4 haircuts every Woman should consider

FANCY A CHANGE? FORGET “FASHION”, SAYS FIONA MCKIM, THESE CHIC CUTS WILL TRULY FLATTER

DO YOU THINK IT’S TIME FOR A HAIRCUT? NOT THE USUAL “JUST AN INCH OFF” TIDY-UP, BUT THE KIND OF PROPER CHOP THAT YOUR OTHER HALF NOTICES. OFTEN THESE HAIRCUTS AREN’T ABOUT STYLE, MORE A YEARNING FOR CHANGE. A BIG BIRTHDAY CAN BRING IT ON, SO CAN SMALLER SHIFTS LIKE A NEW SEASON, AND OF COURSE THERE’S THE BREAK-UP HAIRCUT, A CHOP FOR LIBERATION. IF YOU’VE EVER SAT WRAPPED IN A PAPERY BLACK GOWN AND SAID “I JUST FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT,” THEN YOU’VE FELT IT TOO.

SO HOW DO YOU PICK THE RIGHT HAIRCUT? AS ANYONE WITH A HAIR “DON’T” IN THE ARCHIVE KNOWS, IGNORE FASHION. A FLATTERING AND MODERN HAIRCUT, YES. FASHIONABLE WITH A CAPITAL F, NO. CONSIDER TEXTURE, FACE SHAPE AND – PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR – LIFESTYLE. HOW MUCH TIME CAN YOU DEDICATE TO DAILY CARE? IS A TRIM EVERY FOUR WEEKS REALISTIC? DO YOU LOVE AN INTRICATE UPDO OR JUST WANT TO WASH AND GO?

WHATEVER YOUR THOUGHTS, THERE’S A FRESH CUT OUT THERE THAT’S GOT YOU COVERED. THESE FOUR CLASSIC CUTS ARE FLATTERING, VERSATILE, AND KEEPING THEM LOOKING LOVELY AT HOME IS ACHIEVABLE. READ ON FOR INSPIRATION…

The crop

WHAT IS IT? TRULY SHORT HAIR, ONCE YOU’VE GONE THERE, YOU MAY NEVER GO BACK. ANYTHING ABOVE THE EARS COUNTS FROM CHOPPY PAGEBOY TO JENNIFER HUDSON PIXIE.

WILL IT SUIT ME? “NATURALLY STRAIGHT, SMOOTH HAIR WORKS BEST AS IT REQUIRES LESS MAINTENANCE AND REDUCES STYLING TIME,” EXPLAINS SAM BURNETT, OWNER OF HARE & BONE SALON. “THE MOST FLATTERING FACE SHAPE IS OVAL WITH PETITE FEATURES TO BALANCE OUT THE SHARPNESS OF THE CUT. ROUND FACES FIND THIS CUT DIFFICULT TO PULL OFF AS IT CAN ACCENTUATE THE ROUNDNESS, THROWING OFF THE BALANCE OF THE FACE. COWLICKS AND DOUBLE CROWNS ARE STUBBORN CHARACTERISTICS THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE WAY A CUT SITS.” HIGH MAINTENANCE? “SHORT, CROPPED CUTS SHOULD BE TRIMMED EVERY FOUR TO SIX WEEKS,” SAYS SAM. “A DENMAN BRUSH IS PERFECT FOR DRYSTYLING YOUR PIXIE CUT, OR IF YOU HAVE SOFT, SLEEK HAIR, LEAVE IT TO AIR-DRY FOR A MODERN TAKE.”

Denman Classic Styling Brush, £5.99; Redken No

Blow Dry Bossy Cream, £17.85; VO5 Matt Rework Paste, £3.49

The lob

WHAT IS IT? A BOB FOR ANYONE WHO’S A BIT SCARED OF A BOB. SOFTER AND LESS SEVERE, THE LOB SITS JUST BELOW OR GRAZING THE SHOULDERS AND WORKS

WELL WITH FACE-FRAMING LAYERS OR A SWEEPING FRINGE. ROSAMUND PIKE EMBODIES THE LOOK’S EASY APPEAL.

