Last week I had a visit from grammy winner Chrisette Michelle at the salon. She came in to get her hair cut. I asked her what she was looking to do. She explained that when I originally cut her hair two years ago into her infamous “Ephinany” faux hawk she recalled never having to do her hair, “I used to get up and run my fingers through it, I want to be able to do that again”. She then pointed out a white boy at the salon and says, “just like his hair”. Apparently the stylist who works with her on a regular basis now cuts very different from me.
Like a lot of black girls, Chrisette’s hair is thick. She was complaining that currently she has to do her hair every two days because it was so thick. She wanted to be able to do what most of my clients do. Wake up and go. Just like the white girls. Lol. If you ladies know me by now…that’s my famous outlook. Wake up and go. It is the key to any great hair cut.
Short styles require movement just like long hair. The problem I for see with some short cuts is that the stylist doesn’t thin out the hair. They simply blunt cut the hair and then style the hair to the shape they are looking for. What ends up occurring is that client has to style their hair frequently. The same look can be achieved by thinning the hair so the hair isn’t forced to sit on other hair not allowing much space for movement and the style can take a shape of its own allowing for more time for your make-up or dressing.
It’s not always the stylist not understanding hair movement though, sometimes it’s the client. A lot of us black girls don’t like to cut or “thin” out our hair. It comes from the myth that our hair doesn’t grow. And we are scared to death. Gotta tell you, when ever I cut a short style for the first time and its on a thick hair, I always hear “what’s that your doing?” They seem nervous, but once they start seeing the style take shape, they relax and get excited. I always get a phone call or email within a few days appreciating the new cut. Give it a try!
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Noël, a very well written piece on short hair… well done! I really love the Mohawk hairstyle in all its variations. I love it on men too. I’m a fan of women who wear their hair short. That way you see plenty of face, just like Chrisette – and she looks beautiful.
Ms.Noël, I would really like to get my hair cut short. I don’t have the typical hair of an African American. It is naturally very soft, weightless, and extremely curly. Do you think that I could pull it off? I’m very worried.
Thanks.
Hi Jamsine
I’m not sure what you mean by the typical african american hair, but the hair that your describing, soft weightless and extremely curly sounds familiar. Cutting your hair short has a lot to do with the shape of your face and the shape of the cut. Check out my blog on “The Secret to a Dream Haircut” to look at your face type. Cutting your hair is liberating and bold! HAVE FUN!