Photo: Ryan McVay/Digital Vision/Getty Images
A short haircut provides a great way to create a dramatic change in your look or to streamline your morning routine. Short cuts have seen a boom since celebs such as Rihanna worked this look to great advantage. Short haircuts with strong vertical lines create an edgy, modern vibe and can easily take you from day to night. A style with vertical lines can highlight features you like or camouflage ones you don't. Choose your favorite and make a bold statement, brave girl.
About Vertical Lines
Vertical lines are formed when straight hair falls directly down from the top of the head to the ends of the cut. Short haircuts with strong vertical lines are best for fine-to-medium, straight hair. If you're a curly girl, skip these styles unless you're committed to flat-ironing your hair each day. You can use vertical lines to narrow a round face or to highlight great cheekbones or gorgeous eyes, depending on the length of the cut and whether you add angled bangs. Talk to a professional hairstylist to determine the right cut for your features and face shape.
The Bob
The short bob haircut is a play of horizontal and vertical lines, which dates back to the 1920s, when it was a scandalous notion for women to have short hair. Now this classic cut is instantly recognizable by the blunt line at the ends of the hair. Check out Katy Perry for a modern version of the bob with strong vertical lines. A short bob can be done with or without bangs and can hit anywhere from the earlobe to chin length.
The Fringe Cut
This short cut is a version of the classic shag from the '70s. It employs choppy layers that graze the sides of the face, creating vertical lines. This is a softer way to experiment with strong vertical lines because there is some lightness to the edge of the cut. The fringe cut highlights the eyes and the cheekbones, so if those are your best features, this style can really vamp up your look.
The Pixie
The pixie is a super-short haircut, scissored above the ears and layered close on the sides and the back of the head. This cut became popular in the '60s and has enjoyed a recent comeback, fueled by starlets such as Emma Watson. This cut really shows off your neck and ears, so if you have insecurities about either, skip it. Angled bangs will emphasize your eyes and you can change the look of the cut by spiking the ends with a texturizing paste or slicking it back. To feminize this cute, boyish haircut, add a silk flower clip, pretty headband or sparkly barrette.
