...to shoulder length IF you really want to:
GOOD NEWS! There is NOTHING to FEAR! And later, if you decide to grow it
out longer again you will NOT have to go through any awkward phase!
For those who are afraid to cut back to shoulder length you need to remember this:*The FIRST time you set out to grow your hair to shoulder
length, your hair was NOT all one length.That is, the FIRST time your hair reached shoulder length you were still
experiencing parts of the awkward phase because on some parts of your hair
reached your shoulders. The rest of your hair, including the all-important bangs (or fringe)
happened to be made up of all DIFFERENT hair lengths.BUT once your hair grew PAST your shoulders and you could gather even the FRONT hairs
into a ponytail, then all the hair above your shoulders were--more or less--the same length.
This means that if you do decide that you want to cut your hair back to shoulder length
it will still remain thinner and will still lie flatter against your head (and it won't get "bushy")
because it will all still be the same length.
*The FIRST time you set out to grow your hair to shoulder
length, your hair was NOT all one length.
That is, the FIRST time your hair reached shoulder length you were still
experiencing parts of the awkward phase because on some parts of your hair
reached your shoulders. The rest of your hair, including the all-important bangs (or fringe)
happened to be made up of all DIFFERENT hair lengths.
BUT once your hair grew PAST your shoulders and you could gather even the FRONT hairs
into a ponytail, then all the hair above your shoulders were--more or less--the same length.
This means that if you do decide that you want to cut your hair back to shoulder length
it will still remain thinner and will still lie flatter against your head (and it won't get "bushy")
because it will all still be the same length.
Girls, for the most part, are very
familiar with this but most guys are not. Girls know that
if they have
their hair cut back to a short ponytail (or shoulder-length hair), they will NOT
return to an awkward phase and--in fact--their tails will grow back at the rate of 6 inches per year.
You also need to remember that what actually makes long hair LOOK LONG is NOT the really
the back hairs, but the FRONT hairs...and the so-called bangs (or the fringe).
If your bangs reach your shoulders your hair will actually look LONGER than the guy who can make a tail but still does not have bangs that does not yet reach his tail.
A extreme example of this is the MULLET. It could be very long in back and yet it would look shorter than the guy who has shoulder-length hair with bangs that reached his shoulders.
To sum up:
1. Once your bangs (or the front of your hair) reaches your tail and/or your shoulders then
no matter how short the tail--even if you cut your hair to shoulder length--you
will NEVER AGAIN have to experience any awkward phase because your hair is now all the same length.2. Your hair will still look long because it's the length of the FRONT that makes hair look long.3. Your hair will remain thinner (not thick and bushy) and smooth and sleek.4. Even a short tail will grow back relatively quickly (6 inches per year).
So keeping all of the above in mind, there is NOTHING to fear IF you do decide that going back to shoulder-length hair would make you happier.
2. Your hair will still look long because it's the length of the FRONT that makes hair look long.
3. Your hair will remain thinner (not thick and bushy) and smooth and sleek.
4. Even a short tail will grow back relatively quickly (6 inches per year).
So keeping all of the above in mind, there is NOTHING to fear IF you do decide that going back to shoulder-length hair would make you happier.
PS: YOU are the one who has to live with your hair. If its current length does not make you happy,
comfortable or even proud of your hair, then you need to do some serious thinking of what it is that you really want.
After all, LENGTH is NOT the all-important thing...
..it's YOUR HAPPINESS!
Thanks so much for posting this Luckskind. I don't believe we have ever had such a comprehensive posting the likes of this ever. Very helpful and very true.
All the best-
Justin~
Very nice post, Luckskind! :)
I'm actually thinking about cutting my hair to one even length in a few months. While my bangs are already past shoulder length, they tend to curl up and look a bit shorter. I don't think my hair looks too bad. It's just that I think it would look a lot neater and better if I got one even cut. But like I said, I'm giving it a few months. And then, I'll let it grow for a few years, and hopefully hit my goal of mid-lower back length.
That's an amazing post luckskind, thanks so much!
This is advise I think i'll be using soon when I trim my hair to be the same length all round.
Thanks for posting .. I never thought about that! ..but it all makes perfect sense. This is great advice for those seeking for a drastic change in their hair..
I for one will remain long however.. I'm not quite to one length yet anyways..
Peace...
Tristan
Thanks for the advice. So you mean trimming back to something like this?
http://www.opticsplanet.com/msgboard/about4694.html
I think this style looks good.
I needed to hear this! My bangs are about an inch from my shoulders and my tail is almost between my shoulder blades! It's time for a trim.