PDA

View Full Version : To chop or not to chop - that is the question...



Rosa Harris
May 14th, 2014, 07:24 AM
I can't quite believe I am sitting here thinking about this question.

My original goal was to grow wild untouched cavegirl hair with my natural hemline - whatever that turned out to be.

But now I am looking at everyone's thicker looking blunter hemlines and thinking - looking at my pics - how much fuller it might look down without the drastic fairytale ends.

But on the other hand - being a piggie - I like the effect of the long v shape and think a blunt line would draw more attention to my pudginess - strait lines across the body are bad for big folks.

Perhaps I could reduce it some? Make the angle less sharp than its natural one? Or maybe just half blunt it - take off the longest straglies down there?

Not sure what I want to do or what would look good on me. Keep in mind it waves up pretty well - see last pic in the sig - that is without any trimming from the first two pics.

I am at at TBL but I don't really like claiming that when its really less than a pinky finger width of hair that has made it there. Weirdly - that hair is not from the lower back of my head but all the way from the crown!

Interested in what folks think - lots of options. Part of me wants to go all the way up to armpit length with it but hubby would die.

Simone_Fatale
May 14th, 2014, 07:29 AM
Your hair doesn't seem thin to me at all. Looks very nice and natural with lovely texture. I prefer fairytale ends or a V hemline over straight and blunt any day. Of course, it depends on the texture and also layers, if any exist. You could probably trim it just a little bit and cut where it looks thinnest, so it may add some thickness while still preserving length and the shape of your hemline. Good luck! :)

Rosa Harris
May 14th, 2014, 07:38 AM
Better pictures - before henna showing my skunk streak -lol

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2929/14184719225_4d31fba580.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nBsoQz)spring 007 (https://flic.kr/p/nBsoQz) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5040/13998097827_0a08a4d5cb.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/njXUNg)spring 002 copy (https://flic.kr/p/njXUNg) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr

Rosa Harris
May 14th, 2014, 07:39 AM
Thanx - I am terribly self-critical and I know it. Fighting with the 'this looks bad - cut it back to bob' feeling.

eadwine
May 14th, 2014, 08:45 AM
Are you sure this is something you have been thinking for a while, or since you became more curly?

I have changed routines and for me it is "ugh this is so greasy looking" that I have to get used to. It is not greasy it is clumping.

In your situation it might be because hair with the curlier ends looks.. less nice maybe? TO YOU that is :)


Any kind of change brings about drastic feelings, so I have found :lol:

Do also read the thread about hating ends poking out of a bun that I started. There are many blunt cut ladies who have this happen because of a blunt cut, so.. it might not be what you like :)

However.. if in two weeks you still feel this urge to have a blunt hemline.. why not? Whatever makes YOU happy, and at least hair will grow ;) :)

Marika
May 14th, 2014, 08:50 AM
Have you ever considered microtrimming? I'm really lazy to trim and don't mind fairytale ends but I felt like the ends were a bit too wispy. I trimmed just a little bit and it really helped without losing any length at all (because the longest ends were so thin). Now I plan to do it every 3 months. I'm a bigger person too and I actually want my hair to look quite thick because it makes my back look narrower. Not really but I like to think so :p

Rosa Harris
May 14th, 2014, 09:02 AM
This is more one of those - it hit me this morning and trying to stay away from it things! I tend to do things really spastically sometimes. I guess its ADHD! I'll get fixated on some rash idea, go do it, then regret it 10 minutes later. Story of my life (and bank account).

