Getting the Chop (2)
September 4th 2006 09:34
Last time I talked generally about some of the advantages of going for the chop and some of the things worth considering. If you’ve read that and still feel like going short, here are some points to think about and some planning you can do in order to get the best possible result.
First and foremost, read the post on getting a major style change (August 31st), as all the points made there apply to going from long to short. Here are a few extra, more specific, points to consider as well.
Hair Texture
Going short is particularly risky for certain people. It’s risky for people with very curly hair (does anyone remember when Felicity actress Keri Russell went short?) and for people with fluffy and/or frizzy hair, who may need wax type products to control their hair when the weight of the lengths is cut off. Even if you have never had short hair, if you’ve ever had a fringe, the way it behaved should be a clue as to how your hair will sit when short. Finally, don’t forget that your hair’s texture can change – sometimes dramatically – as you get older, so that bob that looked so cute when you were seven or eight might not sit that way when you’re twenty.
Face Shape
There’s also more risk for people with particular face shapes. A round face can be greatly accentuated by certain short styles and, at worst, you may end up looking like a kindly old grandma with a very young face! Keep some layers long (an inch or two below the jaw) to lengthen the face. Avoid having the same length all over if your hair is curly or springy, as this will produce the ‘grandma’ look. Also avoid a blunt, chin length bob or a short, blunt fringe if you have a round face.
Another tricky face shape for some short styles is a very square jaw as a prominent jaw can be greatly emphasised by very short styles and blunt cuts, such as sharp bobs. This can have the effect of making you look a bit masculine (though if you like this look, that’s fine). Soft wispy layers around and just below the jawline work best and the shorter top layers or fringe should balance out the jaw.
Long faces also need a balanced cut; just as long straight hair parted in the middle will drag down a long face, so too a ‘top heavy’ short cut with nothing at all around the jawline will emphasise the length of your face. But long oval faces can look great with a sharp bob cut at the jawline (not above). Long faces also benefit from a long wispy fringe, but definitely not a short, blunt fringe! Shag cuts look great on long and oval faces.
If your face is what is commonly referred to as ‘heart-shaped’, avoid blunt cuts where possible. If you are lucky, you may be able to pull of an Amelie style bob (go slightly above the jawline). In general, though, you will need a layered, textured bob. But – lucky you – you look amazing with a pixie cut (just like a pixie, in fact)! There are many more guidelines on this and I may talk about this more in subsequent posts. However, even though face shapes can to some extent be generalised, each face is unique!
No Going Back (not for a while anyway)
The most important thing to remember is that once your hair has been cut (unless you are wealthy enough to afford hair extensions – and even then you need to have sufficient length to attach them) you just have to wait for it to grow back before restyling it. For this reason, if you are going for the chop for the first time (or the first time since childhood), always go a little longer than your target style to start with. That way, if you don’t like it you still have some length to work with – you can get some added layers put in to make it more manageable, re-shape the style, tie or clip it back (if things are really bad) and, most importantly, it won’t take as long to grow out. Remember, your hair only grows roughly half an inch a month.
The products you use will depend on your style. If you are lucky you won’t need anything much at all, but if your hair is a little difficult to manage I like a good serum for a bob and a wax or glossing balm for a pixie or shag cut. For a sleek look I really like Redken’s ‘glass’ smoothing serum. There are cheaper serums on the market, but this one is great and lasts really well. For a more textured cut I love John Frieda’s ‘readytowear’ Shaping and Glossing Balm – there’s also one in this range especially for blonde hair. This lasts for ages as you only need a very small amount on the ends of your hair. It does wonders and the best part is that this product works to control frizz and curls or to add body to flat hair!
If your hair isn’t a ‘wash and wear’ style or is prone to frizzing, have a plan for times when you might not be able to blow-dry and style it or when it might get rather frazzled by the elements– for example, a day at the beach or a day outdoors in the wind and rain. This can be a problem if your hair is now too short to tie back. Perhaps you could throw some wax in your bag (though it may not stand up all that well to the heat!). Tiny butterfly clips or slide clips and/or headbands can be helpful in this situation. Hopefully though, if you’ve got the right cut for your hair, it should still dry looking OK, even if not perfect. If all else fails, there’s always a cute cap or beanie ; ) But remember that looking a little ‘carefree’ can be charming sometimes too.
I don’t want all this to put you off going short as it can be so much fun to experiment with your look. In some cases you will even find that you’ll be able to try different clothes, jewellery, accessories, make-up and hair colours with your chic new style. Have fun with it!! Back to Audrey, momentarily, remember how, in Roman Holiday, she’s practically walking on air as she walks down the street with her new ‘do’; or in Sabrina, how chic she looks after she gets that “horse’s tail” chopped off. If you’ve had long hair forever and want a change but need inspiration, look to some of the women who have looked hot with short styles – bobs, shags, crops and pixie cuts: Cameron Diaz, Samaire Armstrong, Natalie Portman, Gwyneth Paltrow (in Sliding Doors), Audrey Tautou (in Amelie) Bessie Bardot and many more. Post a comment if you have a favourite celebrity short style to add to this list!
