Your show constantly pressures people who appear on it to cut their long, beautiful hair that they have maintained for years. Why? Just because Stacy looks terrible in long hair doesn't mean everyone does, and yet episode after episode the hosts, hairdresses and every staff member put down people with long hair and pressure, pressure, pressure them to cut it. You may have some fashion sense when it comes to clothing, but you have a collactive one track mind when it comes to cutting hair as short as you possibly can.
That is the reason I came on this site, was to say how I can't stand Nick, the haircutter. Every woman HAS to cut their hair, yet Stacy and Carmody have long hair, what's with that? Some women actually look good with long hair.
"...cut their long, beautiful hair that they have maintained for years..."
I don't endorse cutting off hair just to cut it off, but has anyone kept track of an MO who started with long, healthy, shiny hair that *doesn't* have split ends or has been chemically damaged? The ones I recall simply have long hair because they never cut it, not because it is this luxurious, shining mane that they maintain to be healthy.
They definitely need a more versitile stylist. Every style Nick does is basically the same. Some kind of a short bob or page boy type cut. The stylist on Ten Years Younger does a much better job at creating styles and cuts. I would NEVER let Nick near my hair.
I don't post over here much...but I agree completely.
Is it that they absolutely have to show a radical change on television and insist that even the people with lovely hair cut it short, or is Nick really that boring a stylist?
The part that gets me is whenever Nick says that someone needs a more se*y look, I hold my breath for just a moment because I know he's about to cut the se*y right on out of their hair.
Originally posted by katklaws9: They definitely need a more versitile stylist. Every style Nick does is basically the same. Some kind of a short bob or page boy type cut. The stylist on Ten Years Younger does a much better job at creating styles and cuts. I would NEVER let Nick near my hair.
Now, I'm just the opposite. I love most of Nick's hair transformations, but I would not let that girl on Ten Years Younger near my hair! I have yet to see a hairstyle that is even remotely attractive on that show, but that's just my opinion.
I do like Nick's cuts as well. I have not seen any women who have worked hard at a good long hair style, just let it grow. Long is a length, not a style. Nick is also giving them a look that is not only appropriate for most of their jobs (business) but also one they can maintain.
One last point - the hair style should frame the face so that the person shines through. If you walked away just remembering the hair, the point is lost.
I agree that there should be no pressure to cut long hair unless that's what the client wants.
I recently got my medium hair layered (or hwat I call chopped up) by my stylist. The highlighting is awesome but I can't style it like she does. So...I'm going to let it grow out and maybe just have subtle, longer layers. It's something I can style myself.
Speaking of hair...I just watched the show with Sarah D. with the red hair. Just my thoughts, the style was great but the color is just too red. I don't think it looks professional at all.
Nick doesn't cut hair just for the sake of cutting hair. That long hair gets cut because it hasn't been taken care of. I've yet to see a MO with long hair that was in good condition.
I have to say, I have HATED almost everything Nick has ever done to anyone's hair. Not only does everyone get one of two cuts, but usually the color isn't anything that would naturally occur on a human head, let alone that MO's head, and I've never seen anyone be able to replicate the amount of body he does give people when he styles it, which is another sign of a bad haircut. They really, REALLY need to find someone new for hair.
I don't know what show you're watching, but as far as I can tell, there has yet to be a makeover whose 'before' hair was 'beautiful', long or otherwise. There have been women who wanted to keep some length, and unless their hair was just in such bad shape that in order for it to look healthy, Nick had to cut it, but he did leave some length for the sake of versatility. Healthy, shiny hair is what Nick goes for when he works on the MOs, and I don't know about you, but I'd rather have hair that is in fantastic condition and maybe not 'long and beautiful', than some of the long, skanky, frizzy, over-processed hair that I've seen on the show. As someone said, long hair is not always beautiful hair, condition-wise.
Originally posted by 3kittymama: I don't know what show you're watching, but as far as I can tell, there has yet to be a makeover whose 'before' hair was 'beautiful', long or otherwise. There have been women who wanted to keep some length, and unless their hair was just in such bad shape that in order for it to look healthy, Nick had to cut it, but he did leave some length for the sake of versatility. Healthy, shiny hair is what Nick goes for when he works on the MOs, and I don't know about you, but I'd rather have hair that is in fantastic condition and maybe not 'long and beautiful', than some of the long, skanky, frizzy, over-processed hair that I've seen on the show. As someone said, long hair is not always beautiful hair, condition-wise.
I can't tell you which specific shows it was, but there have been lots of times when I felt that the MO had really pretty hair and that cutting it to a little below shoulder length with layers or a little edginess would look terrific. The cut wouldn't be a dramatic change. It would, though, frame the face gracefully and leave the MO with some femininity in the style.
