If you ever had long, luscious hair before opting for a long to short haircut, you probably remember daily showers of compliments that often go alongside it. If you've never had it, the chances are you always wanted it.
But aren’t we all just idealizing the locks the same way we do when looking at Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus”? After all, women these days have much more important things to do when taking care of something that’s subjectively pretty (is it really?) and questionably comfy (no, it’s not).
So this time, we’re celebrating the fresh, unique, and, without a doubt, super cool look of short hair. Going from long to short hair is one heck of a change, and these women seem like they don’t regret it a single bit. So scroll down and upvote your favorite long to short hair transformation, and let us know which looks, long or short, you prefer in the comments below!
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To Trim or Not to Trim, That is the Question
To find out more about long to short haircuts and the debate that goes with them, Bored Panda reached out to Dovile Osia, an experienced hair stylist and colorist based in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Dovile told us that usually, clients with long hair value it a lot and aren’t in a rush to go from long hair to short hair. “This is when we have to politely bring them back to reality and remind them what it means to have brittle and fragile hair that hasn't seen a cut in a long time.”
According to the hair stylist, beauty is not only the length of hair. “I always encourage a regular trim even for these clients who are in the process of growing their hair.”
That’s a gorgeous cut! She looks lovely. I’m glad she didn’t colour the silver away. I bet she feels 10 yr younger. She definitely looks so much younger and so pretty.
Oh, my - she is beautiful with the shorter hair. She looks so much younger and "lighter" (not so weighed down), it's astounding!
Wow she looks great, must of been hard cutting off that long hair though. She seems very happy with that look on her face.
I’ve had my hair very long. Not as long as this lovely woman’s, but past waist length. Once cut, the relief on my neck was instant, and I hadn’t even been aware of that feeling of heaviness, just a wonderfully light feeling when it was gone. Then, the first time I washed it I was thrilled that I decided to get rid of it. I wear a lob usually; longer since COVID and no stylist for almost a year!
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I like the shorter length but not the style. Could have done better.
LOL, I kinda love the swoop. I think it’s a great cut and such a positive change. I wish some of the models would comment. That would be fun.
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Now that woman's been working that for a long time! She looks so different! Love it!
Just think of how old that hair in the before picture is... Don't care for the big swoop in the after picture, but the cut is definitely a great improvement.
More changed than just the hair. It would be very unfair to say it was the hair that improved her clothing or smile.
If she braided the long hair or combed it differently and took off the mask i could answer fairly. These pucs are done so unfairly. You put makeup on them and take a up close shot so your setting this up very unfairly.you should redo this questionairre fairly. I refuse to answer any more on this biased set up. You are doing this so unfairly so we agree with you that short is better. I quit until you get fair. You are cheating.
Dovile also explained that a good hair stylist should always take into an account what their client wants. “If the look that the client wants to go for is not really realistic, we talk until we find a middle ground.”
When it comes to that long to short haircut, Dovile says that everyone can have it, but “it really depends on the head's anatomy, hairline, the shape of the face, hair type, and lifestyle.”
T shirt is awesome and so is the new hair style, it really shows off her face.
Long to Short Haircut Can Be a Huge Change in Looks
Some long to short hair transformations are truly life-changing. This is what happened to Dovile, who remembers the time she decided to part with her long hair. “I wasn’t yet a hair stylist at the time, but I realized that with long hair, I won’t have that ‘wow’ look.”
“But as soon as I cut it, my life changed. People would ask me how I made such a brave decision, and they would give me compliments. My friends would also tell me that short hair gave me character.”
However, if that long hair to short hair change really works for one person, that doesn’t mean it would work for another. “Beauty is subjective. I believe that you look your most beautiful when you feel good.”
Don’t Forget - Every Haircut Needs Maintenance
If you’re thinking about getting yourself a post-pandemic hair treatment with some long to short haircuts, Dovile said that the most popular cuts at the moment are razor cuts. “It’s anything from shag to mullet-kind of hair. Meanwhile, more conservative women opt for the long-time favorite bob hair and its variations.”
Dovile concluded that pretty hair requires time and care, and it doesn’t matter how long it may be. “Shorter hair means you’d probably have more visits to hair salons, and long hair demands some nourishing mask treatments at home. Don’t forget to give some time to yourself.”
Now, if you’re still unsure whether you’d really want to go for that long to short haircut, these long to short hair before and after pics that are still on our list might be just the thing to sway your choice. Keep on checking them out!
I could never pull this off. I would look like a raisin with some lint on top :/
I would like to hear the story behind that one. Sometimes you need to do what you do.
Note: this post originally had 135 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
It's not even relevant, because they all got a makeover as well. So it's hard to tell how much of the change is the hair.
And in most cases the hair is done heavily and not how it would look on an average workday.
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I don't think anything about this post is implying that there is anything wrong with long hair. Long hair is the western beauty norm. Just look at any reality TV dating show.
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People should do what they want with their hair. My thing with these posts is that the 'before' always has the person with a neutral or even scowling look, and the after is always a huge smile. That makes a major difference, no matter the length of hair.
Plus the before pictures don't have the hair curled or styled in any way which would have made them far more appealing.
Load More Replies... Would anyone be able to explain the purpose of this list to me? However I try to pick it, it either appears totally arbitrary to me, or it appears to celebrate that looks matter. Neither fits Bored Panda.
It is part of their "I wish I worked at Glamour" series, like we don't see enough of this BS every day. Ridiculous and boring
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The problem with shorter hair is you have to take time out to fix it to look nice. Long hair and you can quickly tie it back, easy peasy! I have had long hair for 40 years and will never cut it.
I feel like that's also true for long hair. it often lacks volume and most people dont want to keep it tied all the time
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Would be a fairer comparison if in the before picture the hair was professionally styled as well, and the lighting and angle were the same as in the after.
Shorter or short hair makes your hair look fuller, have volume and it's easier to handle and do. Long hair isn't the greatest unless you keep up with it, have style sense and just have great healthy hair and managed. Period. Your welcome.
yeah im starting to see that as well now that I'm in my twenties. growing up I always wished I had long hair butwhen it got long, it was often lifeless or easily damaged as I have thin hair. after a few years playing with different way shorter lengths I think they suit me better, although I do miss long hair. But I'm pretty positive long hair is not exactly for me because ultimately I'm not willing to put in all that work and money to keep it healthy and nice looking.
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I haven't cut my hair in years and I have no plans to cut it in the future. I've done the short-short hair and it was always such a bother to have to get it cut every few months and never getting the right or the same haircut twice. My hair is extremely low maintenance now and I save money by not having it constantly cut.
I sometimes see crusades against female long hair which I personally never understand. Of course, treatment is different (long haired guy here) but it has nothing to do with happiness.
Yeah I was heavily bullied ny entire childhood for having long hair and was never considered "a real woman" for having it. Oh no wait that was for having SHORT hair... Nobody attacks women for having traditional long hair.
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It's Bored Panda; the title of every article changes like 6 times, because a single clickbait is apparently no longer enough.
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It is the matter of preference. What the long hairs in all those pictures needed was to trim the ends, that's all; perhaps, the extremely long hair styles could be shortened a bit.
I tried to make an appointment with my barbers but he said "comb over now and i will do it for you" I got it at a cut price! Every time i get my hair cut people get well gel.
I’ve been working up the courage to cut my hair short (just down to my shoulders) it’s gotten so long it’s down to my butt. It grew like crazy when I was pregnant and during quarantine while being a stay at home mom. So I just tie it up all the time. It’s gotten a lot healthier since I haven’t used any styling tools or products I’ve just been wearing it natural. But I think I want a change I think I’ll do it soon!
Wow I'm surprised at these comments. Most of the people who poo pooed this list are lame. And I bet their hair sucks. I loved the list. I think all the women looked fabulous with shorter hair. big improvement. And most of the pictures you could tell,were the photos taken at the salon, AND for those who commented that it wasn't realistic.....when one gets their hair done at a good salon, the stylist often will show the client the best way to style the hair. Which is why the hair looked styled in the after photos. I loved the list like I said. It's helped me make the decision to cut MY hair. I've been growing it out but I've been toying with the idea of cutting it into something more modern and this article has helped me make that decision. Thankyou to the author.
In a couple of pictures people are holding up ponytails or braids they’ve cut off. I think they’re donating their hair- for example, to make wigs for cancer patients. It’s something small that makes a difference. I just donated eighteen inches, so this list meant a lot to me.
I am unspeakably jealous of people who can look good with short hair
I agree! Go to an excellent stylist and get a classy haircut. Not the usual 2 feel of mousy hair. And guess what; you can donate it to a cancer hospital to be made into a wig forva child or adult who looses her hair.
Nothing to "let down" anymore. No mystery. Remember when a Secretary would remove the hairpin, let her hair down, shake it loose, and seduce the boss?
I have never liked long hair, and these photos just prove my point. Short hair is elegant, whilst long can look lazy, scruffy or, just can't be bothered. It is very rare that it suits the wearer. I hate this Pandemic lock down business. When can I see my hair dressser?
I have long hair at 49 and my mom wants me to cut it, but my hair is a big part of my identity!!
Long hair looks great if it's thick enough. I always had my hair long when I was young, but it was thin and sparse, went into rat's tails. Now it's short, thin and sparse, and grey when I don't dye it purple. Ages me about 20 years.
And now, all of the people who insist short hair takes forever to do....Yeah, no.
Young pretty girls all, let’s see some older ladies with new do’s.....real haircuts that you can style by yourself everyday with out a hair stylist standing by.
Most of these were complete makovers, not just a haircut. Not good comparisons.
Most of these are exceptional! I had reservations about the little girl that initially had the very long hair; ONLY because with our one child (grown & married now) we let her grow her hair until she was old enough to make a decision as to whether to let it grow or get it cut. Then she spent the day with my sister and came home with hair above her shoulders. We were mortified! Many years later, after she’d graduated with honors from HS and got a full scholarship to a private university, we talked about a lot of things. One of them was “her hair”! She said she was so sad that her aunt took her to get her long hair cut when she was little! 😳 The other thing I noticed was the models are mostly thin or thin-average. What about the cuts that are transforming, or could be transforming for the “fuller” face?
All these women look so amazing. I had long hair in the past (it reached to the middle of my back) and I chose to cut it. Little did I know my hair is wavier than I realized so it puffed out and I looked like a mushroom half the time. What I think is cool about everyone on this list is that they can do both long and short hair flawlessly.
I mostly prefer longer hair. But some of them look great either way. And in some cases the cut is a definite improvement. It really depends upon individual factors, like how thin, & wispy the hair is when long, etc.. If it's long & thick & lustrous, I think it's a mistake to cut it, from a beauty perspective. But since the owner of the hair is the one who has to care for it, & maintain it, it's up to them what they prefer to deal with. It can always grow back.
but I like my long hair :') it gets even more tempting by the week to just hack it all off, but I'm waiting til I finish high school for that. The relief of 4 years of stress, shitty mental health (thanks school district <<<333), and blood, sweat, and tears will be worth it <3
Did we need proof that 'long hair isn't always better'? Seems like an assumption a lot of people may not share?
a lot of people still think that long hair is a huge factor that makes a woman feminine.
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I want to cut my hair short for a wig or something like that but i love my long hair
I remember such a list. There was a beard list, too.
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You couldn't find one Black American woman or man with long hair???
Please tell me it was a slow news day for you guys. This is a shitty article that comes across as making long-haired people feel second class. You're not a fashion magazine, so please don't start with this. There's already an industry that's dedicated to making women feel like s**t for not following the latest trends, please don't become like they are. I come here for a laugh and to be uplifted not to talked down to regarding how I should wear my hair.
So happy Ombré hair is going away. Some very lovely girls and women here! My post lockdown haircut made me feel so good! :)
How strange.....almost ALL of these prove that long hair IS far more attractive---to men---than short hair.....the old saying has never been truer...."Long hair is Sexy....and....short hair is.....ummmm...easier to.....take care of" --I guess??
It might surprise you but most modern women dont care about what sexist old men think about them.
Load More Replies...
It's not even relevant, because they all got a makeover as well. So it's hard to tell how much of the change is the hair.
And in most cases the hair is done heavily and not how it would look on an average workday.
Load More Replies... I don't think anything about this post is implying that there is anything wrong with long hair. Long hair is the western beauty norm. Just look at any reality TV dating show.
Load More Replies... People should do what they want with their hair. My thing with these posts is that the 'before' always has the person with a neutral or even scowling look, and the after is always a huge smile. That makes a major difference, no matter the length of hair.
Plus the before pictures don't have the hair curled or styled in any way which would have made them far more appealing.
Load More Replies... Would anyone be able to explain the purpose of this list to me? However I try to pick it, it either appears totally arbitrary to me, or it appears to celebrate that looks matter. Neither fits Bored Panda.
It is part of their "I wish I worked at Glamour" series, like we don't see enough of this BS every day. Ridiculous and boring
Load More Replies... The problem with shorter hair is you have to take time out to fix it to look nice. Long hair and you can quickly tie it back, easy peasy! I have had long hair for 40 years and will never cut it.
I feel like that's also true for long hair. it often lacks volume and most people dont want to keep it tied all the time
Load More Replies... Would be a fairer comparison if in the before picture the hair was professionally styled as well, and the lighting and angle were the same as in the after.
Shorter or short hair makes your hair look fuller, have volume and it's easier to handle and do. Long hair isn't the greatest unless you keep up with it, have style sense and just have great healthy hair and managed. Period. Your welcome.
yeah im starting to see that as well now that I'm in my twenties. growing up I always wished I had long hair butwhen it got long, it was often lifeless or easily damaged as I have thin hair. after a few years playing with different way shorter lengths I think they suit me better, although I do miss long hair. But I'm pretty positive long hair is not exactly for me because ultimately I'm not willing to put in all that work and money to keep it healthy and nice looking.
Load More Replies... I haven't cut my hair in years and I have no plans to cut it in the future. I've done the short-short hair and it was always such a bother to have to get it cut every few months and never getting the right or the same haircut twice. My hair is extremely low maintenance now and I save money by not having it constantly cut.
I sometimes see crusades against female long hair which I personally never understand. Of course, treatment is different (long haired guy here) but it has nothing to do with happiness.
Yeah I was heavily bullied ny entire childhood for having long hair and was never considered "a real woman" for having it. Oh no wait that was for having SHORT hair... Nobody attacks women for having traditional long hair.
Load More Replies... It's Bored Panda; the title of every article changes like 6 times, because a single clickbait is apparently no longer enough.
Load More Replies... It is the matter of preference. What the long hairs in all those pictures needed was to trim the ends, that's all; perhaps, the extremely long hair styles could be shortened a bit.
I tried to make an appointment with my barbers but he said "comb over now and i will do it for you" I got it at a cut price! Every time i get my hair cut people get well gel.
I’ve been working up the courage to cut my hair short (just down to my shoulders) it’s gotten so long it’s down to my butt. It grew like crazy when I was pregnant and during quarantine while being a stay at home mom. So I just tie it up all the time. It’s gotten a lot healthier since I haven’t used any styling tools or products I’ve just been wearing it natural. But I think I want a change I think I’ll do it soon!
Wow I'm surprised at these comments. Most of the people who poo pooed this list are lame. And I bet their hair sucks. I loved the list. I think all the women looked fabulous with shorter hair. big improvement. And most of the pictures you could tell,were the photos taken at the salon, AND for those who commented that it wasn't realistic.....when one gets their hair done at a good salon, the stylist often will show the client the best way to style the hair. Which is why the hair looked styled in the after photos. I loved the list like I said. It's helped me make the decision to cut MY hair. I've been growing it out but I've been toying with the idea of cutting it into something more modern and this article has helped me make that decision. Thankyou to the author.
