Every few years, I get it in my head that I want to grow my hair out really long. Then, after a couple of years of letting it grow, I remember that I don’t really like how I look with long hair, and I cut it all off. This has been going on since I was about 9 years old. Seriously. I don’t know why I keep thinking I’m going to love my hair when it’s long, because I never do. It’s a pain to take care of, it gets tangled and frizzy, it feels hot on my neck in the summer, and in the winter it’s a static-ridden mess.
I just am not a long hair person.
I’d had a hair appointment scheduled for a couple of months and didn’t really know what I wanted to have done, but on Monday morning I hit my breaking point. This was just WAY too much hair (for me). Also, change is good. Who wants to have the same haircut for years on end? Hair grows!
Inspiration:
Photos from (L–R): Lula via Rubi Jones; Dia Frampton; Hello it’s Valentine
These are the photos I took with me to my haircut appointment on Monday evening. I like my bangs shorter than this, but the overall style is what I wanted. A short bob, parted on the side, with lots of layers and texture. For the past year or so I’ve been getting my hair cut (and colored) by the amazing Danielle Peters at Fox & Jane in Brooklyn, and she really nailed it. Getting 8″ of length cut off is a big deal no matter how open-minded you are when it comes to haircuts, but Danielle understands my hair type and my personal style and my grooming habits—so I trust her with my hair completely.
Speaking of grooming habits…
Fox & Jane recently started using the R+Co. line exclusively in their salons, and as a packaging design enthusiast, I cannot stop ogling all of these tubes and bottles. I inclination is to always choose styling products based on how they’ll look in my bathroom (heh), but Danielle steered me toward four products from the line that will help give my hair the beachy, textured, messy look that I like. In order of application: Dallas thickening spray, Chiffon styling mousse, Jackpot styling creme, and Death Valley dry shampoo. That might seem like a lot of stuff to be putting in my hair, but I’m a product-lover. My hair is also pretty fine and fluffy, and it needs a boost in order to look like it has substance. I’ve tried going days on end without washing in order to get that effect naturally, but unwashed hair and I just don’t work together. New York City can be gross, so I want to wash New York City off of my head at least 4 or 5 times a week. My hair is in relatively good condition, so I’m not worried about it being too much. For me, dry shampoo is more about getting texture and thickness than it is putting off shampooing.
See that curling iron? That’s an optional item, and I think I’m starting to get the hang of it! I have a Hot Tools 1-inch barrel iron, purchased after taking note of what Danielle uses in the salon. On most days I just blow-dry my bangs and let the rest dry naturally, but if I want a little extra wave, I can throw in a few curls here and there. Danielle showed me the trick: Alternate directions (under/over) as you work your way around your head, only curl the top layer, and let the ends hang out of the clamp so they stay straight. That’s it!
p.s. While looking through my “haircuts” tag, I just noticed how similar this cut is to one I had in 2008. A little looser, though, which I think flatters my (fuller/aging) face a bit better. Also, allow me to quote myself from 7 years ago: “I don’t think I am a long-hair person, though I keep trying it out every few years.” HAH! HAH! I am such a broken record.
33 Comments
Ha, I do the same thing. I decide I really want long hair and then I want something totally different. I’ve been wanting to try one of those R + co’s products, too…maybe I’ll give one of the ones you mention a shot! Cute hair!!
Thanks, Hannah!! So far I’m really happy with all of the R+Co. products I’ve tried (and that have been tried on me), but if I had to pick one big winner, it’d be the Jackpot cream!
I just had my hair cut to the same length after a loooong time with long hair. It just got too annoying to deal with, and it’s definitely much easier to deal with dreaded summer without the hair clinging to my neck! My stylist uses R+Co on me too and I ended up buying a bottle.
Yeah, it’s just too much. I love the way long hair looks on other people (and on me…once a week or so), but it’s just not manageable for me. Especially in summer!
What about the fab shirt you are wearing? Please share if you may.
Hi Deb, I’ve tried and tried to find the shirt online, but I can’t! The brand is Collective Concepts. They have a website, but not online retail. I bought it at a store in Brooklyn called Something Else.
love it!
Thank you, Maria!
That´s a great look for you! I also go back and forth between longer and shorter hair. I can´t have it really short though since I have naturally wavy hair and it looks weird cut too short but I already tried every other length..
You rock the bob 😉
Thanks, Martina! Funny…I tend to think of wavy hair as looking great at any length, but I guess it comes down to the weight and thickness as much as it does the texture. I imaging you’d need an awful lot of thinning/layering in order to make a bob work if your hair is very thick/heavy, otherwise you’d wind up with triangle-head. 😉
Though I had my hair short loads in the past, for the last ten years I have had my hair long. I got do fed up always putting it in a pony tail, I thought I might as well have it short, and I mean short. So, I did and had it coloured streaky blonde. It’s a cross between Big Bang Penny and Emma Thompson, though shorter at the nape.
