In which I solicit hair advice from the interweb
Posted by Isabel on April 2nd, 2008. Filed under: I Rock, Me.You know how girls always grow their hair out before they get married? And then the second they get home from their honeymoon they cut it all off? And you know how when you’re pregnant your hair is thick and shiny and just so luxurious? But then a few months after you’ve given birth it starts to fall out at an alarming rate?
And then you know how girls are never happy with their hair? If they have curly hair, they want straight hair. If their hair is straight, they want curls. If they have brown hair, they want blonde hair. If they have gray hair, they want anything besides gray hair.
Yeah, I’m revisiting the whole “holy hell I have the hugest forehead (proof!) in the history of the world, and I simply must cover it with bangs, even though when I’ve had bangs in the past they drove me batty” phase. (The King hates when I mention bangs. HATES. He knows the stress they cause me and wants no part of it.)
I decided I needed to ask the interweb for advice on the whole “bangs issue”. The interweb always has the right answers.
First, I will need a BEFORE picture.
This morning, before I headed out the door for work, I asked The King to take a picture of my “top half”.
“Yeah, not that ‘top half’, you goof.” (To which he replied, “well that’s the top half I look at!”)
Okay, so this is how I look in the morning. See that forehead? What am I saying, of course you see that forehead. You can’t miss it. You may or may not be able to tell that I do have some longish type bangs. They go to about my chin. They do not aid in covering the forehead.
Should I cut bangs that go all the way across my forehead?
(I totally cut and pasted pieces of my actual hair in that picture. Dude, I’m talented.)
Or do I get some short side-swept-type bangs? (It must be noted that I had these before and I failed miserably at making them actually sweep. This is where the frustration arose.)
Or do I go balls to the wall and get bangs and some awesome highlights?
I know it’s hard to see what the AFTER would be by just looking at these picture. So um, I dug this picture out from the back of my hard drive. You know it’s an old picture because I’m have my braces. (and my eyes closed. Whatever.)
So tell me, what do you think? Should I suck it up and cut bangs so that I look and feel better about myself? Or do I remember how much I hate having to deal with bangs and how they never sweep just right and how you have to get them trimmed all the time?
Because really, I feel like I need to cut me some bangs.
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Today is Wednesday. Which means I posted over at SeattleMomBlogs. Today we discuss how bad insurance sucks and why sometimes we get screwed.
And don’t forget to check out my latest New Thing. We’re trying flushable diapers at our house. And guess what? They are pretty awesome. We’re saving the planet, one diaper at a time.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I have to say I really like the swept over bang look on you. But is it worth the pain in the ass? Only you can answer that. As far as highlights? I say naaah….you have a really nice rich brown color, it would be really annoying (even more so than the bangs) keeping up with highlights with such dark hair.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I have been thinking about the side-sweepy bangs myself; I think they look good as long as they behave. What if they were a smidge longish, so if needed they can be held hostage behind your ear? And I read somewhere that dark, shiny brunette was the new blonde, all the stick-figure fashion models are doing it. ;o)
Good luck! And can’t wait for the pictures!
xox
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I think the side swept bangs look great.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I love the side swept bangs look. It’s so hot right now. (Please imagine that in a zoolander voice).
I’ve actually been considering them, but I am way too lazy to be allowed to have bangs. Plus, I’m busy growing my hair out for my wedding.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
For the record, your forehead is not that big. If you were to walk by you are not one of those people who I would look at and think, “Holy heavens now THAT is a forehead.” And trust me, there are people out there who cause me to think that.
Bangs are such a paaaain. I vote don’t do it. I really like your hair just as it is, actually. Long, but not too long. Nice waviness. Good color. It suits you.
Now that being said, I’m probably voting nay because I chopped all my hair off in a moment of hair passion and I’ve been regretting it ever since. I don’t think I’m going to cut my hair ever again and whenever I hear girls with long hair talk about chopping it I’m like NOOOOOO!
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
They say bangs make you look younger, I don’t get that concept therefore I don’t agree bangs make everyone look younger.