I am having some adjustment with the curlies/ I know on one level that it looks great. Never had so many compliments on my hair. On the other I see 80's Hair band metal hair when I look at the pics and... well... oh wow. NO! my mind goes - not that - anything but but that! Everyone had their hair waved out in really bad perms to look just like THIS held in place with stiff gel or tons of spray. So, I guess it looks kinda fake to me even tho its not. Me and my Punk friends called them metal poodle heads.

eadwine
May 14th, 2014, 09:25 AM
Then I'd definitely say: two week rule. Stick that on your scissors. :)

~Abi~
May 14th, 2014, 09:40 AM
I think your curly hair looks great and looks nothing like crazy 80's perms. I think that thickening up the ends would be a good idea, especially if it would make you feel happier about your hair, but I don't think a full chop or even taking very much off would be necessary. An inch or two would be the absolute most maybe. And just keep trimming over time to let the ends thicken to where you want them to be. I also prefer a u or v shaped hemline compared to a blunt, straight hemline.

swearnsue
May 14th, 2014, 09:48 AM
You could cut yourself a medium/drastic U trim. That's what I try to do, it's almost a fairy tale shape but thicker. This wouldn't be too much of a chop, maybe none cut on the sides and an inch in the back.

I use Faye's method. It's fun and free.

Kherome
May 14th, 2014, 10:02 AM
I would cut to APL myself, but you could still have good looking hair with a steep U to BSL :)

divinedobbie
May 14th, 2014, 10:35 AM
I think you'd be best cutting a blunt v or u to get rid of some of the thinner ends.

Beborani
May 14th, 2014, 12:03 PM
If your hair curls well as it seems to from the picture then you dont really need to chop--I am guessing my flat ironed picture would look like yours too but since it curls and clumps I find the thin ends to be an advantage for wearing it down or up with ends poking out. One or two inch chop will do nothing for your hair and a big one might make you sad if length is your goal.

door72067
May 14th, 2014, 12:22 PM
I like a soft-u hemline for managing curls...makes the line look thicker and less *scraggly* (I get what you are saying about 80's hair...I feel like that sometimes about mine)

ErinLeigh
May 14th, 2014, 01:55 PM
If it were me I would cut to APL. I'm a big chopper. But we are talking about you. You have gone bald to TBL and it meant a lot to you. You may regret a big chop just because you have worked so hard doing it the way you did. Because of your original goal of letting it do its thing I would start with microtrimming first just so you don't have regret. If you feel ok with that and like the effect then start considering other options with the 2 week rule.

Spring fever is hitting hard this year! :)

GoldenSilk
May 14th, 2014, 02:11 PM
I would try trimming to a U or V hemline before you chop. I think your fairy tales look nice, personally, but if you do want thicker looking ends when down, a U or V will avoid the straight line across your body of a blunt cut, as well as being much easier to tuck into buns (but that's my own pet peeve).

Your hair has so much personality and texture to it. :) I really love it.

queenovnight
May 14th, 2014, 08:24 PM
Before I joined (or stalked) the forum, I wanted to grow out my fairytale ends and be all mystical. After quite some time, I craved the blunt cut that so many LHC ladies have. Now, I kinda want my fairytale ends back. Before cutting, view the 'fairytale ends' thread! You might just change your mind :D - I really like your hair, and think you should keep it the way it is ^_^

kganihanova
May 14th, 2014, 08:40 PM
Honestly, I'd chop. I can't stand FTEs.

xoxophelia
May 14th, 2014, 08:48 PM
It looks like fairytale ends due to genetic limitation.... Or maybe thyroid? If you cut do so because you have chosen to maintain a thick hemline over length because it may not improve without extensions at your current length. When my ends are too thin for my liking, I chop.

spidermom
May 14th, 2014, 09:29 PM
My advice - trim the longest, thinnest ends back to the next-longest ends. Or just take 1 inch. I know a really good way to do this and get a nice even result. Let me know if you want to know more.

Rosa Harris
May 14th, 2014, 11:31 PM
It looks like fairytale ends due to genetic limitation.... Or maybe thyroid? If you cut do so because you have chosen to maintain a thick hemline over length because it may not improve without extensions at your current length. When my ends are too thin for my liking, I chop.

Not quite sure if I am at the limits My hair has always had that shape when left alone. It starts from 3 inch terminal hair fringe and goes down at progressive lengths. I now the shorter fringes just do not go any longer and never have. It's kinda self-layered. I've noticed the sae look on other Roma women and I have never seen Roma hair much longer than mine is now.

