I have an appointment in a couple of weeks to get my first professional haircut in over a year, and I can’t tell you how many hours I have squandered surfing the Internet in search of the perfect hairstyle. Bobs, lobs, bangs and pixies. Gray hair. Glasses. The struggle is real.
I’ve enjoyed low maintenance hair for several years now. I was ready for retirement, and I was ready for the pandemic or at least my hair was. My hair is fine in texture with a little bit of wave in it. No layers, no dye. I don’t use heat or special products. If it doesn’t look good on any given day, I wear it up.
It seems over the past year I’ve lost more hair than usual, although it appears to be growing back. My hair is a little thinner at the temples, so I’ve been experimenting with a middle part. I like it.
Just as I thought I was ready for a big shift, my hair started cooperating, and now I’m not so sure I want to change it at all. Interestingly enough, I get more hits on my signature scrunchie man bun than any other post on this blog. I re-read that post yesterday, and all the comments I made about my low-maintenance approach still resonate with me.
The top candidate for something different is a neck-length bob with maybe some-face framing layers or long bangs, but I’m pretty sure that style requires more frequent haircuts, styling products and a blow dryer. While I think it would look very attractive on me, I do not want to stand in front of the mirror every day blowing my hair to smooth perfection.
I like the French girl look – long and untamed – although I guess I’m too old to pull off anything with the word “girl” in it. Plus, those French girls all have bangs but don’t wear glasses. I could see keeping it long and getting some sort of funky bang, but again, that’s extra maintenance and then there’s the glasses problem.
With all this doubt, I’m inclined to skip the transformation and just get the ends trimmed up neatly. I could probably coax more wave with some sort of product, but that’s a slippery slope. When all is said and done, my hair seems to look best if I leave it alone.
Of course, that means I don’t have a “style” per se. Most of the time I’m OK with that, but then I see these makeovers of women in their 50s and 60s, and there’s something to be said for a cute haircut. They look great! It’s easy to get sucked in, except you have to imagine all the work that went into making them look that good.
It’s hard to decide. Do you think it’s worth the trouble to maintain a so-called “modern” haircut, or are you more inclined to take a simpler approach? Does hair need a style, or is it just more beauty hype?
Hey Donna, I stopped using all the fancy products and what-nots also. I no longer want bangs or layers. My hair is long and I pretty much get it cut once a year. When I start tucking into my jeans when dressing, I know it’s time for a cut. I too have been losing hair more than usual this year. I’m not sure why but my doctor says it’s stress. Whether we realize it or not, Covid has caused stress. And I too just put it up into a messy bun when nothing else works or maybe just a long braid. I’m quite comfortable with the new me. So what do I advise? Do what works for you.
Yes, I do think stress contributed to the hair loss.
I have quite a collection of cool baseball caps from all over my travels. That’s what I’m counting on.
I do like hats, and they cover a multitude of sins.
I had a similar issue. My hairdresser and I had a long talk about what would work for me. I told her I needed to look like I care about the way I look , wash my hair once a week , and don’t use a straight iron or electric rollers. I have a modified bob,a bit stacked in the back , and longish bangs. I wake up in the am, run a brush thru it and am happy with it. It might work for you . Good luck !!
That gives me hope that maybe I could have something a little more stylish than what I have but without a lot of work. Thank you!
My vote is to go for simple and easy! Life is too short to spend much time styling, colouring, teasing, etc. Like you, I have thin hair. COVID allowed me to grow out a very short style that I wore for years. It required a professional cut every 3 or 4 weeks. I’m now at the point where I have an ear-length bob. When there is no lockdown, I see my stylist for a trim. Easy-peasy!
I used to have super short hair years ago, and it is high maintenance. Sounds like your new style will be pretty easy.
Have you thought about a modern shag style, Donna? Long messy layers that you can easily grow out or keep trimmed. I recently got one, when I chopped off all my highlighted hair, and I love it. Released my hair from the weight that was dragging it down. Now it has more bounce and curl and LIFE! 😁 Believe me, I hate spending any amount of time on my hair…and forget the every hair in place look…it ain’t me. Good luck!
Deb
Somehow I missed your post with the updated photo of your hair. I LOVE it. I don’t think my hair would do that, but I’m starting to change my mind again and thinking I’ll get some sort of change.
