"Hair is everything" says Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Fleabag, a strong declaration about the importance of a good cut and how integral our hair is to our identities and self perception.
Many of us will stick to the same style for years while others constantly mix things up in a cycle of reinvention - one thing is for sure, a haircut can rejuvenate our self esteem. However, often haircuts also come out of sheer necessity, as long hair gets in the way or our fringe starts blocking our vision.
Professional hairdresser Kelly Vowles is warning against a particularly common chop that people get when they're looking for easy to manage hair - but it just makes life harder.
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"More and more clients are coming to us with busy lifestyles and little time for themselves," said the owner of Pixal-Rose Hair Design, "As we continue to witness the rise of those who just don’t want to spend time on their hair, we also see more and more variations of shorter hair styles appear on social media.
"Many of our busy clients will at some point ask us to cut their hair from long flowing locks into a shorter bob style haircut, under the illusion that it will make their hair easier to manage.
"The advice I tend to give is that short hair can actually be a bit of a hindrance to those who have little time."
Kelly, from Swindon, explained that shorter styles like bobs are cut with "lots of layering and texture" to give the hair shape and the "character of the style".
Layering means that the hair has bounce and can be styled to look effortless but it also requires a lot of attention and taming.
The curly hair specialist added: "Without the time and motivation to incorporate heat styling into your morning routine, you can quickly find yourself trying to cope with a scruffy short style which no longer goes up into a hair band."
Opting for a big chop can be motivated by a need to ditch the effort that comes with washing, brushing and styling hair that is really long. Particularly in the colder winter months, drying long hair after a shower can feel like a mammoth task, prompting dramatic cuts to ease the burden.
Kelly thinks this often backfires on the client who now must perfectly style the hair every day or risk flat or unflattering layers running riot on their head.
She recommends anyone who is struggling with their long hair embrace the world of messy buns, plaits and ponytails to boost their style rather than chopping it all off.
"A simple up do of tying the hair back into a band might seem a little lacklustre to some but there are many variations that can quickly turn the look into something more glam for your daily activity," she said.
Even those with curly hair can keep their length by investing in some curl-safe scrunchies, claw clips, and pins to gain some control over their mass of waves. Kelly added: "Scrunchies are really great for curls because they don’t pull on the hair as much.
"Avoid rough elastics or hair ties that rip through the hair, especially with more delicate locks and ensure any heat styling is protected with the relevant products and kept to a minimum."
Of course, if you want a shorter style then Kelly says to "absolutely go for it." She added: "Shorter hairstyles are super cute and fun and can be a really great journey in learning more about your style.
"If you’re really not sure, then wigs are also a really fun option to try out some inspiration without the full commitment and going through a long journey of re-growing your hair."
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