"In 1920 F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a story, 'Bernice Bobs Her Hair,' about a timid provincial girl for whom bobbing is a transition between two periods of life and two historical epochs. The new style ejects her from Madonna-like girlhood, when she was protectively cocooned in tresses, and announces her sexual maturity. Bernice fearfully acknowledges the revolutionary antecedents of the process. Driving downtown to the mens' barber-shop where the operation will be performed, she suffers 'all the sensations of Marie Antoinette bound for the guillotine in a tumbril;' the barber with his shears is an executioner. The French revolutionaries sliced off the heads of bewigged aristocrats in order to destroy an old world. Bernice, however, has her own hair chopped to fit her for membership of a new society: bobbing conferred erotic allure on girls who were previously dismissed as wallflowers....."
(taken from Delancyplace.com)
It's funny how "bobbing" your hair in the 20's was considered erotic and alluring, when nowadays, short hair on women is definitely not what most men prefer. I believe that there eventually comes a time in your life when long flowing tresses (especially if they are mostly gray) are not particularly desirable or attractive. I have worn my hair fairly short for many years - although for a time in the 90's it was a bit longer. Recently, I tired of hearing some in my family telling me I look butch and/or "school-marm-ish." Soooooooo, for the last 2-3 months, I have had bare minimum hair trims. I'm scheduled for a haircut later today, and it isn't a minute too soon to get rid of the mullet that has appeared almost overnight. I'm not planning to let my hair grow very long; certainly no more than chin length (I think). Time will tell. I really hate having to spend time styling it, so it's anybody's guess as to how long I can tolerate having to blow it dry and using a curling brush. There is a temptation to let it grow long enough to wear it up in a bun, but then I really would look like a school marm, wouldn't I?
(taken from Delancyplace.com)
It's funny how "bobbing" your hair in the 20's was considered erotic and alluring, when nowadays, short hair on women is definitely not what most men prefer. I believe that there eventually comes a time in your life when long flowing tresses (especially if they are mostly gray) are not particularly desirable or attractive. I have worn my hair fairly short for many years - although for a time in the 90's it was a bit longer. Recently, I tired of hearing some in my family telling me I look butch and/or "school-marm-ish." Soooooooo, for the last 2-3 months, I have had bare minimum hair trims. I'm scheduled for a haircut later today, and it isn't a minute too soon to get rid of the mullet that has appeared almost overnight. I'm not planning to let my hair grow very long; certainly no more than chin length (I think). Time will tell. I really hate having to spend time styling it, so it's anybody's guess as to how long I can tolerate having to blow it dry and using a curling brush. There is a temptation to let it grow long enough to wear it up in a bun, but then I really would look like a school marm, wouldn't I?
20 comments:
Isn't it funny, how such things effect us? When I think about it,I think I have cut my hair at just about every crisis in my life. I do it myself.
I am absolutely no good at styling my own hair. The short and tousled look is my ideal, though I do comb it to look better when I go out ;)
I agree, I don't think long flowing grey locks are good. Especially on men! (And as for bald heads and ponly tails.....)
Aren't we always either worrying about our weight or our hair? Oh well, I guess it's a good sign that we still care.
I love women with very short hair. Long hair is very unappealing to me. I think masculine, butch or tomboy women are very beautiful. :)
I totally wish I could pull of a Jamie Lee Curtis, but sadly can't. Have a serious cow lick thing. Still I do like short hair on older women. Long hair seems to cast shadows on and emphasising the deepening wrinkles of maturity.
I used to put my hair in a pony tail or pig tails even into my twenties because I didn't want it to get all messy and in my face.
I like my hair short. It suits my small face and because it it very heavy and thick. If I leave it longer than 5-6 weeks between haircuts I end up with a headache. I know when it is time to make that appointment because my mother takes up residence in the mirror! :(
By the time we're in our 30's we know what work for our hair. Whether it's short, long, easy care or high-maintenance, we finally 'get it.' And then menopause comes along, robs us of half our hair, and we get to do the acceptance thing all over again.
Being a girl is fun! Grumble grumble.....
It is YOUR hair, wear it the way YOU want, And if folks comment negatively sing them one or two verses of MY WAY. As for the grey. I think grey hair is beautiful but you can always do something about that. My aunt is in her 80's and there is not a grey hair on her head. Of course it is that way because of a bottle.
I think you are beautiful - and I have never seen you. So there.
One of our favorite family stories is about the time in the 'twenties when the sisters bobbed their hair and Brother Mack sat in a tree all day to show his disgust.
Bobbed Hair
I"ve had every length of hair, from chin-length bob to being able to sit on it; and I must admit that I've never considered whether or not the man in my life would approve. :-) Let him grow his own hair.
And you know? I like long hair on men. :-) What can I say? I grew up in the 60s!
Pearl
I love your hair. I think it suits your face very nicely. In fact, I can't imagine it any longer than it is. :-) I try to keep mine at shoulder length, but it's been everything from a mohawk to more than halfway down my back over the years.
Bobbing did used to be a rite of passage.
Long hair and old women is just too 'Grey Gardens' but I also think one can soften short hair advantageously-pretty little tendrils around the ears. You know the sort of thing Judy:)
I have long gray hair. I didn't plan it that way, but I grayed young (in my 30s). I've only had short hair twice in my life (4th grade, 8th grade). I sometimes think I must look like a witch, but mostly people say, "Wow, you have great hair." I have never had a hairstyle. It just grows and I brush it, and hope for the best.
Hair is my curse but at least I have hair, bad as it is. Now that I'm retired, and living in Oregon where it rains a lot, I've cut that fine, limp mess into a pixie type cut. I don't think it's my best look, but many people have said it makes me look younger. Since I don't give a rip about men and romance I'm keeping it this way. I don't know that I could return to the horrors of blow dryers and curling irons again. They are forms of legal torture in my mind.
i hate my hair.....curly and frizzy. Yours always looks soft and i like it. I went to a "girl" twice in town who called herself a hair designer. I cut it myself last week and poorly but not as bad as she designed the last cut.
This is one of those times I am reminded that there are advantages to being bald. I can get up and decide every day what color of hair, style and length I will have.
Aren't we lucky to have so many "friends" out there that can tell us how to style our hair and our lives !!
You look great, Judy, and I don't think you need to change a thing.
I think you look fine. I've never been one for short hair -- it just doesn't look or feel right. Chin length or longer works for me.
It's your hair, so you get to choose. I wore my hair long from age 30 to age 55, although my husband preferred short. Now, we are both happy. I decided I didn't really have the time that the long hair took to maintain. Hunky Husband didn't say a word when I cut it any more than he had said a word when I grew it in 1968. Bless him!
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