How do you choose a hair style?

Rae's "to pixie or not to pixie" thread, and Suz's older thread have me thinking about my hairstyle this evening.

I've had almost everything from very long hair to a very short pixie, and I like them all reasonably well, but have no idea which ones look best on me. When I got my current pixie (about a year and a half ago), I decided that for me to "do" short hair meant that I'd have to learn to cut it myself - I simply don't make the time to go have it cut every month (and my hair grows fast - at it shortest, I cut it every two weeks). I've gone in two or three times since to get my overall shape fixed, but for the most part just cut it myself.

But lately I've been missing my shoulder-length layers from a few years ago. I wonder if they suited my face better. Or maybe I wonder if it's easier (I never did anything to it, so yes, it was). I'm not sure I have the right face for a pixie... Maybe I'm just wanting variety?

How do you decide what hairstyle to choose? Here's a bunch of pics of me with various hair lengths. (Also varying over about 20 pounds as I gained and lost weight of carrying five babies). Does anything in particular work better than anything else?

#1-6 are all in the past three years. #7-8 are way back in college (My hair at it's longest, and my first pixie cut), and #9-10 are now.

Thanks for humoring me by looking at these (a trip through memory lane for me) :)

I'd love your thoughts and opinions!

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
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13 Comments

  • amiable replied 11 years ago

    Oh, and my general criteria for a hairstyle is that it must be LOW to NO maintenance. Beyond that, I really don't have much qualifications :)

  • Mo replied 11 years ago

    I like collar bone length with long, face framing layers.

  • Adelfa replied 11 years ago

    I love your current style. My other favorite is the bob in #6. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that that's the one closest to my current hairstyle! No, really it is! I too have had everything from pixie to past my butt.

    The way I decide about my hair is I sit down in the chair and my hairstylist decides. We don't talk about my hairstyle. He makes all executive decisions about length, bangs, layering and the like. I enjoy seeing what he comes up with!

  • Runcarla replied 11 years ago

    Roughed up pixie.

  • celia replied 11 years ago

    I actually like your current haircut.
    Personally I also like no maintenance hairstyle so I tend to go with what works for my hair type, straight and thin.

  • deb replied 11 years ago

    I like the cut you have now. You are very good at cutting it yourself.

  • Joy replied 11 years ago

    Like the others, I go with what works for my hair. Longer and worn up is the easiest for me and someday I may go back to it, but right now I'm enjoying the angled bob. You are lucky to have so many choices that all look good. I think I like #7, the really short pixie best.

  • rachylou replied 11 years ago

    I like your current cut, but I also really like you with shoulder length and longer hair.

    My policy is not to ask for a haircut, but to give the stylist some parameters and then let them decide. I don't know enough about hair to dictate.

  • Raisin replied 11 years ago

    Well I do like your pixie, the last pic is great. If you feel like going longer 6 is my fav there. I think chin length looks good on you, but I would think the layers that flip out at the bottom are dated like in pics 1-3 (the old Jennifer Aniston look).

    I think you would look great with a chin length bob and maybe some side swept bangs like in pics 1-2 I have here. While you're growing it out, pics 3-4 would be good shapes.

    My latest hairstyle I picked because I wanted to wear less to no makeup, and also, when I go back to work I wear my hair up, so I wanted something on my face to make it looks better. So, bangs were the answer to both. No makeup on my forehead, and something to add interest to my ponytail. I had a "hair evolution" post all in mind the other day but never posted it, but now I want to again!

  • Niefern replied 11 years ago

    I think I like it best shoulder lenght (but I am impressed that you are able to cut it yourself!).

  • amiable replied 11 years ago

    Thanks all - after sleeping on it, I realize that my discontent and wanting-a-change is probably more I-cant-wait-for-winter-to-end blues than it is that I hate my current hairstyle :)

    I'll wait and see what I think in a month or so, when it's starting to be more like spring!

  • Janet replied 11 years ago

    I like the idea of something longer like Mo suggests, but with some light side swept bangs kind of like you have in your current cut. Your current cut is nice, but that would give you a change of pace.

    I choose my hair style mostly by working with my stylist. I may go in with a notion to go shorter or change things up a bit, but he helps steer me in a direction to keep my look current and feeling fab. I have a stylist I can trust enough to tell him, "Do whatever you want!" and I've never been disappointed.

  • Jules replied 11 years ago

    I actually really like your current style, the slightly longer pixie you've been sporting. Wish I could cut my own! I admire your low-maintenance self-sufficiency (thrifting and sewing) in general :)

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