A portrait of Emily Weiss from Into the Gloss (featuring my new obsession: the haircut)
Hair is something special, for a girl with long hair.
Long hair is not just a haircut. Long hair is a lifestyle.
They’re something to play with, something that make us feel confident and, since we’re women and we love to do that, something to complain about when we don’t have anything else to complain about (“I never know how to put them in place” and “I have sooo many split ends!” and “they’re so uncomfortable when it rains” and “I have to use 200 different products” and “it takes 40 minutes to dry them out” etc etc…).
If you’re a girl with long hair, you would kill to find a hairdresser that understands what “3 cm” means. And you’d pay a fortune for the perfect combination of smoothing and nourishing shampoo+conditioner.
Long hair is like a world on its own.
So I’ve been carrying my hair extra long for more than 7 years straight.
And it’s probably my biggest beauty pride: I don’t like myself in general, but I do know that my hair is really beautiful. The only thing, together with my eyes, that I like about my body.
Irony is: I look 10 times better with short hair. Not very short, let’s say medium-short.
So, you’ll say, why don’t you just cut them?
Well, if you got what I said about having long hair you probably understood my long hair is my Linus’ blanket.
It’s a big issue. A HUGE issue.
But this year I told myself: if I reach my weight-loss target I’ll cut my hair.
Shini Park from Park & Cube is kind of my role model in this: she went for the cut and looks great.
Every time I need motivation I think “She did it, you can do it too!” ahah
It’s not really a reward but it’s more a milestone.
Something to change, something to mark an achievement, something to remind me not to take myself too seriously and to play more, something to feel not so comfortable because this might lead to laziness.
Something to risk, forget about the Linus’ blanket and finally look at my best.
But I think that deep inside myself I made this promise thinking I’ll never get there.
This was 8 kg ago.
When I started to see that I was ACTUALLY, finally losing weight I started to be scared: OK, now I REALLY have to cut my hair!
Panic.
I looked for ages for the perfect haircut: not too long, not too short. Not too messy, not too put together. Elegant but young.
Something really perfect to cut away that 30 cm-long Linus’blanket without making me suffer too much.
I’ve been looking for ages and then, all of the sudden, when I almost started to give up the idea of finding something in the internets, a photo of Emily Weiss of Into the Gloss pops out.
Emily Weiss from Into the Gloss
(I used this photo for the portrait)
And it’s love.
THAT can really be THE haircut.
(With a fringe for me, though)
Ok, I know, that haircut looks great because Emily is gorgeous herself, but there’s something that makes it feel special to me. Like, this is it!
And in July, when I’ll reach my super-trusted hairdresser in Italy (she knows what “3 cm” means…), if I really find the courage, I’ll go for it.
Emily Weiss from Into the Gloss
But now I need your opinion: should I do it? Should I really leave my Linus’ blanket and go for it?
Are you long-haired girls too? I’m so scared and excited at the same time (told you it’s a big issue!)
And if you find any other cool medium-short haircut around don’t hesitate to show it to me!
Kisses
Al
I think you should go for it :D
You know it looks good on you already so the fear of the ‘UNKOWN’ isn’t there which it is for many trying something completely new.
However in the end i think you should do it because you made yourself a promise, you had the strength and the motivation to loose the weight with all the challenges that threw at you. So why break the promise why turn away from another challenge in keeping this promise. GO FOR IT!!!
It has to be your decision in the end, we could all say yeah go for it and you may not want to. Make sure not to be swayed by what others say and go with what you feel is best.
I’ve give my opinion and i am sure you will make the right decision for you in the end.
Oooooo another wonderful illustration by the way its marvellous :D
Adam x
Oh lord i spelt UNKNOWN wrong :(
LOL I passed you a misspelling syndrome nooooo!!! XD
Thank you so much Adam, you’re really motivating me (don’t worry to push me too much, I’ll never do it if I’m not 100% sure of my decision ;-) )
kiss
go for it! it’s just hair and it grows back. I grow my hair just so can cut it. problem is finding someone who I can trust with it.
I did it like 3 times so far. Usually get good reactions so it’s ok
btw, contracts on the -8!
I know! But still… And you know how annoying it is when they grow… but not enough… not yet there… stupid nonsense length inbetween etc XD
But I’ll do it almost for sure, I want to change a bit :p
kisses!
Sul serio hai i capelli lunghissimi!??
Ma sai che io ti immaginavo esattamente con un taglio come quello che ti piace tanto!!!
