These short-haired celebs make it look so easy, don’t they? The texture in these hairstyles demonstrate definition and separation that can be hard to recreate once you leave your stylist’s chair. Whether you want to show off your features with a trendy pixie or a piecey bob, it takes a tool of the trade (or two!) to get it just right. Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, and Victoria Beckham all have picture-perfect examples of short texture that rocks! Rihanna takes it a step further with an asymmetrical take on her modified pixie, while Katie Holmes flaunts a bob with flicked-out ends. What do these stars have in common other than the paparazzi watching their every move? These styles all require a little extra work in the finishing department or they can look a little frumpy! I’ve smeared, smelled, touched and tested the following products to determine their worthiness.
• White Sands SMUDGE — This product is extremely versatile! A hybrid of a gloss serum-meets-texturizing paste-meets-pomade serves several purposes. Use it as a straightening cream in wet hair and piece out the ends on medium-to-long lengths when dry, or piece and define short styles– it does the trick. On perfectly straight styles, you can also use it to tame the frizzies for a “smooth as glass” appearance. SMUDGE has an interesting viscosity and smells seriously like it belongs in a candy dish instead of your hair.
• ECRU New York Silk Texturizing Balm — Coarse hair will not stand a chance against this– it should be styled into submission with the Silk Texturizing Balm and behave all day and night! A little bit thicker in consistency than a pomade, this thins out and warms up with the temperature of your hands and gives pliable hold. The more you use, the more texture you’ll get– just don’t go overboard.
• Profound Beauty STUCCO — As the name implies, this has a more stiff hold! STUCCO serves as a fabulous sculpting paste for short styles that look a little more on the complicated side. This can do chunky and spiky with ease and holds up well even under humid conditions. The guys might love this one too!
• Paul Mitchell Spray Wax — This is an oldie but goodie! As a former stylist I would spray this directly on short styles like Sharon Stone’s then shake my hands through it, for razored ends I would spray this on my fingertips and flick them out. Spray waxes are awesome for building a little density in fine hair that would never maintain volume otherwise and for creating pliability.
• Redken Rewind – Rewind just has a special place in my heart! On my clients, I would go through almost a tub of this every 2 weeks and freak out it if was ever out of stock. It’s a pretty unique product for texture with an even more unique application method. Take a little bit out on one of your knuckles and rub it into your opposite palm, then clap. I’m serious– clap! It’s almost elastic in it’s consistency and provides flexible medium-hold. Perfect for razored bobs and piecey pixies alike, but don’t be surprised if there’s a guy in your life who will take over your jar. They would often buy 2 at a time and these aren’t exactly small!
All these celebs look great with short choppy hair cuts– but keep in mind they have stylists who tell them what products to use, when to use them, and how much of which. The everyday girl, like myself, must learn to experiment and improvise! Thanks for the post and all the product recommendations, just makes my life that much easier!
Hey Catherine!
I know! How nice would it be to have a stylist come to your house and make sure your hair is perfect for every photo and event? Hopefully these recommendations will put everyone at least in the ballpark of their desired outcome!
xo
Amber