I’m still stewing over the big chop, which really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone since I don’t possess even a sliver of the “oh what the hell, just do it” gene in my body. Nope, I approach my hair decisions exactly like I approach every decision in my life — very methodically, looking at it from every perspective, and perhaps making a list or eight.
But hey! It seems you have plenty of questions and comments of your own regarding my hair, so I thought we could dive right in.
1. Why don’t you gradually transition to the pixie cut? Maybe cut a bob first?
Great question. The reason I am all or nothing about the cut is because I want to donate my hair to the Beautiful Lengths program, and you have to donate at least 8 continuous inches of hair. It’s as simple as that…if I go halfway, I can’t donate, and donation is a huge part of this.
2. A pixie can be a real shock to the system. Maybe keep it a bit longer than a true pixie?
I think you all had great advice about this – I am definitely thinking of a cut similar to most of the above photos — a little longer in the front and crown. A little more Ginnifer Goodwin, a little less Mia Farrow.
3. You’ll need to use lots of product when it’s short. And it’s not truly “wash and go” – styling time is necessary.
Yes, I’ve heard this, and I am all ears for product recommendations. When it comes to shorter hairstyles, I have no clue, so bring it! As for doing it up, I willingly accept that I would be styling it in the morning, although I AM SO PUMPED that the styling time would decrease from about 45 minutes of blow-drying and styling to about 5. Wheeeeeeeeee.
4. You hated your hair when you cut it collarbone-length, remember?
I remember, but you know, my general displeasure regarding that haircut was less about the loss of length and more about feeling like the style itself was kind of boring on me. I just didn’t really see anything stylish or chic about it, and it felt very in-between to me. The short haircut seems like more of a definitive style to me, and not so mehhhhh.
5. Growing it out will be the biggest pain in the ass.
I’m sure it will be, and to be completely honest, this is a huge part of what’s holding me back. I really want a new look, and I’m psyched at the thought of having short hair, BUT I keep thinking about that day…whether it be in one or ten years, when I decide I don’t want short hair anymore and have to start the process of growing it out. It definitely seems daunting.
6. Most guys don’t like short hair.
You’re a douchebag. Well, my husband does, and he’s the only one that matters to me. (I also think many men would beg to differ with that statement.)
7. No more Pantene commercials for you.
TRUE THAT. Sayonara, swishing.
8. It’s just hair. It will grow back. What’s the big deal?
You’re right. Yes, it will. I don’t know.
9. Please don’t cut your hair. It would be a shame. You will regret it. You will cry. You’ll look like a soccer mom. You seem like a long hair type. You are crazy. You’ll hate it. It’s too pretty to cut off. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Well, thank you for all of the really lovely things you’ve said about my hair. Let’s all hug it out. It’s just lately I feel like my hair has its own online persona or something. I’m over it.
Also, thank you for leaving this in the comment section.
I probably shouldn’t have laughed as hard as I did.
10. DO IT. DO IT. YOU HAVE TO DO IT.
You rock. (I did notice that all of my very favorite people told me to go for it. Coincidence?)
11. Um, are you really going to do it?
I would say I’m 50/50 right now. One day, I am in full-on chop it off mode, and the next, I can’t imagine it. Not to mention that my daughter loves touching/holding/using my hair as her security blanket. (That might be the hardest part for me.) I showed her photos of shorter hair on Pinterest, and she looked at me wide-eyed and said, “No, mama. No.”
Speaking of security blankets, let’s talk about what this really boils down to. Confidence.
First, it was Sizzle who commented, “as someone who has had short hair for most of her grown life, you have to know that it’s 75% attitude, 15% face, and 10% styling.” Then I read this by Leandra of Man Repeller, who recently chopped her locks.
Everything is always about confidence, isn’t it? If you feel good, you will look good, and if you look good, because you feel good, you will rule the fucking world. There really is something to stepping away from your comfort zone and recognizing that wherever you settle feels somehow…better than where you’d previously kicked up your feet.
How spot on is that? So spot on. Do I possess the confidence? Yes. (I think so? We’ll see? Here, have another question mark!) I will say this…I am so intrigued by the thought of not being able to hide behind my hair. I can pretty much use it like a scarf these days.
