Short Cuts: An Easy Way to Support Breast Cancer Awareness
Intrigued by the short cuts on celebrity heads? Now's the time to try a new 'do and maybe donate too!
For several seasons, celebrities and fashion runways have sported some seriously sassy short hair styles. Spunky and sophisticated, these short cuts offer a welcome change to the high maintenance of long, tangled tresses. It’s refreshing to see so many options and a variety of looks adaptable to any age. From pixie cuts and razor-cut shags to flapper-era bobs and the longer, layered “lob,” face-framing, chin-grazing coifs evoke nostalgic glamour but with easier upkeep. Need inspiration? Take a spin through Pinterest for some fall hair makeover ideas.
I tend to follow a cycle of hair drama — wearing my hair long, then tiring of the hassle and chopping it short, then slowly growing it out again. The last few times I’ve grown my hair out long, I’ve done so with a purpose, challenging myself to let my hair reach a length appropriate for hair donation before I decide to try a new look. I recently reached my personal point-of-no-return, my hair pulled back in a ponytail most of the day, so October’s Breast Cancer Awareness campaign seemed the perfect time to just cut that ponytail right off and donate it to help create wigs. My teenager winced at the idea, demanding that I not come back looking like “a real mom.” Deal.
I researched some looks that might work for my face shape, then headed to see Ginger Rowland at Van Michael Midtown for a final consultation and a brave shearing. While Ginger finished up with another client, Aveda makeup artist Lulu Doyle popped me into a chair to try out some new colors. She picked warm browns, dusty rose and bright berry shades to show me an autumn approach that puts #PinkPower on my face:
- Face: Inner Light™ Mineral Tinted Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF15 in Beechwood and Inner Light™ Concealer in Balsa
- Cheeks: Petal Essence™ Face Accents in Rose Blossom
- Eyes: Petal Essence™ Eye Color Trio in Gobi Sands and Petal Essence™ Eye Definer in Cacao
- Lips: Nourish Mint™ Rehydrating Lip Glaze in Morning Rose
By the time Lulu finished my face, Ginger was ready to start on my hair. She separated out sections into three little ponytails, measuring them to even lengths, then lopping them off with a deft swipe of the scissors. I so appreciated how Ginger talked me through the cut, explaining the way she was evaluating my face, and then guiding me through a step-by-step styling tutorial. Big extra round of applause for a stylist teaching how to recreate the look at home!
No mirror shock at all after this haircut. I felt great leaving Van Michael with lively locks atop my head and a few 10-inch ponytails to be donated safely zipped in a plastic bag in my purse. If you’re considering a fresh look this season, maybe it’s time to try something shorter. In giving yourself a new style, you could also give some peace of mind to a someone struggling with chemo-related hair loss. Wondering where to donate? Here are some accepting organizations; check their websites for specifics:
- Pantene Beautiful Lengths (pantene.com) — 8+ inches of non-chemically treated hair
- Children With Hair Loss (childrenwithhairloss.us) — 8+ inches of non-chemically treated hair
- Locks of Love (locksoflove.org) — 10+ inches of unbleached hair
- Wigs For Kids (wigsforkids.org) — 12+ inches of non-chemically-treated hair
C’mon! make it a cut that counts!
Special thanks to the team at Van Michael Salon Midtown for helping with this article and for all the work they do to support breast cancer awareness, including their support of the Pink Heals Foundation.
