Dear Readers,

It has been said that a woman’s crowning glory is her hair. Having worked with a number of female clients who changed their hairstyle what I know for sure is that changing a woman’s hairstyle is the quickest way for her to get an instant makeover.  If you’ve ever watched any of the reality TV style/makeover shows or even shows like America’s Next Top  Model , you understand how transformational a new haircut can be. Woman can take on a whole new persona with just a new haircut.

The haircut du jour is the angular bob celebs like Katie Holmes, Victorya Beckham and Rihanna are wearing. It is a flattering, edgy and fashion forward cut that really change the shape of a woman’s face and her attitude. You cannot wear a cut like that and be a shrinking violet!

Victorya B with her signature bob

A woman’s hair typically is a very integral aspect of who she perceives herself to be. A woman’s hair style speaks volume about her. When she dramatically changes the cut (and sometimes just even the color), her self image adapts accordingly. InStyle recently interviewed Rihanna and she confided she would never wear long curly hair like  she did when she first emerged on the music scene. It just was not her, she confessed. Her new do is radically different and it differentiates her from all the many celebs who wear long curly hair. Rhihanna’s jet black angular bob gave her a new identity and a more authentic image that reflects her edgier sense of style.

Rihanna then

and now

It is the same with any woman. Many women stay stuck in dated hairstyles because they are so married to a self image based on who they were 10 or even 20 years ago! They don’t even realize that their hair is aging them and no longer appropriate for the women they have evolved into. Which is why on those very makeover shows, getting a brand spanking new haircut is always part of the last transformation. Because the new hair clinches it for the woman. She sees herself in a new (and improved) light and can walk out to the ‘reveal’ to her friends and family with a whole new attitude that matches her new clothes and body image.

Hair can literally make or break an image. And it alters perceptions of others about us. When Alicia Keys had her first hit, aimed at the younger urban audience, her hair played a large role in her image ’package’.  She always wore it braided to reinforce perceptions that she was black (she is biracial). It was very important to her image then as an urban singer to be perceived as credible and edgy enough. Black enough. No one else was wearing braids at that time but she rocked those braids all into her second CD. And she was a huge success. Then suddenly (if you were paying attention) we saw the braids less and less. All of a sudden Alicia was letting her hair down (literally) and looking less ‘urban’ and more glamazon. See pictures of Alicia in the last 2 years and you’re likely not to spot one braided hair do. She has a new image now that she has firmly established her authenticity as an urban alternative singer.  She no longer needs braids as props. She can now be herself and show her beautiful long hair in all its glory. Yes, hair is that big of a deal.

Alicia braided

Alicia with flowing long hair

Halle Berry is another example of a star with a signature hairdo. Before she started wearing her hair long and wavy Hale was famous for her very short pixie hair cut that showed off her beauty and allowed her face to be the focal point and her hair just a backdrop. Only Halle (and perhaps Sharon Stone) wore really short hair so well-Halle’s hair was a critical component of her signature look. She looked dignified, regal. She stood out. She was the beauty that did not need hair to be renowned as one of the world’s most beautiful women.  I miss that old Halle quite frankly. These days when I see her I sometimes confuse her with JLo or some other long haired starlet. Yes she is still gorgeous but she no longer has her signature do. To me, now she is just one among the many beautiful celebs that graces the covers of mags. She no longer stands out. The longer hair gets in the way of making her natural facial beauty paramount—we lose the amazing cheekbones, the perfect forehead is hidden with the bang she now sports, the longer hair changes the shape of her face. Personally, Halle has lost some of her credibility with me. She has chosen to blend in, to conform. She has lost her ‘edge’.

Halle then and now

Next time you take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror, ponder your hair. Is it still you? More important, is it serving you? Is it time for a transformation? If your answers are no, no, yes then go for it! Take the plunge. There are online sites that help you figure out how you look in different hairstyles, like insyle.com’s Hollywood Hair Makeover or thehairstyler.com.

Natalie Jobity, Élan Image Management