I want to do it. I just need a gentle nudge…okay, maybe a friendly shove.
One thing that gets me excited is the thought that maybe, just maybe, there could be a way to benefit others, beyond donating my hair. While pinning/googling pixie cuts (can you imagine how much of that is going on right now?), I came across a great project from last year. What an awesome concept. I’m thinking some sort of charitable component could be really fantastic. Plus, once I make a commitment to helping others out, there’s no turning back, right? Let’s make this about more than just a haircut. (Even though, wahhhhh, I’m still scared. #getoveritwhoorl)
And that concludes Deep Follicular Thoughts by Whoorl™ for the day. Peace be with you and your hair.
Jennifer
January 31, 2013 at 7:35 pmI so hope you cut your hair :) I’ve been waging my own long/short battle with my hair as you’ve been posting on your blog and Pinterest and on Saturday I’m making the cut! Mid-back to pixie short – I’m so excited!
Julie
January 31, 2013 at 8:30 pmDo it! I carry around so many pics of people with great short hair and am always showing them to stylists. I still think Selma Blair with short hair was one of the greatest cuts of all time (except when her hairline shows — such an odd one) and damn Gwyneth Paltrow in Sliding Doors continues to haunt me, even though I’ve done that style (love it) but am looking for something new. The hardest part for me is a stylist who knows how to cut the back of my hair when it’s short.
DO IT! There is absolutely nothing more sophisticated and stylish than a great short haircut.
Amanda
January 31, 2013 at 9:38 pmNot that you need more opinions, but mine is: Do it! Do it! DO IT! I think you would look hot and if anyone can pull it off (besides the ladies on your inspiration board), it’s you! And how awesome would it be to tweet, “Did it” with a photo of your new ‘do?
Fiona
February 1, 2013 at 3:18 amI was in the ‘No, don’t do it camp’ before. Mainly because i have had long hair pretty much since i was born and am too much of a wuss to cut it short! However, seeing all the pictures you have been pinning, I think a shorter style with a longer top and front would look absolutely stunning on you. And, I kind of hate myself for using this phrase, but: you only live once, go for it! It such an amazing cause to donate your hair to.
I work with a lot of people who have short hair, and the products I find work best are clay based pastes. They give that ‘choppy, messy’ look without too much hold or stickiness.
Can’t wait to see what you decide!
X
Kristi Shoemaker
February 1, 2013 at 8:11 amMy vote is no, but if you do cut it, I hope it’s a cute as all the pictures and I pray that it doesn’t look as horrible as mine did when I cut it in a pixie. On the bright side it’s 16 months after I cut my hair and it’s just beyond shoulder length. I always had short hair in high school and college and loved it. Short hair was so easy to maintain and I felt fun and flirty. Fast forward 15+ years and two kids later, I cut my hair into a pixie after loving images of Ginnfer Goodwin. In the 15 years and two kids, my hair had become super curly and more coarse than it was when I was younger. I didn’t know just how curly my hair was because the weight was pulling it down and smoothing it out. The second thing I hated about my short hair was my wrinkles and this may sound stupid, but simply put, I was 15 years older and my face showed it. At least if you cut it and you hate it, you did it for a good cause and that motivation can get you through the growing out process. Good luck!!!
Claudia
February 1, 2013 at 8:17 amDo it do it do it.
I brought that same blonde shot (top right) and a bunch of others from the Boden catalog when I got my hair cut last time. There were so many photos of that model from different angles, it worked out really well. Love it. It’s been over 2 months and it still looks good, though shaggier of course. My favorite product is Dust It by Schwartzkopf. Just dust some on and it gives instant texture and a small bit of hold. My hair is thick and waves when it’s longer, so that’s all I need. I let it air dry, shake the Dust It, move it around a bit and go. Takes seconds, not minutes.
http://www.amazon.com/Osis-Matifying-Powder-Styling-Serums/dp/B001CN5S4C
Mallory
February 1, 2013 at 8:40 amOne thing that I always tell myself when I’ve grown tired of it being short and am finally ready to let it grow out: The growing out process is an adventure! This is the time where you can try OTHER short haircuts along the way! It helps to save some photos for reference and inspiration, because I think what disheartens so many people is the want of it being super long again, which just isn’t realistic when growing out a pixie.
dawn
February 1, 2013 at 11:03 amIt was Bridget Fonda in Single White Female that got me to chop my hair 6 months before my wedding and loved it. Be bold and go for it!