I also don’t see this “big” forehead you keep referring to. Your face is gorgeous!
Bangs in your case? the squiggly thing visual of your pseudo bangs is making me lol. It’s hard to comment without a real visual
But that last picture of you with the side sweep? I think it’s so cute!
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I have to vote side swept bangs and also have to agree that you don’t have a five-head. Your face is proportioned and lovely.
As for highlights…hmmm. You do have a lovely rich color already. I do my own with the L’Oreal Coloeur Experte (or however you french spell color expert). And I’m quite happy with it.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I’m sure it’s not what you want to hear, but I think your hair is gorgeous just as is is.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I really like the swept bangs look on you. I would go with it. The full forehead of bangs that I have is ticking me off at the moment so I wouldn’t recommend that. You can also try a try it on generator http://www.lhj.com/lhj/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/lhj/story/data/tryahairstyle_landingpage_06292004.xml
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Bangs are bad! Well, for me they are. I tried them again after my son was born – and I’ve sworn NEVER to revisit them. They just weren’t anything like I thought they’d be. And they were WORK. Yuck.
Definitely go for highlights! For fun & summer & all.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I agree with heels–I like your hair now. But if you’re really looking for a change, I vote side bangs and highlights. I definitely don’t like the all-across-forehead bangs. I fought highlights for a long time, but just recently got them, and LOVE them.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I just got bangs myself, so I say go for it. I love mine. And I do like the last pic of you with bangs – I think they look great.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I actually really like your hair before! I don’t think your forehead is abnormally large? It suits your face! But I like the last picture with the side bangs swooping perfectly. I wish I could have bangs. Damn cowlicks.
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Side-swept bangs = cute on you. I don’t think you NEED them. I think your forehead looks totally normal. But if you want bangs, I say go for it. And highlights too if you want!
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
HI! Big forehead here. I feel like bangs are a neccesity on me because I have two eyebrows that like to sit at different levels on my face and because BIG forehead. So let’s talk about your hair quandry.
1- No to the highlights. On the brunettes, they tend to go brassy (which I think would be glorious on you but don’t enjoy so much on myself) and are a fussy baby to maintain.
2. You have wavy/curly hair, so I would imagine the bangs would be difficult to control unless you just flat iron them quickly in the morning.
3. I like the thick bangs all in a big curtain on some people but I just can’t do it. See evidence in the last picture here:
http://hotfromthefurnace.blogspot.com/2008/02/lets-look-at-my-face-real-close.html
I can’t get them to look thick enough without having the bangs of a two year old girl that start at my crown. So I do the sidesweep bangs. The trick to them is having them short enough to not have to tuck them and long enough to hang right. I just had a trim and mine are at a great length for the sidesweeping. They are (when hanging straight down) right at my bottom eyelid. I can also pull them back and make them all bouffant like right at the front of my head like the cool kids do.
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I think bangs would look hot on you but rainy Seattle + wavy hair = too much upkeep? Bangs require a lot of blowdrying with a round brush for me.
I love your chocolate brown hair so I vote no highlights! (and thanks for the blonde shoutout. Us blondes just wish we were skinny like you
)
And also I love that the King photographed your boobs and that you posted them. Love it!
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Count me in as a vote for “you look pretty now!” I say no to the whole bangs issue.
Of course, it’s your hair and you should do what you want.
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
The King is so funny! I think it is a man thing. Come to think of it, every picture I have taken of my wife are a “head shot” too low. Wow! No wonder I’ve been banned from taking pictures.
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I think bangs look good on you. I love my bangs, but maybe that is just me! I liked the person who said bangs make you look younger- whatever works!!!
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Honestly, I like the way your hair is now! I don’t think your forehead is huge at all. But if I have to chose, I’d chose the side-swept look. I think cutting them all the way across your forehead will be more annoying than the side-swept will be. I LOVE your shirt in this picture! And you look hot! (And just for the record, that picture of Babboo counting condoms with The King (from your “Proof!” link) is my favorite picture of him. EVER.)
