Look Good While Growing out a Short Haircut

So you decided to cut your hair short, but are trying to grow it out again. You are going through that strange time known as the 'awkward hair length phase.' Don't fret! Clever styling and a little patience can ease the transition from short hair to long hair.

Steps

Styling your Growing Hair

  1. Pin back fly-aways. If you have strands of hair that are too short to pull up but too long to let hang, try pinning them back. Bobby pins will more often than not be your constant companion in the weeks and months it takes to grow out a short haircut. Here's a quick guide for those a little out of practice:
    • Make a deep part on one side of your forehead just above the center of one of your eyes. Then sweep that portion of hair to the side, using pins to hold it back. Then set with hairspray.
    • Grab the portion at the front of your hair that's starting to fall over your forehead. Twist the section once or twice, then pin flat at the top of your head. The slight twist will add a bit of volume to the front of the section.
    • Once the top of your hair is long enough to pull back, pin up the shorter sections underneath for a cleaner ponytail look.[1]
  2. Make friends with gel and mousse. These products can help tame your hair when it's prone to looking wild and unruly. Test out a few different products to find one you like - if you're on a budget, ask your friends what they use and whether you could try a bit. If what you're using makes your hair look stiffer than you'd like, try adding a bit of water to the product before applying it.[2]
    • For a matte look, go for the wax or the pomade. Use only about a pea-sized glob of the product and work it through your hair beginning where the hair meets your scalp. Style how you'd like.
    • For a glossy or wet look, reach for the gel. Again, use a small glob and work through your hair beginning at the base. If your style allows it, comb your hair to make sure there are no gel clumps left over.
    • Mousse will be helpful for those with curls or anyone looking for added volume. For curls, use a palm-sized amount and work it through the bottom 2/3 of your hair (so not near your scalp), then flip your head and do the same to the underside. For volume, have a glob of mousse in one hand and then use a comb to apply it to your hair, starting at the roots.[3]
  3. Change up the texture. If you've got the tools at hand, try curling your hair for some added bounce to your hair-do. Curling is a neat trick to shorten hair that's in an awkward period between not short enough and not long enough. Alternatively, if your hair is curly or wavy you can straighten your hair for added length to get the style you desire.
  4. Wear a top knot. Leave the sides and back hanging down with the front in a small bun. An easy fix for those looking to get the hair out of their face, or for those frightened of bangs. If your hair in the front isn’t quite long enough for a bun, don’t fret, a small mini-ponytail is perfectly acceptable as well.[4]
  5. Have a blunt cut. A simple fix for those who’d like to avoid complications as their hair grows out. A blunt cut will rid your hair of the layering which can become awkward as short hair grows out. A blunt cut is equally useful for those hoping to regrow their hair evenly, as it keeps all sides at roughly the same length.
  6. Slick it back. If one feature of your growing cut is a mess of runaway hairs, try reaching for the gel and slicking the whole mess back. Use a comb to avoid getting any clumps of gel left behind in your hair. Depending on how long your hair is, you can flare the length out to the side or keep it running straight down in line with your neck.

Drawing Attention Away from Your Cut

  1. Play up your makeup. Draw attention away from your hair by making your face look more arresting. Do a bold, smoky eye, or wear a bright lipstick. (Remember, though: choose either a bold lip or a bold eye - doing both is too much). Extra-girly makeup can help you feel feminine and attractive while your hair is transitioning.
  2. Strengthen your wardrobe. Undoubtedly you already own eye-catching and attractive clothing, so really try to “wow” with your clothing while your haircut remains in the awkward stage. When shopping look for bright colors and provocative patterns; nothing distracts from a poor hair-do like an outfit that works.
    • Non-hair accessories are desirable here as well. Necklaces and earrings especially (being so close to your head) are excellent style tools to draw the eye away from your hair.
  3. Accessorize your hair. Now’s the time to replenish your stock of hairbands, attention-grabbing hair clips, or anything else you can think to adorn your hair with. Take this time to be creative with the idea; try putting flowers in your hair, or think about wearing a hat even though you’ve never thought of yourself as a “hat person.”[5]
  4. Keep the color uniform. Having a mix of colors or high/lowlights will draw attention to the ways in which your growing cut appears awkward. Unfortunately different colors will highlight the ways in which your layers might be growing lopsided, or make those runaway strands more visible. Having your hair all one color serves to disguise these potential flaws.[6]

Encouraging Healthy Growth

  1. Get regular trims. It might seem counter-intuitive to cut your hair while you're trying to grow it out, but it will help your hair look good while it grows. Visit your stylist every 6 to 8 weeks and ask him or her to trim only as much as you need to keep the ends healthy.
  2. Avoid heat damage. If possible, lay off on blow-drying, straightening or curling your hair when you can. If you must style your hair this way, purchase a good heat protection agent (ask your stylist for suggested brands). Also do your best to rinse your hair with not-so-hot water (it doesn't have to be freezing), and try to brush/comb it as little as possible while still wet after a shower.[7]
  3. Coordinate your growth. The general wisdom is that you ought to grow out the front of your hair first while keeping the back short. Talk to your hair stylist about it for added input. With long hair in the front, there are usually many more styles to choose from. Unless you have your heart set on transitioning right back into shoulder- or arm-length hair, go for a trimmed back for access to more styles.
    • Consider extensions if you just can't stand to manage your growing hair any longer, have them added if you can afford it. More than a few celebrities have gone this route after having to trim down their hair for a role.[6]
  4. Be patient. Unfortunately, there's no way to make your hair grow out overnight. View your hair as a work in progress, and turn your attention to what you can do with it now instead of what you can't.

Tips

  • If you're getting bored with the growing-out process, try taking a photo of your hair every morning in the mirror, standing in the same place. Being able to see how it's growing can keep up your motivation.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.allure.com/hair-ideas/2014/how-to-grow-out-your-haircut
  2. ↑ http://www.sofeminine.co.uk/hair/gel-mousse-or-spray-which-is-best-for-styling-hair-s562911.html
  3. ↑ http://www.jeanlouisdavid.us/article/how-to-use-styling-mousse_a2433/1
  4. ↑ http://www.xovain.com/hair/how-to-grow-out-a-pixie-cut
  5. ↑ http://www.hairromance.com/2012/02/how-to-grow-out-a-pixie-cut.html
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://dailymakeover.com/bad-haircut/
  7. ↑ http://www.hercampus.com/beauty/how-style-short-hair-while-youre-growing-it-out
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