This week is all about showcasing and working with your specific hair strengths. Admit it, we all have those times when we look into the mirror and want the exact opposite of what is staring back at us. The grass is always greener, right? Some days, I imagine myself traipsing around the beach with a platinum blond Patricia Arquette-style bob. However, I know better. Chasing after a style that doesn’t suit your hair type, skin tone or face will get you nowhere in the long run.
Let’s celebrate our strengths! What say you?
Our first participant is Taylor.
The first step in my Hair Thursday process is looking long and hard at the photo(s). Lately, I’ve been envisioning a specific style right away and it becomes hard to imagine anything else.
Unfortunately, what seems to be happening is I then read the person’s questionnaire and their requests don’t match up with the kind of hairstyle I envision for them. I always end up choosing to find a hairstyle that suits their wishes, but it’s not really what I WANT for them. (Isn’t that what matters?! WHAT I WANT?!)
What’s a girl to do?
With Taylor, I am going to post two lovely options. My initial “poof-moment” hairstyle and one that would better suit her needs. And what are those needs, you ask?
Taylor’s Hair:
Naturally dark brown, colors to hide grays
Good condition, a little oily (has to wash everyday)
Very straight
Finely textured
Growing it out from chin-length because “she can’t deal with it in her face” – (DAMN YOU, TAYLOR.)
Taylor’s strengths are her fine texture and super-straight, shiny hair. She has the type of hair that looks fantastic from chin-length to shoulder-length. Anything past the shoulders might end up looking a little flat, though. My initial thought was to take her length up to the chin and add fringed, sideswept bangs like option #1. That way, she could showcase her hair’s shine and fine texture with a fun, yet sleek, style. Plus, her bangs would never look slept-on or oily since she washes every day.
THEN, I read her questionnaire with the part about hating hair in her face. WHY, Taylor, WHYYYY?
Option #2 would be very easy for her to achieve right now and takes her wishes into account. Take a look at her side profile photo. Notice the front layers in her hair? She would want to keep those front layers as long as she could, while taking the back up to create a very slight inverted bob with textured ends. That way the longest hair will be in the front, allowing her to put behind her ears or keep out of her face, but still possessing a hip style with the textured ends that elongates her neck as well. Come to think of it, I’m starting to like this idea more as I write about it.
Regardless, both would look great on Taylor. What do you think?
Our second participant is Bryanna.
Continuing with the theme of working with your strengths, look at Bryanna’s gorgeous ringlets! Whoah!
Bryanna’s Hair:
Brown with recently added golden highlights
Good condition
Curly, curly, CURLY
Bryanna wants to keep her hair long, but is “desperate for a change”.
First off, I think her recently-added golden highlights are beautiful. The way the light reflects off of the curls is really warm and pretty, plus gives the ringlets definition. Since Bryanna wants to keep her hair long, I hate to say that I don’t have any big changes in store for her. Like I said, embrace your strengths!
I think Bryanna should cut 2-3 inches off the bottom to remove a bit of the heaviness, but should consider other options for a “change”. How about changing her part? Side parts and center parts give off totally different vibes. Also, I definitely think she should break out the flat iron and do a sleek, straight look once in awhile.
All in all, I love her curls and would hate to see them hacked off, resulting from a “grass is greener” moment.
The following photos are of the same person. I like the length and how she wears her hair with the natural curl (#1), but also softens the curl for a different look (#2).
Both of these styles would look beautiful on Bryanna. Add a flat-ironed style once in awhile, and she’s got 3 styles to choose from.
Even though these photos aren’t technically an either/or situation, you all want to vote don’t you? Well, have at it.
Speaking of flat irons, this one is my very favorite. And you are NOT getting a video tutorial, thank you very much. Just be sure to apply a thermal protectant (like this one) before using the iron. Clip you hair up and starting from the bottom layers, work with 1-2 inch sections, careful not to clamp one section for too long. Keep the flat iron moving at all times, working slowly down the sections until you have completed all of the sections. Work a small amount of FF glossing cream through the hair from the middle to the ends. Voila! Straight, shiny hair.
SAJ
October 18, 2007 at 7:26 amI think it’s time for my makeover.
chirky
October 18, 2007 at 7:27 amI like Taylor with bangs.
Curly Question: how do you go between the two versions of curly? “Natural” curly vs. “Soft” curly? I wouldn’t even know how to do that. Anybody?
