Some mornings I look in the mirror and really feel like I look about a 100 years old. I have learned that frowning at myself or analyzing each and every inch of my face in a magnified mirror does not make things much better (only worse!), and a huge smile often perks me up (at least temporarily).
I also know that how my hair looks can bolster my self-esteem or deflate my ego in about 5 seconds. That could account for my lifelong love of changing hairstyles. Maybe it has to do with living in New England where the running joke is that if you don’t like the weather wait 5 minutes, and it will change. So goes my hair!
For the past year I have been letting it grow. It is now nearly shoulder length (depending on who blows it dry!). I even (for the 40 millionth time in my life) tried growing out my bangs only to recognize once again that it makes my face look longer and thinner (and now we can add older), so last week I went to Josie and said cut the bangs…please!
Here’s what I’m wondering…Is there ever a time in our lives when our hair becomes a non-issue? I have to admit that if someone asks me what my favorite feature is my hair is the initial factor that comes to mind. I was blessed with thick red hair (despite the fact that the redness gets some support from my trusty colorist these days!), and I appreciate changing my hair style regularly. That said, I still have plenty of moments of frustration and dreaded poor hair days.
I also know that at least three quarters of the women who come to me for help with their personal style are somewhat disgruntled or discouraged by their hair. It doesn’t matter if they are 15 or 65, they still have questions, and I can relate!
Add to that the concern of age appropriateness and you’ll discover a lot of ladies in a conundrum. In reality, a couple of weeks ago, I was speaking to a group of young women on a Sunday afternoon and numerous of them told me about an article that appeared in the New York Times entitled, “Why Can’t Middle-Aged Ladies Have Long Hair?” They wanted to know my opinion.
After a quick roll of my eyes, I said, I can’t think this is still some thing we worry about! Of course, here I am a 54-year-old woman (talking to ladies in their 20′s) who is in the method of letting her hair grow which gives you an concept of my thoughts on this.
Fifteen years ago I wrote a chapter in my book called “Hair Length Has Nothing To Do With Age.” I thought this concern was a carried out deal back then, but it’s 2010 and the NY Times still considers it newsworthy!
So, can ladies of any age have lengthy hair? Yes, completely. Should every single woman wear lengthy hair. No, completely not. Therein lies the challenge – finding the most fabulous style for YOU!
Let’s take a look at hair and see if we can sort through a few of the mysteries…
• What Is The #1 Factor You Can Do To Refresh Your Style in General?
Get a fabulous haircut and be sure your color goes with your skin tone. Just take a peek at Sally Field in one of her commercials these days, and you’ll see what I mean. Her hair is way too dark for her skin and, as a result, looks harsh. Add to that the fact that her hair looks messy most of the time. I know they are shooting for casual and carefree but for somebody with as a lot spirit as she has, it’s just not working. She ends up looking a tad haggard!
Some of you may wonder…hmmm…if Sally Field, a celebrity, can’t get a haircut and color that flatters her how can I? No worries…there are fabulous hairstylists everywhere. If yours isn’t giving you some thing that works for you, maintain searching. Ask somebody whose hairstyle or color you admire where she gets it carried out, and go there.
• Can Everybody Have A ‘Wash And Dry’ Look?
Don’t I wish! Your hairstylist can only do so a lot to make your hair wash ‘n go, and not everybody is cut out to be a wash and wear type of gal. Bear in mind, it is not the hairstylist’s fault if you want long wavy hair and yours is pin straight or kinky curly by nature. It’s just not going to work (without a small (or more) intervention) no matter how she cuts it.
I have come to accept (some days much better than other people) that it takes me a long time to blowdry my hair, but letting my hair air dry just doesn’t make me happy. I’m not an straightforward, breezy, laid-back kind of gal, and my hair doesn’t cooperate with out a small TLC. So, short of cutting my hair so short that a blow drier isn’t needed, I’m stuck styling it (or paying to have an individual else do it).
• Does Your Hair Have Personality?
Understanding your personal style (your essence) affects every single part of your image, and your hair is no exception. Are you sweet, bubbly, dramatic or direct? Maybe you’re sophisticated, quiet or totally free-spirited…? Whatever is accurate for you, the bottom line is that your hair ought to reflect your personality.
1 woman told her stylist that she wanted a hairstyle that was “playful.” This was the part of her personality she wanted to express (staid or boring just wouldn’t cut it), and she got it!
Keep in mind, too, that although other people might compliment your hairstyle, the question to ask yourself is if it makes you happy.
For me, I like a little drama, glamour or sophistication (it remains to be seen if lengthy hair will make the grade but I’ve come this far so stay tuned!). I greatly admire (and am frequently envious of) fairly, uncomplicated looks on others, but I have come to understand that they frequently do not translate well to my head!
• Does Hair Upkeep Have To Be So Expensive?
Your hair is your greatest (and constant) accessory. Other than wearing a hat or shaving your head it is there all the time…front and center for everyone to see. It’s challenging to hide – even though I have heard rumors that head wraps are an up and coming trend!
This is not a location to cut corners, or you’ll be miserable every single time you look in the mirror. Yes, coloring your hair can get expensive and can make the thought of gray hair appealing (check out my past blog on the new trend to going gray), but even that needs you have an absolutely terrific hair cut and wear clothes in your best colors or you risk looking frumpy and, yup, old.
The majority of ladies will admit that they want to look reasonably youthful as lengthy as possible, so old is not a look most of us are shooting for. Keep in mind, attitude is every thing and your hair must have attitude (fitting with your inner essence, of course ?).
Beware of do-it-yourself hair color or having a friend aid you unless you are absolutely positive it works. I can attest to the truth that once you get enough white or gray hairs it becomes a lot more challenging to use over the counter hair dyes successfully (my hair likes to turn pink if we aren’t careful!). And, ending up with a color that doesn’t go with your skin tone is a million times worse than being gray!
So, here’s your checklist:
<input kind=”checkbox” /> Do you love your hair cut?
<input type=”checkbox” /> Are you reasonably excellent at styling it?
<input kind=”checkbox” /> Does your hairstylist listen to you when you ask for some thing diverse?
<input kind=”checkbox” /> Do you love your hair color?
<input kind=”checkbox” /> Does your hair cut and color reflect your personality?
<input type=”checkbox” /> Do you feel excellent about how your hair looks most days?
If you answered no to any of those then it’s time for a change. 1 of the quickest approaches to give your self a style lift is to get a fabulous hair cut and color that makes you smile each time you look in the mirror (except, maybe, in store dressing rooms but that’s an article for another day)!
If you answered yes to all the questions then you’re having a great hair day…enjoy!