Well ladies, I tried

I've been growing out the top and side fringe of my hair as a bit more length is what is trending for hairstyles. There are days I like it and think it's looking good but I will be honest and say that overall, I hate it :(

My hair is thick and even with regular thinning, too much hair makes me feel frumpy and "humpy" (that's what my stylist and I call the back of my hair when it gets too think - "my mighty hump").

I don't feel like the longer hair has my spunkiness to it. Plus it is a giant pain in the you-know-what to style - having to blow dry with mouse and flat iron the heck out of to get my thick layers to lay properly. And it gets caught in my glasses and then in my eyes.

I have an appointment on February 11th and am pretty sure I'm going to get it cut super short again. That's if I can last until February 11th!

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41 Comments

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    Shannon you are going to look gorgeous no matter what you do!  And I totally get you on the hair.  Why have short hair if it can't be somewhat fuss free?  To me that's one of the main benefits. Goop and go.  I hate having to spend time on my hair every day... I don't mind choosing to, but when I HAVE to... nope. 

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Nodding along with Elizabeth. Fuss free it has to be, or else why bother? 

    I have enjoyed your longer fringe, but if it costs pain and too much effort, it's not worth it because you look great with shorter hair, too! 

    I was asking Debs (in Oz) about her lovely sidesweep -- does it not fall into her eyes, etc. And she said no. I think perhaps it has something to do with head shape. With our longer faces/ foreheads, the angle at which it falls might be a bit different. Because when mine gets too long it is ALWAYS in my eyes, too, and I can't abide it. So for me it has to be a bit of a compromise between asymmetrical bang and "pixie" too -- and some cuts I go more one way, and some, the other. I also need my hair thinned out a lot to avoid "humpage" or the giant puff ball (out the sides). 

  • Keturah replied 9 years ago

    Your longer fringe has been lovely. But I alao think you look terrific and chic with super short hair!!! It fits your face shape and style impeccably. And if it's fuss free for you, all the better.

    I feel that generally the things, colors, styles, etc. we are attracted to are usually what suit and flatter us best.
    So go for it.

    And... Post. Photos. Please. :D

  • SW Ann replied 9 years ago

    I totally get it, Shannon.  I tried several years ago to grow mine out, but said that if I woke up one day and felt frumpy or just icky, it would have to go.  Well, that is exactly what happened about 3 months into the project.... I called my hairdresser, told her I felt like a "frump a dump" and she cut it back to a style I love and I've never looked back!!!!

  • Inge replied 9 years ago

    I so hear you, Shannon. I think our hair has a similar texture (but mine has a bit more wave to it as well, which I sometimes think complicates things even further), and I also start to feel frumpy when it gets a little longer.

    No matter how good it looks to others, in the end it's all about how you feel about your hair, sweet lady. Life's too short to hate our hair!

  • replied 9 years ago

    Preaching to the choir here :)  You know us short-hair women totally get your issue .  It's just hair, it grows, changes, and we can do whatever we want with it.  You are pretty enough to wear a super-short haircut - so go for it! 

  • Meredith replied 9 years ago

    Can't wait to see the new do!

  • lyn67 replied 9 years ago

    It will be more than fab, Shannon!

    (I so long for a thick "mighty hump", at least you have the luxury of having one, so you can chop it off, and still look fab!!:-))

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Oh you are all so SWEET for understanding :)

    Elizabeth - it's funny how just that 10 extra minutes in the morning having to do my hair seems too much. I'm already up at 5:30 a.m. - an extra 10-15 minutes of sleep would be heavenly :)

    Suz - I do think you're right about face shape playing into it. Deb's hair is so gorgeous on her isn't it? It might be better if I used hair spray but I'm allergic to it so can't even help my hair stay in place that way.

    Keturah - I will definitely post pics :)

    SW Ann - that's it exactly - "frump a dump". I feel like I have a bowling ball of hair on my head!

    Inge - I've always loved and admired your short, sleek hairstyle. And I'm starting to realize that being true to one's style INCLUDES our hair - even if it's not "of the moment".

    lisap - I adore your new hairstyle and am so glad to have "short-hair women" support :)

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Meredith & lyn67 - cross posted!

    Believe me, I do know I'm lucky to have thick hair :)

  • viva replied 9 years ago

    I just made an appointment with my stylist and am heading back to an earlier style too. Must do what feels most like me. And you must do what feels most like you. Trends be dammed! You are so beautiful, Shannon. Follow your gut.

  • jackiec replied 9 years ago

    Sounds like a plan! (wish I had some "humpage" lol, mine's not thick at all). Good luck waiting till Feb. Personally, when I make the decision for a cut, it has to be within the week or I go nuts.

  • harmonica replied 9 years ago

    You made an effort and realized it didn't work. Let's start the countdown to Feb 11th. It will be a happy day - make sure to wear happy clothes! :-)

  • texstyle replied 9 years ago

    Even with just bangs and longer hair otherwise, I get what you're saying because whenever my bangs get too long it drives me crazy!  I want to have that lovely wavy side swept bangs look, but I don't think I can deal with it in my face so I always end up cutting.

