When my older sister was in grade school, she had really long hair that she apparently hated. My mother wouldn't let her cut it so she managed to get a neighbor mom to feel sorry for her and the neighbor mom cut it off. 

Okay, so I think my mom was humiliated, and so when I came along 13 or so years later, she always kept my hair short (so no one could hack it off without her permission). I always wanted long hair of course.   Finally, near the end of high school, I rebelled against my mother's haircutting and tried to grow my hair long. It wouldn't grow much past my shoulders before breaking and looking dry and ratty.  Finally, just before my first date with my now dh, I cut it short again. (When he came to my door to pick me up, he almost didn't recognize me. He thought I must be my sister.)

After 5 or more years of marriage I decided to try growing it long again. I kept it long for 15 or more years (it grew to my waist), and I liked it.  I kept my 2 girls' hair long too (their hair is still long by their choice although they are adults now).

Finally, about a year ago, I watched one too many episodes of "What Not To Wear" and realized I was starting to look OLD with my long thin, straight, grey (okay, so I color it) hair to my waist.  I cut it to about the shoulder, then shorter.  I was shocked by how many people told me I looked 10 years younger! 

Well a couple of days ago I let my hairdresser (he tells me the cool word now is "groomer") cut it as he pleased and it is pretty short. I liked it and my 18yo dd (with long hair) liked it too, but my 2 adult sons said, "What happened?" (as in "What went wrong?"). So  I guess they don't like it.  I told my "groomer" that I didn't want it "too short" or "too boyish" but I guess they think it is both. WAAAHHH!

As far and the biblical side of this issue, I "generally" think long hair on women is more femine, but this is not always the case, and there are other reasons that long hair may not work on everyone, and if I were a husband I'd rather have a becoming wife with shorter hair, than a dumpy looking wife with long hair. She would seem more "feminine" to me.   And frankly, I do not understand exactly what the biblical verses allegedly refering to this topic mean, so I don't know exactly how to follow them.  Hurumph.  If the main issue is submission to one's husband, then I'm ok, because my husband encouraged me to get my long hair cut and he likes it.  That said, I think I will keep trying for a longer (not super long) style that is becoming on me.

The depressing part is being criticized no matter what.  When it was long, certain people kept saying, "Oh you looked soooo cute when you had that Dorothy Hammel haircut. You should really cut your hair. Why don't you just take a little off the back.................."  Now that it's short, I'm getting a lot of compliments except from members of the "Long Hair Only Club", who are politely pursing their lips and biting their tongues, or asking, "What went wrong?"

P.S. Meanwhile, my sister (now in her mid sixties and always rebellious in her own subtle way) has been wearing her hair loose and down to her waist for YEARS now, probably because someone suggested she keep it short.  It is very grey and scraggly and, coupled with her double layered grey sweats and ultra long fingernails, gives her a kind of "Cousin It" look.  Even this, however, is not enough to discourage the fellas, as she now has a new boyfriend who is my age. Oy.