E piace tanto anche a me, prima del parto li ho tagliati anche io e sono molto simili a questo!!!
Io lo farei Al, primo x la promessa che hai fatto con te stessa e poi perchè noi donne ogni tanto necessitiamo di un cambiamento come questo!!!
E poi è tanto bellino e i capelli ricrescono!!!
Baciniiiiii
Yes! Quando posto le foto del mio compleanno (me ne dimentico sempre!) su facebook lo vedi! Arrivano tipo a metà schiena, abbastanza sotto all’allacciatura del reggiseno. E sono cosi’ da 7 anni! Da piccola e adolescente li ho portati spessissimo a caschetto ma ora… E’ come se tutta la mia vita adulta fino ad aoogi fosse stata coi capelli lunghi per questo sono spaventata :D
Pero’ appunto, c’è anche eccitazione nel cambiamento no? E credo proprio di averne bisogno…
Ti voglio vedere coi capelli corti!! A quando fotina? (voglio vedere anche Andrea, sono curiosissima!)
bacione!!
i believe it would suit you very well as you have a really pretty face with delicate features. but i also believe that this cute hair cut needs a tough(er) clothing style for a balance. i’d say: go for it! you can do a lot with it! and lucky you, you’ve already found THE hair stylist!
(every time i see someone rocking that hair cut – like shini or emily definitely do – i wanna cut my hair, too. but i’ve tried it once ages ago and it wasn’t for me. btw, i had already all kinds of hair lengths in my life – from 2cm to the length i have now. :) but: hair is a good topic, Al, and a problem: what to do with my grey hair? it’s getting more and more and it’s getting difficult to hide! dyeing? hair… i could have endless conversations about hair… *sigh)
Oohh how sweet of you <3
Indeed I think I feel in the mood for shorter hair because I’m finding also my style… I’m changing, evolving, I’m having very clear ideas on what I want and what I don’t want to wear so I feel that adjusting my hair to this is part of the process… no?
My hair stylist is amazing, I would put my life in her hands seriously ahah if only you could come to Italy and try it you would understand what I mean immediately ;-)
And I think a mid-short cut would suit you too, but I love your hair how your carry them: long, simple and superstraight.
As for the grey hair, I don’t have that problem yet but I observed my mother very carefully in the years ;-) At first she was dyeing them of the original color (dark brown). It was OK but needed to do it too often because it’s washed away quite quickly. Plus it’s not bright and nice already after 2 weeks. Now she’s doing a more reddish brown, which has a plus: red dyes are very strong so the color stays longer… But when the hair grows even the slighter grey sucks as the contrast is very strong.
The best she did was going towards blond via very nice and natural highlights: the color is permanent so it doesn’t get worse or washed away with time (especially if you use good hair products), you can choose the intensity and you can go gradually blonder (no shock). But most importantly when the hair grows you can see the grey ones less, since there’s not so much contrast with the highlights (this means less maintenance).
Therefore: go with highlights! Start subtle, though. And choose a very good hairdresser known for their highlights: they’re permanente, so they have to be good!
Keep me posted on this ;D
kiss kiss
Questa foto farebbe venire voglia di tagliarli anche a me..ma poi so che a me non starebbero così, avrebbero una vita propria, che non sono sicura di riuscire a gestire (o forse è solo una scusa). D’istinto ti dico di lasciare la coperta di Linus e tagliare, però ammetto che sarei un po’ incoerente visto che io li ho lunghi e non trovo mai la forza di tagliarli davvero e ripromettendomi continuamente di farlo: “la prossima volta me li taglio” la volto dopo non lo faccio! Baci
Vero che è bella lei con questo taglio? Che poi se ci pensi son cortini ma non cosi’ tanto e con un taglio cosi’ ricrescono in un attimo!
Se si impara a conoscere e usare i prodotti (e le asciugature!) giusti poi non è difficile tenerli a bada… L’unica cosa è che rischiano di venire a noia: io in Italia coi capelli lunghi che ho mi facevo mille pettinature, con questi o cosi’ o pomi’… Adesso che sono in Belgio considero il taglio con meno paura proprio perchè l’acqua del rubinetto (durissima) e il vento di qui me li rendono orribili e alla fine li porto sempre con la stessa crocchia… che senso ha?
Ti tengo aggiornata ;D e te prima o poi lo farai davvero?
baci
just to inspire you a bit more (i was ready to shave my head after i read this though never did of course :):
“ON SHORT HAIR (c1988)
from American(?) Vogue
by Joan Juliet Buck
Hair is time.
