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The Zen of Shorthair |
| Author: The Short Hair Diva |
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Date: April 2001 |
Introduction
Yes, darlings—it’s me again, your Diva concerning all thing
shorthaired! The zen of shorthair has everything to do with attitude,
confidence, and your own personal style. By all means, try out any and
all of the many wonderful shorthair styles of 2001. But don’t forget
that it is your own personal stamp of style that makes the ‘do your
own.
Take for example the cute gamine style that Anne
Hecht has made famous. This is a ‘do that stands up well in any
color (although blonde with gold highlights are
popular!), and is virtually wash-n-wear. Let’s say you’ve made the
appointment with your stylist to get this look. Stop first and
think—what features will be highlighted with this style? Perhaps
you’ve been blessed with great big Bambi eyes, luscious Julia
Roberts lips, or Elizabeth Taylor eyebrows? Maybe you have a nicely
sculpted chin, a curved nose with delicately-flaring nostrils, or high
cheekbones. Any or all of these features will be well-showcased with
this cut!
Conversely, if you want to hide your sugar-bowl
ears, this style may not be your cup of tea. Work with your stylist,
and remember that you do NOT have to copy the style exactly. Go with
your best and/or strongest features.
Now, let’s take the Anne Hecht cut a step
further. So you get the cut, and all your marvelous features are right
out there for the world to see. Now what? Well, you can stop there and
just enjoy the look as it is, or you can take further steps to make
the look your own. If your hair is blonde, by all means try out some lighter
highlights, or step out on the edge by trying out some of the
excellent temporary hair mascaras, etc. and give yourself some
breath-taking mauve, copper, or sparkle streaks. If your hair is
brown, then depending on your coloring (consider if your coloring is
‘cool’ or ‘warm’), try some highlights (gold and copper tend
to give your hair a warmer look), or lowlights (great for ‘cooler’
looks—go a few shades of lighter brown). If you have dark hair (deep
brown or black), you can be daring and try silver streaks or even an
aubergine temporary rinse or some streaks. If you have red hair (like
the Diva’s), try adding some lighter or darker reds to give it a new
textured look.
WARNING:
The Diva cannot stress ENOUGH that you should always work with your
stylist with permanent coloring!
Whether or not you decide to add color or
highlights, you can also modify a basic cut with your own individual
take on the ‘do. The Diva’s current ‘do is a takeoff on the
popular Bed Head look: the hair from the bangs back to the middle of
the back of the head is spiked, and the back is shaped into a gentle
point at the nape. The sides are cut up over the ears (the Diva’s
ears are darling, actually!)
and can be brushed forward into tiny points in front of the ears, or
brushed back and secured with gel. The bangs are very textured and
wispy.
However, no matter what hairstyle or color you
get, what gives your style real panache is your own attitude. You’ve
heard the Diva many times before: “Attitude is EVERYTHING.” It’s
so true with hair. Once you’ve gotten that funky new style you’ve
always wanted to try, spiked it up with gel, added some violet streaks
at the temple and sprinkled sparkles over it all, do you:
A) immediately put your head in a bag and slink
into the darkest corner, or
B) strap on some fabo earrings, some chunky
chains, put the top down and varoooooooom down Main Street, blasting
some vintage ‘Stones?
The Diva’s just having a little fun with you,
but my message is this: you’re trying out a style. Whether you keep
it or not is up to you. Whether you make it totally your own or not is
up to you. The whole idea is to make it fun for you.
We shorthairs cannot hide behind our hair; the essential US
is right out there for the world to see. This is the true zen of
shorthair.
I will close with some of my current favorite
emails I’ve received lately.
Enjoy….
Go Ahead
Ask The Diva.......Emails to the Diva
Question #1:
Using A Razor On Your Hair
“Dear Diva,
I shave my short hair way up around my ears and
back of neck so I just have fringe from top of my head down. In the
beginning, I think this looked pretty cool but now it all stubby and
nastylooking where I shave.
What I do now?
Leeanne”
Answer
“Leeanne, dear—
Didn't your mother ever show you how to use a razor? If you
remember, it's for your legs, not your head!. Now that you've
butchered your hair, the smart thing is to run, don't walk, to your
stylist and have it evened out. Face it-you're going to look
funny for a few weeks while it grows out, but at least you'll have a
style. Right now you probably are a bad Cyndi Lauper wanna-be.
