The best short haircuts (think Halle, Miley, and Jessica Stam) are cool, feminine, and sexy—so long as you avoid these styling missteps.
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Excessive Blow-Drying
Lazy women, rejoice and hit snooze. "It's better to blow a short cut around 50 percent dry, run a little wax or serum through it, then let it air-dry on its own," says hairstylist Garren of the Garren New York salon in New York City. "That gives it natural-looking lift."
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Getting Too Slick
When a woman uses heavy gel to comb her hair back like Dracula, the results can indeed be monstrous. For some chic James Dean swagger, rake it back with a pomade or wax—Garren likes René Furterer Vegetal Styling Wax—"but not slicked to the head," he says. "Keep some height at the top and the sides really tight."
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Adding Volume at the Crown
Two words: Kate Gosselin. "When you puff up the back and flatten the front like a little Texas bouffant, it looks old-fashioned," says Garren.
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Overworking It
Too many products, too much heat styling, and too much time spent perfecting your hair in the mirror can result in a dorky Zack Morris helmet. Hairstylist Matt Fugate, who also styles Jessica Stam's hair, suggests a breezy trick involving a dab of wax rubbed vigorously between the hands and a move we'll call the arcade claw: Nestle the fingertips into the hair in a pitchfork formation, then pinch the fingers together and pull hair up through the ends.
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Battling Your Bangs
Hair that's longer at the crown than on the sides is one of the keys to short-haircut harmony; it makes Garren crazy to see bangs being tucked behind the ears or pinned over to one side. "Why did you get bangs if you don't want them? Enjoy them, then move on," he says. (They'll grow out soon enough.)
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Embrace Your Natural Texture
To bring the best out of your curls, David Lopez, celebrity hair stylist and SheaMoisture Ambassador suggests using a texturizing product to modernize your haircut, such as SheaMoisture’s Sea Kelp & Pearl Protein Texture Spray. “But don’t give your hair too much bend, otherwise it will start to look matronly.”
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Ditch Your Curling Wand
“Use a flatiron instead to create waves with a flatter finish and protect strands,” says Lopez.
Article written by Devash and Deena Campbell for Allure.com