New haircut needed.

[Janne]

Hello everybody,

As the ***le suggests, I'm in dire need of a new haircut. I'm a 19 year old (though my looks suggest that I'm much younger) male with blonde, medium-length hair, that is extremely boring. I've been scouting the net for haircuts that I'd like, but so far I've mostly just found ones that I most likely cannot get, due to me having the wrong type of hair for it: I happen to have pretty thin and plain hair. I want to stick to having pretty long hair, as I've been told that I look even younger with short hair - something that I wish to avoid, now that I'm looking for a job. However, I understand that mere words won't give you a fair idea of how I look, so here's two recent pictures of me (as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...K/IMG_1648.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...K/IMG_1641.jpg

Please note that my hair is usually not that messy: it just so happens that it's very dirty in those pictures, and were I to wash it with shampoo, it'd become very boring again.

Here's two pictures of haircuts that I've considered, but I don't know if I can pull it off, partly due to my looks, but mostly due to my hair. This is where I turn to you experts, for some help and advice!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...omasdekker.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...c5a6013c2e.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...y_yleighne.jpg

The problem with the last one, of the comic-book guy, is that I could have hair similar to that; however, I don't know if I can make it look as "divided"/choppy like that. I'm afraid it'd end up like this: http://www.podster.pwp.blueyonder.co...tos/muffet.jpg Where basically everything just blends into one: no separation whatsoever.

The problem with the second one, which might be obvious, is that I most likely cannot get my hair like that without spending 60 minutes on it each morning, if it's even possible. However, a cut like that, except an inch or so shorter, would be very cool having, if only for a while. I like bangs, you see.

If anyone has any tips on how I could achieve (that is, if I even can) either hairstyles, or have some suggestions of their own, I'd be very grateful if you could share them with me. Thank you in advance, and I hope for some replies.

Janne

[bolesregan]

First one will definitely make you handsome. You have same type of hairstyle that can be transferred easily. I have confidence to get easily.

[Janne]

I'm leaning towards the first one, since it seems to be the easiest (in terms of maintenance) to uphold, but I'm having doubts about the texture of my hair being compatible with that guys. He seems to have much thicker hair than I do, and he seems to be able to pull that hairstyle off with something other than wax, that still leaves his hair soft and whatnot. I'm uncertain whether I'll be able to do that, which makes me hesitate.

EDIT: I got the first cut. It didn't turn out anything like it. What a surprise. Next time I'm going bald, save myself the disappointment. Ha - I'm just jealous of you thick-haired bastards.

[Toni]

Hi Janne,

I am so sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I read your post, got interrupted and am just getting back to you. For this I really apologize. Especially since you have already gone to get your haircut.

I am going to go out on a limb here and say that you probably got a better cut than you first realized. And bolesregan is right, that 1st hairstyle is suited to your hair as you have the same thickness actually.

However, I have a red flag going off here. You say the pics of you are "recent"? This means you had a choppy layer cut going on...in like a short shag type style. And you asked for that first pic? That first picture shows a guy with all-one-length hair!!!! So cutting your hair more is not the answer. His hair has these small sections divided by finger combing product throughout. Not that you cannot still do that with whatever layering you may have. Yet is your length still this long? Garnier makes some great texture products sold in most stores Walmart or Target, like putty or fiber gum. I like one called "Bold It". John Frieda also makes great products available in most stores. And if they are strong enough to spike your hair, they are strong enough to keep separation going on. Used to be all the decent products were sold in salons and beauty supply stores. They still are, just that now some lines are exclusive for retail stores which is a break for the average consumer.

I know your hair type VERY well. I have it too. We have to shampoo it and then dirty it again with product to get it to do something those with thick, body filled hair can do naturally and yet we can never get it as good as theirs, yet products these days DO help a lot.

I would plump up the hair with a good mousse throughout, then also heat protectant of some kind on the ends ONLY, even if it's wax..anything to protect them from the dryer. (bend over and you can then only grab the ends of your hair that way Blow it all out, rake it or finger comb out most of any tangling, then apply the texture products as mentioned above...(experiment...what works for me, might not work as well for you and vice versa) ...apply them LIGHTLY by rubbing product over fingers and finger combing it in. Allow to dry. You may want to rake while still wet and as it continues to dry with product, you may try raking when completely dry. Or you may just like the look by not bothering it at all. Try all things.

Good luck and let us know!!!

[bolesregan]

I am very sorry i thought that the first one may suit you. I never think about thick hair. For first one having thick hair matches.

[Toni]

Oh dear, I didn't mean to be misunderstood either!

I think that first shot suits as well. It's just that I don't agree that it is all that thick. The hair seems a little dense, yet pics can be confusing AND products can mislead us too. Also, the fact that this style appears to be all-one-length, just the length cut around the years, makes it look thicker too. Naturally all-one-length hair will be thicker as opposed to layered hair which is naturally thinned out by said layers.

So yes, first hairstyle is great for Janne. The heavy fringe shortens a longer face and the longer length peaking out from the back helps to widen the narrow chin line. So, definitely a GREAT CHOICE!

[Janne]

Thanks for the replies guys, and there is absolutely no need to apologise for anything! I only have myself to blame for being so impatient. I blame neither of you for anything.

