​I was like you, once. My hair grew freely down my back, the longest part brushing my waist. I often used my long, straight hair to cover myself, like a curtain I could hide behind. I, too, refused to allow any hairstylist to cut more than an inch off of my length, and any deviance from that strict instruction would spark a full on panic within me. The problem was, when summer in my home state of Florida would roll around, I would be held hostage by my abundance of hair. This often resulted in a less-than-flattering top knot, or some other method of keeping my hair off of my sweaty neck. And then it hit me, I needed to try a bob!

One August evening, shortly after my 21st birthday, one of my fellow stylists and I were out at a bar having a drink after work. After a couple of beers, I mentioned to her that I was thinking of cutting my hair, and showed her a photo of a bob that I’d found online. “Yes!” She proclaimed, “We have to do it right now, before you change your mind.”

With a key to the salon at our disposal, we collected our scissors and combs, and returned home. It was there, in my dining room, slightly buzzed at 10pm, that my shackles were removed. As I watched my long locks land gracefully on the floor, my nerves about no longer having my security blanket evaporated. When she was finished, I examined myself in the mirror and was amazed at how different I looked; more grown up, but exactly like myself.

Since then, a lot has changed — my hair color has changed more times than I can count, surely — but I always come back to the bob. There are so many variations that fall under the “bob” umbrella (blunt, textured, stacked, etc.) that it’s hard to get bored with the length. Bobs are easy to maintain on a day-to-day basis, require little effort in styling. Most importantly, I get a lovely breeze on the back of my neck on these hot summer days.

Will I ever grow my hair out long again? Maybe; but one thing I’ll never do again is fear trying something new with my look; life’s too short to keep your hair that long forever, sunshine! So, if you’re thinking about taking the plunge and getting rid of a little deadweight, my advice is go for it! The worst that can happen is that you have to spend some time growing your hair out; but you may be surprised by how much you love it!