By Cipriana of Urbanbushbabes.com
When it comes to natural hair some think long flowing Rapunzel like locks, reaching to the floor or in my case to the sky is the ultimate advantage, but to be honest short hair has more advantages than you think, and if it were not for my alien sized head I too may have considered a shorter style in the past, but the Lord blessed me with all this hair for a reason.
Short hair has been a style rocked by all, whether by choice or a transition to longer lengths. Here are 7 reasons why short hair rules.
1. Stronger Ends
New growth equals stronger hair simply because it has not been around long enough to be exposed to the elements, manipulation and wear and tear that come naturally as the hair ages. Basically shorter hair is stronger, period. As long as you are not causing damage to your hair by heat, over manipulation and chemicals, your ends are the strongest of them all!
2. More Styling Manipulation
The advantages of having shorter hair not only means less manipulation (if you can keep your hands out of your hair in those idle moments, lol) but also being able to withstand a little more manipulation than longer lengths. As previously mentioned new growth is stronger and can handle a little more manipulation than longer hair, which is why there are women (like Amber Rose) who rock short haircuts and dye their hair every color under the sun but still have healthy hair. The constant cutting of your ends to achieve a shorter look eliminates damage that occurred while using a chemical such as dye.
3. Water is Your Best Friend
We all know water is your best friend regardless of length but if you are a shorty, you really have the comfort of enjoying Mother Nature’s greatest gift without the process of protective styles or sectioning to reduce tangling, not to mention air-drying short hair is a dream!
4. Protective Styling WHAT?
The length of short hair is automatically a protective style within itself since your ends will not be in friction with any clothing articles you may be wearing. No matter what your hair type texture, if hair is above shoulder length you have more freedom to wear your hair out without risking damage from friction.
5. Less Time
The hands of time are on your side! With less hair you save time on everything from detangling, washing to styling.
6. Easier Detangling
The longer/older your strands are, the more susceptible they are to feathering; when your ends are thinner and finer than your roots due to wear over time. Feathering leads to tangling, single strand knots and split ends.
7. Product Usage
More money more problems…Less hair less products! Rockin short styles obviously means less product usage, saving you money.
Ladies, if you’re currently rocking short hair, what do you love about it?
Wowee!! I saw the title and was super excited!! I’ve been natural for about 4 years now and last year decided to cut it all off. It’s been over a since I’ve been rocking short hair and I love it. Lately, I’ve been toying with the idea to grow it out;do something different with it, but every time I think about how simple and easy and cheap it is to care for my short hair, I scrap out the thought of letting it grow out. Thanks soo much for posting this; came at the right time :-)
As
Wow…mistake on my part. ANYwho…..
As I come closer to my one-year hair anniversary, I can truly say I’m at the place where I appreciate all stages of my hair. Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly at a place of envy when I see style icons and their 2+ years of locs, but I also remember when I could shower, throw on some KCCC and head out the door. It’s all a journey, and I’m appreciating it all throughout the way…
I think ‘It’s Ugly, and You look like a boy” cancels out all 7 of those reasons.
Severus, OUCH! Yeesh!
I am experiencing no regrets about cutting my hair short just last week. Well, except that sometimes I’m afraid I’m too fat for short hair. Oh well! In any event, thanks for the seven reminders!
But who asked you?
Unfortunately, because this is the internet, no one needs to ask for an opinion. People gladly give theirs away in a heartbeat.
The only ugly thing here is that attitude.
Anyway…
I agree with this list! My hair is getting to middle length and I’m loving how it looks and the new styles I can do, but I find that I have to work a bit harder to manage all of it without it being a chore. When my hair was short I just tossed on some leave-in conditioner and it was happy. I think short hair suits people who don’t mind showing their face… I think twa’s and pixie cuts can look really fierce and fresh.
Must be a internet troll. Carrying on….
-_-
severus, I agree with you.
Contrary to popular belief, not everybody is in love with their big chop. Or if they are in love with it, it quickly fades. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is actually natural women who are the engine behind the massive wig and weave industry.
What’s funny is that the reason why I decided to give myself a short cut was because of Kelis! I saw how her hair was styled for last Fall’s Mercedez Benz Fashion Week and fell in love with her hair, cut, and style! So I chopped mine off and voila! My hair has been short since the end of last September and I get more compliments on my short hair now than ever! I love it! all 7 reasons are totally on point:)
You’re so beautiful! Love that eyeshadow :)
Thanks Nana! I also wanted to add that I have a hair condition so cutting it that short really did help strengthen my ends and required less manipulation. So for anyone out there that has hair issues, short may be the way to go..
Niiiice! Love it!
Thanks Alisha!
I read your articles from here in the UK regularly, and after cutting my hair off in April was quite disappointed that more hasn’t been posted about the advantages of short hair. Great to see that this article has been so well written and definitely embraces the pros of having short hair. I am so glad I cut my hair and for me, like many others it is an experience I am really enjoying.
I have found that although I have generally received positive comments about my fresh chop, when talking to many women, they are scared about taking the leap themselves for fear of “looking like a boy”. I have to say, being only 20, it was also my own personal fear which is why I had to cut my hair in around 5 stages before the final full shave. This was a journey in itself that took me almost a year to complete.
But in my personal experience, CONFIDENCE is far important than the presence or absence of hair on your head to your overall appearance. If you are content and confident in yourself, body, mind and soul, then that will shine through over and a above a hair cut. So to any others who may be reading this and considering the “the big chop” I would definitely recommend it.
You look beautiful.
