Habiba ElGaniny When life gets hard, everyone adapts differently. But for us women, the next move might be strikingly predictable: What should I change?
What should I do to elevate my mood? Perhaps a physical illusion that makes me smile whenever I catch myself in a passing mirror, followed by that lingering serotonin rush that lasts for weeks to come.
During such times, we all tend to gravitate to our most restorative chairs. For women, that chair comes with a salon towel and a chatty confidante trying to convince you to do the unspeakable act of chopping off most of your hair.
Why would I pay for therapy when I can pay to get my hair exquisitely done?
That’s the unofficial rule most women seem to swear by. Honestly, nothing beats the feeling of freshly blown-out hair on a Sunday morning, the kind that carries you through the whole week.
Getting a haircut feels almost unparalleled in a world where everything is increasingly screen-bound. It’s one of those experiences that has to happen in person, forcing you to communicate, observe, and experience people beyond the frame of your screen. It’s not just about the haircut; it’s about the irresistible lure that persuades you to leave your comfort zone and experience life beyond.
The person behind the chair is always the one who makes the experience more lively, infusing the place with its soul through the chats, the gossip, and everything in between. You step in exhausted, by the time you’re stepping out, you’re freshly charged. You leave with stories about all the other women who visit the same salon and even those who don’t. Their stories somehow made their way there too.
You enter that alternative reality with one thing in mind and somehow end up leaving with another. But what can I say? The hairdresser knows best.
It’s their moment of triumph when you relax into that sacred chair and these words come out of your mouth: “Do whatever you think suits me”. You can immediately see the spark in their eyes: the possibilities begin unfolding, followed by a million “what ifs” and “would you like to try”. It’s like you gave them exactly what they’ve been longing for.
They melt into their true form: an illuminating guide who takes your hand and leads you delicately.
And getting their approval for a hairstyle of your choice? That feels like winning the trophy.
So let us enlighten you before revisiting your salon sanctuary and supply you with a curated lineup worth negotiating for. You may have a shot at winning the trophy this time. So here are the contenders for your next hairstyle.
1- Pixie Haircut
The pixie cut had its iconic breakout back in the ’50s as a sign of rebellion. Back then, it was far less common for women to wear their hair at a length traditionally associated with men. As minimalism dominates the aesthetics of our current era, the pixie cut thrives as a form of low-maintenance elegance and absolute opulence.
Personally, I can’t overlook the Parisian aura surrounding some things. The pixie cut has to be on the top of that list. It gives off that effortless French chic, the elegance of characters who seem to have been written by women. It feels like it has been made to overstep the male gaze.
In the defence of short hair aesthetics: what could be better than not having to worry about that little brush in your purse, or the struggle to preserve your hair overnight, or getting ready 2 hours prior to your event just to make sure your hair is intact.
For some, definitely myself included, a pixie haircut is a symbol of liberation. You wake up, run your fingers through your hair and it’s already neat.
2- Butterfly Cut
That’s the haircut for the ladies who aim for the stars. Everything is possible, ladies. If you can’t resist long hair but are too impulsive to surrender to the serenity of strands simply flowing down your back,and if curtain bangs, layers and varying lengths feel like they’re constantly whispering your name, this might be your call.
It’s the kind of haircut that indulges every craving and gets you out of your comfort zone.
The only difficulty, which your hairdresser has probably already warned you about, is the styling. Styling butterfly cuts can be intimidating. Getting lost in translation between all the different techniques and styling tools can be intimidating, yet undeniably tempting. But honestly, in the sea of wasted hours and slick backs, what’s two hours a week if it’ll get you those face-framing bouncy layers?
With such a haircut, boredom would rarely stand a chance.
3- Wolf Cut
The hairstyle has vintage roots in the early ’70s, but its meteoric rise as a social media trend began around 2020. It has evolved from a hairstyle into a once-in-a-lifetime experience you owe yourself to try.
Billie Eilish became one of the defining muses for the hairstyle and the first reference that comes to mind when you hear the words “wolf cut.”
If you’re looking for a butterfly cut but more impulsive, less predictable and more enigmatic, this is it.
It’s a perfect fit for those with the same desires as a butterfly cut, but a different appetite for styling. If you’re not willing to sacrifice part of your inner peace to hair rollers and styling indulgence, simply drying your hair feels like enough of a styling ritual, and if you’re faithful to the “go with the flow” saying, then this is your go to style.
4-Bob Haircut
Well, some treat the bob as a transitional chapter before the pixie cut. If you want that opulent post-breakup or post- life breakthrough look, and you’re ready to fall straight into the arms of your long-lost beloved self, a bob might be exactly the change you’ve been
unconsciously longing for.
If a butterfly cut is too long and a pixie is too short, the bob offers the perfect middle ground . The bob has its own defining, mysterious aura. I can already anticipate that once your hair starts growing longer, you’ll have fallen in love with the zenith charm and effortless chic of short hair. You might even think of going shorter and diving straight into a pixie next time.
5- One-length Long Hair
One-length long hair will forever be associated in our minds with Riley Keough’s look in Daisy Jones & The Six. Having such an iconic silhouette feels like you’re about to perform “Look at Us Now” and live out a cinematic love story.
So if you’re not seeking too much,are an admirer of minimalism and just want the opulent princess aesthetic of long hair, then what’s stopping you? Here’s your contender.
It gives you the feeling of a princess in a tower (maybe that’s our childhood nostalgia reminding us of Rapunzel). But, have you ever just leaned into your hair and felt like you had your own little archived bubble, ready to enter at any time?
Paired with French bangs, it gives you that Jane Birkin vibe. That’s the one hairstyle hairdressers rarely favor, it could feel almost primitive and restrictive for the infinite possibilities lined up in their minds.