Don't make me come over there. Do NOT do this again.
Signs,
The Diva
Question #2:
Matching Mullets
Dear Diva,
My girlfriend and I decided to get matching
Mullet hairdos. We loved them and they looked great. But last month
she met another guy and moved in with him. What makes me crazy is that
she talked him into getting the same style, and now she wants me
to change mine.
I really love this style! Why should I give mine
up? What do you think?
Thanks,
Bubba”
Answer
Dear Diva,
What do I think? I think the three of you
deserve each other.
You ARE the weakest link-----goodbye!
Bah-bah!
The Diva
Question #3:
LongHair For Life
Dear Diva,
Why do you keep talking about short hair? Don’t
you like long hair? Did you ever have long hair? Do you feel that all
women should have short hair? I have very long hair, and I take
offense at your narrow-minded column.
LongHairedForLife!
Answer
Dear LHFL,
Perhaps all that long hair has snarled up your
brain cells. Did you notice that nearly 50% of HairBoutique.com
deals with LONG HAIR. You are certainly welcome to your opinion,
but when it comes to narrow-minded, I think, you are far and away
ahead of me.
Kiss-Kiss
The Diva
Question #4:
Very Thin Hair
Dear Diva,
I am a 67-year old woman with very thin hair. For
years I’ve worn my waist-length hair in a knot on the back of my
neck, and I’m sick to death of it. I want to change my look, but
I’m afraid if I cut my hair short I’ll look bald!
Any ideas??
Thank you,
Fearful in Florida
Answer
My Dear Fearful,
Fear not! You are not alone in having thin
hair, and I applaud your will to change.
My advice is this: take the necessary time
to find a good stylist, one who has experience with thin hair.
Work with him/her to come up with a good short style that A) looks
good on him, B) you can style yourself, and C) you feel GOOD
about. Think seriously about you lifestyle and how much time you
want to put into your hair.
Do NOT allow him/her to talk you into some
"old lady" style. The following can add fullness and
body to thin hair:
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a blunt cut
(adds much more fullness than layering)
-
a body wave
(gives you volume, and you can either blow dry it using a round
brush, use hot rollers, or let it airdry)
-
a
good mousse applied to the roots to give fullness
Do your homework
first and don't hurry. And then tell me how it came out!
You GO Girl.
Kisses,
The Diva
Question #5:
Enameled Hair
Dear Diva,
Help!! My 4-year old son got into my older
son’s enamel paints he uses on his model race cars. By the time I
caught him, he had rubbed bright yellow and green enamel into most of
his hair, quite a sight I can tell you!! I’ve tried shampooing, and
all the usual remedies for removing sticky stuff from hair, but it’s
still there.
Now what?!
Out-of-patience-mom”
Answer
Mommie dearest,
Two words for you and your colorful
son" Buzz Cut! Trust me, at this stage it's far
easier to cut your losses (so to speak) and start over. Trot him
out to the nearest stylist and tell them to set their shears on MOW.
Tell your son it's the current cool hairdo.
He's still young enough to believe you.
Bye, bye, love!
The Diva
Question #6:
Dog Trauma Turns Hair Orange
Dear Diva,
I decided to put some blonde streaks in my dark
brown hair. As soon as I put it on, my dog threw up a chicken bone. I
was afraid he’d eaten more of them, so I piled him in the car and
rushed him to the vet. By the time he x-rayed him (he’s fine, by the
way—no more bones!) and I got him home, I had had the streaking
solution on for 3 hours!!
Well—the streaks are brassy orange and look
horrible. How can I fix it?
Help!
Brassy”
Answer
Dearest Brassy,
Make yourself an appointment with a good stylist
ASAP and explain what happened. Don't worry-they've heard it
all, and most likely can fix the damage. Put a hat on and go,
and stop leaving chicken bones in the garbage.
Ta-ta,
The Diva (Who Else)
Well, babies, that’s it for now. The Diva wishes you all happy
and heavenly short hair days.
TaaaTaa
The Diva
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