Hair, to cut or not to cut?

[WifeofAnt]

Has anyone cut their hair to make it easier to take care of post-baby? I thought I would but I can't really imagine parting with enough of my hair to make a difference. Every time I've ever cut my hair short I regretted it, I don't look good with short or medium length hair.

If you did keep your hair long what tips would you give to make things work out better? Should I invest in scrunchies? How do you keep little fingers out of it? When does it start falling out post-baby?

[mmaramba]

I haven't had a baby yet, but going by some of my friends-- those who kept their long hair but cut it after subsequent babies, or vice versa-- it's just as easy or easier for many women to keep the long hair. It's actually easier to keep out of baby's hands with an elastic than it is to deal with medium-length or shortish hair that is too short to tie back. Now, if you shaved your head or had a REALLY short cut, that would probably be just as easy.

That said, it also makes a difference how "high maintenance" your long hair is, IYKWIM. Personally, since my long hair is straight-ish and fine-ish, it's very easy to make it look "socially acceptable." I have friends with very thick, curly and/or 3C hair who spend more time straightening it and maintaining it, and I could see where keeping it long might be too much to deal with post-baby.

[possum]

For me, it's actually much easier to take care of my (very thick, slightly wavy) hair when it's long enough to pull back in a pony tail.
It doesn't need to be washed as often was much easier to get out of the way when my son wanted to mess with it.
I would also really consider carefully that you prefer your hair longer. Everyone is different, but I think that it is often hard enough to feel good about your appearance after a new baby without having a haircut that isn't flattering.
I'd vote to keep it long.
M

[taramoon13]

whenever i had shorter hair i always felt as though i had to wash or at least wet it and put some kind of styling product on it every day, could never just put it in a bun or ponytail, so i agree with pp in that it's really easier IMO to pull hair back in a band or braids, etc. when it's long AND it's easier to hide the fact that maybe it hasn't been washed quite as frequently as you'd like at all times.

[Chamomile Girl]

I cut my very long hair when my son was about four months old, because I simply could not deal with it anymore. And this was after I swore up and down that I would not do this. But my hair is very thick and the PP shedding was terrible, huge strands all over the house and I was concerned for DS's safety. Plus it was getting in the way of nursing and co-sleeping because no rubberband or scrunchie will contain it for long. Add to this the fact I no longer had the time to color it properly (henna...so I couldn't get it done at a salon).

I do miss my hair from an aesthetic standpoint (especially during Halloween or the Ren Faire! I never needed a wig lol). I do not miss taking care of it. Short hair is much easier, and right now that is what matters more to my sanity.

Here is a before shot.

Here is now.

[cappuccinosmom]

Someone guaranteed me that I would cut my hair when I had kids.

Nope. My hair has not been an issue at all. I braid it and pin it up when I get dressed in the morning, and I'm good for the entire day. Wash every couple of days. And even with newborns washing it wasn't all that hard.

[katelove]

I cut my shoulder-length hair short short when J was about 6 weeks old. It is certainly much easier to look after, on a bad day I can just run my fingers through it to straighten it out a bit.

I do miss my long hair but, I'd had it cut after our wedding so it wasn't long long when J was born. It was too short for me to do more than pull it back in a messy ponytail and I hate that look on me. Some people can pull it off really well but I am not one of them. I end up with straggly wisps around my face and this ugly, awkward thing at the back. And I had to tie it back somehow because otherwise it was always in her eyes.

If it had been long enough that I could do my standard long-haired twist-held-with-a-spike-clip hair do then I probably would have kept it long.

[CowsRock]

I prefer a really short layered style, feel it suits me best. With that said, I won't ever have short hair again while pregnant. Because it was so short and in layers, when I had the hair loss after it was very pronounced. I was already in a fragile state after giving birth and suddenly I had practically bald patches.

I agree with what others have said. It depends on the needs of your hair but for myself, being able to just pull it back in a ponytail would make the most sense as far as maintenance.

[weliveintheforest]

I didn't like having shorter hair that needed 'doing.' I find it's easier for me to put my hair in braids or buns, even if it's not as flattering as a styled cut.

Scrunchies or soft elastics are good to keep it from breaking, and french braids keep shorter pieces tucked in.

