hard to wash out.it took me like 3 years to grow it back out!