Celebrity hairstylist Kenneth Tepper, of the Pierre Michel Salon in New York, said going really short depends on your face, your personality and your proportion.
“Oval and heart-shaped faces are best with short hair, but the most important aspect is that the cut and final result is in proportion to the body.”
If you have an oval face, you can wear just about any short style. Avoid covering your forehead with heavy bangs though, as this could shorten your face and make it look too round.
For round faces, short hair looks best with volume at the crown to add height and help narrow the face. The sides should be layered and kept closer to the cheeks to avoid adding any width to the face.
Heart-shaped faces look great with short hair as long as you avoid too much volume at the crown, which could accentuate the width on your forehead and make your chin appear narrower.
Square faces, because of their harsh lines, look best with soft layers and wispy bangs.
If you have concerns about other features — like a large forehead, large nose or long neck, short hairstyles can still work. As always, Tepper said, let your stylist be the judge. Ask if it will work. “I just cut one of my clients from long to Mia Farrow short,” shared Tepper. “It took a little coaxing, OK, a lot of coaxing, but she is so happy.
Going super short, whether it’s a pixie, boy-cut or shag, is definitely for the daring said Tepper. These styles are a symbol of freedom, playfulness, youth, courage and confidence. “It’s the first step of being a true rebel!”
Very short hair became popular in the 1950s, with Jean Seberg’s crop cut in the movie “Breathless” and Audrey Hepburn’s famously short, feathered hair. While later versions included s Mia Farrow and Twiggy, today’s short styles are more modern, chic, playful and sexy. Stars like Agyness Deyn, Cate Blanchett, Jessica Stroup and Michelle Williams have all been spotted lately sporting closely-cropped, fabulous looking ‘dos.
Working with your hair’s texture is an important consideration in finding the perfect short hairstyle said Tepper. “Curly hair gone short will give you the Grecian look. All the edges must be soft to allow hair to curl. Straight hair is best done short via a razor cut which keeps it feathery.”
However, Tepper recommended that women with ultra thick hair should not chop it all off. “It can look too helmety.”
While texture and face shape is important when going short-short, age is not according to Tepper. In fact, some of the great beauties of all time — young and old — look their best with a great pixie cut. Think Hayden Panettiere and Shirley MacLaine.
What is the biggest thing holding us back from shorter coifs? Fear said Tepper!
“You only live once and of coarse it grows back,” he reminded us. “And all the attention of a dramatic change is not so bad either.”