I'm not saying that short hair isn't absolutely gorgeous on some women; it is! Just not everyone. I guess I just feel like it takes a certain kind of delicate face to carry off a short cut -- well, unless, I guess, someone enjoys a very strong look, which is certainly possible.
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Exactly, dancingstarr! Length and color can make a dramatic difference in how a woman looks. Case in point: Yesterday I was reading one of the soap magazines I read every month, and there is an actress on a soap I don't watch, but I know who she is. She recently went from bleach blonde to red, and I didn't even recognize her picture. She is so much more beautiful as a redhead than she ever was as a blonde. So just a seemingly simple change can make a huge difference in someone. There are those who believe that a woman isn't truly beautiful without long hair. That's OK, but it isn't the only opinion out there. One of our favorite MOs is Erin from Miami. She's another example of how a short cut made a radical difference in how she looked. You could see that she was an attractive young woman even underneath the wacky hairstyle she had before Nick worked his magic, but when he was finished...wow! She was just stunning. And she doesn't have long hair. So each one of us has his or her own opinion, and that's exactly what it is.
I would never say that "every" woman should cut her hair short, but I do know that I personally wore my hair too long for too long. And I went to a stylist that specialized in long hair health, and my hair was lovely and shiny. There were two problems. First, is that long hair does look best on the young. After a certain aqe, most women can't carry it. (Please notice I said "most"). Second, long hair tends to dominate your look. Nobody notices when you enter the room, they just see your hair.
Although I can't say I've liked all of Nick's haircuts, I honestly can't say there has ever been a time when I thought his advice to someone to let him cut some hair off was misplaced. Usually the long hair has not been well maintained, and lacks style.
I was annoyed with myself after my last haircut because I didn't ask the stylist to cut it another inch shorter. I've noticed that shorter hair focuses more attention on my eyes, which thanks to my weight loss, are starting to "pop". And that's what Nick is after too - not to get rid of the hair, but to reveal the lovely features.
We have a young girl at our store who is about 16, five foot two inches tall--at the tallest--and very headstrong. She's got shoulder length hair and it looks to have a normal thickness. She also has a very petite build. It's definitely not thin or anything. About a month ago she said she wanted to get hair extensions, and asked me what I thought. I said on her it would be too much. With her height and body type we'd see more of the hair than we would of her. She's been trying to sell me on getting hair extensions ever since. I know what they are--my hair stylist has them. But Tina is also 5'9" or 5'10".
Some body types just don't lend themselves to long hair. But a lot of women don't realize that. Most of the women who have had long hair have let it go for too long or it doesn't fit their body type. I have a friend in her early 50s who has been growing her hair long ever since her divorce about 12 years ago. (She's only about 5'3") Her main reason is because her ex-husband didn't like it long. But the fact is that it ages her. She would look so much younger if she cut her hair. But everytime I mention that she would look better with it shorter I get read the riot act.
Sometimes I think Nick may go for the bob type cut too often, but then again, most of these women have been locked into the same hairstyle for a long, long time. Part of the concept behind makeover is to leave the old behind and venture into something new. And hair will grow back. It's not vital organ.
I think that hair, perhaps unfortunately, is a highly emotional subject for women. From the time we're very young we realize that it has a great deal to do with our powers of attraction.
If I'm paying someone $400!!! -- is that what you all say it costs? -- for a haircut, no matter whose money it is, they darn well better make me look my very best and not just change my hair for shock value.
I agree that long hair is not always the best for some body types. People like to hide behind their hair. It is more of a security blanket than a "style". I know I did that for a while.
Also, from talking with stylists about hair- I can only guess that Nick does a lot of bobs because they are much easier to work with when a person is at home. If they are not much into "doing their hair" or aren't used to doing a style, he isn't going to do something over the top and expect them to pull it off. I know from experience- most stylists I have seen have recommended the bob for me, as I don't want to spend much time getting ready and I won't have much patience with an extensive cut that I have to "work" at. It is more about praticality than anything else. It makes a lot of sense to me.
MOs who have posted on here have said that Nick sits down with them at some point during the week they're there, and they talk about the MO's hair, lifestyle, how much time they want to or are able to spend styling their hair. What we see on the show is not the first time he and the MO have met. So Nick doesn't just chop everyone's hair off without telling the MO what he has planned for them. I don't know of anyone who would willingly let him do that, no matter how great he is as a stylist! He already has a picture in mind of what will work with the MO's preferences, lifestyle, and the texture and condition of their present hairstyle.
