Be gentle, some of these are truly horrific and I almost didn't post. But I thought it might help demonstrate why I'm so fringe averse! I have in fact liked some of the cuts. I particularly like some of the shorter styles but I'm nervous about getting much taken off these days.
Anyway, here are some of the hits and misses of the past 20 years!
I quite liked having short hair for the most part but at the point when it started giving off the wrong signals to the boys, I grew it long and lost my nerve about cutting it this short ever again!
This photograph was taken after a ball (where's the make up madam, what were you thinking?) and despite the smile, or perhaps it's a grimace, I'd had the most horrendous hair day. I'd booked myself in for an updo. Part way through the styling I realised the message about french pleat had been misinterpreted and I was going to end up with a Bet Lynch-esque curled sculpture. I cut my losses and escaped the salon and went scouring the streets of Norwich for another hairdresser. I eventually found somewhere in a slightly dubious part of the city and half a can of hairspray and a tonne of hair grips later I had a french pleat. Albeit a completely rock hard one! Obviously by the time this was taken I'd given up altogether and brushed it out. The days events also landed me with this fringe. I've learned to stop saying C shaped layers as it invariable ends up with layers so short it looks like I'm rocking a pair of curtains. I resorted to cutting it into a proper fringe and then spent the next year growing it out, only to do the same thing over again.
Another ball, another bad 'do'. At least I can see a smidge of make up this time! This was another, "I'm going to give you a Rachel" episode. It looks more like Andy Pandy with a wonky fringe to me, ta.
More fringe. It's difficult to believe that I was 20 when this picture was taken. There's something about a this cut that makes me look about 12. So unflattering.
This is how my hair looked from about the age of 22 to 30. My weight went up and down but my hair stayed the same. I had occasional forays into more styled looks but I would always end up growing them out.
These last two are perfect examples of the mumsy cuts I started to get as I hit 30. Yes, I'm a Mummy but I don't want to look like a frump just yet, thanks. On the top one I was about 6 months pregnant and I'm pretty sure I spy another fringe growing out!
The pictures above and below are I think my most favourite style. I much prefer a messy, choppy style on me.
And finally we're back to the present day. I will be getting it cut this week so I face my usual dilemma, a little tidy up or something more radical? After seeing this little line up, what do you think? Play it safe or brave a shorter style? I'd love to know what you think.
It's alright, you can stop laughing now!
i like the two pictures with the "messy" hairstyle above the last pic :)
ReplyDeletewith short hair some clothing don't look good, i mean for exemple wearing a dress with very short hair doesn't look as pretty and flattering as wearing it with long hair !
so, my own opinion is : don't cut too much it will make you look older and would limit your choice of clothing
but that just my point of view !!
xxx !
PS : the pics are all pretty !!! no reason to laugh about them !
The mumsy cut really suits you and i dont think it looks too mumsy I really like it on you.. v.pretty! x
ReplyDeleteI like the choppy pics you yourself said were the best ones, you were right!
ReplyDeleteThe third to last pic I quite like. But the fringe or no fringe question is something I'm always battling with, too. A fringe is so much more high maintenance so it really depends - if you are going to invest time in your hair every morning, then fringe might be fine. Otherwise... without. Or a longish fringe that falls to the ears - that's a good compromise!
ReplyDeleteYou rock the choppy look so well. And you're really brave to post all those pics, I think I've destroyed photos showing some of my worst hair cuts (I say think b/c I bet my mum has some stashed away somewhere!). I *hope* the ones where I have a completely shaved back have disappeared forever and ever!
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely little oval face and I think a graduated bob would suit you. x
ReplyDeleteI love the bob you think is mumsy and I alo love your favourite which I think makes you look younger!
ReplyDeleteChoppy bob vote here.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree re not wanting to look like a mummy but getting a mummy hair cut - I really like the one where you say Andy Pandy with a wonky fringe, it really suits you - I think when it flicks out at the side it looks good. Thanks for posting, maybe I will do some of my hair mistakes
ReplyDeleteI like the third to last one best too :) How about a side fringe and a choppy A line cut? Best of both worlds - long to short hair at the back! They look amazing :)
ReplyDeleteThe choppy bob is very nice, brings out your eyes!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a vote for the choppy bob - maybe with a little bit of whispy fringe??
ReplyDeletei like the messy/choppy style on you best, too!! Also for myself I always demand this look in hair salons but they never dare to be as wild as I would like them to be ;-)
ReplyDelete@Lily from Paris: I totally agree. I think it would be wardrobe limiting for me if I went very short. I’d have to do it in stages if I was ever to go really short again. Thank you for being kind too x
ReplyDelete@Mouldy Fruit: Thank you. I quite liked the inverted bob when I had it, I think maybe I just made that judgment as I like the messy styles more!
@Get Lippie: I’m quite tempted to ask for it styled like that. Do you think it would be weird to take in pictures of myself to describe a cut?
