Weird haircutting vibe in the air

Hey everybody,

Just wanted to share a little anecdote...

A month ago I went to see the doctor. I waited just a few minutes in the waiting room, but overheard the chatter in the office among the women, and a few of them were talking about haircuts and one mentioned that she was thinking about cutting her long hair shorter.

I should add that the women had a variety of hair lengths, from shoulder to mid-back to waist-length. For the most part, long.

Today I went back for another appointment and again, while waiting for just a few minutes in the waiting area, overheard similar a similar conversation today (making me wonder, are haircuts the only thing they talk about?). So then I'm whisked away to the appointment room. A short while later, I hear the nurse and her assistant, as they approach the appointment room, discussing -- yep, you guessed it -- "yes, I'm going to the salon this afternoon," says the nurse. "Are you going to cut your hair shorter?" asks the assistant. At that moment, they walk into the appointment room. We discuss medical business (ahem, no details of that here!), and then at a seemingly appropriate moment I compliment them both on their compliment-worthy hair. They were very gracious and exclaimed that I was a gentleman or some such kind term. I was told that one of the women in the office had just had her long hair "chopped." We pleasantly concluded our business, and I was on my way.

My long hair preference aside, the nature of the discussions I overheard in the office just "felt" wrong. It seemed as though, for some reason, there was some sort of haircut "urging" going on, being applied externally and the women seemed to be wondering if such a course of action was something they wanted to -- or "should" -- consider. Just my impression. And these "urgings" seemed to come with no basis or reason, just that others were either cutting or thinking of doing so, as if that alone could or should make the decision justifiable to themselves.

Comments?

Maybe it's due to the turning of the seasons.....
Psychologically, there is an urge in some people to change when we go from spring to summer and summer to autumn...or so I've read (and observed).

Or perhaps it's being in a waiting room that triggers such talk, as one thinks of other places one waits for an appointment (such as salons). And talking hairstyles is a subject that allows relative strangers to connect with each other (and divert their attention from potential health concerns?) without getting heavy.

Just theorising Dave.......

I think Karen might be on to something there.

When I think about cutting my own hair, it's almost always after seeing a picture in a magazine or an actress in a movie with a really attractive shorter cut.

Or it's on a particularly bad hair day, when I convince myself, "That's it. It's all downhill from here unless I cut it."

This is why I now have a rule about waiting one week to act after making any new haircut decision. :)

I must admit, too, then when I mull over cutting it out loud, it's because I'm seeking opinions or reassurance. I used to think women who encouraged short hair cuts were being ugly and passive-aggressive, but now I realize it's often a taste thing that I can't relate to. For example, some women I know raved about Nicole Kidman's short, curly bob. I considered it to be a devastating mistake that amputated half her luxurious beauty. I would have been at the salon the next day, crying for hair extensions.

I have also known beautiful women with beautiful long hair want to cut it because they've already "achieved" it, and the novelty of having it has worn off.

One more thought: Fall is a time of sweeping change in the fashion world. The clothes and colors of the season are new, and the prospect of a "total beauty overhaul" is not unpleasant.

rinlynn wrote: Well, I think if they want to get thier hair cut let them.

As if I have any say in the matter!

rinlynn wrote: If the conversation was more like pressuring an unwilling to cut thier hair its a different story, but it sounded like you described normal hair talk.

At both visits to this doc there seemed to be a subtle pressuring going on. I have no idea if this is part of "normal" hair talk as I rarely hear it (in real life between "ordinary" people). Hearing the haircut conversation once would probably have struck me as being more of an isolated incident. What struck me as peculiar about the topic of their discussion was that it happened during BOTH visits, and when I sat only about 5 minutes in the waiting room during each visit.

rinlynn wrote: as soon as her hair reaches mid back she will complain that its too heavy and that her hair is too thick to keep it long.

Stretching the muscles of the neck could help her a lot.


Uzi and Karen, interesting theories you propose. A comment on something you wrote, Karen: "Change is often seen as good." I do see the word "often." But some changes (from "good" to "bad") are obviously not. I guess this begs the question, is change in and of itself good?

To all, I have been aware of the phenomenon of style changes happening mostly at this time of year.

With regards to hairstyles (and lengths) of people I see in my "daily walk of life," I don't notice any trend to shorter hair. Here, relatively long hair still seems to be very much in demand by the women who have it.

Thank you all for your insight.

I think that some people see change as a way of feeling "alive", and to stop them from feeling boring. It is also in most people's nature to want to shock people, and cutting long hair is an easy way to do this and become the centre of attention. I also think that some people do give in to peer pressure.
One girl I know had the most gorgeous hair I'd ever seen. It was a little longer than waist length, and blunt cut in the most gorgeous vibrant shade of ginger imaginable. It was poker straight, and on close examination I never found a knot or split end. Her best friend (whose hair is bleached, cooked and dry) kept telling her to cut her hair because it was 'boring'. So she did. Again and again and again. Now it's to her shoulders, and dry because she straightens it where the layers went curly. It looks dull and I don't think she evens likes it. When people politely complimented her I could see in her eyes that she was upset.
Please try and convince me that some people don't give in to peer pressure because it's easier than standing their ground.

My boyfriend took a while to notice when I cut my hair, but then he liked it alot. In general though he likes short short hair on girls. Too bad for him that Im not a short haired petite asian or redhead. Too bad for him.

Anyways in my family and in this relationship the poeple closest to me, male and female, have prefered short hair on women. My parents both wanted me to cut my hair like my sister does. Mind you shes gorgeous and looks great with chin lenght hair but its just not me. My boyfriend says in general he prefers short hair, but he never has asked me to change my looks in any way.