We define our hair by its length. It’s long or it’s short (or it’s very short). When you’re at the point of literally measuring it, it’s safe to say you’re committed to the cut. So once you’ve chosen to stick with your current length — or set your sights on a new hair benchmark — what’s next is making that style feel fresh, a task that we’ve asked San Francisco hairstylist Korina Stratton to help with. Here, she expertly suggests tips for restyling your signature length, along with the celebrities who best rep the same locks for added inspiration. Find out who your famous hair length muse is below!
Try: Re-styling your bangs.
Your celebrity hair muse: Jennifer Hudson
Even though you have to have your locks trimmed regularly to maintain pixie perfection, try holding back on the bang trim till the next time around. That extra length up front will give you more styling wiggle room. After getting more creative with your ‘do, it might even lead you to riskier cuts when you *do* eventually tighten up that fringe.
(Photos via Frederick M. Brown/Chance Yeh/Getty)
If you have short hair and want to stay short
Try: Changing the color and playing with texture.
Your celebrity hair muse:Kristen Wiig
Switching up your color entirely will (obviously) make you feel — and look! — like a whole new you without inviting scissors to the party. If you’re blonde, richen it up for the winter with shades like chocolate brown or deep reds, or brighten your dark tresses with balayage highlights. But if color is too much of a commitment, play with texture. Adding volume with waves or straightening to paper-thin styles are both big for chin-length hair.
(Photos via Frazer Harrison/Kevin Winter/Getty)
If you have long hair and want to go short
Try: The long bob.
Your celebrity hair muse: Kate Bosworth
We’ve seen nearly every long-locked celebrity choose this cut when they make the decision to chop it off. So why is the lob so popular? While it does remove bulk and weight, the shoulder-sweeping cut maintains the face shape you’re used to seeing day in and day out, keeping your confidence high and making the transition to short-hair life much easier. Plus, there are endless ways to style it.
(Photos via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty)
If you have long hair and want to stay long
Try: Adding layers.
Your celebrity hair muse: Blake Lively
Boost the body and silhouette of your mane with long layers — ‘70s shags are back — or even cut bangs to completely change your look without altering the length one bit. If scissors are totally out of the question, make your blow dryer your P.I.C. because blowouts are back in.
(Photos via JP Yim/Mike Coppola/Getty)
If you want a haircut with bangs
Try: Long and piecey fringe.
Your celebrity hair muse: Emma Stone
Bangs are a major commitment that require near constant styling (a flatiron, gel and dry shampoo are must-haves), but don’t stop flirting with fringe entirely. This season’s most popular way to wear it — long, piecey and side-swept — is relatively low-maintenance and won’t appear as greasy as quickly as a short, blunt fringe.
(Photos via Jason Merritt/Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty)
Who do you consider your hair length muse? Tell us which celebs’ locks you go gaga for in the comments below.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