@Café Bellini: I’m really not keen on a fringe. Quite a few people suggested I would suit a fringe the other day (which prompted this post!) and I realise I have lots of forehead space but I just don’t think I can do it again! I don’t spend long styling my hair so I like the path of least resistance ;).
@PeachBellini: Thank you! I have deleted lots of bad digital photos I realised as I was looking for snaps! Have you had lots of unusual styles in the past?
@La: That’s extremely helpful, I have always wondered what shape face I had! I’ve had quite a lot of graduated bobs and like the style.
@Charlie: Thank you! Anything that makes me look younger is a good thing. :)
@Grace: Thank you, I think I’m going to go for it!
@Jan: It’s funny isn’t it, I absolutely hate that one. I hate the flicking out thing my hair does at a certain length. This style and the mushroom effect are the reason for my fear of hairdressers!
@Beauty’s Bad Habit: Thank you! I had an A-line cut in the messy pictures (and the one I referred to as Mumsy as well) I like the longer at the front and shorter at the back shape very much. What I’d really love is long on only one side. I’ve admired that style for years but I think I’m too old to pull it off now.
@M.: Thank you. I definitely think it’s the most flattering for me.
@The Bristol Beauty Blog: Thank you! As the general consensus is for a choppy bob, I feel much more confident to just go for it. :)
@Sam: Thanks you. I can imagine you wanting to be wild. I really like you hair in your recent video clip. I’ve had that often in salons too, they don’t want to do too much to avoid you hating it. Sometimes boring is just as annoying as a bad cut though!
Thank you all so much for the your comments, I definitely feel much braver to go for it now! I really appreciate the input (and the lack of pointing and laughing).
Jane x
The mid length choppy styles definitely work. Looks really good on you and shows off your beautiful face!
ReplyDeleteI like the two you prefer, they just work, actually I really like your lip colour in those pics, although guess you'd have no idea what shades they were ?
ReplyDeleteI would go for a re-style rather than a trim,I know when I just get a trim I think what was the point, I like to changed things a bit, I often get board with my hairstyles.
I had a haircut so bad once when I was young that I had to wear an Alice band for over a year until it grow out, so you can't beat that!
x
My god you are so brave! And so pretty, you look lovely in most of these and hey we all have a hair cut we regret lurking in our past! You look most lovely in the ones where it's choppy, so at least you can be happy that you do know what suits you best! I like the top of the 2 choppy ones, I think a shattered bob (sure they dont call it that any more but you know what I mean!) not mumsy bob as thats a bit more grown up looking than you need, the choppy with a side parting so that it gives the hair at the front a bit of a lift is a great look on you, layering is good if its not too radical to give your hair a bit more texture and lift too. You could always ease into it with a shorter more choppy look without going mad and then see if you feel like going the whole hog next time - although if you ever wear it up I would recommend not going so short that stops being an option, who knew what a pain that would be on a seriously bad hair day, not to be able to whack it up out of the way! I wear glasses and have a side fringe - vile photos of me on my blog in the incident of the ginger tom hair dye post! but at least you can see what I mean, for me having a fringe softens up the whole glasses thing and I like the contrast of dark angular frames against softer hair. Dying to see the out come of your trip to the hairdresser, have fingers crossed for you!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you!! Hair needs to look at least a little bit as exciting as the owner ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for liking my hair cut, I'm missing my rocker bangs, though, that I asked for! xx
I've had shaved at the back, shaved at the back and long at the front, colours you don't want to contemplate, two tone hair, asymmetric fringe, long fringe, too short fringe (I looked like a mad pinhead)... a true walking fashion victim:) Mind you, the WORSE ever wasn't even something I asked for. I just wanted layers but the hairdresser forgot it was the year 2000 (I still remember it!) and gave me 80s layers... with very short layers on top. I wore hats/bandannas all summer long. And my dear friends burst into Bonnie Tyler song every time they saw me. Cos they're great like that:)
ReplyDelete@Bella Queen: Thank you! I’m quite excited about getting it cut now.
ReplyDelete@Replica: On the top on it’s definitely Blankety. I remember the look I did was a smoky teal and Blankety is as beige nude as I can comfortably go! I can’t remember the other I’m afraid. You’re right I definitely can’t beat an Alice band for a year!
@Debbie: I know what you mean about leaving it long enough to tie up. Thank you so much for your input I really appreciate it. A side fringe or careful layers at the side would be ok. I’m just worried if I uttered those words I might end up with another set of curtains ;).
@Sam: You get me entirely! I’d like my haircut to be a reflection of me, my style and personality. Apart from the choppy ones, I don’t think others have been very ‘me’ which is why I end up disappointed. I’m pretty sure I won’t disappointed this time though as I’ve heard great things.
@PeachBellini: I hope your Mum HAS kept photos. It would be fabulous to look back when your old and grey and remember how cool you were! Though, I think the Bonnie Tyler episode would be best forgotten ;).
Jane x