The 5 Realest Short Hair Struggles

Well, I did it. After months of debating, LOTS of heartfelt convincing from my mother, and two hair appointments I cancelled because I was so worried that it’d look terrible, I got a lob. And after all of that obsessive worrying, it was 100 percent worth it. I don’t think anyone should completely define themselves only based on their hair, but it definitely makes me feel much more mature. Plus, I can’t complain about using less conditioner.

It looks like I’m not the only one who’s completely in on the whole shorter ‘do thing. Tons of celebs — including Lauren Conrad and Vanessa Hudgens — have been spotted with their take on the haircut. Hey, if L.C. was willing to chop off her signature long locks, I think this style might be here for quite awhile.

But, as with any dramatic hairstyle, there are still a few struggles for those of us who took the plunge and entered to lob world. HOW are you supposed to style a barely-there ponytail? Will you ever be able to replace that glorious sock bun? And how should you deal with those inevitable split ends? Here are five problems every woman with a lob will face — and how to solve them.

1. You’re Getting Heat Damage. SO Much Heat Damage.

Sure, us short hair gals have a lot less hair to style than anyone with long tresses. Unfortunately, that means heat damage becomes MUCH more obvious. And if you’re planning on keeping your hair at the same length for a while, it’s harder to chop off all the damage. Yikes.

So, what does this mean? Protect your hair. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Ever since I’ve chopped my locks, I’ve used L’Oreal SLEEK IT Heat Protection Spray. It works with 450 degree straighteners (guilty) and actually holds hair in its place.

2. Buh-Bye, Ariana Grande Ponytail

You come home from the salon, completely in love with your short hair… until you try to put it in a messy bun. Uh oh. Yeah, it’s been much more difficult for me to put my hair in a ponytail. Gone are the days of putting my hair in an effortless ponytail and heading off to class. It requires a bit of a strategy.

There are two solutions here: try a low updo or use lots of bobby pins. Headbands are great, too.

3. Volume? Yeah, Right

Having flat strands with long hair is bad. I don’t know what it is about short hair, but having a flat bob is much, much worse (Overdramatic? Yeah. #sorrynotsorry.)

If you’re going for a straight ‘do, the key is to make sure the front layers near your face have a bit of a lift. Run your fingers through the hair and spray it with hairspray or a volumizer. For a polished look, try slightly flipping your ends with a straightener.

4. You Love Your Short Hair… But It’s Getting SO Boring

No more sock buns. No more ombré. No more DIY Elsa braids. SIGH. Why do long-haired gals get all the fun?

But, hey! Now that you have less to work with, it’s the perfect time to try out a new style. If you normally straighten your locks, try adding some curl. It will take much less time with a shorter ‘do. Or try out a new color, like Kylie Jenner.

5. And Your Ends?

Even though you may have recently cut your locks, you’ll still get split ends. And good news! Because your hair frames around your face, they’ll be way more noticeable for everyone to see. Cool.

If you have short hair, you need to keep it trimmed. Seriously. If you don’t have an appointment booked within the next six weeks, stop reading (kidding!) and get on the phone with your stylist. It’s the most important tip to keeping your lob looking fab.

Images: Getty, Giphy (5)