This is the absolutely longest image I have seen of Roma hair and it has the same 'thin' look as mine.. all Roma braids I have seen are like my braids and tail down to thin ends just below the breast.

http://svenko.net/img/costume_vintage/hor_costume_014.jpg
http://www.thefader.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Gypsies_17.jpg

Btw her coins in her hair are her dowery on dislay

Rosa Harris
May 15th, 2014, 12:33 AM
My son took some better pics to prove to me that the idea of cutting is totally nuts
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5195/14003160039_aee16af223.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nkpRBM)farytails2 016 (https://flic.kr/p/nkpRBM) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr

later - after crashing in the bed and wallering around on it.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5313/14166682556_9d5b40d5c4.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nzRXaw)farytales 050 (https://flic.kr/p/nzRXaw) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr

Marika
May 15th, 2014, 01:02 AM
I see Roma women everyday and their hair looks very similar to yours. Even if it's shorter (APL to waist), it still has the same shape. After realizing this, I think you're probably never going to get that really blunt and thick look. That's why I vote NO to chop but like I said before, maybe microtrim the very ends if you feel like it.

Tini'sNewHair
May 15th, 2014, 01:08 AM
My advice is to just take it easy, don’t do anything dramatic/in a rush but do experiment and try to find out what you like best at any given time. Also keep in mind that some hair can grow a lot fast than the rest so even if you go for a blunt cut, your hair might still fairytale back pretty fast so to keep your hair blunt, you may have maintain a lot more than usual….

Dreams_in_Pink
May 15th, 2014, 03:41 AM
Not all hair needs to be very thick to be beautiful. Your hair develops natural fairytale ends and i think it gives a romantic look with the spiral waves. I suggest you start microtrimming to build thickness without losing length. Grow only the amount of hair you grow. See if that helps in a few months?

Theobroma
May 15th, 2014, 05:58 AM
If you want thicker ends but also care about preserving length, I'd microtrim. Perhaps start with a one-inch trim just so you feel you've made a difference (my ends are very thin too and half-inch trims feel like I've done nothing), but snip smaller increments after that. Your hair is very pretty, notwithstanding the unkind comment or two I spotted upthread. So long as the ends are healthy, there's absolutely no reason you need to do anything drastic to it!

Dandelion6
May 15th, 2014, 06:42 AM
My son took some better pics to prove to me that the idea of cutting is totally nuts
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5195/14003160039_aee16af223.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nkpRBM)farytails2 016 (https://flic.kr/p/nkpRBM) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr

later - after crashing in the bed and wallering around on it.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5313/14166682556_9d5b40d5c4.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nzRXaw)farytales 050 (https://flic.kr/p/nzRXaw) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr

I really think your hair is very pretty and there is no need to do a big chop. After reading through this thread it sounds like you've come to your own conclusion that you are happy with it at this length. At the most I think you could take 2 or 3 inches off the very longest hairs and end up with a fuller looking U shape.

ErinLeigh
May 15th, 2014, 08:34 AM
Oh my the henna and curls are lovely. Sometimes we see a picture of our hair unstyled and think we need a change, when really we just need another picture. There are days I take pics and my hair looks so thin and damaged. Other oics it looks full and nice. Lighting, weather, oil in hair etc really make a difference in how the photo appears. Had you viewed the henna pic first you probably wouldn't have even had the original thought. :)

It seems your method is working for you. Are you really ready to let go of any length you love?
I wouldn't do more than microtrim as needed right now and enjoy this process. You seem to be having fun with it.

lapushka
May 15th, 2014, 09:08 AM
You could try a deep V, from Feye's self-trimming instructions. If you want about the same V, but need it layered, then try one of the compact cut methods, the one for short layers (ponytail on top of forehead, and snip a tiny bit off). I have the same layered style, and my hair is layered from APL+ all the way to hip+ and I am about 2/3 inches from TBL.