Originally posted by 3kittymama: MOs who have posted on here have said that Nick sits down with them at some point during the week they're there, and they talk about the MO's hair, lifestyle, how much time they want to or are able to spend styling their hair. What we see on the show is not the first time he and the MO have met. So Nick doesn't just chop everyone's hair off without telling the MO what he has planned for them. I don't know of anyone who would willingly let him do that, no matter how great he is as a stylist! He already has a picture in mind of what will work with the MO's preferences, lifestyle, and the texture and condition of their present hairstyle.
Yes, but the MO is expecting that Nick is the expert and will properly advise them. Some of us just don't think he is worth the money and that the trust that is put into him is misplaced. (You will notice that this issue rarely comes up about Stacy, Clinton, or Carmindy.)
Whatever. I just think that it would be nice to see the show use a different hair stylist from time to time. I've said on here many times that they should give Frederick Fekkai a try. I don't know that many NY stylists, but how is Peter Coppola? I do know that he has lovely products for hair.
Originally posted by 3kittymama: MOs who have posted on here have said that Nick sits down with them at some point during the week they're there, and they talk about the MO's hair, lifestyle, how much time they want to or are able to spend styling their hair. What we see on the show is not the first time he and the MO have met. So Nick doesn't just chop everyone's hair off without telling the MO what he has planned for them. I don't know of anyone who would willingly let him do that, no matter how great he is as a stylist! He already has a picture in mind of what will work with the MO's preferences, lifestyle, and the texture and condition of their present hairstyle.
Yes, but the MO is expecting that Nick is the expert and will properly advise them. Some of us just don't think he is worth the money and that the trust that is put into him is misplaced. (You will notice that this issue rarely comes up about Stacy, Clinton, or Carmindy.)
Whatever. I just think that it would be nice to see the show use a different hair stylist from time to time. I've said on here many times that they should give Frederick Fekkai a try. I don't know that many NY stylists, but how is Peter Coppola? I do know that he has lovely products for hair.
So who said he doesn't 'properly' advise them? Who defines 'properly'? He tells them what he thinks will work for them, and they have the right to ask him not to do what he's suggested. He doesn't hold a gun to their head, does he? And using our favorite, Lynn, as an example, the MOs know full well that hair is part of the package, and if they can't or won't deal with that, then they shouldn't be there and should not have accepted the $5000 BOA Card. We can speculate until the cows come home, but are we the ones whose hair he cut and colored/highlighted? No we're not. We're all just viewers who have no real input at all. If the MOs are happy (and I can only think of one right off the top of my head, the skinny blonde from North Carolina who had the 80s wardrobe and big hair. She thought her husband 'would flip', and turned out, he loved her new shorter 'do). How is it 'we' don't think he's 'worth the money' when he hasn't done a thing to our hair??? If he did someone's hair on here and screwed it up royally, that's one thing. but to my knowledge, that hasn't happened. I think people come on here and just like to whine and b*tch about Nick when they have no personal experience with him and his work whatsoever. And probably never will, unless they can afford his prices.
Originally posted by 3kittymama: MOs who have posted on here have said that Nick sits down with them at some point during the week they're there, and they talk about the MO's hair, lifestyle, how much time they want to or are able to spend styling their hair. What we see on the show is not the first time he and the MO have met. So Nick doesn't just chop everyone's hair off without telling the MO what he has planned for them. I don't know of anyone who would willingly let him do that, no matter how great he is as a stylist! He already has a picture in mind of what will work with the MO's preferences, lifestyle, and the texture and condition of their present hairstyle.
Yes, but the MO is expecting that Nick is the expert and will properly advise them. Some of us just don't think he is worth the money and that the trust that is put into him is misplaced. (You will notice that this issue rarely comes up about Stacy, Clinton, or Carmindy.)
Whatever. I just think that it would be nice to see the show use a different hair stylist from time to time. I've said on here many times that they should give Frederick Fekkai a try. I don't know that many NY stylists, but how is Peter Coppola? I do know that he has lovely products for hair.
So who said he doesn't 'properly' advise them? Who defines 'properly'? He tells them what he thinks will work for them, and they have the right to ask him not to do what he's suggested. He doesn't hold a gun to their head, does he? And using our favorite, Lynn, as an example, the MOs know full well that hair is part of the package, and if they can't or won't deal with that, then they shouldn't be there and should not have accepted the $5000 BOA Card. We can speculate until the cows come home, but are we the ones whose hair he cut and colored/highlighted? No we're not. We're all just viewers who have no real input at all. If the MOs aren't happy (and I can only think of one right off the top of my head who wasn't, the skinny blonde from North Carolina who had the 80s wardrobe and big hair. She thought her husband 'would flip', and turned out, he loved her new shorter 'do). How is it 'we' don't think he's 'worth the money' when he hasn't done a thing to our hair??? If he did someone's hair on here and screwed it up royally, that's one thing. but to my knowledge, that hasn't happened. I think people come on here and just like to whine and b*tch about Nick when they have no personal experience with him and his work whatsoever. And probably never will, unless they can afford his prices.
