Thread: Going to cut my hair ~ update with pic

I'm very VERY seriously considering cutting my long hair short. VERY short. I'm just ready for a change. Have to admit i'm nervous...lol, but also excited. Any other short hair dancers out there that can give me words of encouragement?

here is pic with hair cut. i'm still getting used to the 'new' me, boyfriend LOVES it...lol.

My dance sister Yenn totally ROCKS / RAKS the super-short red hairdo of hers!!! ..g.:

However short you do end up going, I *strongly *URGE* you to please-please-pretty-please consider donating your hair (9" or more, if you have it to cut off) to Locks of Love!!! ..g.:

I just saw a short-haired belly dancer at a live show this weekend. She was wonderful and her short hair really added to the sassy feel of her style.

Just a contrasting opinion -- I never felt I had a truly professional belly dance look with short hair. I also hated wearing 3/4 falls.

I grew my hair out long and will never cut it short again because I feel it is vital to my belly dancer persona. Not just my "look" on stage, but to me the movement of long hair as an extension of the body during turns, spins, etc. is very important to me.

i'm still very much a student & so am not doing pro dancing gigs & think a short cut will be fun for awhile. i can always grow it back if i don't like it. & yes if i have enough hair i will donate it to locks of love.

Have you worn it short before and know it suits you? Do you have access to short hair wigs that you could try first? I always wore my hair super short until I started bellydance 5 1/2 years ago--started growing it out then and am happy that it's long. If you do go short, then you can also play with hairpieces and wigs.

yeah i've had it short before & it was fun. my ex husband didn't like it, but he didn't like much i did...lol. i have pics of what i want & a hairdresser who i've used for years & i trust him so i have a few styles & i'll let him help me decide.

I love that my hair is short - especially because I have a 14 month old! I went to my local "ghetto" wig shops (I say that with love, and not in a bad/mean way!), and found a 3/4 hair piece that I love - and it helps that I can get them at about $20 a pop, so if they get to snarly, I can just go pick up a new one)! I call it my "recreational hair." I love that I can literally transform my whole image into my belly dancer persona.

When I get to the point of cutting my hair short, I want the haircut that "PINK" has....I always see her wear it different ways for a short cut. Cool......g.:

I've gone from very long (past my butt) to very short (buzz cut) and a variety of lengths in between. When I've gone from very long to very short I always did it in a couple of haircuts rather than just one big one.
I'm getting ready to chop mine from lower back length to waist.

Enjoy your short hair! It's always fun.

Originally Posted by shenudance

When I get to the point of cutting my hair short, I want the haircut that "PINK" has....I always see her wear it different ways for a short cut. Cool......g.:

OMG that's to funny Pink's was one of the first pics i printed out. she has GREAT short hair. it's an option, but might be to short for me, but i do love her hair cut. i have a couple slightly longer messy shag type cuts. it all depends on what my stylist says.

I chopped a foot of my hair off last summer and gave it to Locks of Love. The biggest shock is adjusting your shampoo! My hair wasn't super short, but it was easier to wear down than when it was longer. It stayed neat and styled easier and for longer periods of time too.

It´s hard get regular gigs if you don´t fit in the cookie cutter shape that most clients prefer...on haflas I can be myself:
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On paying gigs I wear a 3/4-fall:
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I would love to be Lady Ravenwaves all the time,but my own hair don´t agree with me;)

I love long hair when it's sleek or wavy but not when it's too curly, it looks like fur sometimes. Sleek hair is wonderful the way it falls back into it's hairdo after head flips or rotations.

You can try it. I'd say 99% you'll love the change. But you have to know that you will miss a dance accessory and that it takes years to grow it back. But golden era bellydancers also wore their hair à la mode, so it doesn't have to be long hair.

It's your hair, it's your choice! Short hair doesn't suit me but if you want to go short, do it. I understand what you say about wanting a change; I dyed my hair brown after being a blonde all my life last year and it was exhilarating!

That said, I love long hair and it is taking me forever to grow mine really long. If you have your hair cut, just be prepared for the time it takes to grow it back if you change your mind afterwards.

Would love to know what you decide!

oh yeah it takes years to grow back. i know that i've done the short to long before. i'm pretty certian i will do it & am looking forward to it.

In general, I think tribal dancers can get away with shorter, funkier hairdos more easily than dancers in the ethnic styles. Unless you are specifically doing moves that involve hair tossing, there is nothing inherently wrong with having short hair as a dancer, and even in an extreme example such as Khaleeji dance, you can still do the head movements--there just won't be much hair action on the follow through. The public does have a certain expectation about the look of a "belly dancer" and long hair is part of that, so having short hair can affect your marketability.

OTOH, nobody told Taheya Carioca that all belly dancers must have long, flowing tresses that they sensuously toss around while performing. If your personal dance style doesn't depend much on the length of your hair, you have the charisma on stage to compensate for not fulfilling the stereotype, and you like the way you look with short hair, I don't see why it is a problem to chop your hair as short as you please.

there's also the issue that other than student one hafla i don't perform. i'm still very much a student & am happy being a student. if i get to do any other performing it would be in a student performance. i think by the time i either get to the level of performing at paid gigs where the sterotype is exptected my hair will have a chance to grow mostly if not all back. besides if things change before then there are also 3/4 hair falls. or wigs even.

I keep my hair shorter than shoulder length, usually closer to chin length. I still use it as a dance accessory. ..g.: I can still flip it, pick it up from each side of my face and glance over my shoulder, all sorts of things. And I've been complimented on that from other dancers who say, "I never would have thought of using short hair like that! It's so creative and cute!"

So, it can work if you work it!

Originally Posted by GenevieveOfAtlanta

I keep my hair shorter than shoulder length, usually closer to chin length. I still use it as a dance accessory. ..g.: I can still flip it, pick it up from each side of my face and glance over my shoulder, all sorts of things. And I've been complimented on that from other dancers who say, "I never would have thought of using short hair like that! It's so creative and cute!"

So, it can work if you work it!

Yes totally, there shouldn't be one style only. A friend of mine wears a long plat at times when performing, and it looks wonderful - just a part of the costume she can remove afterwards. Saida of Argentina wears long long extensions that really behave well for what she needs them, they're a lot less rebellious than real hair. Beautiful long hair is a luxury to have and requires just so much care, and a bad hair day is much more devastating than with short hair...

Since you are a student, if you choose to cut your hair short, tie a long scarf around your head(fashion it so that it hangs down your back) during practice. This will drill your muscle memory to "compensate" for long hair witch is important for that extra special finish on your moves. Especially for turns as it adds grace to your performance.

I love having short hair. I use the wig when I want/need it but loving also being able to rock the short and sassy!

Originally Posted by DarkestDesert

Since you are a student, if you choose to cut your hair short, tie a long scarf around your head(fashion it so that it hangs down your back) during practice. This will drill your muscle memory to "compensate" for long hair witch is important for that extra special finish on your moves. Especially for turns as it adds grace to your performance.

good idea i have nice long scarves at home. thanks.

going out this afternoon to get it cut. woo hoo.