Just because your hair is short doesn’t mean you are constricted to wear the same style, day in and day out. While your options may not be as great as someone with longer hair, you still have many varied looks you can achieve with a few simple accessories, the right products, and a bit of creativity.
Play with your bangs! Whether your hair is straight or curly, run a pomade or shine serum (John Freida’s Frizz Ease Shine Serum) through your hair and part on one side. Pull back the thicker side of your part, smoothing it down as you go, and secure your hair with a pretty jeweled bobby pin or barrettte. I like Betsey Johnson’s “Cherries with Bow” bobby pin, found at Zappos.com for $31. Lower priced versions can be found at Sally’s Beauty Supply and most major retailers. (perfect for any short ‘do).
For a simple look that keeps your hair out of your face, try a headband such as the beaded “Jane” Jeweled Headband found at sapphireandsage.com/circlets. Scrunch a mousse like Pantene’s Ice Shine Volumizing mousse through damp hair to add texture and bounce to straight or wavy locks, shine and definition to curly hair, then dry as usual. Slip on the headband and you’re on your way. (perfect for any short ‘do).
Another super-easy look, perfect for summer, requires just some mousse or texturizing spray and bobby pins or clippies (children’s sizes work best). Twist small rows of your front hair (or bangs) back about 1-2″ and secure with pins or clips and go. (perfect for any short ‘do).
Think updos are impossible with short hair? Think again. While a bun or elaborate twist may be out of your reach, you can definitely get a faux-French twist with some texturizing spray such as John Freida’s Ocean Waves Sea Spray and bobby pins. Generously spritz your hair, then pull back using a comb to smooth flyaways. Twist the length of your hair under and pin as you go, forming a vertical hair twist. Voila! (great for bobs).
The half-up/half-down look is very popular right now, and with a simple snap-barrette, you can achieve it on all but the shortest locks. Smooth your hair with a leave-in conditioner, such as Sunsilk’s Hydra TLC 24/7 Crème. Pull up a small bit of hair from over your forehead (from the middle of each eyebrow is plenty wide enough. Twist halfway, then push forward and barrette to the rest of your hair. You’ll have just the right amount of bump, not flat, not too extreme, while the rest of your locks flow free and soft. (great for bobs).
A smooth and sleek look is very retro chic and easily accomplished. On freshly washed hair, apply Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Frizz Control Extra Smoothing Balm and comb through. Use a paddle brush to brush your locks down close to your head while drying and finish with a shot of hairspray to keep everything in place. (great for pixies and close-cropped styles).
Curls will never go out of style, and for good reason – they can be just too doggone cute or amazingly gorgeous, depending on the overall look. Using your hair’s length as a guide (a bob will do better with bigger looser curls, a very short style will do better with tiny corkscrews), apply some gel to damp locks and dry with a diffuser. When hair is completely dry, use a curling iron to curl hair into desired curl size, careful not to disturb curl as you remove the iron. Once your whole head is done, allow curls to cool completely, then loosen the curls with your fingers and finish with a shot of shine spray and hair spray.
Last but not least, clip on hair. Just because you prefer the day-to-day look of short doesn’t mean you don’t occasionally yearn for long. Clip-on extensions come in a variety of colors and styles, and you can clip them in throughout your hair, starting at the nape and working your way up to just under the crown, or you can try a clip-in ponytail (just be sure to fasten your own hair into a pony and spray well to hold).
