5 Helpful Ways To Get Out Of A Hair Rut
Stuck in a hair rut and have no idea how to get out of it? Or maybe you’re feeling bored with your hair and want a change, but are scared of doing anything too drastic and hating it.
Trust me, we have ALL been there before. This post is going to give you 5 different ways to get out of a hair rut and feel good about your hair again!
Getting out of a rut with a new hairstyle
- Get a haircut
- Add some color
- Extensions
- Experiment with new styles
- Try different products
1. Get a haircut
The first option for getting out of a hair rut is to try a new haircut! Taking off a few inches can do wonders to make you feel brightened up with healthy ends.
“But I’m trying to grow my hair out! I don’t want to loose any length.” Is something I often hear from girls stuck but trying to get out of their hair rut.
Even if you are trying to grow your hair out there are still other options for cuts without loosing length that will spruce you up a bit!
Bangs
Bangs are always an option, and they don’t have to be extremely short up above your eyebrows either. You can do a cute side-swept bang or curtain bang that will change up your look completely without committing to a full-on above the eyebrows, straight bang.
I always recommend having the shortest piece of your bangs begin at your favorite facial feature. This will accentuate and draw attention to that feature.
So if you have gorgeous eyes, then have them start near your eye. Or if you have a cute nose then start them a little lower. Everyone is different, so experiment a little to find what works best for you!
Face Framing
Do you like the idea of bangs but don’t want to loose much length in the front? Have your stylist frame some pieces around your face; these can even begin below the chin.
This gives you a little movement and spruces up the front while keeping the majority of your hair long. I like to pull these pieces out when I wear my hair up.
Layers
If your hair is feeling heavy and weighed down, then this is a great way to give yourself a pick-me-up. Layers will remove weight and add volume & movement without loosing any length to your cut.
There are also several options for layers as well, you can have them short and shag-like, long layers, or even an undercut.
To learn more about the difference between layers, texturizing, and thinning, see my post here.
A hefty trim
If it’s been awhile since you’ve had a few inches off, then this may be a good starting spot to get out of your rut. A hefty trim will clean up your ends and make your hair look and feel so much healthier and fuller.
It will also add volume by removing the lifeless dead pieces on the ends. I like to think of it as cutting ties with the negativity that is no longer serving you!
Totally new haircut
If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, then try out a completely new style! Have you always wanted a bob but have just never given it a chance?
One wonderful aspect about hair is that it always grows back if you don’t like it. I think that everyone should give short hair a try at least once in their life. What better way to get out of a rut with a completely new shape?
You can always start by taking off 3 or 4 inches if you’re too scared to do a massive chop. Sometimes going from a long cut to a mid cut is just what you need!
2. Add some haircolor
If you are happy with your cut, then think about the different options of switching up your hair color! One of my favorite things about hair color is that you can be as drastic or subtle as you wish. The possibilities are endless.
Below I’ve listed several options to choose from to switch up your look.
***Since I’m sharing the products that I love to use with you guys, this page includes affiliate links to these products. If you take action and purchase a product through clicking one of my links, I’ll make some commission money from it at no extra cost to you. This enables me to be able to continue giving you awesome hair tips, so thanks! ***
Highlights or balayage
Highlights can be a good way to get out of a rut by adding a little pop into your life.
You can add just a few peek-a-boos underneath, a few pieces painted around your hairline, low-lights (highlights that are darker than the rest of your hair), or balayage the ends for a brightened sun-kissed look.
The great thing about highlights is that you are leaving some of your natural hair, while adding some brightness. This normally really brightens up the face giving you a new glow while still feeling like yourself.
Find some pictures of highlights that you like and bring them to your stylist to find the best option that works for you and your maintenance needs.
To learn more about balayage highlights, see my post here.
Temporary hair color
If you aren’t totally sure about fully committing to a new color long-term, than trying a temporary color may be your best option!
This will give you change right off the bat but also a chance to try something new without having to live with it permanently. Semi permanent colors can be natural colors, or something fun like pinks, purples, or even unicorn hair!
If you currently have a lighter hair color then try a Colorwash or Colorditioner by Celeb Luxury! These are shampoos and conditioners that will temporarily add color to your hair, and will gradually fade out when you stop using them.