I can afford it; just wouldn't pay it. In fact, there was a call for hair models for Nick in my area that actually paid money for him to cut hair. I wouldn't even go to that after seeing his work on WNTW.
We have a right to not like his style and to express our opinion. It's a part of the show that just doesn't look as good to me as the rest of it does.
I hear ya. There have been a few styles I haven't liked. I just feel sorry for the guy when people who have never had a bad experience with him doing their hair get on here and badmouth what he does for a living. If you think you can do a better job, go for it! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but if all you're gonna do is complain, it makes it bad for the rest of us who open the discussion thread and have to read it. As many have said on here, 'hair grows back'. It does, it really does! We don't know, a large percentage of the MOs may have gone back to their old style once his cut grew out. But if they did, they didn't come on here and talk trash about his work. And they're the only ones who really have the right to, don't ya think? Nobody complains about Carmindy's makeup or the clothes that Stacy and Clinton advise the MOs about even a fraction as the ones who come on here and whine about Nick and his work.
I guess I feel that when any of us allow ourselves or our work to be put on television and we are paid for being there, we are vulnerable to public opinion. Nick has built a big business, certainly in large part due to people coming to his salon from out of town because of this show; so someone must like his work. Once we're in the public eye, though, we are all open to criticism. Posting likes and dislikes about the show in this area seems okay to me. I certainly don't expect everyone to agree with my views on any subject, especially this one.
Sorry to disagree with most of the posters on here, but I've yet to see more than a handful of women who kept their long hair healthy with a good hairstyle that they maintained.
It's no wonder Nick cuts their hair. He doesn't hack it off extra short (except for dreadlock girl)...
Some of his haircuts I find to be cookie cutter, but for the most part, I think he does a pretty good job.
Originally posted by qvcdiva: Nick doesn't cut hair just for the sake of cutting hair. That long hair gets cut because it hasn't been taken care of. I've yet to see a MO with long hair that was in good condition.
I disagree with your last sentence. I remember one girl who I thought had beautiful hair (can't remember her name.) She was the darker skinned, dark haired girl....Camilla???...who had pants that were pinned or stapled together. They had her pants shipped to them or something. Anyway, Nick said her hair looked like a wig.....I thought it looked kind of 60's myself. Anyway, I really liked her hair. And the South African girl from New Orleans had pretty blong hair (thank God Nick kept most of it,) and lastly, the other photographer with Crystal Gayle hair. I loved her hair too. And I think for the most part, they had fairly healthy hair.
First, is that long hair does look best on the young. After a certain aqe, most women can't carry it. (Please notice I said "most"). .
I disagree with this, and I've heard this over and over and over again. When I see a woman who is older who has longer hair (now I'm not talking totally thinning, scraggly hair, but well kept,) I automatically think she looks younger and more vivacious. I think that we've created this "shorter is younger" attitude more than it actually makes you look younger. I believe this is one of the reasons older women cut their hair. So now I associate short hair with older, not younger, because older women cut it. And NOW we say that older women should have shorter hair. I'm sorry, but I've seen older women with longer (and I don't necessarily mean halfway down their backs, just not shorter than chin length) hair who also tend to have a more youthful attitude. It doesn't mean that all women look better or younger with long hair, but this is just something I've noticed.
Oh also I forgot to mention....I've had an art therapist tell me that when a person depicts an individual without hair (male or female,) it's a sign of "cutting off sexuality." Also, to get a little more philosophical, if an older woman cuts off her hair, she is also in a way cutting off her sexuality or that symbol of being a woman. Just a thought.........
Of course, if she's a hottie anyway, then that theory doesn't hold!
Gee thanks!I'll have to share with my husband that bit of info that when I go to the hair dresser every two months to get my hair trimmed up, that I am slowing whacking away at my sexuality!
I am 50 and have worn my hair short for most of my adult life! In fact the two times I did grow it out, it was a unanimous vote from my family and hubby to get it cut short again. I am far more attractive and FEEL more attractive with my hair short and bouncy. Most older women tend to wear their hair shorter because it draws the attention upward to the eyes and away from the chin and neck which can show age.
This thread is a repeat (and there are threads addressing the same issues about Stacy, Clinton, and Carmindy). Maybe if we take a different look at it -
If Stacy and Clinton say that there are classic style pieces that can enhance all women, can't there also be classic hair styles that also enhance? I really love Nick's work and I feel he is giving good solid advice about upkeep. He is making a real effort to get the MO's hair to focus on their FACE and not the other way around.
Many women look beautiful with short hair; you won't get an argument from me about that. If short hair works for you, go for it! I think it especially looks terrific on women that are petite or who have delicate features. I prefer slightly longer hair to soften harder features.