You have gorgeous hair!! You look great.
Thank you so much! It is quite fine, but I’ve learned to accept it, and I love the color.
Your hair is a beautiful color. Keep it simple, just get a trim.
Thank you so much. A trim is definitely in order!
I’m lazy when it comes to my hair. Before COVID I had a shorter style with a stacked back. I actually had a style!! I’m wearing it longer again and like it – mostly. I mousse it and dry it a little. I will never love my hair. It’s too unpredictable. Always in my face but I don’t look good pulling it back or up. And I won’t do bangs. I do love my gray though. I guess that’s something!!
I remember a picture of you cooking, and your hair looked long and really thick and curly. I love it! And the color is gorgeous, too. If I can learn to love my fine fairy hair, you could definitely learn to love your gorgeous locks.
A length that allows you to put your hair in a pony tail or top-knot (man bun?) seems appropriate to you as well as a no-fuss style. A good cut will be essential. I found a really short cut to be labor intensive requiring styling every day. A below-the-ears bob (?) seems to work best for me. Winter months under a toque and summer in a ball cap leaves my hair looking like a calf has been licking it, as my friend describes that style. Your grey hair is gorgeous.
Thank you. What I lack in thickness, I make up for in color! I think you’re right. A few inches chopped off but still long enough for some sort of up-do. I wouldn’t mind having it slightly longer in the front than in the back. And I do like a bit of hair peeking out of hats.
My hair is fine like yours and the silver I now have since Covid is also like yours.I took this time to grow out a very short pixie and the dye.I am about half and half. I can pull it into a messy bun for the first time in ages and I LOVE THAT! DO NOT let them layer you or undercut so that you lose the ability to pull your hair up!!!!
The ONLY haircuts that have worked for hair like mine ( yours too?) has been a chin length bob, no layers,just a nice undercut__ I had to blow dry in the morning, was pretty quick, looked good. Bangs. I was younger and worked and needed to look good every single day.
Went to a very short pixie which I personally love but my husband hates so he is thrilled I have hair again.But the pixie worked,with just some gel.EASY! Sassy! But, those every 5 week trims.. uggghhh..
Now,my hair is about as long as yours, but is two tone till the brown is gone.
I’d say leave your hair longer but get just a nice trim on the ends. If you do not want to get back into blow drying and maintenance.I know how you feel.but with hair like mine —fine and silky, no haircuts “work” unless we do stuff to them! The pixie was easy but too many hair trims needed.the bob was good, but blow dry needed and could never pull it up due to undercut and length.
Ahhh..HAIR! Always a dilemma.I like your hair as it is right now ! A couple inches off the ends might give you a nice feel.. go slowly!!
That is fantastic advice. I think a good trim, and it will look a lot better. Nothing crazy. Thank you!!!
I’m aiming for my hair to again look like in the picture on y profile (which comes from my daughter’s wedding). Knowing I am in the countdown phase, I’m doing absolutely nothing to it now so that when my day in the sun (er…cutting chair) arrives it will be ready. It DOES require cutting once a month, that’s true. But in between absolutely nothing has to happen. I literally wash it and put my hands through or brushing or coming or typing up or anything else, so it works for me, as does the white. And I can go to bed with wet hair and not wake up with bed head, lol. Also for me, I adore the feeling of other people washing my hair…
Monthly trims with no work in between sounds good. I like your hair in the wedding pic.
Donna, I’m always impressed by your beautiful silver mane. It’s a pity, to cut it off!
After a second long lockdown hairdressers reopened a few days ago. I’m not yet so keen, to get an appointment, although my hair is very long now.
Due to my surgerys (Stress) I lost most of my very thick hair and already feared the worst. Since half a year or so it regrows, I’m so glad.
My idea is a cut named “Fuchsschwanz” /Fox brush, google that. A few layers around the face, the shortest must go behind the ears. I see this cut mostly on Vietnamese women, so I asked one in my Gym for her hairdresser’s adress.
I’m all for vain and laziness, so the cut has to fit in my life. I hate big maintance, so I wash once a week, use almost no product nor blowdryer.
Don’t go too short!
Hi Barbara! Great to hear from you. It is amazing what stress does to hair. I’m glad yours is growing back. I will search for that haircut! It sounds perfect. I’m all about avoiding product and blow dryer.