I seriously had the weirdest experience. I was talking to an acquaintance of mine, and the conversation took an interesting turn. She complemented me on my hair and its length. My hair is quite long, probably more than halfway down my stomach, when I let it stay curly.
Anyway she then said something like “You better enjoy it while you still have have it. Which will probably go by fast, since I bet you will be married very soon and have children before you know it.”
So I was like Um…what? She explained that I obviously couldn’t have my hair long once I had children. That would be inappropriate for my age and situation. And at that point I was just brushed it off and moved on.
But I learned later that a few of my friends share her opinion and agree that it would be more appropriate to cut my hair. Now, I really do value these friends opinions. Also, thinking about it I really don’t remember meeting very many Mom with long hair. Usually bobs or shoulder length hair.
Is it wrong for a mom to have long hair, honestly?
It’s absolutely not wrong for a mom to have long hair. I just think that kids take up a ton of time and generally, shorter hair is easier to wash 'n go, so that’s why (I have always assumed) moms tend to cut their hair once the baby arrives.
I don’t know many moms who have/ have kept their long hair once having kids, but I do remember one mom of a friend from grade school who had hair down to her bum. We, as children, were always astounded hair could even grow that long in the first place, haha.
So, no, long hair as a mom is not weird or taboo or anything like that, it’s just less practical for a lot of people.
I know a lot of women deal with hair loss postpartum and cut it to make that phase less annoying or to keep their kiddos from grabbing and yanking it. I have long hair and am a mama :), makes me happy.
I agree that shorter hair is easier with kids but definitely not required. I love long hair on myself too and whenever I have kids I’ll be keeping it. I kind of find that really annoying but everyone has their opinion.
My mom has ALWAYS had very long hair. It was nearly waist-length the entire time I was young. She cut it “short” (mid-back) a few years ago. It absolutely can be done.
I imagine short hair would be easier with a young child as you wouldn’t need to spend as much time brushing, cleaning, and styling it. However, if you love your long hair, it might be something nice for you to focus on while also being a new mom.
I would go nuts with short hair! I keep it just past my shoulders…I wear it pulled back most of the time, but it is very maintenance free. I just shower and go most days, and generally pull it into a ponytail when dry. I honestly think I would go crazy if my hair wasn’t long enough to pull into a ponytail, lol.
Those comments definitely made me feel better, because I agree with cygnus that long hair makes me happy.
Postpartum hair loss sounds like a nightmare for me. I will probably just have to cross that bridge if I get there.
As for time, I have a carefully worked out system. My hair takes me ten minutes at night and fifteen minutes in the morning if I want to go out. Very glad I figured this out in high school.
I know that my mom starting cutting her hair shorting just because it was easier to keep up with coloring it once it started going gray (which was very young, when I was little)
My mom has ‘mom hair’ and I never ever ever plan on it. I prefer shoulder length, if not longer hair, and plan to keep it that way! I worked as a nanny for 4 kids for almost 4 years with long hair, and went through the ringer with it, you can definitely pull mommy duty with long hair. I don’t get why so man people think you need to chop it all off because you had children! I think it’s maybe for convenience? Oh well, to each their own, but don’t feel pressured into changing your appearance in any way against your own personal preferences!
I made a promise to myself not to cut my hair until I have a baby! It is taking much longer to get said baby and I am dying to chop off all my hair (I’d like shoulder legnth hair again). It does make me really sad when moms go super short soon as they have kids. I admire the mamas with long thick hair! I’m sure that if I don’t cut mine off when I’m pg, it will thin out significantly.
Um what? My thoughts exactly. I’ve never heard of having to cut your hair when you have kids. My hair is to my middle back and has been for quite some time. Sure, it hurt when [name]Rowan[/name] was a baby and she yanked it but that’s solved by putting it up in a bun or something. It is easier to have short hair I guess but if you prefer having long hair, I don’t see the problem.
[name]Long[/name] hair is TOTALLY FINE for a mum! I have long hair and don’t intend to cut it short when I have a baby. My [name]SIL[/name] just had a baby and her hair is very long and she looks great! I think maybe the idea of cutting your hair short is more related to age than motherhood. I mean, when women get into their forties and older, they often tend to cut their hair regardless of whether they’re a mum or not. But, really, it’s all about your personal preference! If you love your long hair, there’s absolutely no need to cut it short no matter what your age or motherhood status!
Exactly everything she said! My hair is nearly down to my waist, and has been around that length (with occasional trims of course) since well before my son was born. He’s nearly 3 now. I would be completely lost if I couldn’t put my hair in a pony tail and pull it through a baseball cap. Hats are my lifesavers when I don’t have time to wash my hair What a strange assumption on her part. I’ve never even heard that before.
There’s no right or wrong with this. It’s simply a matter of personal preference. [name]Do[/name] whatever you like. I have four kids and long hair and it’s not a big deal. I’d cut my hair short if I felt that it suited me better.
I keep my hair long (just under my shoulder blades most of the time) because I love long hair and I have never been happy with the way it looks short, but I do get to the point after each baby where I just want to chop it off to the point where I can still just fit it in a ponytail. Post partum hair loss is probably the biggest motivation. For me, I don’t lose hardly any hair during pregnancy. [name]Even[/name] when I brush or wash my hair I don’t get any strands. Then, about 3-5 months post partum it just slofs off. I have a lot of hair so I don’t ever feel like it gets that thin, but it is super annoying to grab handfuls in the shower,empty a huge ball from the brush, and then still have to find hairs all over my clothes all day. And the vacuum? Oh my! It really cuts back on the mess to have shorter hair. As for the kids pulling it, this hasn’t been much of a problem for me if I have it pulled back. I have seen women who wear long hair down with small children but it seems like a silly battle to put up with in the name of vanity.
I grew my hair while I as pregnant and have kept it since baby arrived because mine is actually easier to manage and less time consuming if long. I have had various bobs and crops but they all required hours of blow drying or straightening. I think the point is to do what ever works for you. Some women feel that shorter hair will make their lives easier. Also I believe you can and should teach children not to pull hair.
I agree that there is no such thing as “appropriate” for a mother’s appearance & anyone who thinks such a thing, well… their opinion isn’t worth listening to
I will add just one thing though, in regards to your comment
As a mother, you might have time at night for your hair after your bubs are sleeping, but 15 mins in the morning ALL for yourself once you are past the newborn-sleeping-18hrs-a-day-stage I would consider a total luxury.
I’m 42 with 3 going on 4 kids and have never had my hair shorter than my shoulders since I was in my 20s. I don’t care what others think. It suits my face best and is easy to maintain and I only tie it back when i want. Wear your hair how you please.
What a strange assumption on her part. I’ve never even heard that before.