| Short Hair Style Challenges |
| Karen Marie Shelton |
| Revised Date: 10/05/07 - Original
Publication Date: 06/20/2006 |
Introduction
 |
|
Alyssa Milano
as Phoebe
Gamine Haircut
WB's Charmed |
|
The WB
All Rights Reserved |
Like every other type of hair, short
hairstyles come with their own built-in challenges.
While short hairstyles can be a breeze to maintain on a
daily basis, they can be more demanding on a monthly
term.
Short hairstyles can look absolutely
stunning right out of the salon, but hair always grows
and once tresses extend to a certain point, a precision
bob, shag, pixie, chop or crop will start to lose its
finely crafted shape.
Layers that are growing out in a short
style can be especially troublesome if not managed
properly.
Although layers in your short do might
have looked absolutely fabulous while you were sitting
in the salon chair, when you got home and started to
work with your new style, you might have discovered that
the layers were not to your liking in the harsh reality
of your bathroom mirror. You might also have
discovered that they were slightly uneven, hard to
manage or you just didn't like the way that they looked.
Yes it's true that short hair layers, as
they grow out, can also pose some additional issues.
There are several options to harness out of control
strands. These include:
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|
Kelly Osbourne
With Wide Bandeau Style
Headband |
|
DailyCeleb.com -
All Rights Reserved |
1. Create Texture To Blend
Shorter Strands Into Longer Ones.
Regardless if you're growing out your
layers between hair cuts or growing them out to one
length on a more permanent basis, create texture in your
tresses to instantly blend the layers with the rest of
your style.
Whether you use a round brush and blow
dry your tresses to add bend, or use hot rollers, a
curling iron or hook and latch style rollers, when you
create curls or waves, the layers will be more seamless.
2. Sweep Strands Off The Face
For Seamless Blending.
Hair styles that feature tresses swept
off the face are becoming more popular. To create a perfect
blending of short layers with the rest of your longer
strands, wrap hair around the round brush, hot or other
rollers so that the tresses are directly off your face.
You can also experiment with brushing
your hair all to one side, tucking it behind your ears
or directing it into a faux pageboy and pinning it into
place.
3. Hair Accessories As
Decorative Anchors.
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|
Kelly Osbourne
With Satin Ribbon Style
Headband |
|
DailyCeleb.com -
All Rights Reserved |
Headbands are sizzling hot. Even
better, they come in a dizzying array of styles from the
hard U shaped bands with or without teeth to the
adjustable bandeau style bands.
The elasticized bandeau headbands are
designed to slip over the head and hold hair snugly in
place. They can be worn right at the hairline or
slightly back towards the crown.
Utilize the bandeau style headbands to
hold down any short layers near the front of your face
line that are uneven, too short or out of control.
Bandeau headbands are also perfect for
cowlicks and hair swirls.
The du-rag (doo-rag) style of headbands
might also work as effectively as the bandeau style.
Keep in mind that the du-rag fits must flatter to the
head, leaving nothing to the imagination.
If you
love the shape of your head and like your hair worn snug
against your scalp, a du-rag might just do the trick.
Experiment to find your own best solution.
If headbands don't fit with your
personal style, experiment with jaws, claws, salon clips
or even bobby pins. When Sarah Jessica Parker was
growing out her short bangs on Sex And The City she wore
a cascade of traditional bobby pins, in a contrasting
color from her hair hue.
The trend caught on and became an
instant fashion craze. All because Sara Jessica
was trying to manage shorter layers along her hairline.
4. Part Ways With Your Old
Profile.
 |
|
Kelly Osbourne
With Hat |
|
DailyCeleb.com -
All Rights Reserved |
Some hairdressers recommend altering the
parts to help blend and disguise uneven or awkward
layers.
Celebrity Hairdresser Ken Paves
instantly alters layers by clipping in longer strands.
For actress Marley Shelton and Ashlee Simpson, Ken
equalized too-short bangs and layers by carefully
hand-attaching a longer fringe that was swept across the
front of the face.
If you really want to contain your
strands, do as Kelly Osbourne does and wear a variety of
chic headwear that will hold any short hairstyle in
place while reigning in errant layers.
5. Mini Ponytails & Twists.
Cameron Diaz utilizes mini-ponytails and
messy twists to pull her growing-out layers off of her
face. Rather than notice that her short style
needs a trim or that she suffers from uneven layers,
most fans only see how adorable and edgy Cameron's style
is.
Whether you decide to pin your growing
out layers into a messy mini-pony or twist, experiment
with ways to use bobby pins and tiny elastics to create
a functional "hide those layers' hair style that is
unique and all your own.
You might even experiment with tiny
braids or Zulu knots.
6. Styling Products To The
Rescue.
 |
|
Alyssa Milano
With
Elastic Style Headband |
|
The WB
All Rights Reserved |
Wet look styles can work wonders for
short hairstyles at that awkward in-between stage.
Experiment with styling gel, glaze, mousse, creams and
setting sprays to hold rebellious layers in place.
Shampoo hair and towel blot the excess
moisture. Apply a strong holding gel or glaze to
your still damp strands. Direct hair back from
your face. Let tresses air-dry for a "wet look".
Tousling short strands can also help
disguise a shapeless and overgrown cut. Apply a good
styling mousse to damp strands and use finger tips to
scrunch and tousle.
Play with your tresses to discover new ways
to overcome awkward growing out stages.
7. Freshen Up The Color
In some cases a short cut is designed
specifically to work with multi-dimensional hues such as
carefully layered highlights and lowlights. When
hair color is not maintained in unison with maintenance
trims and cuts, your layers and style might still look
somewhat out of sync.
If you can't afford to have your hair
color refreshed, experiment with color extending shampoos
and leave-in conditioners that will help brighten faded
hues.
8. Opt For Add-on Strands
One of the miracles of add-on ponytails,
chignons and individual strands is that they can smooth
over rough edges resulting from out of control layers.
They can also help a short cut that has lost its shape.
Summary
Short hairstyles can offer fabulous benefits. Like hair of
every length, style, texture and type, short styles bring unique
challenges.
When short cuts are not maintained on a regular and planned schedule,
the style can lose its precision form. Layers have a tendency
to grow out of control and need to be managed. Utilizing the
tricks outlined above, it'll be possible to either grow short
layers out with ease or hold them at bay until your next trip to
your favorite hairdresser.
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