Susan, what a pretty girl! I think you're hairstyle is very becoming on you. It would be easy to wear in different ways, too, and to jazz it up for an occasion. I like it very much. HERE is my haircut, not me in the picture, but my style. My wonderful stylist has helped me discover my quite curly hair and to take advantage of it. I can wear it curly, or sweep it back or blow it out to be poufy or sleek......anything. She has convinced me to not color my hair and I am loving the S&P and streaks at the temple. I used to think that I was a drip-dry kind of gal, but it's really not true! I have several products that I use religiously and a couple that I've only recently been introduced to. Another Dove soap user here, for as long as I can remember. I also use two products by UNICURE, an odd ball brand but I'll cry if they stop making it. My mother sent me my first bottle when I was in college. I use their blue shampoo but it is their conditioner that I purchase by the gallon. Seriously. I use it after the shower all over, absolutely on my wet hair as a leave in conditioner/volumizer/bodifier. I wash my face with it at night and apply it to my face after my shower and before makeup. The stuff is a magic elixer for my hair, especially! Limp, thin, and fine textured hair by nature but not what I end up with with a little bit of the Unicure. If I don't use it, my hair ends up flat. My hair stylist introduced me to Paul Mitchell's Conditioning Sculpting Foam with Flexible Hold. It has a red top, if you look for it. Applied to towel dried hair in a small amount, it turns my thinning hair to what appears to be very thick. I use it when I'm going to let my hair air dry or style it. After a brushing, my hair is left bouncy, full, shiny, and soft. I had no idea that a styling foam could do that. My night time moisturizer is coconut oil, sometimes day and night in the winter. Susan, do you have the eyebrow product on in the picture? If so, I don't think it would be dark enough for me. Your brows have the perfect shape, by the way.

Funky I have thin hair and started using the Redken 6 after hearing about it here. I also like Paul Mitchell Thicken Up lotion. Hair color makes my hair much thicker feeling. I color my own roots because they need to be done about every 3 weeks, but I have my hair dresser do the over-all permanent color about every 4 months to even things out and keep it vibrant looking. It ALWAYS feels thicker then. Another thing I use at home is Redken Shades semi-permanent color. It is SO EASY to use and lasts about a month. I am a chestnut/brown, love some red in my hair, and use a color called Cherry Cola. My daughter also uses the Shades, but she mixes colors. It basically coats the hair, making it thicker and adds a lot of shine. You can't mess them up - so easy for the DIY'er to do at home. I have a hairdresser friend who gets mine or you can get it from Amazon.

Tina, there are some dry shampoos especially formulated for dark hair. My sister's hair is so black it almost looks blue (has been ever since she was a kid) and she uses it faithfully. Only washes her hair every 3 days. When I was out there over Christmas, I certainly couldn't tell what days she had washed her hair vs. what days she hadn't. Her hair never looked dull.

If you want the spiky look, then mousse would probably give you the finish you want. My hair has gotten some curl in it which tends to get unruly in the summer, so I've found "It's a 10" leave in conditioner which seems to control and add a lot of shine. I get the walmart equate version though. I figure if it's popular enough for walmart to copy it, it must be well received in general. This is me on vacation in ID, just toodling around...I also don't color my hair...never have and am delighted to not have to start...yet anyway. But short hair is wonderful. It takes me 30 sec to dry my hair and go. Last thing I want to do is complicate my life. Congrats on the new do!