The long and the short of it
When I woke up this morning, the sun was sprinkling through the window shades onto the bed, the baby was cooing … and Rich was sputtering and choking on my hair as he tried to snuggle up behind me. I need one of those caps like Mama has in The Night Before Christmas.
My hair is the longest it’s been since probably my freshman year of college. I’m unsure how I feel about this. I noted in my Flickr picture that I had taken the time to curl/straighten my hair for Thanksgiving. It was probably the first time I’ve worn my hair down with no hair clips, bands or other products in it. My mother commented that afternoon when we got home, “wow you’re hair is long. Like, really long.” I’m not sure she meant it as a compliment.
My parents both seem to prefer short hair. When I cut my hair in college, my father said that was his Christmas present as far as he was concerned. Rich has always told me he thinks long hair is pretty but short hair is sexy. I know several guys, though, who much prefer long hair over short (none of those guys have ever had to manage that long hair).
I want hair like those doll babies they used to make with the wheel in their back. I want to be able to crank out long tresses sometimes and then reel them back in when I’m done.
I want short hair when I’m in a convertible or out at the windy beach. I want long hair when I’m sleepy and Rich brushes my hair for me. I want short hair when I’m sleeping. I want long hair for special occasions so I can curl and style it. I want short hair for sexy time so it’s not in our way. I want long hair when it’s cold so my neck is still warm.
When I had long hair in high school and college I kept it in a pony tail or tied in a knot with a pencil most of the time. I’m starting to get to that length now. My curling iron is buying me some time before I decide to cut it all off, but I’m not sure how long it can last. Unfortunately, I can also feel myself getting emotionally attached to my hair which is something I have been largely free of with short hair.
As my old boss Harry said, “a woman’s hair is her cross to bear.” I’m just not sure how much of my hair I want to bear anymore. What are your thoughts? Do you prefer short or long hair? Do you have some magic solution for me to have both short and long hair without resorting to a mullet?
Your hair isn’t actually long enough to be easy. Once it gets a little longer, you can throw it in a ponytail whenever you want it “short”. On me, at least, when my hair is short I always have to “do” it. Long is so much easier.
My hair is the longest it has ever been. It touches my bra strap. I love it and it is the second easiest hair style I’ve ever had. (The easiest was short to the point of almost shaved. That’s really easy.) When I was mid-long, like your hair is, it was a pain in the butt because I had to style it all the time and I had all these bits that wouldn’t stay back, etc, etc. Now I can go a day between washing and styling and still wear it down no problem. I also have the fast ponytail, hair clip option, but I have to say, I wear it down almost all the time. I really like it this long and I find it much sexier than short hair. (This from a woman who wore her hair short from age 7 until college and then again several times since then.) It feels sexy when it swishes across my shoulders and back and hangs down around my face like a curtain. I think I’m officially a long hair convert.
Genie Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Yeah but you’re hair is actually thick. Pregnancy is the only thing that’s given me decent body to my hair. I’m going to take a survey at the hair salon next time I go and see what they say. I’m happy with it at the moment but wondering if I should keep going or choose a “cut off” point.
Revisit this in a month or two when you start shedding. You may be different, but it changed my feelings about my hair rather quickly…
Genie Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Ah yes, great point! When it’s coming out in clumps I may be less enamored with these tresses. My hair is not very thick so the pregnancy hormones have helped that out. I’ll miss it when I’m back to thin hair.
You know I’ve been to both extremes over the years and I have to say the only thing I don’t like is the middle. I have always sort of stuck your long hair from college in my mind, I have a lot of photos in albums (back when we had you know, physical photos!) and they all have your long hair. And I always wondered why you didn’t grow it out again. I think your hair looks good either way and I am a big proponent of ease of maintenance.
You should collect some pictures of hairstyles you have seen that you like and share them.
Genie Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I think you’re right that the middle is the real bitch. Maybe that’s why I’m full of indecision right now.
I love short hair… this is the first time I’ve had really short hair in about 1
Err… I love short hair.. this is the first time I’ve had really short hair in about 12 years. The longer hair was just a pain. I never felt like it looked neat or professional, and it was always in the way (I shut it in the car door on windy days); it was always in my face; and the shedding drove me crazy! I found it EVERYWHERE.
Alan doesn’t like it, but I think it’s growing on him somewhat, but *I* love it short… it’s a 5 minute style, and unless I have bedhead, it always looks well kept and doesn’t get in the way.
Genie Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I have a hard time with guys talking about how much they prefer long hair if they’ve never personally had to deal with it. Super short hair can be so low maintenance!
I dunno, your hair is very pretty. I wouldn’t go any longer but shoulder length wavy hair is attractive on you.
As I’ve told Rich when he rattles off that pretty/sexy line, “Yeah, and that’s why all porn stars have short hair, right?” I like hair at least shoulder length, long is better. It doesn’t get in the way of sexy time at all; it’s an asset.
When I start sursing in the mornings because I actually have to DO something with my hair, I get it cut. I am there.
I am really lazy when it comes to my hair so whatever is easiest to maintain is what I go with. I have gotten it cut to what is a short length for me (just above shoulders), when Tommy got to the hair grabbing stage, then I never remembered to go get it trimmed so it grew out and got pretty long again. Then when it was painful to brush all the tangles out (and too many split ends), I got it chopped again. I do actually like it shorter, especially with a fairly non-fussy layered cut, because it is easier to take care of, but I haven’t had a super short cut… ever… so I don’t know how much work that would be. I would say, with a baby to take care of, you’re not going to have a lot of time to spend on your hair and he will start grabbing it if he hasn’t already. Both long and short have their advantages and disadvantages, I think. I am ever so helpful, I know.
BTW, after all these comments, I’m totally expecting your next post to be a picture of you with a mohawk or a mullet.
My hair has been everywhere from boy-short to ass-long and I seem to really like the extremes but never the middle mostly because of the curl/wave. My hair is unnaturally thick and heavy. When short it curls nicely. When long the weight pulls it straight. At middle lengths it is frizzy and untidy. All that to say Long or Short but not in-between:P
My hair texture and color changed because of prolonged steroid use. Maybe your hair will stay different from the pregnancy hormones too?
This sounds quite silly but try out Real Beauty. It’s the best and easiest virtual makeover I’ve ever done (and no, I’m not an advertising bot). I was thinking about changing my hair lately too.
I prefer the long since it’s easy to deal with when I don’t want it for special occasions–but there are inexpensive, GOOD hair add-ins or wigs for special occasions too, if you’re feeling that vain. Sally’s Beauty Supply has some neat ones. I used to have very short hair, way before you knew me, and mine doesn’t like it (cowlicks everywhere). Good luck figuring it out!