Easter Haircut HELP!

I'm cutting my hair this Sunday, and I am sure of only a few things:

1) I wanna go shoulder length or shorter

2) I have a square face (okay, maybe 97% sure with this...)

3) I have very little idea what to do

Um...HELP????!!!

Hi Hazel,

I agree eKatherine that you take it slow.  I receive so many emails every day to AskKaren from people that cut their hair in haste and repented in leisure and along the way stopped off to buy add-on hair because they were unhappy.  It is much easier to go shorter slowly then cut it off too short and try to grow it back quickly.

A couple of things to think about.

1.  Your face shape.  While many people have square shaped faces, it is rare to see a perfect square shape.  It is actually rare to see a perfect heart, oval, round or pear.  This is because while shapes tend to be a majority of a shape, they may have other shapes blended in.  You will often find a square shape with hints of heart (prominent chin) or some ovals or rounds with square jaws. 

So keep an open mind and try not to select a style based only on your face shape.  While it is a good starting point for looking for styles, it is also key to consider what parts of your face you want to highlight or minimize. 

Do you want to play up gorgeous eyes?  Consider a fringe.  What kind of a fringe?  Do you also want to show off great eyebrows?  Go with a side swept look, which can work great for round, square and long rectangular face shapes.  Do you want to add length to your face? Go with a short fringe.  If you want to shorten a long face, wear the fringe full, choppy or skimming your eyebrows.  You can still brush them to one side to show off those brows...or not.

2.  Your hair's natural texture.  If you have super curly or wavy hair, some styles will not work for you.  Ditto with stick straight, fine or thin strands.  Keep in mind your texture as you select a style.

3.  Time & Money to maintain your new cut should be considered.The shorter the style and more it is either layered or razored or chopped, the more often it needs to be reshaped and trimmed.  If going to get your hair trimmed every 4-5 weeks (depends on how fast your hair grows) is not a problem for your budget or schedules, than you are good.  If it is a problem make sure you get a style that can grow out longer between trims.  Maybe consider going a little longer and all one length except around the hairline and bangs.  Or go with very long layers with the longest layers extending down past your shoulders.  Longer styles with long, carefully planned layers, may only need trims every 8-10 weeks.  Again, depending on your budget and timing.

Be sure to be clear to your hairstylist that you may have limited budget or time to come in a lot for upkeep.

Some other options:

1.  Go to a drugstore & pick up one of the hairmagazines like 101 Celebrity Styles or Sophisticates or Short Cuts.  They all have Clips & Carry guides inside with the latest hairstyles including super short, short and shoulder length styles.  Pick out 4-6 that you really like and could yourself wearing.

2.  Take the magazine to the hairstylist.  Show them the 4-6 styles that you like and ask if the style would work:

For your face shape
With your natural hair texture, condition and type
How much upkeep would be involved
How easy would it be to care for after you leave the salon
Does the stylist recommend you go with any of the looks.

3.  Listen to the stylist.  They work with hair all day long.  If they pick out one of the looks that you like and say that can fit your criteria (face shape, texture, upkeep etc.,) and you feel comfortable with what they say, go for it.

4.  Watch closely what the stylist does from the time they start until they finish.  Watch how they cut your hair.  IF you think they are going to short, tell them immediately.  Or ask before they start to cut different sections to make sure you are on the same page.

As they style your hair, ask how to do it at home.  Should you air dry, blow dry or use a diffuser.  Should you use a special brush (round, flat) and ask about products to use.  You don't have to buy their products but you need to know if they are using a mousse or a gel or a paste or a wax.  Also, did they use a shine product as well?  Did they use hairspray?  Did they blow your hair upside down?  Or right side up.

All of those things will help you to recreate the same style at home.

Anyway...hopefully that gives you a good starting point.

And eKatherine is right on....if you want help selecting a style from the fabulous people that visit these boards, it helps to either upload your photos with a clear picture of your face or give details of your hair texture, type and what you want to accomplish.

The more informed you are about what you want and what is possible before you step foot into the hair salon or spa, the better change you have of great success.  Hair cutting disasters are most likely to occur if you don't do any advance research or planning and you just pop into the stylist's chair and say "do whatever you think would work for me".  That is why you leave with styles that you have to live with for weeks and months while it grows out.

So I commend you for taking the steps to post here to get help and advice so that you can control the outcome of your new style.

Hi Hazel,

I agree with Karen that the best thing to do is plan before you go.  That way you can make sure you know what you are getting yourself into and will say you lots of tears on the back end if you don't like what you get. 

Yes, hair will grow back but sometimes waiting can be painful.  So better not to get too much cut if you don't have to.

Hazelnutgelato I really like your nickname it's really different and I was just looking at your great pictures of your hair and I have to really say is your hair is great looking just the way it is now and you have really gorgeous hair so think about it before you decide to cut your hair just like eKatherine said

Bobcutgirl

I did it. I did it. And I'm happy. It wasn't that major a cut.

here's a pic (B&W, so it's kinda blurry, but whatever. :D). I just gotta put it up: