?(s) for women with short hair

[Andrea]

How short is your hair?
Do you ever get mistaken for a guy?

My hair is shaved with a #5 guard on the clippers (it was buzzed shorter, but now I'm keeping it about this length), and I don't think that I've got masculine features, although all the "mistakes" have been from someone looking at me from the front- In the last month, I've been called "sir" a couple of times (once at airport security, once at Target cash register), and when my man and I sat down to eat a few days ago, the bartender greeted us as "gentlemen."

It doesn't bother me at all... I'm actually pretty amused by people's reactions when they realize I'm not a guy, and I assure them that it happens often enough that I've learned to answer to it.

Anyone else?

[Eden]

My hair isn't really all that short, but I've been mistaken for a boy before....

I did just see your photo over on the tan line thread... you have some rather unmanly assets.... were you wearing a big bulky sweater or something ;)

[Andrea]

My hair isn't really all that short, but I've been mistaken for a boy before....

I did just see your photo over on the tan line thread... you have some rather unmanly assets.... were you wearing a big bulky sweater or something ;)

hehehe... think along the lines of the tooth fairy and the easter bunny...

I think they're a big part of what clues people in on my gender :D At least I know if a guy calls me "sir" that he wasn't staring at my boobs!

[Blueberry]

My hair is short, but not that short (pixie-ish). I've been called "sir" from the back, but not from the front. I just turn around, and ask whether they're talking to me. It is kinda funny - especially since I really don't look like a guy - at all:) At least I don't think so.

CA

[GLC1968]

I have very short hair now...and I used to have super short hair (pixie cut). No one has ever mistaken me for a guy. I don't know why though as I rarely wear makeup and I'm usually dressed like a slob.

I'm pretty short though, so I'd be an out of the normal guy. And I'm way too big/curvy to be a boy, so maybe that's why?

H asked me not to go with the pixie cut again. He said it looked cute, but in the dark, it felt too manly. :p Does that count? :eek:

[smilingcat]

well at a starbucks near my office, there is a Barista who querries all customers, men and women with "sir, what would you like?" It suprised me the first time around. and I've heard girls addressing one another with "dude!"

And I see more waiter (less frequent usage of waitress)
more actor (less frequent usage of actress)
what else???

I guess we are becoming invisible?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

This older thread relates to lots of the same issues:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=13387&highlight=mistaken

[OakLeaf]

My hair isn't that short, but it's above the earlobes. It's also very thick, so I don't get mistaken for a guy. What is funny is that DH has long hair. It's very, very rare to see a woman with short hair partnered with a man with long hair.

ETA: I consider "waiter" and "actor" to be more respectful than "waitress" or "actress." That's why I make an effort not to use the latter terms. (Consider the obviously derogatory, and now obsolete, "poetess.") I absolutely do NOT use a "generic masculine" (everyone/he, e.g.). I don't necessarily think that "dudette" is more appropriate or respectful than "dude," either! One problem I do admit to is that I often talk about animals in the masculine when I don't know their sex. I'm trying to get better about that :( but it would mean just going 50-50 at random, since I don't like to apply the neuter to beings that have consciousness.

[Sgritn]

No, not anymore..I started on a journey two years ago to grow my hair as long as possible, no heat, chemicals, perms or straighteners...bra strap length now. I enjoy the length but no one really evers sees it..I wear short wigs, buns, braids, {under my helmet a wig cap} most times to protect my hair from snags, snaps and breakage. Guess once my body is in cyclist's shape I may be mistaken for some dude or other:o..hope I'll be able to laugh it off!

[Chicken Little]

I get it all the time- my hair is short, and I am starting to wonder why I just don't #5 it anyway, since it doesn't seem to matter.

I want a #5 cut, it's cool and simple, and I have a helmet on all the time anyway.

I am cutting my hair.

[Tuckervill]

I was 16, in a Western Sizzlin', wearing my Dorothy Hamill haircut, holding hands with my boyfriend, when the cashier said, "And for you, sir?" I already had my C cups!

I've rarely worn my hair short since.

Karen

[Chicken Little]

As a purely esoteric question, I wonder why being mistaken for another gender is, well, uncomfortable. What is that? I want a #5 cut, but don't really want to be mistaken for a guy, either. Are we all primarily defined by our gender?
My head is spinning.

I think I want to smoke a pipe.

I am in big trouble.

