If long hair is so supposedly so out of style...

I sometimes wonder if the debate is truly about long or short hair, vs. the style of the hair, regardless of the lenght?

I do agree that a lot of the makeover shops automatically cut everyone's hair, which isn't always needed or even best. But I also think that people tend do get into a style "rut". If you don't want a change, you probably don't want to go on a makeover show..

Case in point, I love going to get my makeup done occassionally at department stores to give me a new "look" (when I realize all of my lipsticks are the same color) So even though I want the pros to put what colors THEY think will look best on me, vs. me picking the same old over and over again..usually when it's done, I'm not happy because it doesn't look like "me"

I also think that while makeover shows often cut off people's hair just for a change, there are a lot of people who wear long hair just for the sake of having long hair..not considering whether or not that truly is the best look for them.

When I went from 20" hair to 16" hair, I was nervous. That was 4" of hair...8 months of growth. What shocked me was that not many people noticed..the style was exactly the same, just 4 inches less of it. Which honestly, really improved the movement of my hair. I just needed to get past the initial feeling that I was going to get some award for having "really" long hair, vs. just nice looking hair.

I think the reason why celebs get extensions is a bit simpler than this:
[ul][li]First of all, they recognize that beautiful long hair is generally considered sexy.
[li]They don't have the patience to take care of their own hair to grow it out properly.
[li]They don't want the public to see them going through an awkward stage that comes from really growing out your hair.
[li]They're into instant gratification.
[li]They can afford it. [/ul]

I think one reason why makeover shows chop off hair so cavalierly, and participants allow it even if it isn't what they really want, is that they're trying to emulate the stars, if only for a few minutes.

After their 15 minutes in the spotlight, they're stuck with a hairstyle that looks crappy because they can't afford a personal stylist, an outfit they can only wear one place, and makeup they can't put on without help.

I think you have a good point here, Snuggles. It´s not about what it looks like to others, it´s about keeping that balance between making your long-hair-dreams come true, struggling with it in the shower x times a week and being able to do something that (at least you) feel is a fabulous hairdo, for work and play.

I had my heart set on letting it grow as long as it would get, but I already see that classical length is going to be the best for me. I´ll be there in about two years, I reckon. I just can´t be bothered being *aware* of my hair all the time. I guess that is why I favor the bun!

I do not agree that there is a "too long" point, Kathy and Snuggles. On *some* women there is, because their hair becomes too broken after a certain point. However, I've never seen a woman with thick hair, who looked beautiful with hair at her shoulders look less magnificent at *any* longer length.
So far as I know, Karen Shelton herself has hair at least waist length, and I can't imagine that she'd look better in any shorter style.
I'm not complaining about shorter hair, but I think wods like "overpowering" or "dated" to describe extreme length are BS at worst, or personal preference at best. From this guys eyes, "too long" is dragging the floor! (lol) Of course, I respect that some may not wish to care for x-tra inches, but aesthetically, no way does any woman with Rapunzel tresses need to chop! Just my 2 cents, Bob

I don't think long hair is at all out of style.

However, long hair isn't for everyone...In some cases, it looks bad on certain people. In some cases, people just don't want to make the commitment. I see a lot of women around here who wear their hair so long and stringy that it either looks very bad, or makes them look much older.

Also, I think that (for me and many I know, at least) everyone needs to establish a line between long and too long. It's when we cross that line into too long that it becomes frustrating, and then we look for something new and interesting and chop it all off- I've done it before. And now I'm taking extra precautions to realize when it's too long, when it's become too much to take care of, or when it's become boring. An important part of keeping long hair, is keeping something interesting about it. It can be the way you wear it, it's color, or it's cut...But keeping it interesting, for me, means keeping it- period. :)

I have always wondered why they had to chop off hair just to do a makeover. Granted, some of these women look just as lovely with short hair, but I don't see what is so wrong with having long hair either. I think it would be more interesting to see the makeover people use their "talents" to restyle long hair and show people how to work with what they have. I have had long hair (waist length) and short hair (chin length) and I must say I feel more attractive with long hair. The shorter hair is cute and all, but I don't feel....sexy.

The beauty industry is not about long hair or short hair; it's about making you want to change whatever it is you have now, and spend money to do it. That's why in a single issue you can find an article about the new short cuts AND a fashion layout with a Rapunzel look-alike.

I think the judgment of these people needs to be questioned in the first place. Have you ever seen some of these "fashion and beauty editors"? Do you generally like the results of makeover shows? I've seen so many where I much preferred the person "before."

I would love to see a bad long hair to good long hair transformation, where they cut off just a few damaged inches, shaped the hair around the subject's face, and showed her how to style it. Every woman who gets made over ends up with the same choppy, layered haircut that needs to be styled skillfully to look good. (Hello! This person is on the show because she doesn't put effort into her appearance. She's not going to use a blow dryer and styling wax daily!) "Style Court" is the worst for this.

That said, there are magazines like "Woman's World," which I stand in the longest checkout line to read for free, that show stylish long haircuts. And I think "stylish" is the key here. Most people are simply not flattered by superlong, one-length hair. It drags their face down, makes them look dumpy, and creates an overall impression of someone who doesn't try. If you have the features to pull this look off, more power to you. But some people aren't honest with themselves, I feel.

Angelina Jolie and Jessica Simpson not only have wonderful thick hair that lends itself to great lengths, but they also have it cut very artfully for movement and volume. AND they have their own team of stylists making sure it's never flat or damaged-looking.

Beautiful, well-styled long hair will never go out of style. But too often you see people with damaged or neglected hair that they stubbornly wear long anyway, and the overall impression is pathetic. It's like wearing hot pants when you're badly out of shape, calling attention to a feature that doesn't deserve it. These are the cases that make other people snicker up their sleeve or want to "help" that person make a better decision.

Inner beauty isn't something you can pump into a person like air in a tire.

Inner beauty is charisma. Either you have it or you don't, but it takes more than a physical change to achieve this unless the physical change is an actual handicap , i.e. weighing in excess of 150 kilos, or being a victim of something that burned 85 % of your skin to the 3rd degree.

The fashion industry just wants you to believe you were burnt.

I don't think there is any vast right (hair) wing conspiracy going on here nor do I think there is an underground movement to gently force, coerce or tick long haired women to shed there locks. As discussed on this board regularly, long hair is a huge commitment that most women choose not to make. Add in the people that can not have long hair, throw in the ones who don't want long hair, the ones long hair looks bad on or there hair looks bad long. Total them all up and there are not that many woman left with really long hair... or if I'm wrong, it could be the makeover shows shearing them at a horrifying pace.

Why makeover shows cut most long hair.. RATINGS! I sure there marketing shows people would rather see a big change rather than a little one... thus the term...MAKEOVERS rather than "Change in wardrobe and a trim"

As always... beauty is in the eye of the beholder...the masses seem to like what they're currently doing.. or they wouldn't be doing it!

It sure would be nice if they did come out with a makeover show that featured the likes of Cindy Crawford, Angie Everhart, and Jessica Simpson...they could even put it on cable ppv...i'd tune in!

My two cents.