Cut a bob they said... you will look chic and it will be EASY to maintain

Spoiler alert... it was not! Maybe read this if you're thinking of cutting your hair short.

I’ve always had long hair—straight, very fine, a little frizzy, but for the most part, it was unproblematic. The length gave me a variety of styling options: straight, wavy, up or down. Thinking back on it now, I realize that maintaining my long hair was never really an issue for me. But somehow, in 2016, I convinced myself that I was:
a) in desperate need of a makeover (i.e., a stylish bob), and
b) tired of keeping up with my long hair, believing a bob would be much easier to maintain.

And so, to the salon I went and chopped my hair off! Let me tell you something: it was not easier to maintain. In fact, styling it actually became a daily nightmare until I threw in the towel and grew my hair back long.

Now, I am not saying that bobs are difficult to maintain for everyone, a bob was difficult to maintain for me. However, if you have fine, straight hair like me, consider the following before getting a haircut:

Prior to cutting my hair short, I did not style my hair daily. As you know heat is your worst enemy when you have fine hair, so typically I heat-styled my hair once a week. This worked rather well for me, and my hair remained in good health and condition.

Once I committed myself to a bob, most of these styling options were no longer on the table. Too short for an updo, messy and unpolished when air dried, the bob was demanding and high maintenance. And while it looked sharp and chic when styled, straightened, sprayed and cemented in place, with time, the heat styling and frequent washing took their a toll on my hair.

By the way, the frequent washing is the other elephant in the room, and something I failed to consider entirely before I cut my hair. And I know I sound like a broken record, but… with long hair, I typically put my hair up if I felt like it was getting a bit too oily, which was not an option with a bob. No, no… the bob had to be washed 2-3 times a week and styled daily. With time my hair got drier, more brittle, lost its luster and I could tell that if I continued with this routine, things would only get worse.

In 2020, I made a decision to say goodbye to my bob and grow my hair long. I went back to my old wash cycle (every 4-5 days), I stopped daily heat styling, accepted bad hair days, got some clip-in extensions to help with the shape and eventually grew my hair back.

Final thoughts... if a friend came to me asking for an advice on cutting their hair, I would say that they should consider carefully their hair type, texture, hair-care routine and styling habits.

And yes, sometimes we want a change, and cutting your hair short can feel very exciting and liberating, right? That feeling at the salon when your new bob is fresh, styled, and looking fabulous… I loved that feeling. What I didn’t love was the daily appointment with my hair straightener, the slew of hair-care products required to keep it all in place, and the lack of styling options.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Have you ever cut your hair short and had an experience similar to mine, or was it the complete opposite for you?

xx Annabelle