Cutting your hair short is a big change, and like all big changes, it is not a decision to be taken lightly. At the very least you need to bear in mind that it will take your locks a while to grow back. So you need to be sufficiently confident in your choice that you don’t spend the next few months regretting your decision every time you look in the mirror.
Your personal reasons for cutting your hair are, of course, what is most important. But just to make sure, consider the following things as well before making the trip to the salon.
1. If you want to cut hair to deal with emotions, it might help.
In many cases, people want to cut their hair when they are going through a change or some emotionally trying experience – for example, dealing with a breakup. This is a practice that dates back millennia and even today many cultures still retain the custom of cutting their hair in mourning. This is how much of an emotional impact this kind of change in looks can make, and its power has been tested throughout the centuries.
So if your desire to get your hair cut is driven by your emotions, by the need to create some obvious physical manifestation of the change your mind is going through, you should go ahead and do it. This will certainly work for you and, in many cases, the reminder you see and feel all the time can help you to keep your feet on the ground. Even professional therapists agree that cutting your hair in such difficult situations is not only normal but also helpful for your mental health recovery.
2. If you cut your hair JUST to make it healthier, you’re in for a disappointment.
There’s a popular myth that cutting your hair short can make damaged hair healthier and stronger. However, it truly is only a myth – as you will see if you research the impact of cutting hair short on its health. The impact is almost non-existent, which means that altering your hairstyle with this objective in mind will lead to disappointment.
This said, cutting your hair can be used as a part of a treatment plan for extremely dry and damaged hair. Doing this won’t repair your locks, but sometimes hair is just too damaged to be saved. This means that by cutting it off you are removing the parts that cannot be restored.
The important thing to understand here is that dry and damaged hair is damaged from the root.
What you’ll achieve by cutting is the removal of those parts that are split and broken. However, even if the damage isn’t quite as apparent closer to the roots, it is still there. In other words, if you simply cut your locks without doing anything to actually treat them, they will only break and split further.
Therefore, a short haircut is only one step in the process of damaged hair treatment, and not even the most important step at that.
3. Do you have the budget for maintaining a short haircut?
People often seem to overlook the fact that keeping your hair short means you need to cut it rather often. Depending upon the style you choose, you might need to visit a salon once a month or even every two weeks.
This alone will cost quite a lot, compared to the once every two to three month trim which long hair needs. You should, therefore, consider your beauty budget before going through with this haircut. Of course, you might start growing your locks out right away, but even in this instance, you’ll need to cut them more often the first few months to make sure they grow out well.
4. Can you maintain a short haircut?
Short hair maintenance is not only about money. It also requires regular styling and might need a change of hair care products. You will also need to learn how to style it and it might be necessary to increase the frequency of hair washing because you won’t be able to simply pull it up into a bun when you have a bad hair day.
All in all, maintaining short hair often requires more time and effort than long tresses. Therefore, before going through with the cut, you should think about your daily schedule to see whether you can afford to spend all this time on your looks.
5. Will your hair work with a short haircut?
Finally, before you do decide to cut your hair short you should consult your stylist about whether or not this is a good idea. It’s true that there are cuts that can look great on anyone, but the texture of your hair might not be right for maintaining the style you desire. For example, if your locks are thick and porous, or curly, styling them whilst short might require too much effort. This means that you’ll only damage your hair if you choose to terrorize it every day.
So, speak to your stylist who will be able to assess your hair and then consider all of the points above. If you still want to go through with it, check out the best pixie cuts for any face shape!