WILL IT SUIT ME? “IT’S AN AGELESS

STYLE THAT WORKS ON ANY TEXTURE,” SAYS ADAM. “YOU CAN ADJUST THE ELEMENTS OF THE CUT TO SUIT ANY FACE SHAPE. FOR EXAMPLE IF SOMEONE HAS A REALLY ROUND SHAPE YOU WOULD CUT INTO THE FRINGE TO ELONGATE THE FACE.” IF YOU HAVE NATURAL WAVES, A LOB BEATS A BOB, WHICH CAN CREATE TOO MUCH SIDE-VOLUME (BUSH EFFECT) – THE WEIGHT OF THE LOB

NATURALLY PULLS CURLS DOWNWARDS.

HIGH MAINTENANCE? “THIS CUT IS GREAT IN THAT IT LOOKS GOOD ALL THE WAY FROM FRESHLY CUT TO THE GROW-OUT PHASE,” SAYS ADAM. “IT LOOKS GOOD SLEEK OR A BIT MESSY – IF YOU WANT IT TO LOOK MODERN

JUST USE TEXTURE SPRAY.” Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer, £299.99; Percy & Reed Big Bold & Beautiful

Dry Instant Volumising Spray, £14

The shag

WHAT IS IT? LAYERS, LOTS OF THEM, IN HAIR ANYWHERE FROM BOB LENGTH TO PAST YOUR SHOULDERS. THINK PLENTY OF TEXTURE LIKE HALLE BERRY’S HAIR, WITH ITS CHOPPY ENDS AND LOOSE SPLIT FRINGE.

WILL IT SUIT ME? “IT WORKS BETTER FOR CURLY OR WAVY HAIR, WHICH GIVES TEXTURE TO THE LAYERS,” SAYS JORDAN GARRETT, STYLIST AT DANIEL HERSHESON, WHERE

THE HAIR THICKENING CUT (SHAG 2.0) BLENDS BLUNT LAYERS WITH A CHOPPIER BACK. “YOU CAN ADJUST THE FRONT TO SUIT ANY FACE, WHETHER THAT’S MAKING IT MORE FRINGY OR KEEPING LAYERS AROUND THE CHEEKBONE. YOU GET THICKNESS THROUGH THE MIDDLE WITH THE LAYERS, SO IT REALLY WORKS IF YOU’RE WILLING TO GO SHOULDER LENGTH AND SHORTER.”

HIGH MAINTENANCE? “REGULAR TRIMS KEEP THE LAYERS FRESH,” SAYS JORDAN. “STYLING-WISE, LESS IS MORE! LOTS OF

SALT SPRAY IN WET HAIR AND SCRUNCH-DRY WITH YOUR HANDS TO GIVE MOVEMENT. OR USE TONGS FOR FLAT WAVES – NO CURLS – JUST A SLIGHT WAVE

AND MORE OF A DENT. John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray, £5.99; Hershesons Tourmaline Professional Waving Tong,

£98

The fringe

WHAT IS IT? HELEN MCCRORY IS A FAN. IT’S THE EASIEST WAY TO CHANGE YOUR LOOK WITHOUT LOSING LENGTH. FRINGES CAN BE BLUNT, CHOPPY OR SIDESWEPT AND WORK WONDERS HIDING FOREHEAD LINES.

WILL IT SUIT ME? “IT REALLY IS POSSIBLE TO FIND A FRINGE TO SUIT EVERYONE AS THERE’S SO MUCH VARIANCE AND TAILORING OF THE FRINGE TO SUIT THE INDIVIDUAL,” SAYS SAM. “THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE CHOOSING A FRINGE ARE YOUR HAIR TYPE, FACE SHAPE AND HOW YOUR HAIR NATURALLY FALLS.” LONG FACES SUIT A BLUNT FRINGE, IF YOU’RE SQUARE OR ROUND, GO LIGHTER AND CHOPPIER TO ENHANCE CHEEKBONES AND AVOID VISUAL “SQUISHING”. “OBLONG FACES SUIT FRINGES PERFECTLY AS IT

CREATES A SOFT OVAL SHAPE,” ADDS SAM. HIGH MAINTENANCE? “CHOPPY, LONG, SIDESWEPT FRINGES NEED LESS MAINTENANCE AND LOOK BETTER THE LONGER THEY ARE LEFT TO GROW OUT. BLUNT FRINGES REQUIRE MORE FREQUENT VISITS TO KEEP IT LOOKING CURRENT AND FRESH. EVERY FOUR WEEKS IS OPTIMUM.” Pantene Pro-V

Air Light Foam Conditioner, £3.99; GHD Ceramic Vented Radial

Brush, Size 1, £15 >>