Mistakes to avoid when cutting your long hair

After making the decision to remove your tresses, stand in front of your mirror with your hair in the style you wear 90 percent of the time. Now focus on the width and height of your hair compared to your face and neck. Think of a picture frame with your face being the picture, your hair the frame. This silhouette is what your eyes are used to seeing. Many times, a drastic change to this silhouette causes regret.

Example: If you wear your long hair pulled back into a ponytail and close to your head, you are really looking at a short hair cut silhouette. If you decide on a new design that rides about the shoulder (bob length), your hair frame will increase by double. If you have wavy or curly hair it will increase by three or four times. Layering this length will reduce your hair frame and it may be more pleasing to your eye.

If you are not used to styling your hair (ponytail), consider a close-fitting natural dried or lightly heat-dried look. When looking for pictures of a possible new hair design, concentrate on the picture frame. An increase or decrease of about 30 percent or less will be more pleasing to your eye.

At Hair on the Avenue, our designers are trained to help you fit comfortably into your new look. Feel free to take advantage of our free consultation service.

Hair Math: From long to short, minus the trauma

So you’ve decided to take the plunge—you’re cutting off your tresses and going short! Here are some tips to help make it a smooth transition.

Study first

Before getting your hair cut, study yourself in a mirror with your hair styled the way you most often wear it. Focus on the width and height of your hair compared to your face and neck. Think of it as a picture frame; your face is the picture, your hair is the frame.

This silhouette is what your eyes are used to seeing, and a drastic change to it can cause you to regret your decision. But with some planning, you can avoid all that.

Do the hair math

That picture frame (the width and height of your hair) is the key to feeling good about a new look. Increasing or decreasing your frame by 30 percent or less will probably be more pleasing for your eye and may make the change less traumatic for you. So when you look for pictures of possible new hair designs, concentrate on the size of that picture frame.

Sample math problems

If you usually wear your long hair pulled back into a ponytail and close to your head, you are really looking at a short hair silhouette. If you decide on a new hair design that rides about the shoulder (bob length), your hair frame will double. If you have wavy or curly hair, it will triple or quadruple in size.

Layering this bob length will reduce your hair frame, bringing it closer to the 30 percent happy zone and making it easier on your eye.

If you’re not used to styling your hair (you prefer simple ponytails, for example), consider a close-fitting natural-dried or lightly heat-dried look.

Hair math tutors, at your service

At Hair on the Avenue, our designers are trained to help you fit comfortably into your new look. Stop by and take advantage of our free consultation service. We can help you do the hair math.