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
My hair is growing for the wedding…only two more months to go EEEK I have been thinking after the wedding I might try the side swept bangs. I think you should cut your hair so you have bangs, but not the side bangs if they give you too many issues. Your hair is so pretty!! I love the color, but I am a fan of everyone going lighter or doing highlights in the spring/summer. I say go for it! Pretty redish highlights would look good on you!
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
You have such thick hair – I think I vote for the side swept bang…
I am trying to grow my hair out now and just the other day said “I think I need to cut my hair”
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I think the bangs would look GREAT! Although I see Janet’s point on the upkeep issue.
Also, it is good to know that even after years of marriage and parenthood, that the King still hearts your boobs.
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Your forehead looks like about the same height as mine and the front of your hair lays like mine across the forehead when I tuck it behind my ear (which is where it stays most of the day). I discussed the side-swept bang thing with my stylist at the last cut (for my boring, boring, boring bob). She said they would be an awful lot of work, and I’m all about the low-maintenance hair and being able to keep it out of my face during the day so decided it wasn’t worth it for 5 minutes or so of effect before they started to hang limply in my face (or the two days of enjoyment before I decided to grow them out again).
So my vote is no bangs and no highlights, but maybe a new variation on your cut if you are desperate for a change of some sort to your hair…not that you asked about that.
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I’ve always loved sideswept bangs but have never been able to master them.
I think your hair looks great as is, but highlights would be so fun. Spare yourself the torture of The Bangs. They clearly frustrate you!
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Sideswept bangs are awesome. I am a fan. Having a flat iron helps tame them, esp if you have wavy hair. I think they’d look good on you! Maybe if you parted your hair over more it’d help tame the bangs?
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
My hair decision process goes something like this:
“My hair looks bad today…maybe I need_______ (insert hair changing procedure” Then I ask just about everyone I know what they think. Then I talk myself out of it. That lasts for about a week, then in a fury of hair hating emotion, I just go have it done.
I totally get the bang issue. They’re a huge committment because they take a long time to grow out, and you have dorky in-between-bangs while you do it. I think your pic with bangs is cute, but I also have been coveting your long, wavy brown hair as is. So, I think it comes down to maintenance versus change. You’ll have to decide what is more imortant. I usually favor change.
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Skip the bangs and sell your lovely forehead to Macintosh for advertising.
That’s what I would do. I’m just sayin’.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I get in these sorts of funks every now and then. My honest advice, is cut the bangs and get the highlights. The reason why I say this is because every woman reaches a point with the look she’s had for a long time where she’s going insane with looking the same. We need to feel rejuvenated and different every so often. So I say go for it! And if you get sick of the bangs, you can do the awesome bang~pull~back~using~bobby~pins~thing. If you don’t know this look, let me know and I’ll email you a picture. I use that one a lot, especially when I don’t want to deal with my bangs for a day.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
My vote is no highlights (too much up-keep & they get expensive!) and yes bangs. I just cut bangs after Baby-G was born & they are awesome. And I can show you how to trim them yourself when I come visit. (YAY!)
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Oh my gosh, the Pretend Husband won’t talk about my bangs for the same reason! He wants me to grow mine out so they won’t be a topic of discussion (but I, unfortunately, have a sixhead– you know, instead of a forehead– and need some coverage). I am doing the whole swept to the side thing and can recommend it… definitely easier than trying to get the across the forehead kind of bangs to not gap, etc.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:15 pm
That is exactly what my husband would do. Ha ha
I know you will not believe me, because you are apparently quite opinionated on the subject of Your Forehead, but I think your hair looks good as is. That said, if you are feeling like self-torture MUST take place asap, the side-swept bangs also look good.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I love your blog – consider yourself blogrolled..
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I am the QUEEN of the five heads, and I have had bangs for about 4 years now. I really love them. When, Carl (my therapist and hairdresser) does them, them, they are all the way across. When I style them, they are sideswept. See! Versatile!
Do it! DO IT!
And, if you don’t have a stylist up there I do NOT find it unreasonable to come down here, bang trims are free, and Carl knows all about reality tv.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I really like how your hair looks now.
