To chop or not to chop? That is the question!

To chop or not to chop? That is the question! Every girl and their cats mother have been going for the chop recently. Being a hairdresser i have noticed an increase for woman wanting to lop off their locks. Since the new year, the 'Lob' (long bob) has become a huge hit with everyone. With celebrities from the likes of Lauren Conrad, PLL star Lucy Hale and most recently Sienna Miller all cutting a good chunk off their hair, woman from across the globe have been rushing to salons with pictures of their favourite girl crushes, in the bid to trade in their long princess locks for a more edgy, stylishly short crop. 

 I am one of those girls. 

In a recent post i wrote about how i recently cut my hair off. I talked about my fears of doing so but never explained how i knew i was ready to take the plunge and just do it! It sounds dramatic but you'll be surprise how different you feel with different hair, especially if you don't regularly change your hair. 

If you're like me then would have been thinking about having a big change for a while, here are a few tips and things to consider before you go for a major haircut.

Hair type
This is important. You'll be surprised how many woman with curly hair bring in photos of a girl with dead straight hair and demand the exactly same cut as the picture. Unless you're willing to straighten or curl your hair everyday, look for pictures with the same type of hair as yours. This includes looking for hair textures and thickness and colours similar to yours too. If your hair is fine straight and brown, look for haircuts that have all of these, this way you will be able to see the closest likeliness of what the hairstyle will look like on you and what is realistically achievable from your stylist. 

bye bye top knot.

Do you frequently wear your hair up? 
Unfortunately you wont be able to easily shove your hair up in a quick and easy ponytail. You will need to invest in hair grips and LOTS of them. Oh and you will constantly be buying them as they always seem to go missing. (i put it down to the hair grip fairy stealing them) If you're they type of girl who always has her hair up, you'll have to ask yourself if you're ready to say goodbye to quick fix top knots on those dirty hair days?



which brings me on to,


Are you prepared for high maintenance? 
There is this misconception that short hair requires less maintenance. In some cases this is true, if you go as short as a pixie crop then you wont need to brush, dry and barley style it. But most of the time short hair cuts take just as much time as long ones, For instant i now i have short hair i curl it most days and i cant just shove it up when i cant be bothered with it. So really i'm not saving myself any time by having shorter hair. You also have to consider that at first it will be completely different to what you know. You will have to style your hair in a different way and it will take time getting used to your new hair and learning what style you prefer. 

you can't undo 
 It's best if you're still unsure to do it slowly as you can always go shorter. If you're thinking of having a a jaw length bob but are too nervous why not try a 'lob' and cut it just on the collar bone instead. Or if you have super long hair and are thinking of going short but you're really scared to go anywhere near the shoulders, try cutting twice or three times as much as you normally would to start with and go from there. 




Is everything else in your life stable?
This sounds weird but this is what has always held me back chopping my hair off. If you have a lot going on, be that with work, friends or at home, you might already have enough on your plate. So when a few days pass and you don't like your new hair that you instinctually cut off a few days pervious, it might seem like the end of the world if you already have a million and one things already going wrong. It always feels like the best idea to chop off your hair after a massive life change but its more than likely just a rash decision that you'll end up regretting. Try wait until you feel stable and content with everything going on in your life. 



find a stylist that cares and understands
It's a drastic change and a big commitment because growing your hair back will take time so it's important to go to a good hairstylist that understands this and aren't going to just chop your hair and leave you too it. Find a stylist that will talk you through the best styes suited to your face shape and who is also willing to help teach you new styling techniques for your new hair. The best way to find good hairdressers is word of mouth. Talk to friends, family or work colleagues to find out who they would recommend. (lots of salons do recommendation discount too!) Or you can always search for reviews online. 




It seems silly putting so much thought into getting a hair cut but it really is best to be sure about these things. No one want a bodge job haircut, never mind the years of growing and regret. 

Do you think you're ready for the chop?



Sophie.