Should You Cut Your Hair?

If you’re sometimes wondering wether you should cut your hair, here are a few things to know, generously illustrated (you’re welcome!) with photos of myself. PART 1 LONG-ish, curly. I wanted to be this romantic-chic-spiritual lady that I’m probably not—this never really worked. All these are selfies where I try really hard to look pretty: IRL it was often a disaster, like on the last photo. I know that I should have stuck it out and grown it longer, past the weird shoulder length—but by that time, I had realized it wasn’t for me. LONG-ish, straight. Meh. Do you agree? The second photo was the best I ever ever looked with long hair, and it was in Scotland after a rain storm. It was half-wet. I feel like straight long hair makes my face go down, down, down. LONG-ish, totally natural. “Natural is always best!” people say. Yes. So I’ve tried it. Can you see how uncomfortable I am in that photo? It’s just… I really, really, REALLY don’t like it. I feel so NOT me. Why is long hair not really working for me, a theory. 1/ I just don’t have a fabulous hair texture. To me, very long hair has to be very beautiful hair. 2/ Without the sharpness of a shorter cut, my soft features (I don’t have a strong brow, a statement mouth or a designer cheekbone, alas) plus the softness brought by the extra hair makes my features look, well… Soft and undefined. One day, my mom, my sister, AND my husband had an intervention. They told me to stop with my long hair experiment. I obliged. Also, THE TRUTH IS, when it was long, it was back almost everyday. This is my favorite hairstyle. It could be my only hairstyle for the rest of my life, and I’d be very happy. One day, a friend had told me “oh, you and I, we’re “hair back girls”” and I think she was right. I just feel like I look best with my hair out of my face. It’s sharper, clean, I don’t need to touch it, or wonder how’s it’s looking as I’m speaking to someone. Unfortunately, you can’t pull your hair back for years. It really takes a toll on your hairline, and over the last few years, I’d felt my hair getting thinner. I couldn’t keep pulling. So I cut it. PART II MID-LENGTHS, long-ish Looks okaaaay-ish in photos—except for the third one, eeeeeek, eeeeew. Second photo: cute. In reality: Lord Farquad. MID-LENGTHS, short. Oh please. See the middle photo? That’s my nightmare, and I’m not talking about the bread mustache. With that length, the nightmare was my reality most of the time. Pouffy at the bottom, flat on top. Why the mid-lengths are not working for me, a theory. It has to do with hair density—I have much more hair (and it’s really dense and curly) in the back of the head than on top (where it’s softer and straighter). After drying, my hair flattens immediately at the top, but over the hours of a day, the back and sides get puffier and puffier, giving me the dreaded Lord Farquad look. Which is also why, in another chapter of GARANCE AND HER HAIR, which you’ll be dying to follow, I’ll tell you about doing PRP, which is supposed to help with hair thinning. I still have a good amount of hair but it’s for prevention. I did my first session yesterday, and I will report! Anyway mid lengths were just okay, so one day, I chopped it off. PART III SHORT In my thirties my short hair were a sort of a signature. Then I wanted to leave my thirties behind and become a romantic-chic-spiritual lady. I even tried to live in Georgian England for a while. That’s when I did all the hair-xperimentations (sorry, couldn’t help!) above. And after a long and winding road, I’m back, but I’m not the same, so I want something different and softer. Right now, I’m debating if I keep bangs (photo 3, 5 and 7) or do longer locks in the front (photo 1)—the good thing with short hair is that I can have it all it: it grows out so quickly. My fear is photo number 8, because on bad days it can make me look like a an old boy OR a French middle-aged woman who just got a divorce and is reinventing herself in Morocco, which I am all these things—except for the divorce—but that’s not the story I want my hair to tell about me. So when I can’t cope, I gel it back and look like a fashion fixture again (so easy). SO, SHOULD YOU CUT YOUR HAIR? 3 THINGS IF YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT IT: Short hair is about hair quality and bone structure. It definitely helps create an architecture around the face, which can be great to make delicate, softer features come to life. In other words, it gives an energy. It takes a bit of work to truly figure out what works, because there are hundreds of ways to wear your hair short. It’s super creative. If it has enough length, one short haircut can be styled a ton of ways. It gives an edge to any outfit, creates a unique look and is definitely an excellent way to “become a different person.” (do we ever) Things to know about short hair, the bad. 1/ Remember that these photos are my hair at its best so I’ll trust you just to imagine it at its worst. 2/ Know that waking up when you have short hair is rarely sexy. 3/ If you—like me—are terrified of looking like a man, know that the thought definitely pops up, sometimes. Jewelry and make up become your best friends. Things to know about short hair, the good. 1/ You’ll gain an immediate personality even if you have none. 2/ It’s really much, much easier than long hair. 3/ In my case, my hair looks healthiest when short. It’s shiny, no split ends, and even when it gets a bit greasy, it’s kind of cool. Lastly. Your hairdresser becomes your best friend because you have to go more often than with long hair, which I actually like. I recently found my new best friend in Paris, following a reader’s advice (thank you Julia!) his name is William at Maison Crinière (sorry Julia if I just ruined our secret!) and in London, it’s Jonny, he’s sooooooo good and kind and fun. I adore them both. Oh no. I thought I would keep it short and fun and here we are overflowing again. Tell me what you think of my hair, bangs or longer in the front? Let me know if you have any questions, and tell me if you’ve ever thought of going short! In my last Letter, I talk about what is quiet luxury to me. In my last Note, I share ten new things! This is our last live. Let’s meet again next week, on Wednesday at 6PM Paris time. Let me know if you need help tuning in. At Doré, we launched two new incredible serums!!! They are formulated with a proprietary blend of silk peptides and natural ingredients that deliver visible transformation but do not irritate or sensitize your skin. Both are exclusive to Ulta Beauty and you can learn more about them here: Peptides Extreme Fermeté and Peptides Bouclier Intégral. I love them!