Chopped
About six months ago, I started to think about cutting my hair. I’m not talking about a trim. I’m talking about a major overhaul. I have thick, curly, often unruly hair. I’m a hairstylist’s dream, no matter what length I go. But, I was tired of my hair. I was tired of the small changes we made when I’d tell my hair stylist I need something new, but want to keep the length. These photos show what my hair looked like last week.
And so, I began to keep track. How many good hair days did I have? How many times was I throwing my hair up, even when I was having a good hair day? How many bad hair days did I have? As the ugly summer months (think: hot, sticky, muggy = frizzy hair!) months wore on into my best hair days (the “best” hair days for me are when the air is dry = winter!), I noticed I was still throwing my hair up all the time. I knew I needed a change.
I put the idea in my hair stylist’s ear last month. Last week, I pulled a couple inspiration photos. And, over the weekend, I did it!
In my head, I think I was eyeing the first photo as my favorite while my hair stylist was eyeing the second photo as his favorite. So, my hair wound up a bit shorter than I envisioned. But, I’m not emotionally tied to my hair the way some people are, so I didn’t worry too much when I saw the hair fall. I know it’ll grow back.
After seven inches were chopped in the back and four to five from the front, I can honestly say I have reworked my old look into something new and fresh. It’s light and airy and maybe a bit too “mom” for me (Sweets’ first comment after “I love it!” was “Doesn’t every mom cut her hair short?!”). But … it’s fun and funky and if you can believe it, I feel more alive!
By the way, it’s been almost five years since I seriously chopped my hair. And weirdly, I was a blogger back then and documented that cut! Clearly, I don’t make big changes very often. I’m a natural brunette who dyes her hair a prettier (and less gray) shade of brown. And, only about twice a decade do I make dramatic changes to the length or style of my hair. But, I will admit I think about big changes all the time. Pink highlights! Super short and shaved in the back! Sometimes I wish I had a little more gusto in my belly to make big changes without fearing the results! For now, I’ll sit pretty and enjoy my new look!
Have you ever made a major change to your hair – gone from long to short, brown to blonde, etc.? Do you consider yourself experimental or safe with the choices you make about your hair?
January 26th, 2012 at 4:28 am
Oh my gosh, SO CUTE! Such a great cut on you.
I have the thinnest, finest, straightest hair in the world so I can’t really grow mine that long. I usually keep it in a bob of some sort, but chop it into a pixie every couple years.
Right now I can put it into a ponytail. I’m growing it out a bit for our wedding in August and I’d like to have some options (for being so thin, it actually holds curl and styles really well), but I’ll be chopping it off very soon after.
And for what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s too “mom” at all. It’s fun and sassy! Not that moms can’t be fun and sassy, but you know what I mean :-)
January 26th, 2012 at 7:35 am
That cut is FABULOUS! Not “mom-ish” at ALL. Just fab and chic and YOU. I regularly get into a “must chop my hair mode”. Usually once or twice a year. It’s long-ish (for me) right now, and I’m definitely not a ponytail/put up hair kind of gal. Only because that means all my grays show when it’s up and I can’t keep on top of the roots as frequently as they need it. So, choppage is imminent, probably in spring. I have had highlights and color that has varied as much as it can from the medium brown to auburn range. I’d love to know what I’d look like with really light brown hair, but I’m actually too chicken to make that change and THEN have to see how to deal with the dark roots and gray when my hair is much lighter. Oh well. Choppage is enough. Congrats on the change! It really suits you!
January 26th, 2012 at 8:14 am
I think it looks fabulous! I wouldn’t think of it as a ‘mom’ haircut, but I don’t even know what I think a mom haircut looks like! ;)
I did locks for love back in 2007 and chopped about 10″ off my hair. I will be doing that again this fall after Nora’s wedding and CAN’T WAIT. I don’t mind the length right now, but I do tend to put it up quite a bit which tells me it’s time for a change!
January 26th, 2012 at 8:41 am
Your hair is beautiful! I don’t think it looks mom-ish, but I do know what he means about a lot of new moms getting their hair cut. When I had my first baby I got mine cut pretty short. It doesn’t seem that dramatic until you know that my hair was down to my waist before I had my first baby.
January 26th, 2012 at 8:59 am
I love it!
I am not a short-hair person (my hair is just unruly enough to be MORE work short than long, but not so curly that it’s cute like yours). I’d LOVE a pixie cut or bob, but my hair is too thick and coarse/frizzy. Wah.
Also, you look like someone famous but I cannot figure who! Have you ever been told you look like a celebrity?
January 26th, 2012 at 8:59 am
I love it! I think it makes you look more energetic, for some reason. If that’s even a thing! A few years ago I cut off all my looong hair into a short bob. It’s almost back to the original length, but now I’m loathe to cut it because Kate Middleton has made having long, straight brown hair the bees knees. I figure I’ll wait until summer to make a decision because I can always use the extra warmth in wintertime.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:45 am
First of all, I love the first picture, it makes me giggle:-)
I like the new hair, too…I wish my hair had half of the volume that yours does!