Thanks Alisha
I strongly disagree with the ‘you look like a boy’ whoever said that to you was just being an ass. I have had super short mm length hair and the shag I have now (hair texture varies all over) that I’ve always gotten compliments on my hair. Usually I find when my hair is short it really shows off my eyes, that I have crazy tiny ears and that I’m blessed with great skin. I recommend any woman who’s concerned about having short hair to figure out her texture than get ready to accessorize with stepping up on eyeliner and mascara. Cute hair clips and bands also are great way to ‘change it up’. But anyone who runs up to you to say how ugly they think you are have more issues with themselves and usually don’t like Black Beauty in all it’s glorious facets!
Hey I am seriously considering doing a big chop down to my new growth but my head is big, so what if it doesnt look right ? Please help, Im only 16 and still in school and Im kinda nervous about reactions I’ll get.
I just big chopped two weeks ago. I was worried about my head shape, what it would be like to have super short hair….but I decided “screw it”. I did it and have loved it. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments, but even if I hadn’t…hair grows back. Get you a good leave in conditioner and a tub of eco styler…and your life will be much easier for a while. Some cute hair accessories will help…especially at your age! HTH
Maya, hold your horses. How much hair will you be chopping off? DO NOT do it if you are not completely ready for it. And your peers will be vicious, for sure. Even if you think you have good nerves, it will still hurt. What about how you parents, siblings, boyfriend? How would they feel about it? ‘Cause if you don’t have their support either it will be a double blow. Maybe you should hold off cutting it until you leave for college-new place, new do. Wear transition styles until you’re comfortable either way.
Thanks Dana this really helped! My family thinks I shouldnt do it but my boyfriend thinks it would be great. The advice about waiting till college is what I think I’ll do because Im going to NYU (hopefully) or somewhere in NY and the fashion there is so accepting of all styles! Thanks!
Anyone know if it’s possible to achieve this color with henna or any kind of henna cassia or other natural color mix? Just curious…
I’m pleasantly surprised to see an article on short hair on BGLH. Folks kill me with their worrying about how it will look, whether it will grow, how to protect it…when in reality the TWA is one of the easiest if not the easiest natural hairstyle there is. For that alone I think every natural (yeah, I said it) should experience short hair life at least once. In fact when I was growing up what we called “the natural” was basically a short, neat ‘fro. Nowadays you can really play with texture and color with short hair…and start over just as easily. Short hair can be a lot of fun!
And speaking solely for myself I have NEVER EVER seen a bad-looking TWA on a woman. I think women look more like themselves with natural hair no matter how long it is, and how can that be bad? So eff off, troll above.
co-sign
I think women look more like themselves with natural hair no matter how long it is, and how can that be bad?
THIS :)
Love this article! When I chopped off my hair last year, it was so much easier to style, plus I could get away with coloring my hair and not thinking about so much damage. Now that my hair is past my shoulders, it has become quite difficult to keep it looking like something with too much effort. Funny, when I had short hair, I kept wishing for long hair. Now that my hair is longer, I am beginning to appreciate shorter hair in hindsight. Oh, those were the days…! Maybe next decade, I might go short again, we’ll see…
I have fade and I’m loving the hair I’m in!! I can wash and go with ease and it’s really uncomplicated to care for! My husband thinks its really sexy!! I plan on keeping m fade and rocking it fiercely!! I truly appreciate sites like this that reiterate the beauty of being natural because we are ALL beautiful!!
cant wait to have some long hair advantages.
co-sign
I don’t think my hair got this memo LOL! Some days are good and MOST days are a pain in my….
The detangling process is so annoying for my multi-textured tresses which makes styling a pain, but either way I still love my hair. I’m gonna make my hair read this article because I know it can (and should) be simple and kind to me. LOL!
Anything that Kelis wears is iconic. Love her!
I just cut my hair off and am now thinking of staying short for a while. It’s so much easier to deal with that way.
I love the positive responses from everyone. I am very happy to see so many women coming together and embacing their natural state. I’ve been natural for 10 years and I remember when I started transitioning there were no great sites like Black Girl With Long Hair and oher forums. I’ve been through it all over the years, hair dyed blonde (embracing by inner Beyonce), rocked symmetrical cuts to show my fierce diva side (but scared to wear it in a natural state at that length because of perception), hair falling out and thinning because of health conditions, and now my har is finally at MBL. It wasn’t until eight months ago I stumbled upon all these great natural hair sites and because of more and more women like you all it has open the doors for natural product lines and such. Finally, company’s see there is a niche for this lifestyle in the business world. I remember having to make my own concoctions for my hair, now I can go to stores and there are shelves of great products for natural curly girls. I’ve also channeled in and started wearing more natural styles versus wearing it flat ironed straight consistently (somewhat still conforming). So however you choose to rock your natural hair whether it is locks, short styles, or long styles,rock it with confidence! I now rock my big curly fro with pride!!!!
At one point I grew out my hair to the point that my two-strand twists were halfway down my back, but it was just too much work maintaining it. TWA is no muss, no fuss and still looks good. And since I started going back to the gym a year ago I really like having my hair short, because with all the sweat I have to wash it every few days. I can’t imagine doing that if I had to constantly restyle it.
I agree with you MC. I’ve started working out and I sweat alot & I love that after my workouts, I can wash my short hair with such ease.
My transition started in Dec. but there was no big chop until march….I was surprised and still am by all the compliments recieved about my hair to this day….personally im lovin the short hair…its great to wash and go…right now im contemplating colour…somthing that was not so forgiving when i had process hair.
i love this article and i’m so happy i cut my hair, even if i’m just 17 and in college looking at girls with lovely long locks, i’m proud of my short hair. The best part of it all is that i get to feel the wind in my hair and it’s extremely refreshing. This is a picture of my big chop about 3months ago
Thank you! So happy you ladies love the article. I think short hair is so beautiful and extremely sexy!!!