The difference would be in the product used and the drying method. Most likely, a mousse with no blowdrying will create the natural look, where the curls are tight and in their most natural state. For the softer look, I would suggest using a curl cream (such as Aveda Be Curly or Kerastase Elasto-Curl) and using a diffuser.
geeky
October 18, 2007 at 7:38 amThis is awesome. I feel like I just got a personal hair consultation. My hair is almost exactly like Taylor’s – same colors, straight, fine, and oh yeah, I can’t stand hair in my face either! I recently got a cut similar to your Option #1, and while it looked awesome, I just couldn’t stand the hair in my face. So next time, I think I’m going to get something like Option #2, but shorter.
All Adither
October 18, 2007 at 7:45 amI’m right between these two ladies. Both of their lawns are greener (uh, does that sound weird?) to me.
Leah
October 18, 2007 at 8:01 amMy hair is a lot like the second persons, super curly. Except it is red and tends to frizz cause I live in San Francisco and there is fog. Lots of fog. It made me laugh to read that you wouldn’t go drastically different. I’ve always wanted to do something different with my hair but I always end up with the same thing because every stylist recommends the same thing, long with some layers “because you have such gorgeous curls.” You are right about the grass is always greener, every once and awhile I think about getting my hair thermally straightened so I can get a different cut. That may be taking it too far :).
Emily R
October 18, 2007 at 8:29 amI love the bangs for Taylor, but I like the rest of option 2. Can you create a combo of these 2 options?
BTW, Thursday is my least favorite day of the week, and only you make it bearable.
Carla Hinkle
October 18, 2007 at 8:33 amWhat do you think of the “wet to set” flat irons? The ones where you start with wet hair? Supposedly it makes the whole process faster but I have trouble buying that.
kat
October 18, 2007 at 8:43 amis it me or does the thermal protectant seem to make your hair dry faster?
i use one on my hair before i blowdry and i swear it cuts the time in half.
Yes, many do cut the time in half. That’s why I love the Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum so much!
Karen
October 18, 2007 at 8:49 amI like the bangs for Taylor too. And the curly hair on Bryanna – gorgeous! I thought the looser look would be something different – shorter is good too.
You are good, girl!
Taylor
October 18, 2007 at 9:31 amOh I am very excited to see the options! I haven’t had bangs since, man junior high but I really like that option. And since I no longer break out every five seconds that is a doable option. I can’t get into to see my hair lady until next month, darn vacations, but you all will be the first, well second to see it.
Thanks Whoorl!
sunny
October 18, 2007 at 9:37 amPretty ladies!
I can relate to the hair in the face thing. It’s actually turned into a compulsion. So much for the sexy wind swept look.
I hate to add to your already-full-plate Whoorl, but you are totally ready to rock this thing to the next level … make up tips!
It would be awesome if you did that once in a while too – like if something screamed out at you. Say a certain lip gloss rec with a certain someone’s coloring. Bryanna + odin mauve berry gloss = FIERCE!
Meg
October 18, 2007 at 10:49 amI LOVE Hair Thursdays! Love them! (Sometimes do you worry that the alternate options aren’t different enough from the original look?)
Meg, you don’t seem to be aware of the rules. Let me direct you to Hair Thursday Rule #1.
https://whoorl.com/archives/466
Bryanna
October 18, 2007 at 10:50 amWow! Thanks for the tips Whoorl! I’m saving up my tip money for the big ol’ hair cut and will send new pics soon. I have my hair straight today, but now it’s raining…blast! Sunny – where would I get this odin mauve berry gloss? Do they sell it in Canada?
I think Sunny is referring to Delux Beauty’s lip gloss in Odin. I wrote about it here:
https://whoorl.com/archives/253
Unfortunately, Delux Beauty doesn’t exist anymore. :(
Lisa
October 18, 2007 at 10:51 amI like both options for Taylor, because she has the perfect hair for both. I like option 1, because with her hair length, face shape, and having fine straight hair the bangs are perfect! I also like the idea of loosening up Bryanna’s curls a bit for a change–a diffuser can easily do that. I have a flat iron question for ya…what temperature do you keep the iron at while straightening? Also for when you use your curling iron???
I always keep both of my dials set at the middle (270 for flat iron, 330 for curling iron).
bethany
October 18, 2007 at 11:00 amBryanna, your hair rocks girl! I’m not sure that I would change a thing, maybe just a few layers to make the top a littlr more full. Your curls are amazing, though. You’ve got what I call “straight curly hair”. Your hair is curly as all hell, but the strands are smooth and therefore look a bit…straight, and not frizzy..does that make sense?:)