Now, Mother, forgive me, but the neck surely doesn't show any real signs of age at 50, does it? I was hoping to avoid this problem until I'm a good 75. (No disrespect meant to anyone 75 and up.)
Here are a few examples of women that are a little bit older that I think look good whose hair is (currently) on the longer side:
Jane Seymour Finola Hughes Cheryl Crow Beverly Johnson Cheryl Tiegs
In my part of the world there is a good hair stylist on nearly every street corner, a lot of it better quality work than I see on the show.
Ah yes, you list women who are lucky to be beautiful,have the money to take extremely good care of their hair and bodies, and whom we see from a distance or from touched up photos in magazines.
While there are always exceptions, real life people show age. It's all in how you carry it off. I use the creams, stay out of sun, exercise faithfully, and take good care of my hair. But the reality is that I need to wear glasses now, have laugh lines around my eyes and mouth and lines in my neck. I also don't wear spaghetti straps without a good bra. It's called gravity and it's all a part of life. I have earned them all and wear them with pride. As Morrie Schwartz said in his book Tuesdays with Morrie, it is now my time to be this age and I will celebrate that for the time it is mine.
We also have very qualified hair dressers where I live and they they don't wack away at my sexuality. They help me stay vibrant and feeling good. No one can take that away from me unless I give it.
First, is that long hair does look best on the young. After a certain aqe, most women can't carry it. (Please notice I said "most"). .
I disagree with this, and I've heard this over and over and over again. When I see a woman who is older who has longer hair (now I'm not talking totally thinning, scraggly hair, but well kept,) I automatically think she looks younger and more vivacious. I think that we've created this "shorter is younger" attitude more than it actually makes you look younger. I believe this is one of the reasons older women cut their hair. So now I associate short hair with older, not younger, because older women cut it. And NOW we say that older women should have shorter hair. I'm sorry, but I've seen older women with longer (and I don't necessarily mean halfway down their backs, just not shorter than chin length) hair who also tend to have a more youthful attitude. It doesn't mean that all women look better or younger with long hair, but this is just something I've noticed.
Oh also I forgot to mention....I've had an art therapist tell me that when a person depicts an individual without hair (male or female,) it's a sign of "cutting off sexuality." Also, to get a little more philosophical, if an older woman cuts off her hair, she is also in a way cutting off her sexuality or that symbol of being a woman. Just a thought.........
Of course, if she's a hottie anyway, then that theory doesn't hold!
Where to start? Unfortunately, aging is largely about the effects of gravity. Things start going down, down, down, including one's cheeks and jowls. Long hair has a tendency to highlight those unfortunate effects. Motherputz is correct - shorter hair draws the attention upward. As I wrote, my hair style highlights my eyes. (When my hair was down my back, you couldn't see them!)
As for the s*xuality issue - as Freud wrote, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. For the years I wore my har long, I was single, and it was definitely camouflage. My husand - who bTW is younger than I am - also prefers my hair short.
Neither Motherputz, 3Kitty or I are trying to convince any one to cut her hair. It's a personal issue. But people are getting on Nick for cutting too much, and I'm just saying: there are good reasons. If I had landed in his chair 10 years ago, he would have told me I needed to let go of about 20 inches of healthy hair. I would have pleaded, wept, fought, resisted - and he would have been 1000 per cent right!
I myself have short hair. I've had it long and short, and I've been told by more than one person (includig a couple of hairdressers) that short hair definitely suits my bone structure and facial features better than long hair. I wish I could wear it longer, but I can't. Well, won't, because I want to look the best I can. I'd have to look it up, but I seem to remember a poster who was an MO said that when they sat down and talked with Nick, he gave them two or three different ideas of how he'd like to transform thair hair, and that she (the MO) had to agree to all of them, or they came up with something else. In other words, if he wanted to give them a Demi Moore in Ghost basic 'do, and they screamed bloody murder, they scrapped that idea and came up with something else. The way she described it made me think of how TV shows tape 3 or 4 different endings to a cliffhanger, end-of-season show. The actors involved have taped all of them, but even they don't know which one the director is gonna go with in the end. That's why the MOs are surprised (one way or another) when Nick is finished with their hair; they don't know which style/cut he's decided to go with, since he won't let them see it until it's finished. The hair segments of WNTW are hands down the one that stirs up the most anxiousness in the MO, but because we women love to tinker with our hair, I think it's almost what some MOs look forward to the most. There is a lot of emotion tied up in our hair, as we have seen on the show. Sailingawayblues is right; I'm certainly not advocating that every woman shold have long hair or short hair, but I will say that some women would be surprised at how lovely they really are if their long hair is not hidiing their features. Some women wear their hair long for religious reasons; there's a woman in my church who is probably close to 60 who still wears her hair to her waist. I think she'd look so much better with a shorter, lighter cut, but I would never, ever suggest it to her. She equates her long hair with being obedient to the Lord, and that's her viewpoint.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: 3kittymama,
[ I disagree with your last sentence. I remember one girl who I thought had beautiful hair (can't remember her name.) She was the darker skinned, dark haired girl....Camilla???...who had pants that were pinned or stapled together. They had her pants shipped to them or something. Anyway, Nick said her hair looked like a wig..)
