The long and the short of it: long hair vs. short hair?

Most girls flirt between longer lengths and shorter styles in a constant battle to keep up with trends. Katie Holmes had girls the world-over demanding the perfect jaw-skimming bob from their stylist and now that she has flowing hair-extensions a lot of them will be reconsidering their short structured look.

“I have a client that is gorgeous but a little past her prime and every time she comes into the salon she brings in the latest pictures of celebrities and models half her age! Not only can I not make her look like those girls but the hairstyles she wants me to do would be unflattering on her! In the nicest way possible I try to convince her to try something a little more flattering and suited to her face and not the face of Agyness Dean!” Oscar Cullinan

So how do you know what styles will suit you best? Oscar Cullinan, owner and director of Oscar Oscar Salons and twice-awarded Australian Hairdresser of the Year gives his advise of when to grow it and when to crop it!

The Agyness Crop – “This is hailed as the look of the naughties with many celebrities and fashion followers requesting this style. The look is best suited to people with fine features, as any larger features such as the ears or nose will become even more noticeable. Also make sure to adjust this look to go with the shape of your face, for example a round face may need longer sides (think Pixie Geldof) and a large forehead can be hidden with a great fringe (think Rihanna) and bring plenty of attitude too!”

The Paris Bob – “The bob always looks chic and even though it has less attitude then the ‘Agyness Crop’, it is a very fashionable hairstyle for women that suit a more polished and mature look. Paris’s take on the bob is flattering for all face shapes and all ages, however it does require styling on a daily basis if you want to maintain that well-groomed appearance. To get the best bob for your look ask your stylists advise on fringe styles, hair length and layering, as this look can be adjusted to suit absolutely any shape face.”

Miranda’s Long Locks – “Long hair looks great on most women if they take care of their hair including regular trims and treatments to avoid unsightly split-ends (or as in Katie’s case, if you can afford the best hair extensions!) However, if you are very long in the face you should be aware that this look will draw you out even more, so to avoid this ask your stylist to suggest some fringe variations. Longer hair styles also can drag on older women as they loose elasticity in their skin, so to keep a youthful appearance keep your hair to a length around your shoulders or above and include layering, which will give your hair bounce and keep you looking fresh!“