[Maprilynne]

Braids and buns! I have waist-length hair and LOVE it!! However, I only wear it down for special occassions because of my kidlettes. Ponytails are generally not enough for me, I need this stuff contained!! But I have had short hair and find that not only is it harder to care for (i.e. you have to do it every day--I admit, I have been known to put my hair in a quick bun after bathing and forget about it for the rest of the day.) but when I do just clip it back or whatever, it LOOKS like I didn't do it, whereas a braided ponytail looks like I styled it.

[Veritaserum]

I've had five babies. I cut it short after baby #3, did not like it, and grew it out again. If baby was grabbing at it I put my hair in a bun or pony tail. Usually I just wear it down and tuck it behind my shoulders. I don't plan on ever cutting my hair short. I like it down to my lower back/waist.

[Joyster]

I refuse to cut my hair, absolutely refuse! I do wear pony tails a lot when I'm tired, but now that my mojo seems to be coming back, I plan on styling it a bit more like I used to before I had number three. It's just past my shoulders and it can go halfway down my back before I remember to give it a trim. I look good with long hair and am not letting mommyhood take it.

[lyterae]

I cut my hair when my dd was born, I will not be doing it again this time... I currently wear my hair (mid-back length) pinned up in braids, or up a bun with a ficcare clip. I cut almost 7" of it off this summer and still regret it, I will not be cutting it again. I love my long hair. I'm looking forward to braiding pinning my hair up for labor/birth.

[wholewheatchick]

I am such a low maintenance hair and body person! So for me, shoulder length and longer is best. I'm trying to grow it out right now, but I keep having to get it trimmed because my last haircut ended up being a terrible job, so I have to chop out all these ugly layers as they get long enough, then I'll be able to concentrate on adding length.

My goal is to do a long single braid down my back. But, if I let my hair get too long, the weight of it pinned up or pulled back gives me headaches.

I have decided that short hair, while it looks great and fresh on me, requires too much of my time and attention.

[MyFullHouse]

Drastic hair cuts are one of the big no-nos during pregnancy!!!! I went and did it anyway - TWICE - and it was a total disaster.

Hair ties are your friend. Really!

[Mackenzie]

I cut my hair in pregnancy twice and shortly after once. I realized with #3 that I *have* to because it becomes so unmanageable. My hair is stupid thick to begin with and then the thickening that takes place during pregnancy makes it that much more so... Hair cutting is very much a part of pregnancy for me...

[karen1968]

I just had this discussion wit my hairdresser on Friday! My DS (3.5) loves to tweak and play with my hair, which drives me crazy. And I'm sure my new babe (arriving 11/5) will grab and pull on it, too.

However, it is easiest to maintain my fine thin hair when it is long. It is actually MORE work when it is short, because I have to wash/style it more often, and it usually looks AWFUL when I wake up in the morning (which means no quick out-the-door if we are running late...at least, not without a hat of some sort!). It is collar-bone length right now, so I can easily pin up the front or pull it back in a tail if I don't have a chance to shower. I'm a little worried about the PP shedding, but this pregnancy actually changed the texture of my hair

[firewoman]

Don't do it! You will regret it! Cut a few inches off and shape it up but don't do anything drastic. Better to make changes gradually if possible so they aren't so shocking.

[AFWife]

My hair is a wavy/straight (like random wavy parts), fine, and thick mess. If I don't make an effort to "fix" it I look terrible. So, shorter hairstyles don't work for me because I can't always make the effort.

I plan on cutting an inch or so off to clean it up a bit...but that's it. I leave it up in a ponytail 99% of the time. My son learned quickly that grabbing it hurts and that's been the focus of a few tantrums...

[babyjelly]

I have crazy-thick, slightly wavy hair down to my waist. I have cut it off before, and will never ever ever do it again. It's way more work, and ugly too. (Not saying short is ugly on everyone- just me!) While in my everyday life I like it down, during pregnancy and immediately pp, most days I can't stand to have it touching me, and I braid it or wear a head scarf.
I have actually never noticed the pp shedding...I shed a lot anyway, a bit more pp doesn't make any difference
Posted via Mobile Device