January 26th, 2012 at 10:50 am
I love, LOOOOVE it!! I don’t care about cutting my hair all that much. I know when I start putting it up a lot, it means I need to get it chopped.
Also your hair DOES NOT look momish. If that’s the case, then I’ve looked momish on several occasions and I’m not even a mom!
Well you know what I’ve done with my hair -- chopped some bangs and colored the tips red. :) It’ll be going in for a minor chop come end of February!
January 26th, 2012 at 11:27 am
I love it -- I think the short crop suits you!
I’ve always wanted to do something dramatic with my hair, but usually chicken out when it comes to actually doing it. I could never cut my hair that short, just because it has NO body and is super pin straight no matter what I try to do. I cut it to a bit below my chin once in high school and it was a disaster. I think it’s awesome you get to play with hairstyles!
January 26th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
I’m currently in the process of growing my hair out for the wedding, so it’s really long and down the middle of my back, almost past my bra line. I’m kind of loving it but there are days where cutting it a bit short seems kind of like a nice change of pace. So much conditioner and styling with it this way and it is up quite a bit lately…
With regards to hair color, I was more experimental in my college days, but I did purple/black, purple/brown, red/brown and everything in between. I never go lighter though as I look kind of silly with lighter hair.
LOVE LOVE LOVE your new look. And it doesn’t look mom-ish to me at all. It’s got some kick butt funk to it <3
January 26th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
I had no idea your hair was so curly!!!
I chopped my hair into an inverted bob back in 2007 and LOVED it and kept it that style for four years but I’m currently growing it out for the wedding since I want an up-do. It’s about shoulder length now and I actually really like it this length.
I think your new haircut looks fantastic. Very sassy!
January 26th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
That’s a fabulous cut! It doesn’t look mom-ish at all, just chic and happy!
January 26th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Oooh! I like it! My biggest change was years and years ago. I chopped my hair from the middle of my butt (yes, butt, not back) up to my chin. I absolutely loved it!
xox
January 26th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Even though I LOVED (and envied!) your long hair (I have fine, thin, mostly straight hair and it’s a constant struggle), I have to say, the new do looks FANTASTIC!
I’ve done a little bit of color experimenting when I was younger, but I mostly keep my haircuts safe. I wish I was a bit more adventurous, but there is only so much you can do with my type of hair.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
LOVE it! i always feel so great after a major chop -- so free and light and airy :)
January 26th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
First of all, it looks adorable and very chic. Definitely a sophisticated ‘do.
I’m just about the least adventurous person you’ll ever meet when it comes to hair. :) I tried some short styles back in high school and college, but by age 21 I was pretty much stuck on having it shoulder-length-ish and that’s where I still reside. The wildest I’ve gone color-wise is getting lowlights. :) Maybe someday I’ll try it short again or try a different color, but I may just stick in my rut. It’s comfy here.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
L.O.V.E. it!!!!! It has so much life and spunk! Love it!
I went from blonde to brunette a few months ago. Huge change for me, but it is much closer to my natural color. That makes for easy maintenance! I also chopped it, too. Not as much as you, but it was definitely a change! Love a new ‘do!
January 26th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
I love it! You look younger and hip. I think new moms cut their hair because who has time to style it? I guess if I ever have a kid I won’t have that moment since I already rock the short ‘do. It’s so easy! I love how your new haircut shows off your face.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
I think it looks great! And, like the age-old girl “problem”, it makes me wish I had curly hair. My hair is currently long, light brown, with blonde highlights. But, I have an appointment next week and have already told my stylist I want it dark again, and a little shorter. I actually feel quite lucky to have something as simple as hair style have such a positive impact on my attitude.
January 26th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
I agonized over cutting my hair for months. When I did do it, I loved it. I think the length suited me better. Now it’s getting long again and I am in agony all over again. I know it’s just hair but..
January 26th, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Wow -- it looks like a Before/After shot from a TV makeover. J’adore!
January 27th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
LOVE it!
I have similar hair to yours, and have been seriously thinking about cutting it really really short for a couple weeks now. Getting my hair done tomorrow…I guess we’ll see what I end up with…
January 27th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
I think it reflects your personality — uplifting and vibrant. By the way, I cut my hair when you were a year old.
January 27th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
I love it! It does not make me think “mom” at all. Ha ha.
I haven’t made any changes to my hair in years. I would like to chop mine too!
January 29th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
You are ADORABLE with short hair, I love it!
January 30th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Just lovely! The cut looks wonderful on you.
January 30th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Looks great! My hair is not super thick, but also curly…and would be more of a fro than anything else if I cut it as short as you.
February 4th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Your hair looks absolutely amazing! I wouldn’t think of that as a mom cut at all. Seriously, I wish mine had all that body and volume to it.
I once cut nearly two feet off of my hair. I went from pochontas hair to a really short pixie cut. I also cried for a solid month. I usually don’t go shorter than my shoulders now and am currently just letting it get long again.