Extreme makeover, the color edition

So I'm going on Monday to get my hair cut and colored.  Here is what it looked like in July, after it had been freshly "done".

Now that summer is over for us, my hair has been in the sun and has faded obscenely.  Think light red, brassy, with darker undertones, and a ton of gray sprinkled in.  Except for the one area that is a larger gray streak. 

My, I'm so colorful.

So, I'm wanting to go darker.  I had my hair colored in a mocha shade before, with lighter colors woven in, and I loved it.  I'm planning to do something similar. Yes?  No?  Different color, shades, etc?

And what about the style?  I had butt length hair until Gabriel was born, and had it all chopped to the style you see above.  The way it is now is so easy for me.  It styles well, since I wear a hat at work it's easy to fluff up after, I can wake up and toss it around a bit and be done with it.  I THINK it's flattering, and I get lots of compliments.  Is it time for a change?

The Hubster LOVES long hair.  He's really wanting me to grow it, at least to my shoulders.  I don't want long hair again - the stress, the mess and the constant fussing with it that I'd have to do.

Do you like the length of your own hair?  (Guys, I am probably not asking you this. ) What would your dream hair style look like?

What sez The Internets about my own hair?  Grow it, cut it, it rocks or it stinks?  Lighter in color, darker, shave it all off?

Comments

[Marlee]

Wish I knew what to tell you. I need serious help with my own mop as it. Sometimes I think its just easier to tell the hairdresser to just do what they want.

(My hairdresser is a very good friend who I have been going to for a long time and I trust her, I wouldn't do this with just a random person).

[kelli]

As someone with long, thick hair, I'd love to get the guts to cut mine like yours. I think the style is absolutely great on you!

How about mocha with some red undertones? It seems to suit your complexion :)

[Andie]

Hey!

I'm a hairdresser, so I may get a bit technical here. I think growing it a little would be good. Maybe a little more casual on top. Like Sandra Bullocks hair.....

http://www.popcornreel.com/IMD-9778.jpg

Hope that link works. I think her color with a few hi-lights would look GREAT on your face!

It's kind of a long look, but still short enough for you to manage :)

[patois]

I had long for the longest time, cut it off, gave it away, grew it out, cut it off, gave it away. I now have a very short cut that I love. So easy. I'd never grow again. I'm not going to color, either, but that's just because I was never really a girl, so...

If you liked the mocha before with lighter colors in, I say go for it!

[Julie]

You should totally cut a pixie (even shorter than you have now--less volume on top). They're really in right now, and your svelte self has the facial structure for it. And with some bold coloring, you would be seriously stylish, and about as low maintenance as you can get.

Your husband won't suggest it if he likes long hair, but I will. I think your haircut makes you look older/mommyish/less edgy than you are. You could rock a pixie cut and look hot, I think.

[wookie]

In-between hair is a lot of work. I would vote either long enough for a pony tail or short enough to be a "pixie" cut.

[Brandy]

The decision is ultimately yours. I like the idea of mocha with lighter highlights. As for the cut, maybe a bit shorter?
And so speaks a woman who doesn't cut her hair, it's down to my lower back, and don't color it either. *G* Best of luck with your choice!

[Bubba's Sis]

What is it with men and long hair? My hubby always wants me to grow mine out, too. I think you look really cute in that picture, tho!

P.S. I came over from Patois' blog - your blog is great!

[heather white]

i like sandra bullock's hair, i'd do that, but a wee bit shorter at the bottom, and the layers a wee bit longer.

i'm going to have to agree with julie. that style might be easy to manage, but it adds years that aren't there.

[Kerry]

My hair was butt length until my last baby as well. Then I made two separate donations to Locks of Love. It was so much work having it short that I cut it REALLY short. Then, missing my easy LONG hair tried to grow it out again, but unless it is super short or super long it's more than I can deal with and I am just keeping it super short forever at this point.

[Jennifer]

I like the color of your hair. It's very flattering to your face. I think, though, you should grow your bangs a little longer. Maybe side sweep them? I have thick, medium length hair, layered around the face. I only wash it 2x per week, but it is dry and it tends to look better a day or two after it's washed.

[Jennifer]

I just checked out the Sandra Bullock picture. My hair cut is similar to hers. I love it and think it would look great on you.

[mary mom to 5]

I grew my hair out after #5 to shoulder length and i LOVE it plus I get lots of compliments on it so it must look good. :) It was my best friend/hairdressers idea...lol

[Elizabeth]

Just read through the comments. You COULD totally rock the pixie cut. I once had an acquaintance (not even a close friend) tell me her DH didn't like her hair too long or it got in the way during . . . intimacy. Hmmm. I don't know if you'd want to push that angle or not. The Sandra Bullock one looks cute. I'm in that awful in-between stage myself so I'm probably too wishy-washy to help on the matter. I'm more definite on color. Don't go too dark - I've seen too many women our age give that a shot and they look so much older immediately. I like the idea of lightening more the grayer I go so I don't get a growing out "line" - and in my eyes, at least, it's more flattering.

[amy]

I also go with pixie. I do not mean to overflatter you, but honestly now that the weight is gone, your face is very delicate and has beautiful bones - short is much much more flattering. I find long hair aging and I do not care that it is the style now for older women to wear their hair long - even all those actresses - I think they look much older than they need to look even when they are beautiful. Too much hair drags down the features and emphasizes bags and sags. No thank you! Short hair takes years off when it is styled well, and you can get away with short and pixie with spikes when you feel "cool" or not when you need more sophistication. I am not one for lots of weird colors just because the upkeep is a pain, but probably you could do anything you wanted colorwise -when it is short - you just chop it off again when the color is boring or wrong or whatever...Too many weird colors are hard to wear and are also aging (I guess I hate aging!) so I would go with a more straightforward color that is easy to keep up - one thing with short hair is upkeep is essential so every six weeks you will need to cut and color it -- if you keep it simple it will cost less and take a lot less time. Anyway - that is my vote...

[meritt]

The color of your hair goes great with your face and skin tone... I don't think I'd change much.

Me? My hair is long. I look better with longer hair too - I look awful with short. If you like short hair and like how quick and easy it is to style - then stick with it. :)

[Mel]

My hobby is cutting off my hair and growing it out again. Or it should be because it preoccupies way too much of my time and thought!

It's shoulder-length again after a brief stint of short hair. I'm growing it longer. I have no idea why.

[Therese]

I chopped off my mid-back length hair in April, because youngest son said I should get a "mom haircut." Never again will I listen to that child! It's only now gotten so that I can tuck it back into a ponytail. Still mourning that decision!

[Sandra]

I love the picture that someone posted of Sandra Bullock's hair.

I personally like hair on myself that I can pull back off my face, so I rarely have hair shorter than my shoulders. I recently go 4 to 6" cut this summer w/ some shorter layers. I'm going to let it grow longer for my wedding. I'm getting married in March. :)