The Best Hair Length For Thick Wavy Hair is Long (& Here’s Why)

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This post is all about the best hair length for thick wavy hair.

Today, I want to address a popular debate in the thick wavy hair community.

There seems to be a consensus misconception that if you have super thick wavy hair, the best thing you can do is cut most of it off. It’s almost as if having thick luscious locks is viewed as more of a curse than it is a blessing.

And believe me, I have found myself thinking the same exact thing.

My first year out of high school, I was so sick of my hair that I had eighty percent of it cut off in an A-line bob. Who else remembers those being a thing?

Before I even left the salon, I immediately knew I had made a huge mistake. I even started crying in the stylist chair. I know —- terrible thing to do to a stylist in hindsite.

But in that moment it hit me like a ton of bricks, short hair is not ideal for my hair type. And it was too late.

While I did spend the better part of the next three years growing my hair out, during that time I realized a few things about my hair type and why short hair isn’t necessarily the best option for super thick wavy hair.

Why Long Is The Best Hair Length For Thick Wavy Hair

Here are 6 reasons why long is the best hair length for women with thick wavy hair texture.

1. Short Hair Requires Styling and Styling Options are Limited

When you have long hair, you can totally get away with throwing it all up in a messy bun. This comes in clutch on days you’re feeling lazy or not in the mood to style your hair.

However, if you have short hair, you obviously don’t have that option.

Thick wavy hair is typically prone to frizziness as well so when your hair is short, you are forced into styling it daily so that it looks presentable.

While we’re on the topic of styling, let’s face it, your styling options are pretty limited.

You can go ahead and say goodbye to:

• updos
• pigtails
• twists
• braids

As far as hats, depending how short your hair is, wearing a hat could hide your hair altogether.

2. Length Adds Weight Which Relaxes Curls

Growing up, I didn’t understand why my mom always kept her hair super long.

Every time I tried encouraging her to chop it off and try something new, she told me that long hair was way easier for her to manage with her super-thick, curly hair texture.

I ended up finding out the hard way just how much hair appearance and texture varies depending on length when I chopped my own hair off.

When my hair was short, my hair was wayyy more curly than I was used to. Unless I straightened it, it appeared shorter than it was because the curls sprung it up. 

As my hair grew out, medium length hair was a better stage for me. But I was still never super happy with the way my hair looked.

It wasn’t until I grew my hair long (past my boob area) that I started to see a real change in my hair texture. My curls transitioned into waves and my hair texture appeared way more relaxed and manageable.

The extra weight of my length loosened my curls into long, luscious, easily-maintained waves.

Not to mention, I started receiving compliments right and left on how long and healthy my hair was.

3. Long Hair Can Appear More Feminine

There’s just something about long thick healthy hair that screams feminine!

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the look of short hair on other women and I’m not implying that you should base your hair length off of stereotypical norms.

With that being said, I have to admit I feel that long hair softens my appearance – thus making me appear more feminine.

4. Healthier Hair

Believe it or not, I use way less heat on my hair now that it’s super long than when I did when it was short.

How?

Well, once my hair reached the length where it weighed itself down and looked good naturally, I no longer needed to try to tame it with heat application.

Less heat application equals healthier hair.

5. Maintaining Short Hair Can Get Expensive

Short hair requires hair cuts more often to maintain short length. If you have been to a reputable hair salon even once, you know firsthand that a trip to the salon is not cheap.

If you’re trying to maintain a certain length, you can plan to visit the salon monthly or every 4-6 weeks.

As someone with hair that grazes my butt, I rarely get hair cuts. I do a slight trim myself at home once every 4-6 months.

6. Thick Long Wavy Hair Is Simply the Best

Okay, this could very well be a super biased non-reason.

But, hear me out.

After decades of struggling to love my hair, I have never felt more proud or loved my hair more than now that it is LONG, thick, wavy, and healthy.

Final Thoughts on Best Hair Length for Thick Wavy Hair

With all of that being said, the best hair length for any hair type is the length that you personally like the best.

There’s no “one-hair-type-fits-all” for any hair texture.

So many other factors play into it, like:

• what hair length is most convenient for your lifestyle
• what hair length you personally feel most comfortable with or are used to
• how much time you are willing dedicate to maintenance and styling

These are simply things I have noticed with my own specific hair type and why long hair works the best for me.

If you are on the fence about cutting off your thick wavy hair, or if you have short thick wavy hair currently and are thinking about growing it out, I hope my insights are helpful.

Or, if you already took the plunge and are regretting it or want to try growing your hair out long, my post on hair growth has some extremely helpful tips that will aid in growing your hair back.

For my fellow naturally thick wavy haired ladies, let me know in the comments what hair length you prefer and why!

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