Skip to Content

The How To Mom is an affiliate for companies including Amazon Associates and earns a commission on qualifying purchases.

Must-haves for shoulder-length hair

Kylie

Donating hair and how to style your new shoulder-length hair

A few months ago I made a drastic change and cut off about a foot of hair! I loved having long hair, but I was ready for a change. You know that stage after having a baby where you feel like you’ve been hiding under a rock for months, and you just need something fresh and new? Yeah. I donated 4 cute little ponys to Pantene Beautiful Lengths (which is a great option for color-treated hair, like mine).

Donating hair to Pantene Great Lengths

I asked for a shorter, layered cut, similar to my favorite beauty blogger, Kate from The Small Things Blog. My stylist also touched up my color, giving me a nice neutral blond.

Shoulder-length layered bob similar to K8 from Small Things Blog

I absolutely absolutely love it! I feel so much more polished and …lighter somehow. And I’m thrilled to report that my ponytails now stay poofy withOUT having to use this tip or this tip. Yay!

It did did take awhile to get the hang of styling it though. I tried to use my old method, but it just didn’t quite work with shoulder-length hair. After having long hair for like 4 years, this was a whole new ballpark. At the time of my haircut, my amazing stylist suggested four products for my hair type and cut, and I politely thanked her for the advice, but didn’t buy any of them, thinking that I already had stuff that would work.

WRONG.

After about 2 weeks of floofy weird hair that wouldn’t curl right, I swallowed my pride and ordered the four products:
(Amazon affiliate links for convenience)

Shoulder-length hair must haves

1. Simply Smooth Magic Potion conditioner
2. Alterna Bamboo Kendi Dry Oil Mist
3. Redken Clear Moisture Shampoo
4. BaByliss 1 inch curling iron

Total game changers. I have a LOT of very fine hair (thick but fine) with some poodle-y waves in the back. That conditioner is MIRACULOUS. I ditched the no-poo thing a couple years ago, because it wasn’t working on my color treated hair. But I still only wash my about twice a week. That conditioner is theeeee best conditioner I have ever used. And I’ve used a LOT of conditioners. It detangles but leaves zero ZERO residue. It smells amazing, and leaves my hair shiny and not even a smidge weighed down.  I highly recommend it.  If you haven’t noticed… ha.

Those four things finally helped me achieve the glossy piecey bouncy hair I wanted! And combined with the Small Things Blog’s videos on curling shoulder length hair, I was finally able to get the wavy look I was going for. (Note, she uses a 1 1/14 Babyliss iron, but I like the 1 inch) The trick, I’ve found is to curl the hair into ringlets, by keeping the curling iron vertical. Then when you’re done curling and you basically feel like Shirley Temple, spray with the dry oil and run your fingers through it to break up the curls. I hope to make my own curling tutorial video soon, and I promise to link it here when I do!

Make Your Own Beautiful Living Succulent Wreath Centerpiece! Complete video course by Jeannine Romero now available through Skillshare.

Pam

Monday 12th of October 2015

How cute! I just love your new style.It's a very flattering length, and you styled it so well. I have shoulder length hair and have yet to conquer those kinds of waves.

Andi

Wednesday 30th of September 2015

I'm in awe of your super gorgeous hair!!

Comments are closed.