just when I’m about to go short

I see an old lady with that typical "old" lady haircut...permed on top and totally short on the side!  I'm not cutting on "older" ladies, my mom has that cut.  

SOooooo.....my question is....how can you go short and look fab like Mandy Moore without looking drab like an OLD lady???

Also...I walked into my salon yesterday because I wanted it all taken off, like a pixie, and my stylist had her reservations.  She's never wanted me to go very short.  Is this because my hair looks better NOT very short?  I've asked her and she says my hair could go any length.  Do you think her reservations are because of her own personal preference?  She has long curly hair.   BTW, another stylist was listening to our conversation and she was all for me getting a pixie, she thought it would be great on me.

Don't let a stylist do whatever she thinks will look good on you, be direct and explain exactly what you want. My wife has had this very problem for years. She will tell a stylist what she wants, the stylist will give her a small trim, and she will leave the salon unsatisfied. Shop around for a stylist who is willing to give you what you want, and take a picture of the haircut you want with you.About a year ago my wife went to a salon with a picture of a short buzzcut with bangs, the young long haired stylist looked at the picture and only trimmed about a quarter inch. She left very unsatisfied. The next time to the same salon, she got a different stylist, showed her the same picture, and got exactly what she asked for. The young long haired stylist looked on, obviously appaled. If you are paying you should get what you want, not what the stylist likes. If you are buying a car and tell the salesman you want a black Corvette, and he tells you no, you really want a red pickup truck, are you going to do business there?

I can tell you why the old lady "permed top" look is so popular.  It is easy for them to do.  I am almost 50 and the older I get the more activity I seem to have to fit into every day.  The easiest possible hair style is what I have to have.  I no longer have 30 minutes to spend styling my hair every day.  My hair isn't permed on top (can't do it, my hair is too fine) but I do like to have some "height" up there.  It "lifts" the face and kind of takes away from the wrinkles.

That could be one reason but I know a bunch of ladies with that sort of style and believe me, it is very easy to deal with.  My own Mom has it and all she has to do is wash it and shake it a bit.  Then she is ready to walk out the door.  I actually think it can look good on some people if you can't tell that it is a perm.

There are lots of short, chic styles that look wonderful on young people though.  I saw a thread on this board where someone has put together the best short styles around.  It is a fantastic site and a link was included.  There are hundreds of pictures and it is certainly worth a look.

Check those out for ideas about what can look good.

I think they think we don't really want it short because they've known too many women who freaked or had regrets over short hair.  However, the ones who freak or have regrets are generally the ones who've had really long hair all their lives and suddenly go short on a whim.  They should learn that if the person sitting before them has it short already, chances are she's pretty sure she really wants it, and isn't likely to freak or have the regrets.