They were hair extentions. I watched the ep twice because I was confused the first time about his reply. She said: " I have gotten really attached to them." and his reply was "Remember, they're not yours."
I thought that this was ironic - my youngest son is 19 and sometimes a little too honest in comments, but totally unaware that I was posting about this story. Anyway, he came home from work last night (local Wally World) and was telling about a lull time,so he and one other teen boy were watching customers. He said one woman, very petite and dressed quite young had her back to them and they thought, "Hey, bet she's hot." (rememember these are 19 year old boys). He said then she turned around and "YUCK, Mom she wasn't young at all!" She was old. I think she was older than you but it was hard to tell. She was trying so hard to look young that she looked a lot older. Why do women do that?" He shuddered and walked away.
Originally posted by motherputz: [ I disagree with your last sentence. I remember one girl who I thought had beautiful hair (can't remember her name.) She was the darker skinned, dark haired girl....Camilla???...who had pants that were pinned or stapled together. They had her pants shipped to them or something. Anyway, Nick said her hair looked like a wig..)
They were hair extentions. I watched the ep twice because I was confused the first time about his reply. She said: " I have gotten really attached to them." and his reply was "Remember, they're not yours."
I thought that this was ironic - my youngest son is 19 and sometimes a little too honest in comments, but totally unaware that I was posting about this story. Anyway, he came home from work last night (local Wally World) and was telling about a lull time,so he and one other teen boy were watching customers. He said one woman, very petite and dressed quite young had her back to them and they thought, "Hey, bet she's hot." (rememember these are 19 year old boys). He said then she turned around and "YUCK, Mom she wasn't young at all!" She was old. I think she was older than you but it was hard to tell. She was trying so hard to look young that she looked a lot older. Why do women do that?" He shuddered and walked away.
Enough said......
Huh???!!! How on earth can you disagree with my last sentence about a woman you don't even know? I know this woman, and I know why she wears her hair as long as she does. She's extremely religious, and takes literally that the bible talks about a woman's long hair being her glory. I said before I thought she'd look better with a shorter cut, but she chooses not to. So you're saying that all older women with long hair are wearing hair extensions? Wrong. I don't know what the woman's story your son saw is, but I'm talking about a woman I know. I've known her for years, and she's not the sort of woman who would even consider hair extensions! Believe me, I know this!
Please don't misunderstand, Sailing and Kitty, I have no doubt that you both look beautiful. It's simply that I don't always like the haircuts on this show.
I read an article recently about why certain characteristics are more attractive to men. Most of these characteristics are associated with reproductive capabilities, which, after all, have the result of then handing these inborn preferences to yet another generation, and so forth.
Hair (and bust size) was discussed. Hair is an indicator of health (especially in the wild), and long hair is an indicator of health for a long period of time; sort of a health history worn for all (cavemen) to see. The cavemen who went for the long hair girls had more offspring; and you get the picture of what happened next.
About the bust, there is no greater reproductive capability associated with large size, and it does not affect the success of bre*st feeding, either. But, small busts may fool our caveman into thinking "young thing here." A large bust shows its age more readily (Hey, this is before the age of fabulous bras; we're talking cavemen!) so, better safe than sorry (or off the reproductive chain).
I am sooooo sorry that the teen shuddered at being fooled by the pretty lady, who probably wouldn't give his pimply faced, empty pocket crowd a second glance. I had an experience once when a man much older than I am, followed me around a store, probably enthralled by my then very big blonde hairstyle. When he saw my face, I saw his interest end. I told the story to DH, who asked a few questions (I wasn't a teen, but still somewhat younger than Mr Stalker). He said, "No, it wasn't your age, it was the look in your eyes. He knew at a glance that he wasn't going to get lucky that morning."
My opinion is the same one that I extend for all labels; ignore them. Pick what looks best on you. I would avoid any hairdresser that has a pre-conceived notion of what length your hair should be, famous or not. Haircuts are a hand made, individual product.
Kittymama- 1) Look carefully at my quote. My comments about the hair extentions are refering to the MO Camillia, the dark skinned African-American woman who had the long hair she was "attached to" (literally), not the woman you know who has religious reasons to keep it long. I teach Menonite girls in my school and they too wear their hair that way for religious reasons and I deeply respect their conviction.