Women with short hair always look as if they have somewhere else to go. Women with long hair tend to look as if they belong where they are, especially in California. Short hair takes a short time. Long hair takes a long time. Long hair moves faster than short hair. Long hair tells men that you are all woman, or a real woman, or at the very least a girl. Short hair always makes them wonder. Short hair makes children ask each other –usually at the school-yard gate, when parents are late– “Are you a boy or girl?” Men married to women with short hair should not have affairs with women who have long hair kept up with many little pins and combs. Once you have cut your hair you have to remember to wear lipstick, but you can put away the brush, elastics, and the black barrettes in the form of shiny leaves with rhinestone hearts. When you cut your hair you lose a nose and gain a neck. A neck is generally better than a nose. It does not need to be powdered, except on extreme occasions. It does, however, need to be washed more often.
With short hair you suddenly dislike the month of March, when the wind blows down the back of your neck. With short hair you begin to crave pearl necklaces, long earrings, and a variety of sunglasses. And you brush your teeth more often. Short hair removes obvious femininity and replaces it with style. When it starts growing out a little and losing its style, you have to wear sunglasses until you can get it to the hairdresser. That’s why you need a variety. Short hair makes you aware of subtraction as style. You can no longer wear puffed sleeves or ruffles; the neat is suddenly preferable to the fussy. You eye the tweezers instead of the blusher. What else can you take away? You can’t hide behind short hair. Your nape is exposed. Men put their hands around your neck instead of stroking your long locks. You can only pray they have friendly intentions. The backs of your ears show, your jaw line is clear to anyone watching, and you realize –perhaps for the first time– how wide the expanse of skin is between cheekbone and ear.
You may look a little androgynous, a little unfinished, a little bare. You will look elegant, as short hair requires you to keep your weight slightly below acceptable levels. However, the first time you wear a bathing suit with short hair, you will feel exceptionally naked. People who used to look straight at you will love you in profile. Short hair makes others think you have good bones, determination, and an agenda. The shape of your skull is commented on, so are its contents. They can pick you out in a crowd, and you can be recognized from behind, which can be good or bad. But your face is no longer a flat screen surrounded by a curtain: the world sees you in three dimensions.
Chase to the cut.”
Hi Lena!!
Thank you so so much for this piece! It’s exactly what I was thinking about shorter hair, it’s what I want from them…
I especially like this: “Short hair removes obvious femininity and replaces it with style.” That’s exactly why I want to do it!!
many kisses, and thanks again!
ah you know me…I like short cuts (the version of my hair that you’ve seen is one of the longest I can afford)! Actually I plan to go to the hairdresser next week to cut them (and also do some highlights to cover my grey hair)!
For inspiration I tend to look at Alexa Chung…as she has layers which work for me a lot! (Nowadays she sports a fringe too)
Sabrina from afterDRK recently cut her hair and I’m liking them (but she seems to gva finer and straighter hair than mine).
So, I’d say go for it! If you don’t want something radical, then go for a shoulder length haircut.
Oh i want to see the new style when you do it!! Pics required :D
Indeed I really like you with mid-short hair and also when they’re a bit curly… So fresh!
Sabrina of afterDRK looks really great indeed!
I wouldn’t go for a shoulder length because I fear I wouldn’t feel the change, which is what I’m pursuing… But the length of Emily is perfect I think: short but not too much… and grows back fast! :p
many kisses
I LOVE that portrait that you painted. So gorgeous :)
I’m a long/short/whatever I feel like hair kinda girl! It’s been long, it’s been short, it’s been somewhere in the middle as many times as I feel the need. I literally go to the hairdressers not really knowing what I’m going to do and end up with a short bob or I leave a trip to the hairdressers for 3/4 months and it’s suddenly quite long and I decide I might leave it like that for a while!!
I’m planning a dip-dye look later this week! :) Eeek!
In bocca al lupo con la decisione!! Tanti baci, xxx
Grazie!! :D
I really envy the way you’re dealing with your hair… I think I’m taking mine too seriosuly ahaha!
And I want to see your dip dye look! Which color?
kiss
Well, I’m having it done tonight – and true to form, I still haven’t decided quite how daring to go!!!! Haha!! I discussed it with my hairdresser a month ago and we’d decided something v subtle like a sort of copper shade (my current hair colour is VERY dark brown with sort of reddy undertones – nearly my natural colour but with a little help to get rid of greys and make it a little darker!). But since then I’ve been thinking about adding in some honey tones and maybe even lighter too!! Nothing too colourful as I’m not sure that would go down well at work.
