When I cut it all off, there was nothing to hide behind – it was just me
MODEL ADWOA ABOAH
cool girl hair has graduated from the mussed-up manes and shady roots of old; the new rebel girls approach hair differently, with buzz cuts, quirky chops, micro-fringes and off-kilter colours. ‘Hair makes a statement about who you are,’ says Syd Hayes, Babyliss’s UK ambassador and the pro behind the looks you see here. Referencing the models backstage at the S/S ’19 shows – Molly Goddard, Marc Jacobs and Zandra Rhodes, to name a few – for their unique hairstyles and independent spirit to match, he says, ‘We live in a fast-paced, change-driven society and just as we experiment with our clothes, we’re doing the same with our hair.’
You’ve only got to look at the models who got extra airtime the past few seasons to see proof of the rebel cut movement in motion; take Adwoa Aboah (above), whose buzz cut has graced countless catwalks, campaigns and magazine pages and is as much a distinguishing feature as her freckles and devil-may-care attitude. ‘When I cut it all off there was nothing to hide behind – it was just me,’ she told Grazia last year. Meanwhile Dree Hemingway made her return to the catwalks with a grade one bleached buzz, a cut she compared to shedding her insecurity, after previously rocking beachy long locks; not stopping there, it was dyed acid pink for Matty Bovan’s show.
We’re not saying every style is easy to pull off, but there will be one that fits you. ‘You can tap into an edgier look by going for shorter hair or a blunt micro-fringe,’ says Syd, ‘and fringes are easy to try before you commit. Hairdressers like Hersheson’s have fringe pieces you can try on for size.’ If you do take the plunge, a visual reference is essential to ensure you and your hairdresser are on exactly the same page. Meanwhile, wash-in-wash-out hair colours are an easy way to switch up your usual ’do and channel Dree. ‘For spring, peppermint feels fresh and cool and I love a pastel undertone pink,’ says Syd.
Increasingly, women are turning to barber shops for their cuts, with London outlets reporting a significant increase in women visiting one in the previous two years. It’s not surprising considering the wealth of expertise in shorter, sharper styles, a comparably minuscule price tag and a walk-in service. Either way, we’re making a statement and rethinking how we approach a traditional haircut, and here’s to that.