2) My son is not "a pimply faced, empty pocket"; he is a 19 year old, 6'8" honor student who is a sophomore in collge working at two jobs to help pay the tuition. He doesn't pick up women at WalMart, he doesn't need to. His observation was that the woman he saw had beautiful hair and a great body (he is a competitive runner) but when she turned around her hair didn't enhance her face, it distracted from it and made her look older, probably older than she actually was. He simply didn't understand how anyone, male or female can get fixated on something in isolation instead of the whole picture. As as mom I am kind of proud that he sees things that way; he won't be fixtated on his girlfriend's or wife's long hair but look at what they are as a whole package.
Dancingstarr, no misunderstanding at all. This discussion isn't about any one person, excpt maybe Nick. Pres is right - every woman needs to pick what is best for her. I was just sharing my experience that for emotional reasons, I was hanging onto a hairstyle that no longer flattered me. We know that the MOs do that with clothes, and many of them do that for hair, too. So I don't think the "pressure" Nick is exerting is any different on MOs to change their hair is any different that that exerted by S&C to change their clothing style.
Pres, your caveman story is a hoot! (Didn't you once say that your DH is an anthropologist?) After my last post, I was reflecting that shortly after I finally cut off the hair, I met my DH. Maybe the big t*ts compensated for the short hair?
In the paper today was a story about Miss Bolivia--I believe it was Boliva--was stripped of her title because she'd worn hair extensions in segment that feature native dances to honor their heritage, and part of that was long braids. She'd had the hair extensions to enhance the braids.
I think the problem with most women with long hair is not the length of the hair, but rather the lack of style to it. The majority of women...particularly those over 35...wearing their hair long either have locks that just hang lifelessly down their backs (or in ponytails) or they are sporting the same style they had in high school back in the 80s (a really bad decade for hair...as my class of '87 yearbook will confirm).
I've been guilty of wearing my hair too long myself. While I've had my hair at every possible length between pixie and several inches below my bra strap, I fell into the rut of having long hair and pulling it back into a ponytail every day. Then, a year ago (just before my second son was born) I cut off 12 inches (locks of love was doing a hair drive at a local shopping center, so I couldn't think of a better time to snip). A few months later I told my stylist to cut it short enough that it couldn't possibly be put in a ponytail...otherwise I was afraid the temptation would be too hard to resist.
Although it's easy to fall into the long hair rut (I'll admit it was simple just to grab a rubber band every morning, rather than taking the time to style) I know I look better with short hair. I always feel chicer and more sophisticated when my hair is shorter, and I think too much hair does overwhelm my frame.
Hair truly is personal, an extension of how we see ourselves, but something we can't just take off at night like clothes and makeup. This must be why Nick's segment on the show is the most emotional (except for the big show at the very end with screaming family and friends -- does anybody else turn down the volume when you see the MOs feet walking towards the gathered crowd?).
I used to have long hair. I wanted pretty curly blonde waves, but instead I have thick straight fine hair. I'd perm it myself to get the job done right (and save myself $100 a pop when I was very poor). Over the past 10 years I've been steadily shortening my hair, and every time I go shorter I think I look better. My hair frames my face better and is simpler to care for. I also tend to associate short hair with age, but only certain hair styles -- some short hair styles are very young (Winona Ryder of 5 years ago, for example).
Last night a friend was going over my wedding album, which included some pictures of me getting ready for the day. My hair was chin length back then, and she said that I look younger now than I did then (it's only been 2 years), because of the shorter hair style I have now. It just looks better on me. I'm sure there are people who don't like it -- lots of men prefer long hair on women, and many people think of a woman's long hair as her "glory" (altho I think of my career as my glory, and that at least won't go gray with age). Maybe someday I'll grow it longer again, maybe not.
But everybody is different, with different coloring, lifestyle, bone structure, etc. I don't always like what Nick does, but I almost always think it's an improvement over what the MO had before.
I am proud of both of my sons for many reasons, but mostly because neither looks at the world as an adolescent and haven't for many years. It may be that they have two educators for parents, maybe that they has a strong mom who is still active in their circle (I play principal oboe in both of the orchestras that they play principal bassoon and horn in); but I think the truest test is how my youngest usually describes people to me. Two examples best exemplifies this:
He just absolutely adored his speech teacher and almost daily he told me something he learned from this gifted professor. Two years later, after a concert, he very excitedly told me that his old speech prof wanted to meet me since he had told him so much about me. When I came around the corner, I admit I was shocked that my son had never mentioned that his professor was an African American elderly woman. He just called her Prof. When I mentioned that he had not told me everything about her, he replied that he had told me everything important about her.
