Reader Makeover - First For Women

I just finished writing an article for The International Long Hair Club about how to grow hair longer gracefully. So then I pickup the First for Women mag of 8/10/98 and the first thing I see is a woman (Siobhan) with gorgeous black waist length hair who was given a makeover by First Magazine.You guessed it. They chopped 6 inches off her gorgeous black hair. Actually stylist Leigh Goldstein at The Spot in NYC chopped 6 inches off Siobhan's hair. Siobhan is quoted as saying that she wanted a style with options and that meant going much shorter.No, no, no. I just got done writing about all the options you have while your hair is growing longer. UGH. I am not surprised but it is frustrating that people think that they have to cut their hair to have options.Hair at ANY length can have multiple, multiple options. Even the shortest hair can have many different looks.I do believe in "freedom of hair" but I had to share this because I see it so often. I buy and read just about every fashion, beauty, hair, teen, women's magazines I can find every month to get ideas for Hair Boutique. You have no idea how many times I see this note about the need to cut hair to have options.Not true. Cut if you want to, but don't do it because you think it is the only way to have options for your hair.Karen

I agree Noreen & Karen. I get so sick of seeing "make- overs" consist of chopping off the locks. Like that is the only way you can be stylish is with shorn off hair. Why don't they ever take a lady with long hair.. many different ladies with many different lengths and show their hair in fancy updo's or just a hairdo that would give them a change of pace... for just the reason mentioned.. the salons would go broke. They really suffered in the 70's when long hair was popular & if it weren't for the older women getting their "poodles" redone each week, and the Farah Fawcett look alikes.. they may have bit the dust. Sooner or later the styles will come back around again and long hair will be the way to go. Til then, grit your teeth.. Cher> Hi Karen,> It is frustrating to hear that, and I couldn't> agree more with you. When my hair was short, I> couldn't do much with it. I could only keep it> in the style that it was cut to or just get a> different style of cut. When it started growing> out, and I got through all the awkward stages,> I found there was lots more to do. Now with my> hair the length it is, it may take a little more> patience and practice to get what I want, but> at least it can still be done.> Don't let it get to you. It's just one more> attempt to make more money for the salons that> make a living from cutting hair...:-)> I can't wait to read that article in TILHC.> I always love to read what you have to say.> Noreen>

My daughter who cut her hair off about 5 months or so ago from a very long length to a short length complains all the time that there is not much she can do with her hair. She said to me the other day that if there was one day she could go back and redo.. it would be the day she got her hair cut off. The myth that you have to have short hair to be stylish isn't true at all. You can actually do alot of things with longer hair. Money from regular cuts in the salons pockets is what is motivating all this brain washing stuff. Cher> Hi Karen,> I can certainly understand and appreciate> your frustration (and that of Noreen and Cher)> with the messages delivered with these "make-unders.">> The vast majority of people believe this> myth because it has been pounded into their heads> by the styling industry. After hearing the same> message over and over again, most people just> quietly resign themselves to accepting the fallacy> of the message. Some would call it "sales."> But I'm not buying.> Dave

You go girl!!! I also had layers cut.. what a mistake.. never again. I have about 2" left and the bugars will be history. But all I had to have cut off to get rid of them..makes my head spin. Going to a salon and getting a good conditioning treatment sounds like a great pampering session.. I wish you the best.. Cher>> Yes, I feel the same all you ever see in> magazines or on makeover talk shows is chop it> off if it's long.So I went and got my hair chopped> three weeks ago, I cried for a week. I am still> mad at myself!Christmas 1999 I am hoping to have> my hair back,then after reading Ouidad's article> where people with curly hair should never have> layers, well I got those cut in too.Next time> I told myself if I am having hair problems I will> get an up-do or a deep conditioning treatment.> No more looking at magazine makeovers.