First and foremost, read the post on getting a major style change (August 31st), as all the points made there apply to going from long to short. Here are a few extra, more specific, points to consider as well.
Risks Going From Long to Short
Hair Texture
Going short is particularly risky for certain people. It’s risky for people with very curly hair (does anyone remember when Felicity actress Keri Russell went short?) and for people with fluffy and/or frizzy hair, who may need wax type products to control their hair when the weight of the lengths is cut off. Even if you have never had short hair, if you’ve ever had a fringe, the way it behaved should be a clue as to how your hair will sit when short. Finally, don’t forget that your hair’s texture can change – sometimes dramatically – as you get older, so that bob that looked so cute when you were seven or eight might not sit that way when you’re twenty.
Face Shape
There’s also more risk for people with particular face shapes. A round face can be greatly accentuated by certain short styles and, at worst, you may end up looking like a kindly old grandma with a very young face! Keep some layers long (an inch or two below the jaw) to lengthen the face. Avoid having the same length all over if your hair is curly or springy, as this will produce the ‘grandma’ look. Also avoid a blunt, chin length bob or a short, blunt fringe if you have a round face.
Another tricky face shape for some short styles is a very square jaw as a prominent jaw can be greatly emphasised by very short styles and blunt cuts, such as sharp bobs. This can have the effect of making you look a bit masculine (though if you like this look, that’s fine). Soft wispy layers around and just below the jawline work best and the shorter top layers or fringe should balance out the jaw.
Long faces also need a balanced cut; just as long straight hair parted in the middle will drag down a long face, so too a ‘top heavy’ short cut with nothing at all around the jawline will emphasise the length of your face. But long oval faces can look great with a sharp bob cut at the jawline (not above). Long faces also benefit from a long wispy fringe, but definitely not a short, blunt fringe! Shag cuts look great on long and oval faces.
If your face is what is commonly referred to as ‘heart-shaped’, avoid blunt cuts where possible. If you are lucky, you may be able to pull of an Amelie style bob (go slightly above the jawline). In general, though, you will need a layered, textured bob. But – lucky you – you look amazing with a pixie cut (just like a pixie, in fact)! There are many more guidelines on this and I may talk about this more in subsequent posts. However, even though face shapes can to some extent be generalised, each face is unique!
No Going Back (not for a while anyway)
The most important thing to remember is that once your hair has been cut (unless you are wealthy enough to afford hair extensions – and even then you need to have sufficient length to attach them) you just have to wait for it to grow back before restyling it. For this reason, if you are going for the chop for the first time (or the first time since childhood), always go a little longer than your target style to start with. That way, if you don’t like it you still have some length to work with – you can get some added layers put in to make it more manageable, re-shape the style, tie or clip it back (if things are really bad) and, most importantly, it won’t take as long to grow out. Remember, your hair only grows roughly half an inch a month.
Products and Styling
The products you use will depend on your style. If you are lucky you won’t need anything much at all, but if your hair is a little difficult to manage I like a good serum for a bob and a wax or glossing balm for a pixie or shag cut. For a sleek look I really like Redken’s ‘glass’ smoothing serum. There are cheaper serums on the market, but this one is great and lasts really well. For a more textured cut I love John Frieda’s ‘readytowear’ Shaping and Glossing Balm – there’s also one in this range especially for blonde hair. This lasts for ages as you only need a very small amount on the ends of your hair. It does wonders and the best part is that this product works to control frizz and curls or to add body to flat hair!
If your hair isn’t a ‘wash and wear’ style or is prone to frizzing, have a plan for times when you might not be able to blow-dry and style it or when it might get rather frazzled by the elements– for example, a day at the beach or a day outdoors in the wind and rain. This can be a problem if your hair is now too short to tie back. Perhaps you could throw some wax in your bag (though it may not stand up all that well to the heat!). Tiny butterfly clips or slide clips and/or headbands can be helpful in this situation. Hopefully though, if you’ve got the right cut for your hair, it should still dry looking OK, even if not perfect. If all else fails, there’s always a cute cap or beanie ; ) But remember that looking a little ‘carefree’ can be charming sometimes too.
Get Inspired
I don’t want all this to put you off going short as it can be so much fun to experiment with your look. In some cases you will even find that you’ll be able to try different clothes, jewellery, accessories, make-up and hair colours with your chic new style. Have fun with it!! Back to Audrey, momentarily, remember how, in Roman Holiday, she’s practically walking on air as she walks down the street with her new ‘do’; or in Sabrina, how chic she looks after she gets that “horse’s tail” chopped off. If you’ve had long hair forever and want a change but need inspiration, look to some of the women who have looked hot with short styles – bobs, shags, crops and pixie cuts: Cameron Diaz, Samaire Armstrong, Natalie Portman, Gwyneth Paltrow (in Sliding Doors), Audrey Tautou (in Amelie) Bessie Bardot and many more. Post a comment if you have a favourite celebrity short style to add to this list!
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