Remember a time when luscious long locks were envied by every woman on the planet? During the ‘20s and even well into the ‘70s short hairstyles were worn by celebrities and everyday women. Audrey Hepburn in the ‘50s and Farrah Fawcett in the ‘70s are just a few of the trendsetters of this popular trend.
Well, as times are changing, more and more women are choosing to go the short cut, literally. When I say short cut, I don’t mean the kind your mom made you get at some point during your elementary school years. I’m not talking about those angular bobs you see on a lot of women. I’m talking about those girly those girly and fashionable bobs. From a mohawk to a pixie cut, short hair can be edgy, sexy and an excellent way to make a statement.
Short hair dates back all the way into the ‘20s, which was also known as the Roaring ‘20s. After the First World War, women wore much shorter dresses and shorter hairstyles as opposed to restricting corsets and floor-length dresses. During this time period, a new woman was born. This ‘20s woman, also known as a flapper, took risks. She smoked, danced, drank, voted, wore makeup and cut her hair. This was how the famous bob haircut came to be. It was simply a blunt cut, leveled out below the ears all around the head and worn with or without bangs.
As hairdressers became more skilled at cutting hair, other more sophisticated cuts were introduced. Women eventually wore their hair bobbed in waved or shingled styles. The shingle, or the “boyish bob,” was introduced in 1923 and featured hair which tapered into a V-shape at the nape of the neck with either waves or spit curls at the sides. Ever since then, short hair has been a popular trend, especially today.
There are many different ways to style short hair. Just about any woman can pull off this look. It’s all about finding a cut that complements your face shape. A good hairstylist will take the time to help you achieve the right look. There are many benefits to having short hair, such as having the opportunity to expose the natural beauty in your face. You can create shape in your face, give a wide forehead softness, enhance cheekbones, etc. You can even make your face appear thinner with the right cut. It can give thin hair volume, body and the illusion of thickness. It’s a great way to make a fresh start and get rid of those processed locks that have damaged your hair. And, most importantly, short hair is fast and easy to style.
One very popular short hair trend would be the classic pixie cut. Audrey Hepburn was one of the first celebrities seen with pixie hair, and Mia Farrow popularized the look in the ‘60s. It’s been seen on various celebrities recently including: Emma Watson, Anne Hathaway and Rihanna. This modern pixie is very choppy and textured with longer bangs. It works best on women with thick and naturally wavy hair, as well as heart-shaped, square and oval faces. If you have a round face, make sure to keep the bangs long and style them forward or up to create the illusion of length.
Then, there’s the unstructured bob, which is the much shorter and sleeker version of the regular bob. It’s messy and unstructured, so it has a bit of edge to it. This cut ends at the chin or just below it. Blunt bangs complement this edgy hairstyle very well. It works best on thin to medium hair and looks great on anyone with a nice jawline and neck. The crop is always a nice cut if you’re going for a more feminine look, despite the fact that it’s a buzzed style you tend to see on guys. It’s closely shorn to the head all around with slight volume on top and delicate tapering at the sideburns and nape.
And then there’s the pompadour, also known as the “fauxhawk.” This hot hairstyle trend for 2013 usually features shaved sides and a puffy teased top that resembles a rooster’s comb. It has become a popular choice to some celebrities like Pink and Miley Cyrus. Who can wear this cut? Anyone with guts, pretty much. This style is much more about attitude than your face shape. However, it works best on coarse, thick hair. If you have the personality for it, you will definitely rock this funky ‘do.
The next time you are bored with your hair and crave a change in look, going the short route might just be what you need. And if you don’t like it, just remember that it’s not permanent. Hair grows back eventually.
Madison Irwin can be reached at madison.irwin@spartans.ut.edu