Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

The Long or Short of It?

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Last year, I wrote a post to communicate my belief that women have a duty to change their hairstyles. Frequently.

Think about it: the mighty Lord gave us menstrual cycles, unwanted leg hair and varicose veins. But He also bestowed us with lovely locks – and for most of us, we’re blessed with the choice of how to wear our hair… short or long, layered or blunt, blonde or brunette, straight or curly… the list goes on. So, to be stuck in a hair rut is simply unforgivable!

You May Be Stuck in a Hair Rut If…

1. Your husband knows the brand and number of your boxed hair colour.
2. Four out of five friends would describe your ‘do as “The Rachel.”
3. Your hair salon is a barber shop. With a spinning pole outside.
4. Your hair styling routine includes wash, air dry, ponytail, repeat.
5. You wear your hair long because you believe men like long hair.
6. Your stylist uses a rubber cap and knitting needle for your highlights.
7. You never make an appointment to cut your hair – walk-ins welcome.
8. The labels on your styling products say “Aqua Net” or “Dippidy Do”.
9. You truly believe that there is such a thing as wash-and-go hair.
10. You own a banana clip… and use it.

I have fine, frizzy hair… decidedly the most unsexy texture known to womankind. But I battle Mother Nature with a gusto normally reserved for fighting world wars and banishing whale poachers. Because let’s face it – I can’t change my face (for less than $10,000), my skin colour (unless I try out a new age bleaching cream) or the fact that I’ll always be 4 inches too short to reach supermodel status (and 20 pounds too heavy) – but I can change my hair.

And change can be a wonderful thing! A simple thing like taking a few minutes to curl your ends, back-combing your crown for volume or even switching the side you part your hair on can boost self confidence and make you feel like a new person; often for little or no expense. Add a slim hair band or twist your hair into a low bun, and you’re rocking a new ‘do in no time.

So, it’s about that time of year… the time when I start to itch for a new look. I’ve been sporting the same long, highlighted hair for far too long now – probably about a year – and coming from someone that usually changes it up every 3-4 months, that is quite the commitment.

I’m currently caught between two options: short and light or long and dark. My husband, bless his heart, is a huge fan of short and dark, and has been trying to convince me to cut out both the peroxide and my hair. However, that’s just a little to adventurous for me at the moment, so you’ll just have to hear my arguments for each look:

Short & Highlighted

Having the aforementioned fine, frizzy hair, a short cut would work wonders to cut down my blowdrying time. Plus, after a year of being subjected to bleach, it would be great to lop off about 6-8 inches of comatose hair. Finally, I’ll be going down south in the fall so I’d love to keep my locks bright and breezy for the trip, and the light hair would show off my tan marvelously.

Long & Dark

Sometimes, simply abstaining from using bleach is as good as chopping off hair, so a nice, chestnut gloss would be just the ticket to boosting the health of my hair. Plus, with fall around the corner, it would be nice to darken up for the cooler weather, and keeping it long gives me more style options.

To prove that I practice what I preach and DO NOT allow myself to get caught in hair ruts, here is a timeline of my hairstyles from the past four (4) years:

I’m so confused! What do you think? Short and light or long and dark? Or… should I keep the status quo, and keep it long and light? Decisions….

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. nicolthepickle

    4,5,7…and at least one more are true for me. Ahh, my town is so small the hairdressers don’t do appointments.
    You look fabulous all the time. But since you asked…
    You should go with what your husband thinks. The results might surprise you.

      • Carly

        Lol. FINE! Short and dark please :) You look stunning in that pic! (obvs in all the others as well, but that one really stands out for me!)

  5. Renee

    Def go darker?…..can u get any more prettier ? I love # 14 and 2. My husband too is begging for short hair lol

    • Lena

      Oh stop it, thank you! It looks like 2 is the runaway fave so far. I find it so interesting that your husband wants to see you go short! What will you do?

  7. AC

    For the reasons you mentioned, short and highlighted. Then when the temperature gets colder long and dark. ;) Look forward to seeing your new style!

    • Lena

      Ah, sage advice… although if I cut my hair short, it won’t be “long and dark” when the cold weather comes… it’ll still be short, LOL!

  8. Shauna MacKenzie

    I’m so glad I ditched my ponytail and chopped mine off! You look great with any style/length/colour! I love your colour in photo #2. Have you ever gone in to a salon and said “do what you want!”?

    • Lena

      Ah, you look FABULOUS with your new do! And yes, I did that once…. notice the cherry red highlights in photo #3? Yeah, I won’t be doing that again!

  10. Lina @ Baby Alerts

    OMG, I’m stuck in that rut! If I were to create a timeline there would be no change.

    Either way you go Lena you can’t go wrong you look fab – however I would like to see you in dark brown with medium brown highlights keeping it long.

