Summer Hair: Shorter, Hotter, Cooler, and Sexier...

Brooklyn Decker

Summer is the time when even our long-haired clients contemplate a change, sometimes even a drastic one. If you want to be daring in life, what better way than through your hair? It’s painless, chances are you’re going to like it, you’re going to get a reaction, you might revive your love life (your husband or your significant other may feel like he has a new paramour) – you just never know! And, if you change your mind, it grows out. If only every chance we take could be so easy.

Jennifer Anniston

Actors Brooklyn Decker, Jennifer Anniston, Olivia Palermo, and singer Keri Hilson all went for variations on the bob – the lob, asymmetrical, slightly shaggy, beveled -- losing a lot of length off the bottom but keeping plenty around the face. 

Olivia Palermo

This is the cut for ladies with long hair who want to take a chance, but not TOO BIG a chance. It leaves you with a lot of versatility and movement, especially those that are above the shoulder, but looks totally fresh, cooler, and very summery. 

Keri Hilson

This is also the perfect time to play around with color as well, since you have less hair to treat, and it’s healthier for having cut off the oldest and most damaged part of your hair.

Selita Ebanks

Some ladies went for much more drastic changes. Victoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks broke ranks with her Rapunzel-locked sisters, taking a huge risk with an asymmetrical pixie with long, cheek-grazing bangs, and an asymmetrical slice of bright blonde color. If she parts her hair on the other side, that thatch of blonde becomes a small streak in her dark hair. It’s surprisingly versatile, and a major change for someone who is probably contractually obligated to have long hair. 

Jenna Elfman

Actor Jenna Elfman’s short cut is a softer version with similar lines, cut over the ear, short at the nape and long side-swept bangs. The top layers are lighter than the lower layers to create contrast and depth, and she can wear the bangs down or slick them back.

Evan Rachel Wood

Evan Rachel Wood, who changes her hair as often as she changes (pick one: men, outfits, lipsticks), surprised everyone at the True Blood preview by turning up with a punky spiked pixie. It shows off her delicate features and can be worn as messy or controlled as she wishes. 

Ginnifer Goodwin

Our other pixie is Ginnifer Goodwin, who has maintained her bold cut throughout the award show season and well beyond. Hair this short is a sign of confidence. A woman who is not afraid to wear it is comfortable that people are going to like it, and doesn’t really care if they don’t. With short crops like Ginnifer’s, Evan Rachel’s, Jenna’s and Selita’s we always say in our salon, “the shorter the hair, the bigger the earrings.”

Tyra Banks

Carla Guigino

A summer cut for the drama-adverse is keeping most of the length and reshaping the interior to get a whole new look, like Tyra Banks and Carla Guigino. It’s a moderate, updated gypsy shag, with sexy bangs and flowing layers. It has that tousled, just-rolled-out-of-bed look.

Solange Knowles

And we admire Solange Knowles, who decided to stop the extensions and chemical processing and just let her hair do what it does naturally. She may not keep it this way for very long, but it’s nice to see someone let it go and stop fighting the beautiful curls they were born with. It’s total freedom, if you have the attitude.

One thing you will notice in all of these pictures is makeup -- everyone is wearing it. Makeup matters, no matter what haircut you choose. And the shorter your hair, the more your face is showing, so even if it’s just a touch of mascara and lip gloss, full-on makeup, or the hardest look of all, the “natural” look, you need a little something. 

Celebrities know they cannot leave home without it, and you should think like a celebrity. Remember, when you see those spreads in the gossip magazines of stars going to the grocery store or Starbucks without their makeup, they’re almost unrecognizable – they look just like us. Better we look like them.

Until next week, ciao…