My local community went on about it for weeks and WEEKS! Strangers in the street were calling out about my hair and stopping me to talk about it. People were amazed at my ‘bravery’, and the most common comment was ‘I could never do that’. I was amazed. It’s hair, it grows back.
My ten year old daughter doesn’t love it though, doesn’t like Mummy to look different, but I remind her that change is good, change is natural and we should embrace it
So, enough about me, your new ‘do’ looks great.
Love n peace
Lorrie x
That’s so funny, Lorrie. A couple of people commented on my “bravery” on Instagram, and really…that’s too much. It’s not bravery, it’s just a haircut! I change my hairstyle ALL the time, and I think it helps me to not get too locked in to feeling like I should look a certain way as I get older. That’s healthy. 🙂
What a great cut for you, and what a lovely profile you have! 🙂
I’m also chronically growing my hair out then cutting it. I fell in love with my last cut though, so hopefully I’ll get off the see-saw for a while.
How do you like the fragrance of R+Co products?
Thanks, Kate! I really like the smell of the R+Co stuff I’ve tried, but I can see how it might be off-putting to some. Each product has its own scent, but they all seem to work together nicely. There’s definitely a lot going on fragrance-wise, but they’re the kind of smells I enjoy…earthy, not floral.
Hi, Anna! Looking good!
My salon just started using R+Co exclusively as well, and I got hooked on the blow out balm (Park Ave). I’m intrigued by the Death Valley dry shampoo though… our hair is similar in color (basically super dark), so can you SEE it? I’m afraid of dry shampoos for that reason.
Hi Kim! No, the dry shampoo doesn’t leave ANY visible residue at all. I don’t even need to brush it out, I just get my fingers in there and it disappears. Your hair is a lot thicker than mine, though, so just be aware that this will make it feel even thicker. I can’t really speak to its efficacy as a dry shampoo, but for texture and body…it’s amazing.
I think it’s interesting how ‘het up’ people get about cutting and/or coloring hair. As many have said, it grows back. And often quickly enough that you can adjust the style pretty quickly, if not the length exactly. And if you hate a new color, you can re-dye it! I always feel like saying…it’s just hair, people!
You look lovely! I admire people who can pull off short hair cuts, my face is severely oval, and it just doesn’t seem to work on me. It looks very signature on you, though.
(By the way, I’m the same person who brought up Richard Prince to you on Twitter, so I hope you don’t hate my presence on your blog now, hah.)
Haha, Lizzie, not at all!! I just get worked up when discussing art and artists’ rights, that’s all. 😉
(And thank you!)
Hi Anna, love your haircut! I did the same thing last weekend, chopped off 6+ inches after growing out for about 2 years (again!) and got a very similar cut (no bangs, though, because they don’t work on my curly hair and I’m too lazy to straighten bangs daily). It’s so much better to not have hot heavy hair on my neck and I was so tired of twisting and clipping it up!
Now I need to check out those products. I’m such a product junkie, plus that packaging looks amazing!
Looks terrific! I’ve mostly had really long hair, but do chop it once every couple of years. I’m poised for a big chop on Saturday, largely because I did a very poor job of cutting myself some bangs a few weekends ago and I have a feeling a lot of hair is going to have to go to make them blend in a little and look decent until they grow out again. I’d been thinking of a cut similar to yours, but will likely just let my stylist do what he thinks is best.
Looks great! I recently read about a new Bumble and Bumble air drying product you might want to check out too. I am so envious of wavy haired people, my straight hair is so dull, but you may have inspired me to make a bit more effort.
And btw, your before pic is wow!
Your hair is adorable, and I have been on the same ride for 20 years as well, and all that, BUT what’s the eyeshadow you are wearing? I likes.
Thanks, Rosalind! The eyeshadow is a few shades from Urban Decay’s Naked2 palette:
http://www.sephora.com/naked2-P302916
Your hair looks so great! Change is so good! I cut (and donated) over 24″ of hair in February.
Very flattering! I love the texture in it.
I do exactly the same thing – I’m perpetually growing my hair out super long, then lopping it off because I can’t deal anymore.
One way I justify always being in a state of growing it out or wanting to chop it, is I make sure I get it long enough that I can cut off 8 inches or more (I usually aim for a minimum of 10) and I donate it to Children With Hair Loss.
It’s basically like Locks of Love, but they donate the wigs to kids in need instead of selling them at a discount and they donate to kids with all types of hair loss. I figure I’m going to grow it out over and over again no matter what, so why not?
Anna, you look beautiful. I love the cut! I officially have a hair crush on you! I also love the eyeshadow.
Lisa, thank you! I’m blushing. 🙂
Love it
The cut really frames your face well. You look scorching!
I am right there with you! I’m always growing and cutting, though I do feel more like ‘me’ with shorter hair. Yours looks fabulous! And that packaging – SWOON!