  11. Victoria Ess

    I love the darker colour. You’re so lucky, though, because EVERY hairstyle looks absolutely fabulous on you!

  12. Nicole W.

    WOW that is a lot of hairstyles – you weren’t kidding!

    I would say long and dark (I am a sucker for long hair! Mine is a light brown and I would LOVE to go DARK but I think I’m far too pale!) It’d be great for the cooler seasons, as you said!

  13. Ing.

    I support Mike….short and dark…I’ve always loved that look on you. I always say that if you can pull off short hair, do it!

    • Lena

      I know, I know… I still think back to our clubbing days when I had short hair throughout… dunno… I just hate growing my hair out once it’s short, and I know I won’t be able to stick to the style!

  14. Rhonda W G.

    Thanks for sharing…. I have to say I’ve changed my hair more in the last decade than before. I think being older I realize it’s just hair and ok to have fun with it…more confident. I’ve grown out mine really long with full bangs and will be ready too for a change. I want it to be more drastic instead of the suttle tweaks I’ve done…You are lovely and looks like you can do any style.

    • Lena

      Thank you Rhonda – and I’m so pleased to hear that you’re not afraid of a change and have been changing it up. I must admit I’m jealous of anyone who can wear full bangs! Lucky you! Mine are wispy and I have a cowlick, so they never sit flat :(

  16. Amy Brown

    well since you’re asking, I say dark too. I like the third row two on the right, the bangs look cool, are they hard to do, do you have a cowlick? I do and can’t make my hair stay down for bangs. Def, dark in winter, light in summer. So says me who wears blond all year round (L’Oreal excellence cream “BB” light blond) time for a change…

    • Lena

      Thanks Amy! Yes, bangs are hard to do for me. My hair is thin and I do have a cowlick, so it’s torture trying to get them to behave :(

      Good luck with your change – maybe this winter you’ll do it!

  17. Marissa

    You look gorgeous in all of your pictures Lena. I love your hair colour in picture # 2. A nice warm brown.

  21. Teresa M.

    Thank you for this post, Lena…I have had my hair short before many times but find it more expensive to maintain. My hair grows so fast! I am getting my hair coloured on October 5th…my hairdresser told me that I have enough gray hair that instead of highlights I can go for an all over colour…oh :( He must see something that I clearly can’t. A little bit cheaky he is :)

    • Lena

      You’re too kind. After soliciting so many opinions, I think next week I’ll be going shorter – but not necessarily short. Just a trim!

  25. Paula Schuck

    Dark is nice for fall and winter then you can highlight for spring/ summer again. I am a long haired girl. I still think you are too young for short.

    • Lena

      Haha Paula my mom told me exactly the same thing last night! She said “get a trim, but don’t cut your hair”. Think I’d better listen to both of you!

  28. Hanni

    I’d just love nr 8. You look really great in that hair style and the color suites you very nicely. Well…I’m a few days too late on my comment but hey… ;)

  29. Eva U

    Experiment is key. Your hair color is outstanding. I have dark brown hair, just recently decided time for a change. Went and had my hair streaked with light Brown. Well in the last two months with the sun beating down on me, the streaks have actually turned blonde ash. I really like it. I am somewhat of a Tomboy, so hair colour, nail polish…..girlie things are foreign to me. But aw delving into my uncomfort zone, who knows could transform ….where are those glass slippers ?

    • Lena

      I LOVE your glass slippers reference! And you`re right – sometimes sun-lightened locks alter the colour in just that perfect way. I bet you look smashing!

  30. Laurie B

    I think short and highlighted would be better. Especially with kids :P Sometimes its just easier to maintain! Great pics though… I like them all!

  32. Sharlene

    long and dark looks great – I’m at that stage too..I always change it up..light in summer, dark in fall..I’m lighter now than I’ve ever been and i find it hard to keep up..but I never go short – I’ve stuck with curly so I don’t fry my hair with a flat iron on top of bleaching..but I want to go straight again..

  35. Tania B

    I love your willingness to change your hair. You are so right. I know I have needed to do something different with my hair and I’m thinking some colour would be perfect for winter!

  36. nikki oconnor

    I haven’t cut my hair in 12 years. I have died it.. but just slightly darker brown than what I was born with. I love the different looks you’ve experimented with… I need to be braver so I can make a hair change.

  37. Sydney

    I need to change up my hair, I died it 2 years ago it didn’t turn out so I died it back and haven’t laered it out in forever.