  • missvee replied 9 years ago

    Shannon I can't believe you blow dry with a mouse! No wonder it takes so long - those poor little mouse lungs don't hold much hot air you know :-).
    Your typo has given me a much needed chuckle after a long morning caring for a sick and cranky relative.
    And now, on to the actual issue, I think you're right to reconsider the style if the maintenance is making you crazy. ( not to mention the cost of replacement mice - I know, I know, I just can't leave it alone...) The spiky 'do is so fresh and flattering on you.

  • replied 9 years ago

    I'm laughing at/with Jackie - I'm the same: once I've decided it needs to be cut, it has to happen tomorrow. I've been known to use the scissors on it myself:)  Want me to come over? 

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    Shannon, it is so hard to grow out short hair!  I go back and forth, but my current cut enables me to keep the same style with a few inches off or not.  It's my greys that drive me mad - growing those out is making me want to shave my head.

    Your short hair is your signature - embrace it!

  • replied 9 years ago

    This just flashed through Facebook and I immediately thought of you.....
    I saw her in a recent issue of More magazine and immediately ran to the computer to google her. 

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Long fringes can be a nightmare - for me too. I don't know how Debs and Kyle do it. I need hair OFF my face. It's also hard for a long fringe to lie straight in humid weather. Too much fuss in the morning is annoying. I hear you. 

    FWIW, may I suggest not going too short. Modern short hair is about movement, which requires a bit of length, which I think is especially important as we get older. I find all the styles you linked too just a little too short. Add the softness back in with a little length in a similar shape to #1 or #5. Hope that makes sense. xo

  • susanm replied 9 years ago

    You could be writing about my hair and attempts to grow it. My hair just looks better short and is much easier to style. Love the photos of styles you included. Go for it!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    missvee - OMG!!! I nearly spit my water on my keyboard when I read your comment. I didn't even notice. Poor mouse indeed - lol!

    Lisap - that's a gorgeous cut on a beautiful lady. But there is no way my hair would do that...sadly :(

    Angie - I do hear what you're saying and appreciate your insight. My only concern about having some length and movement is that it is exactly what makes my thick hair heavy and difficult to deal with - length. I do like #1 and #5 in my links the most - how much extra length are you thinking?

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Shannon, I'm glad you like those styles best. Keep it soft around the ears and on the sides - not too short like Jamie Le Curtis in #2. Thin out the front, and cut the fringe to a shorter and more manageable length. Keep the back very short. This is EXACTLY how Teresa cut Inge's hair which is extremely thick and wavy. She had to thin out A LOT, but she kept the length so that the 'do would look modern and not "egg-heady", for lack of a better description. I hope that makes sense. 

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Hmmmm....I think I know what you mean Angie - something like the pic below? Soft on the sides, more manageable fringe length but not too short and a bit of softness/length on the top? This picture of Anne Hathaway's pixie I would think it a slightly longer (maybe one inch) version of pic #1 at the start of my thread - yes?

  • Thistle replied 9 years ago

    I am late to the party, but really have nothing to add after Angie has spoken  :)

    I hear ya on super thick, though.  I never knew how ladies washed and dried their hair in under an hour. When my stylist washes my hair, she gets a "helper" so the two of them can get it dried in 30 minutes. She told me I am the top three of people with thick hair she has ever styled, and she has been in the business well over 25 years.

  • rachylou replied 9 years ago

    I never noticed, but no, I don't like your long hair fringe at all. Ahaha. It doesn't have sass and seems to be weighing you down. But then again, you were in the middle of growing things out, always awkward.

    Ok, but this whole thread is so informative. I'm a hair moron.

  • Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

    I hear you, my hair was feeling very heavy - especially in summer & I can't stand it round my face when its hot. I've just found a shorter cut I love for me - it took me about 4 cuts but I'm there now :) Similar to this. The back of mine is a little more graduated & softer.

  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    Shannon, I totally hear you on this.  It's a fine line getting short hair just right.  I am in agreement with Angie.  Don't loose all the length at the front.  But defintiely go shorter otherwise, it really suits you.  What I was finding attractive was the layered look of the side sweep and how the shorter bits fell softly on your forehead, still sweeping to one side.

    Caro, I bet you look gorgeous!  That is such a cool style.

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Great look, Caro. High five, Debs. xo

    Shannon, you are on the right track with Anne Hathaway's hair. Your 'do will look a lot more textured and piece-y because of it's salt and pepper integrity. That's even better. To my eye, going too short *can* look frumpy as you get older, so that's why I've rambled on a lot about length in the right places on your thread. 

  • Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

    Thanks Deb & Angie :)

    Agreeing with Angie about too short looking frumpy too. It happened to me about 3 cuts ago, such a shock to the system.

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    And a high five to you too, Caro. Good thing hair grows back fast.  

    I felt frumpy for two weeks  last year - too short and too egg-heady - but the style was sorted within a fortnight's growth, so it was an easy fix. 