[KnottedYet]

I get called "sir" all the time. Even while wearing pink shirts and big earrings and my "assets" clearly displayed and my kid hanging off my arm saying: Mom Mom Mom can I get that? MOm MOM! Long hair, short hair.... "sir." I have a huge butt, big boobs, wear make-up almost all the time, earrings, nosering, usually feminine clothes, but once or twice a month I get called sir.
(a couple months ago someone assumed I was my son's older brother)

But when my hair was an inch long, no-one called me sir.

Go figure!

[Blueberry]

What is funny is that DH has long hair. It's very, very rare to see a woman with short hair partnered with a man with long hair.


My hair is, at its longest, about 2". My DH has hair down to the small of his back. Guess we're in the same unusual boat:)

CA

[Andrea]

As a purely esoteric question, I wonder why being mistaken for another gender is, well, uncomfortable. What is that? I want a #5 cut, but don't really want to be mistaken for a guy, either. Are we all primarily defined by our gender?
My head is spinning.

I think I want to smoke a pipe.

I am in big trouble.

GO for it. I was in the same boat as you- already pretty short, and just got tired of the whole "going to get my hair cut" process. The first time, I went almost all-out (off) with a #3 guard. Now I just hit it with a #5 every couple of weeks, and it's perfect!

I'm not uncomfortable with being mistaken for another gender... I guess because I don't feel (like you said) defined by my gender. Glad you brought that up!

I'd like to smoke a pipe right now as well :D

[Blueberry]

Chicken Little -

I say go for it if it will make you happy! I'd totally do it - but I'm looking for a job atm, and having hair *that* short probably wouldn't help matters:)

CA

[Eden]

As a purely esoteric question, I wonder why being mistaken for another gender is, well, uncomfortable. What is that? I want a #5 cut, but don't really want to be mistaken for a guy, either. Are we all primarily defined by our gender?
My head is spinning.

I think I want to smoke a pipe.

I am in big trouble.

I don't think I get annoyed at being mistaken for the other gender so much as I get annoyed at being mistaken for a child.... I've been completely ignored waiting for service in stores before because the staff assumes I'm someone's kid...

[HoosierGiant]

Cut with a #4 -- rarely mistaken for a guy anymore, but it used to happen all the time when I first started wearing it this way 20 years ago.

[Chicken Little]

Eden-
No service because they think you are a kid? That stinks. You were waited on with long hair? Odd.

[KatiePickle]

Compared to you girls my hair is long! Right at my ears. I am... less than well endowed and look about 16 years old, so any shorter and I would probably be mistaken for a pre-pubescent boy. In fact, when I was in about 14, I had shorter hair than this and I was mistaken for my younger brother. This is the shortest I have gone since then.

[Eden]

Eden-
No service because they think you are a kid? That stinks. You were waited on with long hair? Odd.

I don't know if it has anything in particular to do with thinking I'm a boy - though I have been mistaken for my husband's son..... It's more that I'm just small and sometimes people think I'm a child - boy or girl I doubt it matters.

[shootingstar]

No never had the problem so far on gender mixup. Hair is short, above whole of ears...

Now if 50% people could just spell my first name with the feminine version, not masculine. This common spelling error is pathetic, more of bad literacy and nothing to do with creative names....and I am standing in front of them...and they write "Gene".

Error was not common 35 years ago when I was a child... most people then, had the spelling correct first time.

[Becky]

I haven't really had problems with the gender thing, although people have told me that I look 10 years older with short hair- no more being mistaken for a high school freshman. I have been mistaken for my husband's daughter :eek: before, when my hair was longer.

For those of you who do the #5 haircut, what's your natural hair thickness and texture? Any pics? I'd like to try the clippers but i'm terrified that my fine, thin hair will not take well to it. And how to cut around ears?

[Andrea]

I just do #5 all over. Sometimes I use a smaller guard on the "sideburns" and the pointy parts of the hairline on my neck (I like keeping the shape of those instead of cutting them off).

My hair is really thick & curly, but it's too short to curl now, which I like. The only real photo I have of it now is in the "biker tan" thread.

[lph]

I've always had longish hair and have never been mistaken for a boy, even though I'm flat-chested, no hips and broad shoulders. But my dh was once mistaken for a girl - he's slight, only a bit taller than I am, and had long straight hair, and we were both bent over waxing our skis when we were addressed as "Hey girls!"

My dh didn't mind, but the guys who were addressing us were soooo embarrassed... :p as if it were a huge insult or something. :confused:

People often asked if my son was a girl, as a baby. We often dressed him in bright yellows and reds, and he had longish fine dandelion hair, bright blue eyes and a beaming smile. I used to take it as a compliment, and answer "no, he's just really pretty" ;)

I like androgynous.