  38. Mandy

    I think that you could pull off almost any style or color! But I do love the update photo..looks great! I am soooo in need of a haircut! I prefer not to dye my hair at the moment..I’m only 26 so no grays yet and I like my natural dark brown. BUT I am looooong overdue for a haircut..it’s been almost a year. My last haircut was last spring….. I have been trying to grow it out but have been needing and wanting a cut for a few months now. Just to freshen it up and clean up the split ends. Unfortunately, being a mom, I put everyone else in front of me and have not yet went in for a trim. I am sooo looking forward to it because, like you said, a cut can really make you feel good and boost your confidence. So this post has made me want it even more and I think I’ll make it a priority to get it done by the end of the month :)

  39. Jane

    loved seeing the various styles… I have been stuck in hairstyle rut for far too long… rut #4 to be exact : ) but I think I will make a change soon you’ve inspired me!

  41. Jenne

    My best friend is my sytllist…sheamazes me. Last time I went in with my dyed red hair I came out as a blonde…I had no idea until she rinsed my color and i turned and looked in the mirror! First time as a blonde ever and love it!

  42. Jennifer Abbott

    I just got my hair cut last night I was getting sick of it and always end up wearing it up in a bun but I love the new cut and I always stick with the same haircolour which is lightest blonde…( hiding greys shhh ) lol I love all of your styles but I think you look the great with blonde streaks and curls :)

  44. Tania B

    I wish I was as dedicated as you to change – I have been in a bit of a rut for oh, I don’t know,probably 4 years or so! But I think that is over now because I have found a fabulous new stylist and love him so I think I will try branching out a bit more now.

    • Lena

      But that’s the great thing about having medium hair… there’s MUCH less to re-grow if you change your mind :)

  46. lori butler

    wow you look amazing in all the pictures, I like to change up my hair color at least, hair style, well my hair is long which gives me options, I do want extensions badly though :)

  47. Andrea

    Just found your blog yesterday..absolutely LOVING it. These hairstyles are inspiring me on so many levels, makes me want to book an appointment. You are beautiful!!

  48. Karen Hill

    If I looked like you I would not hesitate to change up my look! Anything looks good! But I do like the last pic. Suits you and your glasses are great!

  50. Karen Evans

    At the grand mother age of 55, and after spending years of dyeing my hair, getting it chopped off, perms and Odd things that happened in the 70’s (lol). My almost plain long brown hair, hangs down my back…like a hippie from the 60’s. Most days I braid it, or the good old ponytail. It’s long…it’s straight and it’s mine…lol. Do anything you want to your hair, while you are young (I had purple hair before it became the “rage”). Just have fun with it. :)

  51. Susan T.

    Wow! You are so adventurous! Despite different haircuts my hair always looks the same! LOL!

  52. Chandra Christine O'Connor

    as a former hairstylist, I go from very short to long back to short, I prefer short so easy to keep care of, and colour its different everytime I do it.

  53. Suzanne Smith

    I like the highlighted blonde look, with no bangs – you have great hair too, BTW. Doesn’t look thin or frizzy, Lena.

  58. Cheryl (@loucheryl)

    I love to change up my hair frequently! It’s fun to do. I’m always the shortest hair girl when out with friends.

  59. MLV

    Lena you look gorgeous in any style! I love all your looks. I haven’t grown my hair out in a long time. Once I cut it I never looked back (my hair was past my butt and I chopped it short – it was behind my ears) I’ve changed my hair color so many times. I went from Black to Brown to Blonde to Red to Purple. I permed my hair once. Never again. lol

  60. Emilia

    I like hair pulled away from the face, not too tightly, I don’t like it when women try to hide there forehead wrinkles, crinkles, smile lines. or when the hair is covering their sides of the face. I also don’t like women who dye their hair too dark getting into their middle age years. I think it is too harsh and unnatural looking. I even like grey hair on women. There are so many products now that make the hair look polished. A well groomed grey haired woman is so much more pretty than fry died hair. My wee little rant. Age gracefully

  61. amy lovell

    Lena , you are absoliutly gorgeous in every pic, whatever you decide on you will look fabulous!

  62. Darlene Schuller

    Ok so I come across this post and I find myself suddenly needing to dial the hairdresser’s # lol

  63. Flora M

    Guilty of #5, 6, 7 and 9 LOL – I have short and very fine hair or otherwise I would be guilty of the ponytail and banana clip ones as well !
    Think it is time for me to get a new colour (haven’t dyed my hair for a long time now). Maybe even highlights – and this time I will go to a “real” hair salon (not the walk-in one LOL)

  64. Robyn L

    I say go with convenience when it comes to hair; I like more of your pics where the hair is lighter or streaked.

  66. Donnas

    I like the way you look with darker hair much more than the lighter hair look.
    And I notice you didn’t have bangs for too long. LOL

    Dark and long.

  67. Lynda Cook

    You are a very beautiful lady no matter what colour your hair is, or if it’s short or long, I see a lot of folks are saying they like the dark on you, well I prefer the dirty blonde with lighter highlights I find it suits your facial features more, but who am I to say, it’s your hair right..lol. Your always going to look good no matter what style or colour you have, just reading your blogs and seeing your big smile you have a beauty within that you will never lose!!