Considering a new style, advice appreciated

[missbexy]

Hi everyone
My hair doesn't seem to be growing and something doesn't seem to look quite right about. Also I seem to have a lot of breakage at the end so I am considering caving and going to have it styled. I really don't want to loose much length if I can help it (just what would be absolutely necessary) so I'd like some advice on styles I could get.
I quite like the look of 'flicky' sort of styles like the one Alyson Hannigan had a few years ago (shown on the site below) but i've never seen one longer than about shoulder length and I rather not go that short.
http://hairstyles.hairboutique.com/details.php?ID=7228
If anyone can suggest something which will give the 'flicky' thing but keep my length or suggest other styles which might suit me that would be great.
Thanks, any advice would be much appreciated

[lapushka]

Here are some examples:
http://www.hairzingers.com/images/sc...yered-hair.jpg
http://www.hairuwear.com/ProdImages/...ght-PIP_03.jpg
http://z.about.com/d/beauty/1/5/M/H/curls15.JPG
http://www.hairstylezone.com/gallery...irstyles24.jpg
http://www.imagecows.com/uploads/8ff...-hairstyle.jpg

[missbexy]

Thank you lapushka those were nice, there are a couple which look quite a lot like what i was thinking of. Do you have any idea how high/low maintenance those kind of styles are?

[lapushka]

I think a fair bit of styling and blowdrying would come into play. But I guess it depends on the cut itself and on how your hair responds. Some styles are so nicely cut that you barely have any styling to do. You'll never know until you've tried it yourself.

[Roseate]

Do you have any idea how high/low maintenance those kind of styles are?

I've had a variety of styles in that genre, and how good they look and how high/low maintenance they are depends entirely on how good a job your hairdresser does at cutting the layers to work well with your hairtype.

It may not be as big an issue with your hair as mine; I have very wavy hair and if the layers are not shaped right the whole thing can turn into a giant puffball, or each layer can flip a different direction, or some horror like that. But even with straighter hair, the layers have to be well cut or they will look ratty. So find a hairdresser whose work you've seen, ask around. And make sure you discuss how you want to style your hair with the hairdresser before the cut: do you want to use heat? Do you want to be able to let it airdry and look good? Do you use products? How often do you plan to come back for trims? Stuff like that.

And don't let them cut your hair with a razor! Trust me. Some stylists like it for giving "texture" to layered ends, but your hair will fray and look like you got it cut in prison with a nail clipper after a short time.

[missbexy]

Thanks again.
I have no idea how my hair will respond because it's only ever been one length or with normal Jennifer Anniston type long layers. I think i'll have to spend money to go see the hairdresser in the town where I used to live, he tries to style so that the cut will hold the style instead of people having to work hard to maintain it every day.
Is it likely to be possible to maintain quite obvious flicks/flips with little product or heat? because the last thing I want to do is start damaging my hair after removing where my hair keeps breaking now

[jojo]

I think it would be pretty hard to get the flick look on longer than shoulder length, but some layers if your willing would achieve this without loosing the length!

[Madame J]

It looks like we have pretty similar hair types, just different colors, so I can tell you that my experience with a layered cut like the Sandra Bullock link that lapushka posted was very positive. If you lived in my area, I'd give you a hairdresser recommendation!

I got my shoulder-length, one-length hair cut into lots of layers that gave it movement and made it feel like short hair (much, much lighter), but with long hair sex appeal. And because of the layers and my slight natural wave, I rarely had to do anything to it on a regular basis, except wash and brush. It even grew out gracefully, with the layers/fringe in the front becoming cheekbone-length, and then chin-length layers as it grew out. In fact, going back to old pictures from about 6 months after I got that cut was what made me want to grow my hair back out.

[lynnala]

I'll chime in here too, you'll probably have to work at it to have the 'flick'. My hair is fine and thin, not like yours, but when I've had layers, they just lay there and don't do anything. I think there will be curling, blow drying and products involved.

[spidermom]

If you are maintaining a style and getting it trimmed a lot, damage won't come into play.