  • SarahTheWhite replied 9 years ago

    Oh how fun! I can't wait to see! You know I'm all about the short hair! :-) I'm loving everything Angie is saying. Mine is also quite thick and ends up looking like wig hair sometimes. The thinning is really key to keeping some length and movement but still being short enough. It's a very delicate dance. Yay! How exciting.... When you are truly a short hair girl at heart, there is nothing more right feeling in the world than a great short cut!

  • SarahTheWhite replied 9 years ago

    And I just looked at the pic of your style, Caro and it is awesome! I bet you totally rock that look... Wow!

  • SarahTheWhite replied 9 years ago

    Kind of laughing at myself... In my mind's eye your hair was longer than it actually is. I went back to look at your photos again and realized your longer hair is probably already almost as short as mine in places. But I can sympathize with the feeling of too long - even on a short cut. The guy who does my color just started doing the cut (my regular long time stylist moved) and I really liked what he did in the part line and he even cut some shorter pieces under the front fringe area to give me the illusion of shorter while still keeping some length (necessary on me because my hair is so straight it will stick out at the hair line when too short). You may not be looking for this exact style, but it illustrates how the shorter pieces and thinning (and product) can fill in that flatter area that happens when the front grows too long...

  • trekkiegirl replied 9 years ago

    Shannon - I saw that you mentioned you are allergic to hair spray. Have you tried sugar water? (literally, some sugar dissolved in water) It's supposed to be a good substitute for hairspray. I haven't tried it so I can't comment on the strength of hold or any other factors, but I'd image it would be similar to a light/flexible hold. There are also recipes using flax seeds, they produce a goopy substance when boiled, but that might be too much effort when you are already lamenting the extra few minutes in the morning haha! At any rate, do some searching for "natural, organic or hypoallergenic hair products" if you wish, and maybe include "DIY" and you might find some useful things.

  • Beth Ann replied 9 years ago

    Sounds like you have a good plan, Shannon.  Your current do looks good to me -- sort of androgynous in a 60's mod-male-model sort of way.  I love Ann Hathaway's pic -- that looks like a great alternative.

  • Summer replied 9 years ago

    Well, it's good to experiment, but if the style's not working it's time to move on. I really like picture 1, and also the Ann Hathaway style. Both have a slightly softened look, and would probably be more manageable, too.

  • approprio replied 9 years ago

    Shannon, have you considered an undercut? It's a great way to deal with volume while keeping some length on top. My hairdresser cuts very close around the back and sides with the clippers and undercuts a good few cm into the volume on the top. It makes the shorter cut last a whole lot longer.

    Google images of "undercut hairstyle women" to see what I mean. 

  • Eliza replied 9 years ago

    Shannon- love the way you think about your hair. It really is the exclamation point on your signature style. Lots of good thoughts here and this thread is a great reference . My hair is very full also and it ads some dilemmas, even at my longer length that grazes the shoulder.

    Happy new cut. It does matter to have a manageable start to the day.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Caro & Sarah - you both have gorgeous hair styles and thank you for the visuals.

    Trekkie Grl - ooooohhhhh...will have to try the sugar water. It's the aerosol portion of hair spray that really bothers my allergies so this could be a good alternative. Thank you.

    approprio - will definitely check out the under cut idea - thanks.

    Wow. Such wisdom here and much to think about. It's funny but today I tucked some of the side bulk behind my ears and feel better today. It's less "egg head-y" (love that description Angie!). And I like Deb's comments about the shorter, side swept fringe that I had a while back. Perhaps a combination of elements in my next cut could keep some length, less side bulk and a shorter but still funky fringe could make it all work. Thank you all sooooo much for your invaluable input :)

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    For mine, which I think is pretty similar in lots of ways, I sort of let my stylist do what she wants. It turns out better or not as good, depending not only on her whim but on what my hair is doing, if you know what I mean. There are times when she has to thin it a bit too much or make it a bit too short, but then the next cut turns out much better. It's not that she has made a "mistake" so much as that she has to let the hair get to a better place before she can do what she wants or something. Right now mine is super short on the back and sides with a lot of length on the front and quite thinned out there. In summer this particular strategy doesn't work as well with the humidity -- if it gets too thin up front it begins to curl. So it's a bit of a dance with weather conditions, too. 

  • citygirldc replied 9 years ago

    Shannon, I'm right there with you. As someone who has short hair
    and who has grown it out a few times, I sometimes want to change my
    look. As soon as I start growing it out, I feel frumpy too.
    If you recall, the longest I've had it last was short bob (not too long
    ago, maybe 2 years) which bored me after a while but I kept it for about a year..

    But whenever I went short, I  always got compliments as I'm
    sure you do. If the short hair works for you, then by all means keep it.  It's so YOU!

    I also keep my bangs, nape and sides slight longer so that I can put back behind me ears. I don't like the severe cuts and feel a bit too youthful for me. Of course, I've been going to my hair dresser for quite some time but he cuts it different every time and my hair is very fussy. It's not always a hit cut.

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