For the Ladies-Ponytail or Short hair?

I've been rash and cut my long hair (twice) and was full of regret each time.  Nowdays, I go for the flip and clip french-twist thingy for work, on days when I swim before work.  It seems a notch more professional than the wet ponytail look.  I compromised very long hair for opting for long-ish (below the shoulders). 

Another trick: if you don't have time to fully blowdry at the gym, just do a 2 minute blow dry, and by the time you get to work (at least with my stick straight hair) its dry. 

Ditto.

I actually grew my hair for triathlon, as I find it easier to have the option of pulling it up.

I chopped my hair last summer and have never regretted it.  I never had super long hair and didn't care much about that, but had a chin-length bob for several years.  My hair used to take a lot of implements and about 20 minutes to style.  Now I can comb it with a plain comb (no pick, brush, etc. necessary), rub through a hair creme for lift, and blowdry.    If I comb first and then proceed with dressing, makeup, and everything else, the actually blowdrying only takes about 2 minutes and I just run my fingers through it.  Then I either do a quick spritz of hair spray or pomade for fancier occasions.

Now, by short I mean roughly 2-3 inches all around with pretty short in back.  I NEVER wish I could "pull it back", although my bang length changes and I will occasionally bobby pin that hair back.    I'm looking for a picture...

(hair.jpg)

That reminds me.  When I first got it cut (it's gotten shaggier) it was short enough I didn't even need a swim cap if I didn't want one.  Nice for a workout if I'm getting warm.  But it's still short enough to just pop the cap on and maybe tuck a tiny bit of hair behind my ears.

And I get a ton of compliments that I never got before.  My hair always looks "done", even though I've only spent a few minutes.  Before it was pony tails, etc, never looked pretty.

I've had everything from up-to-ears-boy-short cut to recently having my hair long enough that if I tilted head back, I could sit on it.

A lot depends on your hair texture and how much you sweat out of the head. If, for example, your hair is very slippery, it can be hard to gather up and stuff in a swim cap if it isn't long enough (either that, or it has to be really short).

I sweat like a fountain, and most of it out of my head. Therefore, any hair that can't be gathered back is going to wind up being plastered all over my face and/or neck unless I wear a running cap (I usually do, though). For me, it's also important that my hair be long enough to gather into a low ponytail so it fits under my bike helmet.

If you explain all this stuff to your hairstylist, s/he should be able to accomodate you with a great cut that suits your lifestyle and needs. Mine's shoulder-length and layered now so that it's wash-n-go and looks styled, is short enough to not get in the way or be too hot, but long enough to pull into a low ponytail.

Just cut mine short for pretty much the same reason and am liking it - here's the photos I gave the hairdresser for cut (Tea) and color (Carmen) - gotta love the celeb photos..

x2, though for me it's more like 4-5 minutes (I have pretty thick hair).

I once cut my hair way short and LOVED the look, but not the upkeep. Now it's a few inches below my shoulders, and I have no intention of cutting it above the shoulder anytime soon. I'm like TriAya: if it's not pulled back, it gets sweat-plastered to my face. Whenever I go for a haircut I explain to the stylist that I need everything to go back in a ponytail or French braid, and that I usually don't have time for much styling in the morning. Their standard suggestion is long with layers, and that works well for me.

Do you wet & condition before you put on your swim cap?  It helps some.  Not too much conditioner or the cap pops off.

 Back to the OT, my hair is a wedge-shaped bob right now, short in the back and chin-length in the front.  Two little ponytails works best to secure it for cycling - I line them up with the vent holes in my helmet, so the helmet doesn't push down on the "bump" and make my head hurt.

No, the hair does not poke out of the vent holes.  Though that would be funny.

Not that you asked, but if you had, I'd always suggest longer. 

you coulda just referred them to your sig line 

Long layers works for me too.  Ponytails for training, braids for racing, and hanging down for everyday.   Easy peasy. 

If I had a better shaped head, I'd go this route even though I still have a full head of hair. I tried it once and liked it, but the wife didn't.

I was surprised how many women had hairobars at Spirit of Racine (HIM). 

Why don't you start somewhere in the middle. My hair is just above my shoulders and it's long enough for a pony tail. I half dry it after swimming and it's fine.

Cut some off and see how you like it before you cut it all off!