Style Check (Short Hairstyles of Women)
Crowning Glory: Short but Striking!
By PRAMITA BOSE
A
woman must admire herself in the mirror, preening on her crowning glory that
she ought to take pride in. She should think she is the fairest of all in the
town with her long cascading tresses like that of Rapunzel from the pages of a
fairytale or the much-coveted flowy, wavy golden yarn-like hair of the Barbie
doll. Well, this is a conventional picture that every girl is expected to
fantasise. But hey, lo and behold! Here comes a bevy of sassy lasses with short
crops that dares to change this age-old notion of beauty, breaking away from
the stereotypes of lengthy plaited hair down to their waist, knee or foot.
Fashion
onlookers are sitting up and taking notice of neck or shoulder-length trendy
bobs, short lobs, blunt with bangs, a trimmed mop of crispy curls, side swept
bixie, pixie with a bald patch, buzz cut, chopped locks with chunky ringlets,
bob with fringes, cropped hair with tiny boxer braids, bell-shaped bob,
butterfly bob, wolf cut bob, mullet — phew, the list could go on and on!
Often girls with short haircuts apparently define their personalities
as fun-loving, impish and frolicsome. “You could be that cool cat in your
close circles — always Insta-ready and a prospective social media influencer
too. Your hair shape and size might bring out that Tomboyish streak inside you,
making you quite footloose and fancy-free,” notes a body language expert.
Cutting the Long Story Short
It
is true that traditionally, long voluminous hair is believed to add to a
woman’s feminine charm and beauty. But today’s lissome ladies are thinking
differently to redefine the attractive attributes of a woman. Short hair is one
phenomenal quality in this context to change perspectives on the concept and
appreciation of aesthetics.
Hairstylists
suggest that “you have to snip it right to make the cut in the fashion scene as
a stunning hipster.” A slew of short hairdos is being explored to reset the
sheared styles atop the fairer sex’s head. From wedge cut, undercut pixie,
layered style, feathered bob, cropped hair with boxer braids or tight
ponytails, angled bob with bangs, choppy short pixie, blonde balayage pixie,
asymmetrical wavy bob, classic bob, disconnected pixie, gray bob with dark
roots to the pageboy cut — all types of haircuts are being experimented with
scissors and blow dryers in salons and parlours to help the short-haired
beauties step out with panache.
When asked if it’s
time to relook at short hairstyles as a magnetic feature of woman’s beauty,
reputed hairdresser Jawed Habib remarks: “The bottom line is that hair should
be in good shape. Its length doesn’t matter really. A good hair day can lift
one’s spirits like a mood bouncer, pumping up fresh, positive energy if the
confidence seems to ebb away. I admit that people are gradually changing their
viewpoint by accepting the short hair flair now.”
Hairstylist
Mohd Imran opines that “beauty is diverse and short hairstyles can be just as
happening as the long ones. It's about individual choice after all.” While Habib mentions “layers in shoulder length and a longish
bob” as the two styles in vogue for women, Imran picks pixie cuts, bob hairstyles
and shag cuts to denote the current trendsetters for the dainty damsels. For Indian women’s face cuts, the former finds “bob and
feather cuts with a medium length, suiting them to a tee” whereas the latter recommends “bob cuts and
layered pixies” to complement the desi
girls’ visages.
Power Cut
Often wearing the
hair short is associated with slick urban fashion and power dressing for women
in position, executing leadership roles, or with upper-class socialites and bohemian
chicks. “Yes, certain boundaries were set earlier to confine a style to a
particular bracket. But now things are becoming more flexible with the changing
times. I believe, all and sundry can wear any style smartly these days, not
just the rich and famous” comments Habib.
From the classic
era to the retros to today's electronic age, celebrity women — both blondes and
brunettes from all walks of life — have aced the short hair as celluloid
sirens, glam models, political icons, industrial heads, news anchors, royal heiresses and domestic goddesses. Many of them have been breathtakingly beautiful and
mystical in their signature short crops. For instance, Marilyn Monroe, Julie
Andrews, Princess Diana, Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth II, Indira Gandhi,
Maharani Gayatri Devi, Priyanka Gandhi, Ursula von der Leyen, Indra Nooyi, et
al. Does this underpin the point that short hair has been around for a long
time with its enigmatic appeal but never really got its due recognition?
“Yes, better late
than never! The change is visible now and I can certainly feel it. Short crops
are quite stylish these days, not just among the ‘it girls’ but across the
board,” observes Habib.
Imran
concedes that “short hair is often connected with uber uptown fashion and power
get-ups, reflecting the intrinsic qualities of strength, refinement and superiority.”
This founder of Delhi-based Hair & Glam Salon discerns that “tidily pruned
hair has been conspicuously embraced by iconic women across various fields,
thus highlighting its timeless appeal.”
Male Gaze
One thought that frequently piques our curiosity is whether short hair can add to female sexiness contrary to popular perception, considering that many men like women with short haircuts. “If the cut is done well and the hair is properly set, it will anyways look good over the shoulders irrespective of its length,” suggests Habib.
Coiffeurs do acknowledge the fact that the progressive male perspective
hovers around alluring short hairstyles with smooth shape and finish, spotting an
irresistible feminine charisma and oomph in them. “Honestly speaking, short mops can indeed elevate
one's sex appeal, grabbing eyeballs from every nook and corner,” derives Imran.
Catching Gen Zs’ Fancy
Young PR
professional Nishit Priya candidly confesses that she is “fond of short hair
and has been keeping it since childhood.” She is sporting a wavy blunt
with bangs these days. “I am not much of a fan of long hair and find it rather easier
to manage and maintain my snipped crop. It lifts my confidence and looks
amazing on me,” she admits.
Short-hair trends are fast catching up with today's
youngsters, busting the prototypes of long hair. “Slashed hair trends have
gained visible momentum among today's youth, challenging the traditional ideas
associated with long hair and showcasing a drift towards diverse and
individualistic styles,” asserts the 27-year-old.
Gorgeous Grey
Many opt for grey shades at a young age to look cool and cerebral. Older women with short grey streaks not only look sophisticated but also spread an air of intellect around them. Could we then say that flaunting silvery strands have become more of a style statement nowadays than just being the tell-tale signs of aging?
“I think this matter
is very subjective and differs from person to person. Some may welcome it as a
fad to enhance their image makeover or merely enjoy this organic whitening as a
natural progression of their seasoned beauty, wisdom and experience, while
others might still adhere to the orthodox habit of colouring their hoary hair,”
concludes Habib.
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