) I think I have a big forehead just like yours and I sometimes do the sideswept thing (my hair is chin length and a little shorter towards the front) and that works well. The problem is making them look right and keeping them out of your face. I’m constantly moving around and looking down at work and if I don’t have something holding part of my hair back, I’m driven absolutely nuts by bits falling in my face.
So, if you really want bangs, I say do the sideswept, where they are a bit longer and blend into the rest of your hair. The all-the-way-across bang looks dated to me (despite the fact that they’re coming back). Someone at work just got bangs cut and she looks totally ’80s now.
Highlights or lowlights or whatever would look great on your curls. You have such pretty hair!
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:11 am
You do not have what my sister calls a fivehead (person with an enormous forehead). I grew out my bangs in middle school and never look back. I would not want to deal with them, but I am just lazy like that!
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:30 am
Life is short. Go for the bangs and the highlights!
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:42 am
I can’t give you hair advice. I haven’t had mine cut in six months. I personally like your hair now. I wouldn’t change a thing.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:37 am
Your forehead looks like mine. I used to think it was big, but I’ve grown to think it’s fine. Yours is also fine, so I think you should forget about the bangs…and the highlights….your hair looks great!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:19 am
Having been there myself, I’d advise you to start with sidesweeping bangs, and see if you like them. If so, then go all out and get blunt bangs.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:17 am
I think your hair looks good as it is now; I love its thickness and colour; and I don’t think you have a big forehead.
If you really really really want to go for bangs, then I would go for the side swept bangs; they look really good on you but at the same time, you say they are a source of frustration! It’s quite a vicious circle, that is.
No highlights in my opinion, the colour is so nice as it is.
I’m 27 and I have had grey hair since I was 23 (thanks genetics) so I have to dye my hair and it’s quite a pain. Now, my aunt is my hairdresser so it’s free, but I’m dreading the day I’ll have to go and pay for it. It’s going to be a shock!
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
OK – I’m like, comment number 42… so no one is even reading them anymore… LOL… but – I have the SAME BIG FOREHEAD. And I have the same bang issues. Every couple of years I attempt to have bangs to cover my big old noggin and I end up hating them because … I admit… I’m just not a bang girl.
“bang girl…” you’ll get some search engine hits for that one won’t you!???
OK – so in the last two weeks I’ve debated the bang issue as well and I know I shouldn’t because I will hate it and they will look stupid, but my head is so BIG when my hair is all flat like that.
Sigh.
PS: I like your hair how it is though. No bangs.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Ok, your forehead is not big! I love the way your hair looks now, but I also think that the side-swept bangs would look good on you too. However! If every time you get them, you get frustrated and dislike them, why take that chance? Now highlights? Yes, definitely! I love getting highlights during the summer.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
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April 3rd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I vote for side swept bangs personally – or no bangs at all. I love your hair the way it is.
However if you just want a change all together – how about going all one length and cutting your hair to the length of your current chin length bangs?
Or is that too drastic?
And for the record….your hawt.
April 4th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
heck no on blunt bangs. They’re so almost out already. Sidesweepy or none. Definitely take May up on learning to cut them yourself for maintenance. And, I love the color you have — save some cash and don’t do the highlights. Use the money instead to come visit me.
April 5th, 2008 at 11:47 am
i love ur current hair. side fringe/highlights will look good too. but it’s ur glowing eyes and smile that stand out the best…as long as u don’t hide them….or get a bob….u should be fine!
April 7th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I am playing catchup and thus assuming that I’m too late to offer useful advice, but I would like to say that the king’s picture of your top half cracks me up. Tim would do the exact same thing.
April 8th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I like your hair as it is now, but if you must cut bangs I vote for option #1.
Also, I cut my hair super short (think pixie) about two months before getting married. Of course we were only engaged for one month before tying the knot, so there was no time to think about growing it out. It was a year after we were married before I decided to let it grow. 18 months after that, and I’m back to short.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:32 am
I’m totally weighing in late, but I think your hair looks fab as is. But I myself am a big fan of side-sweeping bang-age.
April 21st, 2008 at 4:36 pm
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