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just when I’m about to go short

Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Hair Talk
Forum Name: Short Hair
Forum Description: Devoted to the special needs of short hair
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=30243
Printed Date: January 13 2026 at 12:41am


Topic: just when I’m about to go short
Posted By: eatgreenjello
Subject: just when I’m about to go short
Date Posted: April 27 2005 at 11:22am

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.



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**Hair type: 2a, which is wavy and fine.
**Color: Naturally dark brown, currently dyed reddish brown.
**Length: below shoulder length



Replies:
Posted By: eKatherine
Date Posted: April 27 2005 at 5:18pm
Originally posted by eatgreenjello eatgreenjello wrote:

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???

That one's easy. Take a picture of Mandy Moore into the salon instead of a picture of your mother.

Quote

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.



Get what you want.


Posted By: xxxzvp
Date Posted: April 28 2005 at 9:28am
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?


Posted By: Kuroneko
Date Posted: April 30 2005 at 4:34am

I've never understood the appeal of the old lady "permed top" hair. . . but I guess that's 'cause I'm 29, not 69. . .  *shrugs*  Anyway, to avoid looking like that, take a picture along, and have a discussion with the stylist about what you want and don't want beforehand.  If one stylist argues with you or doesn't do what you ask, go to another.  Maybe see if you can get in with that other stylist, the one who was all for the pixie. . .



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More awesome than a manatee!


Posted By: demodoll
Date Posted: May 22 2005 at 11:14am
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.

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"It is better to look marvelous than to feel marvelous" Billy Crystal


Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: May 22 2005 at 11:30am
Originally posted by demodoll demodoll wrote:

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.

I think some "older" women do this because the hair on the top of their scalp is thinning to a degree... and the style is done in an attempt to mask the thinning.


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Posted By: demodoll
Date Posted: May 23 2005 at 6:32am

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.



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"It is better to look marvelous than to feel marvelous" Billy Crystal


Posted By: 16Paws
Date Posted: July 06 2005 at 5:57am
Eatgreenjello,
I wear my hair very short in the back and sides and funky on top and have found it almost impossible to find a stylist who will consistently cut it that way for me.  Most stylists are nervous about cutting it that short and try to talk me out of it as if I don't know my own mind!  Or each time I go back it gets a little longer.  I did find one stylist from Belgium who did it perfectly (guess that take more risks in Europe!  Hee Hee) but her husband is military and they were transferred.  I even tried barbers cuz I figured they wouldn't be afraid of clippers, but they don't do the longer hair on top right.  So I've just started doing my own and get exactly what I want.  Be insistent and firm and keep looking for someone who isn't afraid to cut!  Good grief...for some reason they think we really don't want it short.  Good luck!


Posted By: Kuroneko
Date Posted: July 10 2005 at 6:00am
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.

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More awesome than a manatee!



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