Wow, Plei, you had Kay's hair! If I really tried for it I would be a Process Nightmare. So it is sort of Ideal Hair for me.Trudy, I'd date that guy in a minute just because I wouldn't *always* be looking at his crotch, uh, I mean eye-level with it.

but...I used to have so much hair! It was long and pretty and I could do anything I wanted with it...

Exactly!

Wow, Plei, you had Kay's hair!

Less curly, darker red.

It was Waterhouse hair.

Speaking just for my dad, this is so very much not the issue. (And if you knew him, you'd understand why I can't stop laughing now.)

Oh yeah I doubt it's true for most people who have a stated hair length preference. I was just thinking maybe for some guys it is though.

Definitely for my dad. mos def...he hints around about it a lot.

One set of my cousins (the very large brood of my mother's sister) ALWAYS gave me shit when I started cutting my hair short back in high school. "You look like a boy," they all said. Um, yeah, a boy with a D-cup. What-the-fuck-ever.

I've experimented with growing it out, and a lot of different styles and I try to go with what's most flattering TO ME.

I did have one guy bemoan "But what am I going to hold onto???" It did take me a second to parse the root of his pain, and my answer was very much "Nothing attached to me, asshole."

I. LOVE. THIS.

Pre-Raph Plei!

sumi, I think I might just have gone in and told the professional, "I have a reservation that I'm going to be late for. It's too late to cancel, I have to go. I just wanted to let you know the phones won't be manned for a while." Either that, or walk out without saying a word. After all, you had plans, the student was sent on the spur of the moment, and nobody cleared anything with you beforehand. But then I'm a hardass and a mean bitch.

I would certainly at least bring this up when you've thought it through, possibly rehearsed it and thought of responses to several different reactions. I'd definitely not let it pass unchallenged. That way lies being walked on at their convenience, and you really don't have to accept that.

I won't "let" Joe shave his goatee, even though I met and fell in love with him without it. It just looks more right than without.

That said, if he did shave it, I'd not freak out.

I won't "let" Joe shave his goatee, even though I met and fell in love with him without it. It just looks more right than without.

But you're not going to let him do the Satan's Headbanger look he did in high school? Such a shame. I adored that hair.

Course, I was thirteen. I also adored... well, heck. What did I like at thirteen?

Okay! Off to school! Yaaaay Algebra! And midterms being handed in! And 16th-century mathematics! And... bleh.

I just realized that I hadn't eaten anything but two small blueberry muffins since 11am yesterday. No wonder I have a headache.

Sometimes I'm stupid.

Wow, Plei, you had Kay's hair!

Except redder. I think Ple's is thicker too. You could cut off Ple's braid and use it to dock the Queen Mary.

You should all take it on faith when I say I've probably seen more long-to-short makeovers than all of you combined. Way more women have long hair than look good with it. Particularly women with very fine bones and very thick hair - the hair can completely dominate the facial features, diminishing their cheekbones and eyes.

That noted, I completely appreciate that some women just enjoy the sensual feel of long luxurious locks. I think you can have a hairstyle that makes your hair look good, but doesn't work for your face.

The most common mistake I see, though, is with mid length styles that are too wide. Too much horizontal hair is generally bad.