Cutting long hair to short is something every woman contemplates at least once in her lifetime. The spontaneity of getting a drastic chop is exciting in theory, but most people won’t follow through out of fear of potentially compromising their femininity or leaving their comfort zone. While all of those concerns are valid and real, it’s totally worth it—and I say this because I just did it.
For as long as I could remember, I’ve been fortunate enough to have hair that grew well past the midpoint of my back. When I was little, I looked like a 5-year-old girl blessed with the mane of a doll. I used to love creating at-home music videos (now buried in the depths of my basement) and while you can hear the tiny voice belting out, all that’s visible is a tiny creature made of hair bopping around on camera.
Since my earliest days, my long, dark brown hair has been my security blanket helping me feel confident on even my worst hair days. My hair and I have grown together—literally and figuratively—through some pivotal moments in my life.
Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a person who often seeks a dramatic change. However, every so often I feel the need to do something different. Whenever I do get that itch, it’s like the universe telling me it’s time to move on and dive into something new. I’ve only dramatically chopped my hair twice before—once right before going into middle school and then before going into college. When the Hair.com editors had the idea of an in-salon hair transformation, I volunteered as tribute without thinking twice.
The morning of my transformation, I woke up feeling particularly anxious. I had been anticipating this day for a while, but the realization that I would no longer have long locks hit me harder than a gust of New York City wind. At that point, however, there was no going back.
At Brush Salon on New York City’s Madison Avenue, I sat in the chair while the wonderful Brandon Shin, Kérastase stylist, consulted with me about my hair goals. I showed Shin a few inspo pictures (because photo references make everyone’s life a little bit easier). If you’re going for a drastic change, showing your stylist a visual representation can ensure they know what kind of look you want.
I had already decided to donate my hair for the first time, so Shin tied my mane back into a low ponytail and chopped it right above the elastic before even washing my hair. After all the effort I’ve taken to maintain healthy hair, the least I could do was give it to someone in need.
Nearly 10 inches later—and after seeing the ponytail of my freshly cut hair—I felt like a different person. I couldn’t wait for Shin to start styling so I could see the end result. After the chop, Shin’s assistant used the Kérastase Aura Botanica line to wash and condition my hair so that he could continue to trim and shape my shorter strands.
At this point, my thoughts were bouncing back and forth between the excitement of love at first sight and mild panic because I’d never seen my hair so short. I watched as Shin took his time crafting my dream look. He trimmed my hair both wet and again when it was dry to ensure I’d end up with the perfect bob shape.
To create the beachy texture I asked for, Shin dried and ironed my hair. He recommended flat ironing before adding any curls to give hair a shiny finish. Once my hair was straight, he began to curl my hair with a 1.5-inch curling iron to create loose, effortless waves. After a few rounds of curling and a couple spritzes of Kérastase Laque Dentelle Hair Spray to hold everything together; my look was complete. I fell in love all over again—for good this time.
Now that it’s all over, I can confidently say my intuition was right. I’m excited for this change and a new phase of growth. Since I’ve gone over to the short side, I don’t know if I have any plans to go back. As of now, I’m having way too much fun finding different ways to style my shorter strands. The compliments are pretty nice, too.
If you’re contemplating getting a drastic cut or dying your hair a different shade, my advice to you would be to go for it. While the internal battle is no easy feat, I promise you the liberation, thrill, and confidence that immediately follows your new look is unbeatable.
Interested in trying out a short haircut or a dramatic transformation? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist near you.
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