Modern chicks! Plz help me with my 'do!!

story1267

Cathlete
OK, I am a 40 year old mom of 2 with definite hippie tendencies.

My hair is tooooo long and tooooo boring and I'm ready for some kind of a change.

See?

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd236/story1267/2007_1125Image0008a.jpg

It's too flat around my head and then it's just crazy frizzy the rest of the way down unless I'm patient enough to put in enough "product".

It's curly, frizzy, coarse, but thin on top! It's really long, down to my elbows and I kinda actually dig that - SO kinda digs it too.

So I don't want it super short but I need a change.

Suggestions? Websites? Anything?

Thanks!!!!!!
 
I have curly hair, too, and I know what you mean about "product" -- lol!

Have you thought about doing long layers? The longer your hair is, the flatter it will be on top, so maybe if you cut some layers you can get a little more body up there. I would probably shorten the length some, too. This is a great video for showing HOW to style curly hair. I don't use any of these products, but I use the method and it works extremely well.

http://www.curlisto.com/yourhair-tightcurly.aspx
 
Another advocate for a few layers, get those ends chopped off a little to add "bulk". I am no expert, but have fine hair too, and wear it sorta "scrunched" and then I take a curling iron and flip the ends around to make it look more Carrie Underwood, less Madonna circa 1985!, Other days I blow it straight and wear it slicked back with a headband and ponytail. Grow your bangs out some, you will be surprised how much you will like them a little longer. Cute kids!:7

You are a hippie? Love it!:+
 
Thanks tneah and Michele!! I think I'm definitely headed in the long layers direction. Maybe 3 inches off the bottom.

Just not sure what do to about the bang-things I've got. I need something there to cover the thin spot.

There's a model I see all over the place with gray hair - she's gorgeous. I'd love to have hair like that.
 
Hey, Suzanne, I was just eating my salad and thinking about describing it to you. ;)

Sorry, dahling, but I wouldn't be surprised if all that length and weight is what's causing you to thin on top. Here's my honest feeling about it: hair is there to frame your face. If someone says "oooh, I love your hair!" you're doing something wrong. If they say "you're looking so pretty lately" then you've got it. Hair down to your elbows is doing absolutely nothing for that adorable face of yours (cute kids too!). I love your dimples and your smile! Oy, what a great stylist could do with you! Sorry, but I can't sugar coat my opinions. Get thee to a great stylist!! You will be transformed and you will (come to) love it! :D

Edited for horrific typos made in the heat of passionate opinionating. :p
 
>Hey, Suzanne, I was just eating my salad and thinking about
>describing it to you. ;)
>
>Sorry, dahling, but I wouldn't be surprised if all that length
>and weight is what's causing you to thin on top. Here's my
>honest feeling about it: hair is there to frame your face. If
>someone says "oooh, I love your hair!" you're doing something
>wrong. If they say "you're looking so pretty lately" then
>you've got it. Hair down to your elbows is doing absolutely
>nothing for that adorable face of yours (cute kids too!). I
>love your dimples and your smile! Oy, what a great stylist
>could do with you! Sorry, but I can't sugar coat my opinions.
>Get thee to a great stylist!! You will be transformed and you
>will (come to) love it! :D
>
>Edited for horrific typos made in the heat of passionate
>opinionating. :p

Listen to Nance -- she KNOWS about this stuff! And actually, that's a really good point about the weight of your hair causing you to thin on top. I think you can go short(er) without compromising your hippie status ;)

ETA that if I pull my bangs straight, they come to my chin, but with proper styling they're so curly that they frame my face and hit anywhere from my eyebrows to my cheek bones, so I think growing your bangs out might actually make them fuller and curlier.

ETA again, doesn't Carol King look great? I LOVE her hair!
http://www.caroleking.com/img/scrapbook/uploadedimages/294.jpg

Looky, here she is again with James Taylor. Now here's a hippie for you!

http://www.caroleking.com/img/scrapbook/uploadedimages/287.jpg


Edited to correct typos. Her name is "Carol", not "Carlo" -- LOL!
 
I totally agree with Nancy! its very true, short tale: I've just had my hair Katie Holmes bobbed. I have received sooo many compliments about how well i look, you are looking very pretty today etc would amaze you! It amazes me! Because prior to reading Nancy's post I had no idea why I was suddenly being complimented. I am 43 so no spring chicken. I took the plunge and chopped it off.

