| Short Hair Cuts 411 |
| Karen Marie Shelton |
| Date: 07/27/06 - Revised Date: 06/14/2006 |
Introduction
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|
Alyssa Milano
as Phoebe
WB's Charmed |
|
The WB
All Rights Reserved |
Yes it's true that I personally have
hair that is holding at about 6 inches past my waist.
And yes, its all my hair - although I have played with
add-on tresses, wigs and related options.
So why I am writing about short hair?
As the ongoing full time consumer hair editor for MMI
Magazines (Short Cuts Magazine) for the past five
years, I have written an advice column about short hair
every month since I started with MultiMedia.
This means that I spend just as much
time researching short hair trends and issues as I do
long hair. In fact, I also am the consumer hair
editor for 101 Celebrity Hairstyles as well as
contributing articles on all types of hair for several
other publications over the past eight years.
Over the past ten years at
Hairboutique.com
I have received an even number of hair related questions
about short hair as long hair. Many people ask me
if I prefer short, medium or long hair. The
answer? I have always believed that it is a highly
personal matter and that every man, woman and child
should select their hair length and style based on what
makes them feel best. This should be regardless of
age, culture or any other outside influences.
Bottom line, it's your hair and your should enjoy how
you wear it.
Short hair cuts can offer so many great
advantages. While I never advocate that someone
cut their hair from a medium to long length (again it
has to be free choice in my book) I can share what some
of the advantages are.
1. Offers an instant image
change
 |
|
Alyssa Milano
as Phoebe
WB's Charmed |
|
The WB
All Rights Reserved |
One of the reasons that make-over shows
like to cut hair from long or medium to short is because
it does make a huge difference and shows instant
results. Whether this is always a good thing or
not, the bottom line is that it does show a dramatic
change.
Changing your hair is the easiest way to make a personal
style statement.
2. Hair is the latest accessory
It used to be that when you cut your hair short, you had
to live with the results for a long time. The idea
of cutting in haste and repenting in leisure was
definitely true.
As the current throng of celebrities
have proven, this is no longer the case. Recently
Eva Longoria changed her hairstyle eight times during
the ALMA Awards broadcast, with the help of Celebrity
Hairdresser Ken Paves and eight wigs.
Jessica Simpson current has chin length
hair. However, you will probably rarely see the
beautiful blonde celebrity with the same hairstyle more
than once. This is because her hairdresser Ken
Paves is the king of creating the latest hair look on
Jessica.
Which means that short hair can
instantly be transformed with add-on hair such as
ponytails or braids or falls. Half wigs and wigs
are also very popular and can instantly transform short
hair to long.
Yes it's true that you will have to invest in either
hair extensions or add-on hair options, but the days of
crying in front of the mirror because your hair is too
short are long over.
Hair accessories have also come light years in
sophistication. Headbands are very chic and the
options are endless from the inexpensive to the couture
quality. The latest bandeus, scarf headbands and
elastic bands can instantly whip a rebellious short do
into shape. There are even hair clips that come
with hair attached which can add fullness or length to
your short cut.
With all of these great options, it is much less risky
to go from medium or long to short.
3. Short Hair Comfort Options
 |
|
Alyssa Milano
as Phoebe
WB's Charmed |
|
The WB
All Rights Reserved |
I have had three very close friends deal with cancer.
In all three cases they chose to have their hair cut
short and then eventually to have their heads shaved
during chemotherapy rather than try and deal with the
gradual hair loss issues.
In all of the cases it actually buoyed their spirits.
All of my friends stared out with medium or longer locks
and made the first step to dealing with their chemo
related hair loss by going shorter first. It
actually cheered them up to have new hairdos to distract
them from their illness.
Ultimately they shaved their heads when the short hair
started to fall as well. In all cases, their hair
grew back completely and they are back to their old
favorite styles.
The short hair transition offered them comfort in
dealing with their diseases.
I have another friend who is a landscape architect.
She works outside in the hot Texas summers. Every
year she has her hair cut into a sexy layered bob that
looks stunning on her. By the end of summer she is
letting her hair grow and by Christmas, has a longer
look. She also utilizes add-on ponytails and
braids in a variety of very cute styles for evening
wear. My friend tells me that she loves the
freedom that short hair offers her for her work outside.
4. Showing Off Great Features
Celebrity hairdresser Robert Hallowell once told me
that one of the keys to success in Hollywood, is to have
a long lovely neck. I never really thought about
that before but its definitely true. While height
helps, having a long and slender neck is important for
TV and film work.
One way that actresses accentuate their long necks is
with short haircuts. A short style will instantly
show off a beautiful neck, great ears or play up a
gorgeous face.
5. Just Tousle & Go
 |
|
Alyssa Milano
as Phoebe
WB's Charmed |
|
The WB
All Rights Reserved |
One of my own hair secrets is to wear heavily layered
bangs that blend into my own long tresses. During
the sizzling hot summers in Dallas, I wear my hair
braided or pulled off my neck in a variety of twists
held with lots of different hair accessories.
I don't shampoo my hair every day but I do shampoo my
fringe which I then tousle with my fingertips and a
little gel, styling glaze, mousse or cream. I love
that I have the option to tousle and go and my bangs
look different all the time.
Short haircuts and styles offer this same plus.
You can wash, tousle and go with minimum fuss.
Of course there is one downside, short hair requires
more frequent trips to the hairdresser for maintenance.
Even if you are growing out your short style, you will
need to keep it trimmed and neat.
6. Making A Personal Statement
 |
|
Alyssa Milano
as Phoebe
WB's Charmed |
|
The WB
All Rights Reserved |
How many people have you known that go through a serious
romantic breakup and instantly change their hair?
Cutting or completely altering your hair can definitely
change your outlook. It can also make a personal
statement.
As Celebrity Hairdresser Robert Hallowell once told me -
some of his favorite celebrity clients are not classic
beauties but they can wear any hairstyle of any length
and look fabulous because they have that special
self-confidence or chutzpah that make everything they do
look amazing.
Having great self-confidence is definitely a plus for go
short.
I certainly don't recommend that anyone take drastic
actions with the scissors to overcome a bad romance.
Cutting hair to change your image or to make your own
statement about your personal style is a great option.
Just make sure that you are cutting your hair for the
right reasons.
7. Dealing With Damage
It happens to many of us at some point in our lives.
A chemical hair treatment fries our ends or the color
never takes the way we had hoped. While there are
many options to living with stressed tresses, sometimes
the collateral damage is sky high. Going with a
fresh new cut can often offer a brand new start and
leave the high cost of maintaining a damaged do behind.
8. Following Fashion Trends
 |
|
Alyssa Milano
as Phoebe
WB's Charmed |
|
The WB
All Rights Reserved |
Short hair popularity ebbs and flows like everything in
the world of fashion. Opting for a short style
that can be used as a canvas for experimenting with the
latest colors or styles is always a great possibility.
One of the reasons that models and acting professionals
keep their own tresses short is because it allows them
to live through hair coloring and other styling
challenges without any long term problems.
Of course there is also the new hair accessory options
to choose from.
Summary
Short hair cuts can offer so many wonderful options. It can
instantly create a new look, make a personal statement, offer
comfort and ease, help to dissolve damaged strands or offer a portal
into the latest fashion trends.
With the many new options for instant add-on tresses, hair
accessories, wigs and half-wigs, no one ever has to spend any time
crying before a mirror to overcome a too-short or bad haircut.
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