In a couple of pictures people are holding up ponytails or braids they’ve cut off. I think they’re donating their hair- for example, to make wigs for cancer patients. It’s something small that makes a difference. I just donated eighteen inches, so this list meant a lot to me.
I am unspeakably jealous of people who can look good with short hair
I agree! Go to an excellent stylist and get a classy haircut. Not the usual 2 feel of mousy hair. And guess what; you can donate it to a cancer hospital to be made into a wig forva child or adult who looses her hair.
Nothing to "let down" anymore. No mystery. Remember when a Secretary would remove the hairpin, let her hair down, shake it loose, and seduce the boss?
I have never liked long hair, and these photos just prove my point. Short hair is elegant, whilst long can look lazy, scruffy or, just can't be bothered. It is very rare that it suits the wearer. I hate this Pandemic lock down business. When can I see my hair dressser?
I have long hair at 49 and my mom wants me to cut it, but my hair is a big part of my identity!!
Long hair looks great if it's thick enough. I always had my hair long when I was young, but it was thin and sparse, went into rat's tails. Now it's short, thin and sparse, and grey when I don't dye it purple. Ages me about 20 years.
And now, all of the people who insist short hair takes forever to do....Yeah, no.
Young pretty girls all, let’s see some older ladies with new do’s.....real haircuts that you can style by yourself everyday with out a hair stylist standing by.
Most of these were complete makovers, not just a haircut. Not good comparisons.
Most of these are exceptional! I had reservations about the little girl that initially had the very long hair; ONLY because with our one child (grown & married now) we let her grow her hair until she was old enough to make a decision as to whether to let it grow or get it cut. Then she spent the day with my sister and came home with hair above her shoulders. We were mortified! Many years later, after she’d graduated with honors from HS and got a full scholarship to a private university, we talked about a lot of things. One of them was “her hair”! She said she was so sad that her aunt took her to get her long hair cut when she was little! 😳 The other thing I noticed was the models are mostly thin or thin-average. What about the cuts that are transforming, or could be transforming for the “fuller” face?
All these women look so amazing. I had long hair in the past (it reached to the middle of my back) and I chose to cut it. Little did I know my hair is wavier than I realized so it puffed out and I looked like a mushroom half the time. What I think is cool about everyone on this list is that they can do both long and short hair flawlessly.
I mostly prefer longer hair. But some of them look great either way. And in some cases the cut is a definite improvement. It really depends upon individual factors, like how thin, & wispy the hair is when long, etc.. If it's long & thick & lustrous, I think it's a mistake to cut it, from a beauty perspective. But since the owner of the hair is the one who has to care for it, & maintain it, it's up to them what they prefer to deal with. It can always grow back.
but I like my long hair :') it gets even more tempting by the week to just hack it all off, but I'm waiting til I finish high school for that. The relief of 4 years of stress, shitty mental health (thanks school district <<<333), and blood, sweat, and tears will be worth it <3
Did we need proof that 'long hair isn't always better'? Seems like an assumption a lot of people may not share?
a lot of people still think that long hair is a huge factor that makes a woman feminine.
Load More Replies... I want to cut my hair short for a wig or something like that but i love my long hair
I remember such a list. There was a beard list, too.
Load More Replies... You couldn't find one Black American woman or man with long hair???
Please tell me it was a slow news day for you guys. This is a shitty article that comes across as making long-haired people feel second class. You're not a fashion magazine, so please don't start with this. There's already an industry that's dedicated to making women feel like s**t for not following the latest trends, please don't become like they are. I come here for a laugh and to be uplifted not to talked down to regarding how I should wear my hair.
So happy Ombré hair is going away. Some very lovely girls and women here! My post lockdown haircut made me feel so good! :)
How strange.....almost ALL of these prove that long hair IS far more attractive---to men---than short hair.....the old saying has never been truer...."Long hair is Sexy....and....short hair is.....ummmm...easier to.....take care of" --I guess??
It might surprise you but most modern women dont care about what sexist old men think about them.
Load More Replies... 