hair thoughts

Hey all,

At my school today they were having a Locks of Love cut-fest. A lot of girls were getting mid-back length hair chopped to shoulder or chin length. I`ve been tossing around the idea of chopping my long hair (right now it`s reaching my butt, I`ve been debating it that long!) and I was just about ready to go for the chop myself, but (a) I`m not sure I want to do it in front of a lot of people and (b) I wasn`t that impressed with the styles these girls were coming out with. Generally, they were the usual bland chin to shoulder length nondescript cut, although I ran into a girl I know with wavy hair, and she had a downright triangle going on.

I may be entering a professional degree program next year, and my hair just doesn`t suit it. I don`t particularly like my long hair, I just want to make the cut count. I want to do it all at once, and get something I`m really happy with, something a little unusual (or at least not the standard nondescript bob) but nothing overly trendy (can we say mullet?). The shortest my hair has ever been was shoulder length, but it`s always been the same, all one length style, with the only variation being how long it was. I am slightly afraid I won`t like it, but I don`t like it now either, and I always wear it back.

Anyone have any comments on this? Did you go through a similar uncertainty as to whether to cut your hair? Did you ever make a hair change for professional reasons? What is the best way to make a major cut?

I personally would like to do it all at once, but I`m not totally sure if I want to have to go through the whole "you cut your hair!!!" business. I feel like I would like to cut it myself, but I also wish I could go to a nice salon and get it done. The last time I got a major cut (midback to shoulder length, about a foot and a half), I went to a cheap salon, wasn`t really impressed with the stylist, and basically felt like I wasted the opportunity to enjoy chopping my hair. So what can I do this time to make it better? What styles are a bit unusual, yet conservative, without being too trendy? (for instance, one idea that does fit this bill is shoulder length razored-end hair, with bangs a few inches above the eyebrows, although I have a cowlick and therefore can`t really wear bangs unless they`re really thick).

Any advice, thoughts, stories, greatly appreciated!!

hi,

my hair is straight, medium-to-dark brown, right now all one lenght.
my face is somewhere between oval and round (but more oval than round).

Hi melissa
Locks of Love is a very worth while organization. I just run a similar drive myself, last week, at my school. Some of the girls who participated (& some who choose not too), voiced similar concerns as yours. I definatly think you should try it. It sounds like you want to donate so I think you should. There are lots of style possiblities, if you look around for them, & many of them can be trendy without a lot of work. How short are you willing to go? Did you try looking at the gallery on this site?
I can understand your apprehesion about getting your haircut in front of a crowd, & going through the attention of a new haircut. As for the first part, the important thing is that you donate your hair, not neccessarily where it`s done. First see if you could schedule a time when it`s less crowded or if you could get it cut in private. If this isn`t possible, try going to another salon, elsewhere to do it & then donate your hair after. This also will help you with the trendy salon problem. As for the new haircut, attention, unfortunatly there`s not really a lot you can do to prevent that, you can look at it as a blessing. The result is two fold, it probably won`t last that long, maybe a week or two, & then it will be done. Secondly, you can use the opportunity to explain why you did it, & perhaps while you are showcase your new look, will inspire others to follow in your footsteps.
I hope this helps, & I tried to cover your entire message, but I may have missed something. If you have any other concerns or would like to chat further just let me know. Good luck.

Okay beentherefoundout why isn`t any of you guys actually post the real facts? So far all we been hearing is hearsay and opinions. So what if they sell the hair to manufacturers. Never thought the money goes to the kids? You don`t have that fact do you? Have you ever seen their financial statement? In Canada we are permitted to see financial statements in organizations.

I do find it hard to believe that schools do allow such activities. Who invited them in the school? They can`t come in without the principal permission and they can`t cut hair without the parent`s permission. Usually parents have to sign an agreement when children are in whatever activities in school. Well anyways that is how it goes here where I live maybe it is not so strick in USA?
Thirdly Locks of Love couldn`t survive in Canada wonder why. Over here if a company being non profit or profit doesn`t perform to what their mission statement states or the government finds that they are doing something illegal etc they are shut down. Why is the Americains allowing LOL to continue if your statement is true?
Sorry that I am tired of hearing Americans wine about this and they don`t do anything about it. Us Canadian run someone out of town or country when they don`t do something right. Why don`t you guys you think you are so right about them actually get a hold of their financial statement, prepare all the facts and actualy post on the internet so that every American sees the real facts? It`s your responsibility to demand your government to clean USA. Its your responsibility as a citizen to make sure that your environment is clean for your children etc.
So far it been only stupid opinion and nothing real.

Thanks for the clarification. So which province this was going on? Does students in the university you go to tend to have longer hair? Why would your university go to this length to bring them in? Did your university made some sort of profit on it? Was it a fundrasing for something? The last I heard about them they closed their connections in Canada. They even mentioned at the time on their web site. Interesting that they started again. It was just a couple of years ago. Yes it would be very interesting to see the stats for once for all to really know what is going on. I also wonder why at the time they felt they had to close their connections over here. I thought it was strange how they appear and then disappeared. I don`t really care about them one way or the other and really never even heard about them until the hair web sites came along. They don`t even advertise over here. Do they advertise in your area? I wonder when they started again and where is their Canadian office? If someone here really wanted to know more about their financial statements we could.

My school is in Ontario.

From what I gathered, it was a student organized campaign to collect ponytails to send off to Locks of Love; probably not an activity actually endorsed by LOL.

Most likely some "do-gooders" trying to produce some public interest.