Keep a-head with perfect cut

Here’s the column to keep you a-head of the rest! As promised last week, a continuation of our hair topic ...

Hair waves
Your hair’s curl, or lack of curls, is referred to as wave pattern or its form.
Confusing, some hairdressers also use the term “texture” – the same term used to describe hair’s fineness – when talking about wave pattern. You can tell what kind of hair you have by allowing your hair to dry naturally.
Straight hair can have slight bend to it or to be completely without curves. It hangs like a curtain, making it swingy, glossy and great in barely layered or one-length styles, such as wedges, bowl cuts and bobs.
Wavy hair features an S-pattern curve that travels the length of the strand. The wave can be tight or loose.
Because wavy hair is loaded with body and movement, it looks great with long layers and splicing, a technique used to add a slightly uneven finish to hair’s ends. Choppy cuts of all lengths work especially well with curvy locks, as do short layered cuts.

Knowing your face shape
Have you ever spent weeks combing magazines for a new hairstyle, searching for looks that would work with your hair type? Upon finding one, you take the picture to your stylist who duplicates it down to the last layer.
You stare at your new self- the style is gorgeous and works well with your hair type. So why does it looks so bad? You probably didn’t take your face shape into consideration. A hairstyle chosen without your face shape in mind can distort your features by changing the balance of your face.
A simple rule is that hair should be wide where your face is narrow and vice versa, and hair should have length where your face is square and vice versa.

Necklines
As well as adding width, length, or slenderness to a face, the suggestions below show how a well designed cut can also make your neck and jaw line appear more graceful:
Receding chin – keep hair collarbone length or longer to draw attention away from a weak chin. Add height at the crown to offer further subterfuge.
Double Chin – keep the hair either below or above the jaw line by 5cm  at the very least. A cut that is clipped to fall at the jaw or chin will draw attention to any extra flesh you have.
Short neck – opt for jaw length or shorter, or collar-length or longer hair that stops anywhere along the neck only emphasises your neck’s stubbiness.

A good hairstylist
Most of us have a good idea of what makes a good stylist: skill, experience, a pleasing personality, enthusiasm, the ability to listen, knowledge for the latest trends, and a way with our own particular hair type.
Yes, such stylists do exist – probably in your own town. You’ve simply got to know how to find and communicate with them.

Locating a great stylist
Ask friends which stylist so they go to. Your friends stylist may be the best one for you too.
If you see a woman with a great hairstyle ask who her stylist is.
If you hear good things about a stylist, book a special occasion style. This provides a chance to try his/ her skill without the pressure to get a haircut.
Pick one with a good reputation. Usually a salon gets a good reputation for a reason: professional, talented, caring stylists.

To sum it all up
To get a good hairstyle, you’ve got to know your hair type
If a hairstyle looks wrong on you. There is a good chance you did not take face shape and body size into account.
Choose a look that fits your lifestyle.
Age should not keep you from wearing the looks you love and that work well for you.
To find a good stylist, be willing to do some homework.
Get the coif you want by communicating well with your stylist ladies!
Lastly, you own your face therefore you are the only one who knows what hairstyle suits you well. Let the stylist give their suggestions but never ever let them dictate on what they want, and make sure you ask questions - that is your right!