One more quick example- when he told me that he was seeing a girl from a performing group he was in, I asked him which one of the clarinets he was talking about (mentally counting them off). He replied, "When you come to the next concert, close your eyes and listen for the clarinet who plays like her soul is dancing." If the average person saw her they would have said she was a bit heavy set with long curly hair. My son thought she was just beautiful from the inside out.
So, when my son says that a woman looked older than she should have because she was trying too hard to look young. I believe that a very observant young man was making a very accurate evaluation.
On this thread, as on others I have tried to be honest and sincere and I have never intentionally insulted anyone's family or significant others. I enjoy this show because it is fun and often educational. It is not the center of my life and I will not put it so. But I am hurt that anyone would insult my son who is not here to represent himself. Enough said. I am moving on.
Listen, I would not care if Nick never cut another woman's hair the rest of the run of WNTW! I didn't mean to imply that I am pushing short hair. I'm not. I only said that I myself can't wear long hair because it just doesn't look right on me, and that not every woman looks her best in long hair, no matter how much she likes it. It was simply my observation. That also applies to short hair, by the way. Hair is so personal and every woman deserves to look her best, whatever length (or not) that might translate to. What I objected to was the early poster on here who insisted on ragging on Nick for doing something that the MO isn't even upset about. It just seemed so unfair to me because Nick works hard to make the women look as beautiful as he can, and many times has to work with some hair that is in really crummy condition. Working with all kinds of hair and all kinds of different women and still making them look good is not easy, but he makes it look easy.
On this thread, as on others I have tried to be honest and sincere and I have never intentionally insulted anyone's family or significant others. I enjoy this show because it is fun and often educational. It is not the center of my life and I will not put it so. But I am hurt that anyone would insult my son who is not here to represent himself. Enough said. I am moving on
I did not read anything that implied an insult to anyone, Motherputz, though I admit to feeling a bit insulted myself by your comments about my implied lack of judgment because I choose to keep my hair longer than chin level and because I'm not enamored with Nick's haircutting.
What I did read, however, was some wisdom about not allowing our decisions to influenced too much by teenage boys, who are not often exposed to beautiful older women in the media.
I am offended only by someone who does not know me personally, and even more my son to use derogatory terms in reference to him. I am his mother and as such I am DEEPLY hurt. If like your long hair all the power to you. That is irrelevant to my comment or my feelings.
I participate in this for the fun, but if this is how anyone would choose to pose their argument, it is sad and I as I said earlier, I choose to move on.
Originally posted by motherputz: I am offended only by someone who does not know me personally, and even more my son to use derogatory terms in reference to him. I am his mother and as such I am DEEPLY hurt. If like your long hair all the power to you. That is irrelevant to my comment or my feelings.
I participate in this for the fun, but if this is how anyone would choose to pose their argument, it is sad and I as I said earlier, I choose to move on.
No replies are necessary.
You are a very smart woman, Motherputz, and your original post about your son and the older woman's long hair was intended to draw blood. You weren't there; you didn't see the woman. Still, you commented that she looked older than she was.
Please don't feign hurt when someone takes offense to your comments and reacts accordingly.
I apologize. I obviously hurt your feelings, and I have only the highest respect for you as a teacher, and as a mother.
On a general, not a personal note, I still think that teens hold too much sway in our culture today. This may have had some demographic merit in the day of the Boomers (the first "Teenagers") but it isn't appropriate now, IMHO. If you will look at any films made before the Boomers entered adolescence, you will see that the women who are beautiful do not look like teens (even if played by them; they are made up to look fully mature).
I have stated before that I am against images that promote anorexia as a beauty standard, and I also oppose the objectification of young teens, which is common today. These images are powerful, and can cause harm.
Once again, I am discussing philosophy and an industry, not any specific teen, and I apologize for anything negative that may have been directed at your son, in my response to his quoted reaction to the lady with the long hair.
Please accept my apology. I think I should stick to picking outfits. General discussions always trip me up.
It's always tricky when the general suddenly becomes personal. We're all doing our best here. And please accept my apology, Pres, if you thought I was comparing you to a parakeet on that other thread.
I have yet to see a hairstyle that is even remotely attractive on that show, but that's just my opinion.
He already has a picture in mind of what will work with the MO's preferences, lifestyle, and the texture and condition of their present hairstyle.
Hair is so personal and every woman deserves to look her best, whatever length (or not) that might translate to. What I objected to was the early poster on here who insisted on ragging on Nick for doing something that the MO isn't even upset about. It just seemed so unfair to me because Nick works hard to make the women look as beautiful as he can, and many times has to work with some hair that is in really crummy condition. Working with all kinds of hair and all kinds of different women and still making them look good is not easy, but he makes it look easy.
