I am one of those people who likes to frequently change up their hair. Over the last three or four years, I have gone from having really long hair to really short hair to the medium length it is currently. And having gone through all these hair changes, I thought fun and (hopefully) interesting to do a pros and cons list of short hair versus long hair.

Before I get into this, I should probably say that I don’t think there’s one clear cut (no pun intended) answer as to which is better. Like most things in life, there is a good and a bad to each of them. Ultimately, it’s just a matter of deciding what works best for you and your personal style.

That being said, let’s talk hair, shall we?

Short Hair

Pros

Easy to maintain – In terms of maintenance, it doesn’t get any easier than short hair. Brushing, drying, and washing are all quick and effortless processes when you aren’t working with a whole mess of hair. It’s especially convenient if you are someone like me, and your hair is naturally thick. My hair was never less of a hassle than it was when it was short.

Quick to style – Another great thing about having short hair is that it is quick to style. When you have long hair, styling can be a major nuisance. It seems like every time you think you have finally finished, another strand of un-styled hair mysteriously appears. With short hair, you obviously don’t have this problem. Styling your hair is a breeze.

Lighter weight – If you have thick hair, you probably know EXACTLY what I mean by this. Long, thick hair can feel like it’s weighing you down sometimes, so a short, fresh do can literally take the weight off your shoulders. It honestly can be such a relief in the summer time.

Cons

PONYTAILS – Putting short hair into a ponytail is one of the most frustrating things ever. No matter what you do, there are always a few strands of hair that don’t want to stay up. It’s even more annoying when you’re exercising, and you’re constantly having to stop to readjust because you simply CANNOT take it anymore.

Styling feels necessary – Depending on the style of short hair you have, you may feel like you have to style your hair every single day. When I had a bob, for example, I felt like I needed to use a flatiron every day just so it didn’t look weird. Styling short hair might not take a long time, but depending on your personal preferences, it may need to happen more consistently.

Less to do with it – Finally, short hair gives you less styling options than long hair. This isn’t a huge deal if you’re not into intricate styling, but if you are, you might not like having these limitations.

Long Hair

Pros

Lots of options – Contrary to short hair, long hair allows you to style it pretty much any way you would like. Ponytails in particular are so much easier when you have more hair to work with. No hassle, no little strands falling out of place. In some ways, I feel like it’s less work than short hair. Does anyone else feel that way?

Warmth – Since I cited the warmth of long hair as a con for the summer, I feel like I have to include it as a pro for the winter. Having that extra layer of heat can be wonderful on chilly days.

Cons

Heaviness – I realize I am talking about this A LOT in this blog post, but heaviness is a huge factor for me, and ultimately I think it’s the biggest downfall to long hair. I hate the heavy feeling of long hair, especially when it’s hot or humid.

Washing it – Washing long hair is really an excursion in and of itself. Hair washing in general can be pretty annoying, but long hair makes it, like, a painstakingly long (pun intended) process.

Expenses – If you decide to get your hair colored, it’s probably going to be more expensive if you have long hair than it would be if you had short hair. Being on a budget myself, I know how quickly expenses like this can add up.

Do you prefer short hair or long hair? 

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