Originally Posted by Toni

However, I have a red flag going off here. You say the pics of you are "recent"? This means you had a choppy layer cut going on...in like a short shag type style. And you asked for that first pic? That first picture shows a guy with all-one-length hair!!!! So cutting your hair more is not the answer. His hair has these small sections divided by finger combing product throughout. Not that you cannot still do that with whatever layering you may have. Yet is your length still this long? Garnier makes some great texture products sold in most stores Walmart or Target, like putty or fiber gum. I like one called "Bold It". John Frieda also makes great products available in most stores. And if they are strong enough to spike your hair, they are strong enough to keep separation going on. Used to be all the decent products were sold in salons and beauty supply stores. They still are, just that now some lines are exclusive for retail stores which is a break for the average consumer.

Well, my hair isn't as long as it was a bit more than 24 hours ago, so to get the exact length the guy has, I'd most likely have to wait 4-6 months, if not more. Yes, my hair was cut in a choppy layered style and after a few months I started neglecting it and let it grow wild, so to say. I'm definitely interested in those Garnier products you mention; are they supposed to make my hair (appear) more thick?

I have heard of Walmart and Target, but as I live in Sweden, I don't have access to those stores. However, I'll try some stores here and see if I can find a Garnier product that says putty or fiber gum.

I know your hair type VERY well. I have it too. We have to shampoo it and then dirty it again with product to get it to do something those with thick, body filled hair can do naturally and yet we can never get it as good as theirs, yet products these days DO help a lot.

Originally Posted by Toni

I would plump up the hair with a good mousse throughout, then also heat protectant of some kind on the ends ONLY, even if it's wax..anything to protect them from the dryer. (bend over and you can then only grab the ends of your hair that way Blow it all out, rake it or finger comb out most of any tangling, then apply the texture products as mentioned above...(experiment...what works for me, might not work as well for you and vice versa) ...apply them LIGHTLY by rubbing product over fingers and finger combing it in. Allow to dry. You may want to rake while still wet and as it continues to dry with product, you may try raking when completely dry. Or you may just like the look by not bothering it at all. Try all things.

Good luck and let us know!!!

I'll definitely try different things, starting with mousse. English isn't my native tongue, so I'm having some trouble understanding some of the words in the above paragraph: rake and finger comb, to me more precise.

Don't get me wrong: my current hairstyle is still better than what I had a day ago, but it's not the same as what I had wanted; far from it. It's very thin, especially at the ends now, and I think he layered it again. I'll let it grow out again and give it another try when I've got the length necessary for this one cut. I'll try to get some pictures up of how it looks now. Should I take one just after having blow-dried it or when I've added something to it? I won't guarantee great results, as I'm very lousy at handling hair products.

[Toni]

Hello again Janne!

Sweeden! Wow! Your English is better than some from this country!! Okay, I understand now.

Rake or raking your hair is something your can do by either running your fingers through your hair or using what is called a hair pick. http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:.../139069631.jpg

Like this.

And finger combing means just what it sounds like. Using your fingers to run through your hair to separate and detangle.

As for those Garnier products and John Frieda comes to mind too, I'm not so sure they sell them in Sweden and I have no idea of knowing what hair products are good in your country available in department stores, not salon products. Even if you have to go to a salon to purchase the products, tell them you want something for control and texture. A stylist will know exactly what you need when you describe the style you want to achieve.

As for these products making your hair look thicker. As I said, all-one-length hair will look thicker and with a product applied yes, more so than layering your hair. Layering thins your hair out a lot. So grow it out for sure! I think you will be happy in just getting that done. However, go get a trim (not needed for a while!) to ensure that you aren't getting split ends and explain, that you don't want it cut in any particular haircut that you ONLY want the ends trimmed off because you are GROWING it all out.

In the meantime, any texture product you use in your layers, will enable you to have a "messy hairstyle" which are still very popular; whether you spike your hair much or not.
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:...Y/s320/emo.jpg http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:...07/08/hair.jpghttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:...ikey-hair2.jpghttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:...-12-700648.jpghttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:...s083241rv8.jpg

I think you get the idea. You can just mess it up or you can have spikes all over. Something tells me you would like the "messy look". Anyway, my point is , your hair is going to appear thicker if it has this "lift" all over as opposed to laying flat!

I do hope this all helps.

Be patient growing it out. It is not a fun process and days will seems like weeks doing so. Good luck!IMG]

[Janne]

Thanks for the kind words and your help, Toni! I really appreciate it.

Yes, it's not a fun process growing your hair out, especially when it takes more than a few months - but complaining about it won't help!

I'll try to mess up my hair with different products in the mean time, or simply brush it to the side a little; doesn't look to shabby when doing that, and it only takes a minute or two.

Again, thanks for your help! I'll be sure to check back when I think it's time for a new haircut.

[Toni]

Hello again Janne

Good luck with growing out your hair.
I don't remember if I mentioned or emphasized this enough, however, do make sure you go and get the "ends" trimmed off as you grow it out. Even making your stylist UNDERSTAND that you can keep the layers the same length as long as they are getting longer. If you tell them you're growing it out, it shouldn't be a problem.

I just feel it's a good idea and certainly more tolerable to have some sort of "shape" to your style to manage it, even one that is growing out.

Best of luck!!!