[Mistie]

My hair is med-short but I have big hooters (*sigh*) so there is no mistaking. A few years ago, my junior class (I am a teacher and sponsored them) was behind on fundraising. I had long hair (mid-back) then. Anyway, I bet them that they could not make $5K before spring (we needed the $ for a deposit on prom) and if they did, they could shave my head bald. Well, they made the spring deadline plus about $2K extra....shaved my head in the school auditorium in front of the entire school. And, the hair was donated to lock of love. So, I got a GREAT prom for my kids and donated my hair at the same time. I don't think I would ever go back to long hair. BUT, back top the point....I did get called sir and such and was mistaken for a man MANY times for the first two months (I wasn't as hooterific *sigh* then either and would like to be ever so much less now).

[KnottedYet]

For those of you who do the #5 haircut, what's your natural hair thickness and texture? Any pics? I'd like to try the clippers but i'm terrified that my fine, thin hair will not take well to it. And how to cut around ears?

My hair is very fine, and very thin, and it LOVES to be short! That's the only time my hair has any body or life! Stands straight up and it looks like I have *more* hair, it's great. (maybe that's why I don't get called "sir" when my hair is buzzed?)

[Becky]

My hair is very fine, and very thin, and it LOVES to be short! That's the only time my hair has any body or life! Stands straight up and it looks like I have *more* hair, it's great. (maybe that's why I don't get called "sir" when my hair is buzzed?)

That's exactly why I chopped it all off- it's now only about 2" long and looks much thicker- but my hairdresser spends a great deal of time "pointing" it as she cuts, and thinning it out around the ears and neck. (Thank goodness she's cheap- her cuts are worth much more!) I doubt that I can duplicate that with clippers :confused:

[Pax]

I don't think I get annoyed at being mistaken for the other gender so much as I get annoyed at being mistaken for a child.... I've been completely ignored waiting for service in stores before because the staff assumes I'm someone's kid...
That happened constantly to my SO until her hair turned gray...now she just confuses people. :D

[farrellcollie]

My hair is very short and I am almost 50 years old. I still get called "son". I would be happy to graduate up to "sir". I am starting to get gray hair - so perhaps that will help.

[roadie gal]

Add me to the fine, thin hair club. *sigh* I've had my hair short since medical school when I had to be up and working up to 36 hours straight.

I occasionally get called, "sir", but only by people who aren't looking straight at me. From the front I'm definitely female.

[michelem]

I don't think I get annoyed at being mistaken for the other gender so much as I get annoyed at being mistaken for a child.... I've been completely ignored waiting for service in stores before because the staff assumes I'm someone's kid...


I empathize with you. About 7 years ago I decided to take some time off work and go back to school for a post-bacc certificate program. It was a chilly morning and I was waiting at the bus stop, wearing a tracksuit and running shoes, with my backpack slung over my shoulder. The bus driver just whizzed on by me as if I wasn't there! So, I had to SPRINT the 1/2 mile - mile to the next stop with my HEAVY bag of books on my back. Luckily, there were A LOT of people getting on at the next stop, so the bus had to sit there a while. When I got on I could barely breath. The busdriver said, "Oh, sorry! I thought you were a kid!" (This was the Express Bus for commuters that worked downtown where my classes were held). Okay, I am, in the terms of my dh, "SMALL" -- but still!!! Grrrr . . . :mad:

Oh, and at the time I had the short Halle Berry cut that I just loved. But, my husband said I looked like a guy and it wasn't attactive to him (didn't help that I LOVE jeans and t-shirts and sweats and hate to bother with makeup so only wear it once in a blue moon). I rebelled for about two years and refused to grow it out for him, but finally bit the bullet when he stopped complaining (go figure). Growing out curly hair is a PAIN! I still miss that short 'do . . . :(

[beccaB]

I had really short hair until 2 years ago when I decided to grow it out to save money on haircuts. When I was a distance runner people thought I was a guy, but it was weird because I have always been rather well endowed on top. They must have not been looking at my chest.

[OakLeaf]

I had the short Halle Berry cut that I just loved. But, my husband said I looked like a guy and it wasn't attactive to him

:confused: does he not find Halle Berry attractive??? (I guess straight women and straight men find different things attractive about women, though)

I wish I had the nerve to get a buzz-cut. On our last couple of trips to Europe, they were very popular among women of a certain age. Maybe if my salon ever gets one of those computers where you can Photoshop different hairstyles onto your face.

[dachshund]

I keep mine real short, and yes I get sir'd once in a while. I love having short hair, so the mistaken gender doesn't phase me. I'm tempted to try the clippers one of these days, as I'm still going for haircuts.