M
February 1, 2013 at 1:53 pmI’ve been following your blog for a long time and since you started posting about pixie cuts, the only thought in my head when I read them is “DOOO IIIIIIT”. I think everyone (you included) know it’s totally going to happen, and it’s going to be awesome.
Scarlet
February 1, 2013 at 4:06 pmDon’t worry! It will always grow back. You look like the type that will look great either way and with a good cause, why not?
CarrieO
February 1, 2013 at 10:22 pmIf your husband’s on board, go for it! I cut my hair to chin length a few years ago so I could donate it (I’ve never had it above my shoulders before that.) I walked in after and he said, “That’s going to take some getting used to.” I’d cut it short again in a heartbeat because it felt very freeing and it grew back faster than I realized, but I need to loose some weight…that was the only down side, I didn’t love pictures of me with it because I was a bit heavy. Ugh. Lucky you don’t have to worry about it.
mac
February 2, 2013 at 9:29 amI just (three days ago!) chopped my hair back into a pixie, after about 5 years of bob-through-shoulder-length hair since my last pixie cut. Here I am http://instagram.com/p/VIpUgKgtAw/
I have wavy/curly hair and this time I kept some length on top, and I think it’s pretty awesome. Last time I chopped I didn’t know how to maintain it or get trims as it was growing out, and it was kind of horrible as it grew out! This time I have a great stylist and I’m making my next appointments ahead of time so I can keep it trimmed.
I bought this paste from the salon and it’s expensive but seems to be working out ok. I like that the label says it’s “pasta invisible” http://www.drugstore.com/davines-defining-invisible-paste/qxp157517?catid=183520
When I walked in to work the day after the chop, many of the women’s and younger men’s response was “oh I love short hair! it looks fantastic!”.
The older men seemed to be incredibly surprised (by how short it was and by how good it looked, I think?) like “Whooooaaa wow!! You cut your hair!” lol. Yes I did cut my hair.
Anyway I just wanted to encourage you to make the chop, you won’t regret it :) The previous commenter is right, that you will be reconsidering all your earrings and clothes! Last night I tried on all my earrings and old headbands to see how they look now.
whoorl
February 11, 2013 at 9:44 amOh, I love it! Looks great on you!
Alexandra Aimee
February 2, 2013 at 11:18 amSarah I never comment, but I love your blog and have been following it for years! On Jan. 1st I went pretty short (to the short jaw length bob Keira Knightley was sporting about a year ago) and love it.
I feel like right now is the time to go short if ever there was one and here’s why: Tons of leading ladies with different style aesthetics and hair types have gone to bobs or pixies in the last six months. In time, most of them will grow out.
I know this sound strange, but a HUGE inspiration for me was that I will have tons of growing out role models to chose from in the coming few years! I had a bob about five years ago, and every grow point from chin to armpit was super soccar momish. I just couldn’t come up with good things to do with it, and everyone in the media had long hair, so I was forced to chose cuts from those awful fantastic sams like style books. Go figure– they all looked stale and awful. This time will be different though, because Anne, Gennifer, Keira, Michelle Dockery, Karlie Kloss, Emma Watson, etc. etc. will ALL be growing out and we will have tons of cute style inspirations to help us enjoy the trip down! Sure, a few of them will wimp out and get extensions right away (my money is on Anne), but a lot won’t…. So, in way too many words for a simple thought I say: Do it NOW! It’s the best possible time!
P.S.– I have no idea where this dumb wisdom about what men like came from. Probably one of those Cosmo mag spreads that swear the best way to please a man in bed is with an areal display consisting of props made only of hard boiled eggs and computer charger cables. My husband likes my bob so much he just asked me out of the blue if I would keep it forever, haha!
christy b
February 2, 2013 at 4:04 pmBOLD BROWS! I think that’s the trick to pulling this hairstyle off. Most the women in these pics have beautifully sculpted dark brows.
Mel
February 2, 2013 at 6:28 pmYou have the perfect face shape for a short cut. I have been paying especially close attention to your blog lately waiting to see short hair. Just do it already! :)