When it comes to hair questions, I get quite a few. But probably the most common one is 'are you trying to grow it?', or maybe, 'don't you want long hair?'.
Well...no, not really.
To be honest I think the primary reason people ask is that long glossy locks are considered the height of femininity (aspirational if you will), and since the late 1920s I think this has pretty much been the case. I'm not judging, at one point I had hair extensions and can completely understand the appeal. However this seems to have resulted in shorter haircuts (bar the post-V-for-Vendetta military crop on the otherworldly Natalie Portman) being sidelined as largely 'unsexy'.
Now, look at these two photos of model Arizona Muse:
Obviously she is beautiful in both and clearly has the added bonus of styling and makeup in the photo on the right. BUT I also think she looks more feminine. The shorter cut softens slightly angular features and truly 'frames' her face.
Whilst we are (sort of) on the topic of sexy, this is the barnet of another model, Abbey Lee Kershaw, and she is here to offer up a lesson in the art of seductive hair...whilst sporting a bob.
Some of you may know that I'm currently in the process of growing out a full fringe (USA: 'bangs') so I can vouch for fringes doing something amazing to your face. Seriously. I loved my fringe and I'm still not totally sure why I decided to grow it out. You peek out from an invariably tousled little curtain of hair and it becomes all about the eyes and mouth - ideal if you favourite makeup products are pretty much black eyeliner and lipstick. And let's face it, nobody ever fell in love with a forehead.
But you can't DO anything with it?!
Invest in a couple of products and there are plenty of ways to style shorter hair. Pixie's quiff probably took a little sculpting with something like Sebastian Craft Clay and Jessica Stroup's sleek look only takes a blob of smoothing creme, such as Redken All Soft Velvet Whip, and a set of straightening irons. My daily style, if you can call it that, is the scruffy look and consists of a couple of drops of VO5 Miracle Concentrate, rough drying and loosely curling a few sections - for someone with very thick tresses, this is a refreshingly short process as there is less hair to dry.
The second most asked question is what I ask for when I go to the hairdressers. I have answered this in part in this video, but here's my top tips for undergoing the chop:Some of you may know that I'm currently in the process of growing out a full fringe (USA: 'bangs') so I can vouch for fringes doing something amazing to your face. Seriously. I loved my fringe and I'm still not totally sure why I decided to grow it out. You peek out from an invariably tousled little curtain of hair and it becomes all about the eyes and mouth - ideal if you favourite makeup products are pretty much black eyeliner and lipstick. And let's face it, nobody ever fell in love with a forehead.
But you can't DO anything with it?!
Invest in a couple of products and there are plenty of ways to style shorter hair. Pixie's quiff probably took a little sculpting with something like Sebastian Craft Clay and Jessica Stroup's sleek look only takes a blob of smoothing creme, such as Redken All Soft Velvet Whip, and a set of straightening irons. My daily style, if you can call it that, is the scruffy look and consists of a couple of drops of VO5 Miracle Concentrate, rough drying and loosely curling a few sections - for someone with very thick tresses, this is a refreshingly short process as there is less hair to dry.
- Find a stylist you trust. It may be worth forking out a little more for a major restyle.
- Think about your lifestyle - do you need to tie your hair up a lot? If so a slightly grown out bob may be best.
- Ask for longer layers, or 'graduation', around the front. See the images above...I am not, I repeat, not referring to Victoria Beckham's infamous 'Pob'. A cut that is slightly longer at the front will frame your face, looks nicer from all angles and will avoid an extreme 'OH GOD WHERE IS MY HAIR' response if you are having a few inches chopped off.
xx
I totally agree with you on this! I have long hair but would kill to have the facial features to pull off short hair, I dont think I would ever go for a full on pixie crop because I'm a wuss but I would love a style like your's or a choppy bob. xxx
ReplyDeleteI have short hair too. I have an angled bob which used to be level with my jaw line. As much as I love it, I miss having long hair and being able to style it many different ways. I may be wrong, I probably will miss it when it's gone, but I can always cut it again :D I love how hair grows back if you don't like the cut!
ReplyDeletexx
I love this post, i'm thinking of getting a "grown out bob" and am worried everyone will be like "why did you cut your hair" etc etc but this has made me want to reach for the scissors like NOW! haha my ends are so damaged i think i'll just go for it! Watched all your vids too, your ace! x x x
ReplyDeleteso useful, i cut my hair to this bob length a few months ago and frankly it's quite liberating, my hair is (a bit) easier to work with but im trying to think of other things to do with it, im still trying to get the hang of everything too. i've had a fringe for quite a few years and i've kept it and i think its fun, but to be honest the popular (2009/10) side parting is what looks best with a bob in my opinion. good stuff anyways
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love this post! I chopped all my hair off in May in a Sienna Miller style pixie crop and have since had a few trims and now have a slightly imperfect bob. I absolutely loved having shorter hair, especially over the summer, although I think I'm ready to start growing it out again as I think long hair suits me a little better - also Anna's hair inspires so much envy in me I think I may make it my lifelong dream to achieve hair like hers! <3
ReplyDeletehttp://boscy.blogspot.com
aw lovely post, makes me want to get my haircut - power to the shorties! x
ReplyDeleteSo excited! have been having an internal struggle all week with what to do with my hair for my next appointment. You have convinced me - i'm definitely not a long hair girl! love it- thanks :) xxxx
ReplyDeleterabbitshavekittens.blogspot.com
I absolutely agree! I recently cut my hair, slightly inspired by your hair, and am absolutely adoring it. I have very damage prone hair and had been attempting to grow it out for ages before just getting fed up with the constant struggle and chopping it off. So much easier to deal with and looks a ton healthier.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! I used to have a short back and sides and loved it! Now I'm now growing it out but don't think it'll be long before I get the chop again! Well said Meg! x
ReplyDeleteYour hair is so lovely short! I'm really tempted to chop my hair into a bob but I've spent so long growing it long so I'm not sure!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! Would love if you did more ootds!
www.heartoftea.blogspot.com
I absolutely love love love this post! I could not agree with you more. I chopped all my shoulder length hair off to a pixie cut in October and I have never looked back. I love having short hair and I am continually finding new things to do with it. I've always been an advocate of that fact that 'hair grows' and getting a hair cut is not the end of the world. Yes, long hair is beautiful and very feminine but it's not the only version of femininity.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love having shoulder-length hair! And fringe! I really don't see the obsession with long hair(and the obsession is huuuge here in Norway).
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I have a pixie cut and I think I look so much more feminine with it, since it shows off my face a lot more. It is the perfect cut for me and I am never looking back. I have read so many times of women saying that men like long hair and I find that to be complete bullshit! It is all about confidence and how you pull of your look; if you hate it, most people will hate is as well. My boyfriend and I love my hair and that is all I really need.
ReplyDelete