A "Carlo KING" would really suit you too! Try it, it will always grow back if you hate it. Go on dare you!! (lol)
Andrea
 
I have curly hair too -- it's not super thin, but not thick either, but I have lots of it, if that makes sense. I have sort of long layers cut in mine with the bangs long enough to tuck behind the ears when they're wet -- in fact, I put them that way when they are (air) drying to sort of straighten them out.

But, the best tip I've gotten was to quit washing my hair so often (every day or even every other day). It took a little while to get here, but I now wash my hair only once or twice a week. Don't be grossed out, please! I condition every day and the next best tip I've ever gotten is to comb through the conditioner while in the shower -- it really cuts down on how much you need & really distributes better. At any rate, try going an extra day without washing, then an extra two, and build up to fewer days of washing per week. My hair is far less frizzy and looks a lot healthier since starting this. And, it doesn't seem greasy like you might imagine.

-Beth
 
Oh yeah Suzanne, try the Carole King 'do! You have such a pretty face (adorable kids too!) and your hair right now is not adding to the mix. Go on, take a chance--hair always grows back, right??

Jonahnah
Chocolate IS the answer, regardless of the question.
 
I agree that a shorter cut with layers would look nice on you. I used to have long hair and its a lot of work and then as I got older it got frizzy. Short works much better for me now and it is so much easier to style! Good luck with your decision.
 
Wow! Thanks for all your responses! I had to get into work before I could see the "Carlo" load up. I like that one - it's a little short, I'm not ready to go quite that short. But I'll bring it to my appointment on Saturday.

I also like this one I found on Oprah.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd236/story1267/hair_gray_105_350x2631.jpg

I think I keep wishing I had straighter hair. But this gives a sense of layers and movement.

Wish me luck!

And, Nancy, I'm so sad you withheld your salad description. ;( Will you tell me now that I have an appointment scheduled? Please? :p
 
Here's my latest hair style......

I got a good 6" cut, layered, thinned (a ton!) and now I've been straightening it. I know, most people say they'd kill for my curls but after 30 yrs of them I needed a change!!

So.... here's the before...
306628784.jpg


And after (I took that one myself)
307535817.jpg


I thought it would take a long time to straighten it, but I've gotten it figured out now. BTW, great pic of you & your kiddos!
 
Jess, you look great both before AND after! The more I look at the different 'do's the more I think the layers really add movement to the look.

I'm a complete lazy bum when it comes to styling but it's nice to have options.

I think I may invest in a diffuser.
 
Thank you! The layers really do add a lot of movement & make it a lot easier to style too. Before, my style was a ponytail or up in a clip most days so I do feel *stylish* to have an actual style to my hair. A diffuser & straightening iron (and some good hair products!)have been my friends lately. ;-)
 
I love the hair style in that picture you found -- very pretty!!

Jess, you look gorgeous in BOTH pictures ;)

Oh, and a diffuser would be a very wise investment. I don't know what I'd do without mine.

ETA that my hair is layered but I leave it curly. After I apply TONS of product, I give it a little scrunch and then use a diffuser to dry it. I actually don't dry it all the way -- just to the point where it's a little damp -- and then I let it air dry. It doesn't have the movement of straight hair, but layers DO add some movement to curly styles.
 
Michele, my new 'do is a chance for me to come out of my shell a little bit and be "seen" as an individual entity and not just what defines me in terms of my relationships. Part of an overall Personal Recognition Project I'm doing. LOL.

To that end I'm throwing out old stuff that doesn't relate to me anymore and as I think about getting a diffuser I'm thinking "gee my hairdryer is, I don't know, 20 years old now?" I might just spring for a new one of those too.

I need an eye-rolly emoticon. It's incredible how we can just disappear into our roles.
 
Carole (a/k/a/ Carlo) King looks awesome. Suzanne, no salad descriptions until you agree to go almost as short as Carole. }( }(
 
Awwww, Nancy, have mercy!

Not even shoulder length??

Let's try to remember that my spendable cash type $$'s are in very short (pun intended) supply and I will not be able to get back for freshening of the 'do as often as you might like. Those shorter styles need more upkeep than I can afford.

*whimper* *salad descripton witholding* :-(
 
Hey Suzanne, I'll just betcha that if you stretched one of Carol's spiral curls that it would reach past her shoulders. My hair looks similar to Carol's (not near as pretty, though) and it's past my shoulders! Those curls are pretty springy and they make your hair look much shorter than it is. ;)
 

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