Keep in mind that they won’t affect darker hair colors, only light browns and blonde pieces. The color you choose has to be darker than the current color of your hair in order to take.
They have natural as well as vivid and fun colors. I listed links to the natural tones above, and you can find the vivid and fantasy colors here Colorwash or Colorditioner.
Totally new hair color
Trying out a completely new hair color can be something fun and just may be the change you need to get out of your rut.
If you’ve been bleaching or highlighting your hair for a while but are sick of the upkeep and damage that comes with it, then try going darker or adding some deeper dimensional pieces to it!
You may end up being way happier because you don’t have to put as much effort into your look.
I will say though that it may be best to start with temporary colors before going fully into a dark color just incase you don’t like it! Going lighter again from dark is not as easy as the alternative.
If you have dark hair and want to go lighter, just know that it can be pricey and time consuming, and may not happen overnight depending on your current hair and goals. Always listen to your stylists’ recommendations based on your individual situation.
3. Hair extensions
Hair extensions are a good option to get out of a hair rut if you want to add some length, volume, or color without the damage.
You can even change your cut by adding extensions to sections of your hair and not the full head (adding them to the front for a more drastic inverted bob, or to blend and grow out an angled front).
I have also added extensions just for the color. I once put a black tape-in extension in to add a bold peek-a-boo so that I didn’t have to color my blonde hair black!
Temporary extensions
Clip-ins or halos are great options for temporary length every once in a while. This is also a good option if you are short on cash.
But I do want to recommend bringing them in to your stylist to have them cut and shaped to your hair so that they look as natural as possible. Good extensions are ones that no one can tell when have them in!
Permanent extensions
If you want to dive in to permanent extensions, you have a number of options. Micro-bead, tape-ins, fusion, and hand-tied wefts are some of the more popular extension methods today.
The best method for you will vary depending on your hair situation. Talk to your stylist on what they think is best for you based on your goals. You may need to visit an extension specialist if your stylist doesn’t specialize in extensions.
4. Experiment with new hair styles
So you don’t want to change the length of your hair OR the color, but still want to do something different? You still have some options!
Switch the side of your part
This is probably the most overlooked but possibly my favorite option for getting yourself out of a hair rut. If you’ve been parting your hair in the same place your entire life, try switching it up!
Believe it or not, just from doing this minor change people will notice that something is different and will compliment you on your hair. I actually change the way my hair is parted every time I wash it!
You can do a full side switch or move it to the center. It really does give a different look to your style. Depending on how your hair is cut, you may need your stylist to do a slight trim on those front pieces so that everything lies properly.
When you switch your part, you’ll automatically get more volume. Since the hair is used to laying in one direction, it has a little lift to it when it switches to the other side. This is what makes it most noticeable to others!
Explore pinterest or instagram
Exploring social media for new ideas on how to wear your hair is the most inexpensive way to give yourself a spruce up because it’s completely free!
Try learning a new braid, adding an accessory, or wearing it half up. Or if you wear your hair straight all the time, add some loose waves or curls to it, or vise versa!
Check out my pinterest board for some inspiration on new styles to experiment with!
5. Try different products
Sometimes even just switching your shampoo up can make a world of a difference. Your hair gets used to the same products used on a regular basis and can become limp and lifeless without some variety.
Check out my post on my favorite products and brands if you’re thinking of trying something new!
Getting out of a hair rut – Conclusion
Hopefully one if not all of these methods will give you the spruce up that you need! Here’s a recap of all the options you have avaliable to change your look.
- Get a haircut
- Bangs
- Face framing pieces
- Layers
- A hefty trim
- A totally new cut
- Add some hair color
- Highlights or balayage
- Temporary hair color
- A whole new color
- Extensions
- Temporary (halo or clip-ins)
- Permanent (micro beads, tape-ins, fusion, sewn in wefts)
- Experiment with new styles
- Switch the side of your part
- Try different styles (braids, curls vs. straight, half up)
- Test out new products
- Shampoo, texture spray etc.
If you have any further questions for me on this topic, be sure to leave them for me in the comments. And as always, Have A Good Hair Day!
Last updated 04/24/2023
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