Think Alexa Chung and Rachel Bilson are my current inspiration – have been filling a pinboard to get ideas: http://pinterest.com/sugarandspicesg/hair-inspiration/
Good luck with your decision. I get that most people are a little more precious about their hair than me. But I’ve never changed my clothing style or make-up style drastically but hair – no problem! :)
I saw your illustration on Emily’s instagram this morning, WOW Al!! (you got like a gazillion likes…!) I must say though, this is one of your best illustrations :)
In terms of hair: do it. Seriously! I bet it’ll look gorgeous on you :) And Emily’s coiffe is THE perfect inspiration. Be sure to show us some pics when you do!!
Oh didn’t know she posted it there! (I’m kinda new to instagram and not following lots of people yet… what is your username?)
Thank you so much, I’m very happy you like it!
I’ll surely the pics of the cut (if :p)when I do it, think it’ll be July!
kisses
Al, I hope your friends and family in Italy are well!! That’s all so sad…… :(
On-topic ( this change of subject feels so wrong…): gosh, HAIR! It’s so complicated… I don’t know what I would do if I were you, because I’ve always wanted to have long hair since I was little, but my hair tends to become very very thin, the longer it is. Actually I shouldn’t even have like it is now, I think Emily’s lenght would be perfect for me. I just like the idea of having “somewhat long” hair so much, and I like the look of myself in the mirror, though my hair doesn’t look very healthy. Whenever I’ve cut it like Emily or even shorter, I got so many compliments. From girls who have that supadupa ass-long,wild, beautiful, thick, mane-like hair, who don’t have to think of fancy hair styles, time-consuming hairdos, straighteners, self-doubts…. and who will always look a million times better than me with my fancy cut, nicely styled, much complimented hair *jealous*. At the same time I agree with this Vogue article, but still… *stilljealous*. And I don’t want to discourage you because I like the idea of getting the hair cut after your weightloss (huge congrats, that’s a lot of discipline!), and because of that Vogue article, but still… *jealous*.
BTW, your drawing is really really gorgeous!
Many Kisses,
A
ps. thanks a lot for the pictures of Emily, might need them at my next visit to the hair dresser’s ;) Unforunately mine has left for Paris and I haven’t found one I equally like, yet… I even tried to find her on the web before I went to Paris last fall, it really is difficult subject!
They’re are all OK, thank you! They’re around 100 km southern than the earthquakes center but they’re feeling them kinda big. I’m just scared because my town/area sits exactly on a fault line so I hope they won’t have any with epicenter there… :(
About the hair I can tell you one thing: I got them long, beautiful, shiny and thick. And they also have an amazing color. But they’re slavery: I’m always looking for new shampoos and creams and treatments… the good they are the better you want them. And then you have problems with wind and rain (not nice in Belgium) and gym (not nice the 40 minutes of drying…) and split ends and… Pffff sometimes I hate them! :D
I’d love to see you with an Emily-style cut… Send me a pic if you do!
And oh, if my superbeloved hairdresser would move somewhere else I’d just… Follow her! ahahah No seriously, trustful hairdressers are black pearls… You should try mine! Such a pity you live in Germany :(
kiss!
First of all congrats on almost reaching your goal weight! I have trouble getting started, I don’t know what it is but I can’t find the discipline nowadays! Second I do have long hair but sometimes I’m doubting to do the same, I’m just scared I won’t like it and it’ll take me ages to grow back. But I love alexandra’s haircut from the blog the lovely pepa! And today she posted a new pictures with waves and it’s so cool! You really have to check her blog! I’m curious about what you’ll do! Anyway good luck!!
big kisses, xoxo lorena
http://www.lolitainthemix.blogspot.com
Hi Al,
First off: congrats on the weight loss!! 8kg is a huge accomplishment!!
I say go for the shorter hair, it’ll be a whole new you, but you’re super wise to do it in Italy. After 6 years in Brussels I still don’t have a go-to hair stylist. And I’ve never had a good “brushing” experience.
I don’t know if it counts as inspiration (as I’m nowhere near as cute as ITG’s Emily) but here’s my latest haircut:
http://belgiumfashion.tumblr.com/post/24394293673/haircut