Images: Cherry Beale (supplied)
Like a lot of women who lobbed themselves in 2014, I am now addicted to getting my hair cut into ever-shorter styles. And yet, the more I cut, the more I obsess.
My obsession was: How will I escape from Frumptown? With one wash-and-wear, my youthful, short bob transformed into a Mum Cut. You know what I’m talking about: I was channelling Teri Hatcher in Lois & Clark, I looked like I could deal you a designer disposable nappy outside Aldi (uh, I totally could), and something needed to be done. I am fiercely in love with my daughter, and with motherhood; I just want to love my hair, too. CAN’T I HAVE IT ALL?!
These speedy, celebrity-inspired hairstyles came to my rescue, just like Dean Cain should have when I was in year 8. I fear frumpiness more than death, so believe me when I say that these styles work.
If you have 30 seconds: The '90s Supermodel
Give your hairdryer a major diss with this wet, oh-so-editorial hairstyle. This hairstyle takes seconds to achieve, so sleep in and skip your dawn hair-straightening session. Linda Evangelista, the supermodel who popularised this style in the ’90s, would approve; she famously said, “I don’t get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day.”
How-To: Wash and towel-dry your hair. Melt a teaspoon of coconut oil between your palms, and then smooth the oil through your hair, from the roots to the tips. Next, have a play! Wear your hair slicked back, or in face-framing mermaid waves, like Beyonce at the 2014 Grammys. Coconut oil performs double-duty here, as a styling product and shine-inducing hair mask.
If you have 1 minute: The Bingle Hair Flip
Like Lara, this hairstyle is carefree and stylish. It’s also volumising, perfectly pyramidal in shape, and so effortless that you can execute it mid-conversation.
RELATED: 5 questions to ask yourself before cutting a Bingle Bob
I’m secretly shy, so a hair flip is my perfect antidote to an awkward conversation pause. Truly!
How-To: Give your hair a deep side part, in wet or dry hair, using the end of your eyebrow as a guide. Part your hair on the opposite side to your natural part. For example, my hair parts naturally on the left, so for this style, I parted it on the right. This gives the hair extra volume. Middle-parters can flip in any direction they want!
RELATED: How to get beach hair (without going anywhere near the beach). *
Totally optional: Blow-dry stubborn hair into position. Spritz your hair liberally with a sea salt spray (such as John Frieda Beach Blonde Ocean Waves), or take a dip in the ocean, à la Lara. I also teased the mid-sections and ends of my hair in random places, to get a windblown effect.
If you have three minutes: The Sia
Perhaps Sia sang 'Clap Your Hands' to celebrate her electrifying, non-mumsy bob. I mean, who could call Sia a frump? She’s the music scene’s cool girl.
RELATED: What’s happened to Sia’s famous bob?
Her hair secret? Super-straight hair. Try this hairstyle, and your will bob sing, “you’ve changed, oh-oh-oh-oh, for the better, yeah!”
How-To: Using a hair-straightener, straighten your hair so that the ends are poker-straight. Done!
Totally optional: Ruffle the roots of your hair with your fingertips, to create a bit of height. You can also add dry shampoo or volumising hair powder during this step.
If you have 10 minutes: The Sienna
Golden-goddess long or Edie Sedwick short, Sienna Miller magically pulls it off with style. Her current casual, wavy look is perfection. Luckily for us, it’s super-easy to achieve, even for straight, Asian hair like mine.
How-To: Smooth mousse through your dry hair, for volume and grip. I used John Frieda Luxurious Volume Mousse. Grab hanks of your dry hair, and twist them back onto themselves, so that they resemble delicious pastry twists. I had seven twists in total.
Secure each twist with a hair clip, and then spritz with sea salt spray. Wait at least 10 minutes for the style to set. During this time, I like to do my makeup and eat a biscuit. Unclip the twists, and rake through the curls with your fingers, tugging gently to relax them. Mist your hair with hairspray (always L’Oreal Elnett!), and off you go.
Sienna Miller has the hair we all want now.
Totally optional: Finger-twirl and define any face-framing curls. Or, use a heat styler to create a few defined curls. Rub a small amount of hair oil between your palms and scrunch onto the ends, to curb any naughty frizziness.
Do you have any short hair hacks? Share them with us! Also, why don’t more brunette celebrities have short bobs? Can someone please convince Mila Kunis to get a Mum Cut? I just think it would even everything out for the rest of us.
Cherry Beale is a Sydney writer who likes makeup and clothes. Visit
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