Makes a lovely design of helmet hair... :D

[Flur]

Since college I've wanted to cut my hair short and dye it pink. I've resisted b/c I work in a corporate environment and need the $$ that environment provides. Maybe someday....

[kie_fujo]

i used to have a number 2 buzz. i have a decent sized chest and got it a few times. but it's like when my daughter was little and she had her ears pierced and wearing butterflies and still got called a boy. people are oblivious!

[Blueberry]

My hair does, at least, make for interesting helmet hair. Bet buzzed hair does too:)

[dex]

Since college I've wanted to cut my hair short and dye it pink. I've resisted b/c I work in a corporate environment and need the $$ that environment provides. Maybe someday....

Short pink hair is the best! (And I've found that it does fly in some corporate environments.) :D

[Andrea]

Short pink hair is the best! (And I've found that it does fly in some corporate environments.) :D

Hmmmm....


Just what, exactly, does it take to dye one's hair pink? Mine's reddish (natural color) right now. Would it need some extra bleaching or something before the application of said pink?

[dex]

Hmmmm....


Just what, exactly, does it take to dye one's hair pink? Mine's reddish (natural color) right now. Would it need some extra bleaching or something before the application of said pink?

Generally, you would need to lighten/bleach your hair first for the pink to show up.

If you want a dark pink (sort of red/fuschia that fades down through many shades of pink over washings), I've found that L'Oreal Colour Rays in Fuschia Flash actually works pretty well as a one-step color. (You mix the pigment into a developer--both provided in the kit--and it lightens and deposits color at the same time.) It's pretty thick, and is technically meant to be brushed on as highlights, but if you have short hair, it's pretty easy to coat all of your hair with it.

I just did this again a few nights ago. As a frame of reference my hair is naturally dark, dark, dark brown almost black and is currently about 2" long over most of my head and then a bit longer through one section at the top and front. When I was using the bleach then dye method, I bleached with Herbal Essences XL0 and then dyed with a variety of pink dyes (depending on what shade I wanted) from a beauty supply shop (like Sally's).

[Andrea]

That sounds very cool! Do you have any photos of any of your various hair colors?

[Jolt]

Oh, and at the time I had the short Halle Berry cut that I just loved. But, my husband said I looked like a guy and it wasn't attactive to him (didn't help that I LOVE jeans and t-shirts and sweats and hate to bother with makeup so only wear it once in a blue moon). I rebelled for about two years and refused to grow it out for him, but finally bit the bullet when he stopped complaining (go figure). Growing out curly hair is a PAIN! I still miss that short 'do . . . :(

You sound a lot like me as far as liking comfy clothes and finding makeup to be a pain in the derriere! Nobody will ever accuse either of us of being high maintenance. I had really short hair in high school and the first part of college and got mistaken for a boy on occasion (despite having the chest to prove I'm not). Decided to grow it out in college and that hasn't happened since. It's also nice not having to go in for a trim every six weeks!

[Peanut03]

My hair has been short my whole life, with the exception of 1 or 2 years...it was to my shoulders and very straight. I was 13 and my father would ask every week, "do you want to get a haircut?". He was thrilled when I finally said yes. It's been varying lengths, but always short. When I was little I was mistaken for a boy, and only a few times as an adult. I think I have feminine features, although I do not wear makeup, ever. My fav short do, was the fade..a little longer than the men's military do..I did it for a multi day AIDS ride and it was the best thing I ever did.

[kie_fujo]

paul mitchell ink works is the best pink i have ever used. it's a very pretty deep pink, almost fuschia i guess, but it was the prettiest and lasted the longest of all pinks i have tried. and yes, you would need to get it bleached out some first.

[amcgltdchix]

My hair is really short as well. But I have my hair dresser layer it quite a bit and I spike it in certain spots. I get lots of compliments on it... only downside. Helmet head when you go biking :/..... nice side of short hair, slick it back! :D

[Iris616]

My hair is short, but I do not get mistaken for a guy (I wouldn't care if I did.) I have been told in the past that I do not "carry myself" in a very feminime way. I don't think it was supposed to be a compliment, but I chose to hear it as one;)

However, my 5 YO DD is a huge tom-boy. She has short hair (pixie cut length)and will wear only boy clothing, right down to socks and underwear. I can't remember the last time a stranger realized she was a girl. She is always refered to as "him/ he/that little boy" She loves this! I am thrilled that she knows what she likes and is confident in who she is. But sometimes I want to say to people "stop with the stereotypes" when she is wearing a light blue button up shirt and a pair of khakis.