My big birthday, time for new hair.

[Netix]

I'm turning 30 () in a couple of months, and I'm thinking of giving myself a birthday, so to speak. A bit of re-invention if you will.

Currently, I'm working on the spiritual side. Though I have done very little to accomplish the physical side of my new year's goal, to bring "sexy back". My excuse is it costs to buy clothes and shoes, get waxed, get my hair done, you know, all that stuff. My other excuse is that its a little hard to dress sexy (or nicely) when you are still bf. I have been collecting some nice clothes, which will be really good when I have finished bf, but pretty useless atm.

Anyway, I really seem to be blabbering on don't I! I think I'm hiding on bb instead of doing things I really should be doing. Okay, focus.... I want to have a change of hairstyle. No, make that get a hairstyle! I have really long hair (just starting to go past my bum), and *think* I want to keep it long. I've always had long hair , but for high school, and I really didn't enjoy having short hair. Sometimes I get a bit lazy in brushing/washing it (I don't even own a hairdryer), so then I think about having really short hair (like almost boyish short, and lightened, no idea why though). Once a year or so I get a trim, the last couple of times, I've had some layers trimmed into it, but they are hardly noticeable (to me anyway) I think because my hair is quite straight. I love my long hair, because its who I am. It makes me feel special, as I get comments on it and I also feel a bit like a goddess (even if I am 'only' a domestic one).

I put it in a ponytail everyday, but I think I prefer to wear it out. I would really like some ideas on a new style, or what I could do with it that's different (that a hair dunce can manage). Sometimes I put it up into a bun, but occasionally I get a headache because I have to do it so tight for it to stay up.

Sorry this is long and probably quite pointless. I'm tired, and maybe just dreading another birthday, especially a 'big' birthday (you know, like 21, 25, 30, 40) of nothing happening. I can't think of anything that I would like to receive, not that it really matters, because I probably wouldn't get it anyway. There's another question, what did you want and get for your birthdays? Thanks at least for listening.

[Jaycee]

Hey Netix, congrats on your upcoming 30th!!
I think maybe cut it til it's half way up your back, get a fair amount of layers cut into it and maybe have the bottom cut into a "v" rather than just straight across, I've seen that on a few people and think it looks quite funky!
Good luck finding the perfect style!

[Willow]

I agree, take some of the length off to just below the shoulders, get some shorter layers cut in and maybe for a change, get a semi permanent colour (this will just wash and fade out over time) or some foils if you can manage the up keep.

I *personally* think that really long hair can be quite aging, so I keep mine about shoulder length these days with lots of layers.

Go for it, it's only hair and if you don't like it, it'll grow back. With a new 'do you'll feel like a new woman.

[angelaartsstudent]

You could go for dreadlocks like me :-P

It would give people a bit of a surprise and you can enjoy being stereotyped as a dirty, tree-hugging, pot smoking, dole bludging hippy...not!

On the upside though you don't have to brush them...but when washing need to blow dry every time - in winter anyway.

LOL

I agree maybe have a go going short(er). It feels quite liberating having the weight literally taken off your shoulders.

[Netix]

I am leaning towards the styling the lovely GG suggested, with a colour as recommended by Willow. Maybe I will build myself up to having shorter hair over time (although, have been thinking about it for years, so far, unsuccessfully). I think also that I will get my friend who is a hairdresser to cut it (and ask her how much she would charge to colour, or get my Mum to do it). I have been the last few times to another hairdresser (don't get me wrong, she seems to do a good job), but I would rather pay my friend, and I think she would probably know a bit better as to what suits me, iykwim.

Ha, I thought of having dreads when I was a teen! Lol, thanks Amanda! I think I was starting to get a bit serious in thought!

Thanks girls.

[DaintreeDream]

I know just what you mean, until Christmas last year my hair had always been down to my bum, straight and in a pony every day, I would get layers but really you could not tell, so at Christmas I got it chopped half way up my back and a layered with a sweep across kind of fringe and I loved it BUT once I had done that I wanted it shorter. I got married in Feb and so I didn't want to cut it to short before then but now I am desperate to get it cut to sit on my shoulders and re-cut my fringe so it sweeps across, it has kind of grown out again.

At the moment I am loving having my natural hair colour which is just brown but I used to get a 1/4 head of 2 different colour blonde foils which just added some colour and highlights and really liked it.

Anyway, good luck, I know where you are coming from, just wanted to ket you know that I too was stuck in the 'you have such beautiful long hair' trap and went against everyone and cut it and LOVE it!

[smiles4u]

I too agree with Willow

... I have met many guys say they 'don't' find woman with short hair attractive (sorry girl's with short hair that's not me saying but the guy's ) ... an interesting comment i thought !!

For my 40th i had my usually curly hair straighten which made my then blonde hair look even more blonder ... It made for great conversation for the night as friends i'd known for decades had never seen me with straight hair ... So, on that note i say certainly GO for a really different look

[Willow]

I have met many guys say they 'don't' find woman with short hair attractive

My DH is one of these And I kept it long for a long time, partly for him. Eventually, I got over it and cut it the way I wanted to.

But I don't regret having it shorter now at all. It's so easy to get stuck in the rut of it as Daintree said, but I almost guarantee that after cutting it, you'll feel fabulous!

[Turkish Delight]

Hey Netix,

congrats on your upcoming birthday hun.

I thought i could never do a really short "do" but i have. For 99% of my life, my hair has been soooo long (down to my bum). I would only ever get a trim. I always had it plaited, in a pony tail at the back or up in a bun. I also have very, very thick hair. It was sooo heavy and hot.

November 2007, i decided that was it. DH was complaining that he was finding strands of hair everywhere. I went to a new hairdresser and told them to cut it off. Just cut it off. They cut it into a messy bob style and i had highlights in my hair (my previous avatar style) and i loved it. It was sooo easy to take care of it etc.. In July 2008, I wanted a different style, something shorter than the bob. I had a picture of what i wanted and showed the new hairdresser (another one). She cut it SO NOT the photo i had taken in. My hair was shorter than my DHs. I was freaking out. I hated it. I looked like a boy. DH, my DS and mum and dad all ridiculed me.

June 2009, i still have the same haircut. I love it. I tell my hairdresser, (who i love) to cut it as short as she can! The hair on my new avvy is long for what i have!

If you want to go drastic, take it slowly. It's great to be a new you and with an upcoming birthday what a fantastic opportunity.

Men who hate short hair on women

[Netix]

My Man likes my long hair, but is always encouraging me to cut it short. Especially when I was pg with Steph, so that it would be easier for me to maintain. I didn't, because I was (and probably still am) worried that I would end up with a frumpy cut and look like I should be in the '80's. Just frizz my fringe and boof it up with hairspray! Yippee.

When I had short hair, I had an awful cut. When my Mum cut my long hair off, she cut it like early Princess Di, layered I think, but AWFUL! That made my start at high school lots of fun. Not. I am so worried about having a bad haircut now!

Thanks for the advance birthday wishes TD. The short 'do that I contemplate is like your avvy. If I could have short 'celebrity hair', I would choose a colour and style like Pink's. I think her hair is always cool.

My Man and his Boy have got used to the fact that I leave my hair all over the house. I think its funny sometimes where they turn up!