Short Hair

The 5 hottest short hair trends for 2012 include:

1. The pixie (but a modern version)
2. Alexa Chung's mussy shag
3. The demi-bob (also known as "the long bob" or the "lob")
4. The bob (still going strong!)
5. The spiky, edgy cut

Short hair is so popular this year that several short haircuts appear in my list of the 20 Hottest Hairstyles of 2012. But which of these popular cuts best suit your face shape and hair texture? Read on to find out.

The Pixie

Audrey Hepburn was the original celebrity with pixie hair and Mia Farrow popularized the look in the 60s. In the past few months, pixie hair has "cropped up" on a host of styish singers and actresses including Michelle Williams, Ginnifer Goodwin, Emma Watson, Carey Mulligan, Halle Berry and most recently Kate Winslet.

So can you get away with this cut? The pixie works best on women with thick, naturally wavy hair, but also looks good on women with straight hair. Avoid the pixie if you have a long or round face -- the pixie will only make your face appear longer or rounder (except for this cut here, which looks amazing on a round face). So who looks good in pixie hair? Women with heart-shaped, square and oval faces. See a photo gallery of pixie hairstyles.

Alexa Chung's Mussy Shag

She has the best hair. Period. I'm talking about ex-model and current British "It Girl" (although she hates that term) Alexa Chung, pictured right and hailed across the States -- and frankly the world -- as The Woman to Watch. Everything about Chung is effortless from her casual style to her tousled shag hairstyle, which she wears down or up in a mussy bun.

Amy Astley, editor of Teen Vogue, in an article posted on the fabulous blog, Into the Gloss explains the appeal of Chung's hair:

"I just like her tossed off hair. It's chopped, she lets her natural texture come out, she doesn't look tortured with blow dryers or straightening irons or anything. She is sexy, obviously very sexy, but in a fresh and kind of tomboy-ish way."

So can you get away with Alexa Chung's shag? Most likely. The length, which is usually an inch or two longer than the jaw, works on just about everyone. The very best candidates for the tousled shag are women with hair that has some natural wave to it otherwise you have to work to create it by letting hair air dry and scrunching it with your fingers as it does.

See a photo gallery of my favorite Alexa Chung hairstyles.

The Demi-Bob

The long bob has been around for a few seasons and it's still just as hot this year but it has a new name -- the demi-bob. According to Vogue Magazine, which named this a hot trend (see the article), it's a bob that falls anywhere between the mid-neck and the shoulders. It's also been seen on many actresses and models this season as everyone seems to have gotten sick of their long, tousled waves at the same time. Jennifer Aniston famously cut off her long famous locks in February.

Everyone looks good in a long bob so have at it, but be sure to abide by the rules of this haircut:

• Longer bobs can be bland if too blunt. Stacked layers in the back with a bit of backcombing while styling add dimension. Add fringe or thick bangs for a real retro-70s look.
• A bob can't be too layered, or it's not a bob. Gwyneth's demi-bob here is more edgy because the stylist thinned out the ends with scissors or a razor. But this year's bob isn't too blunt, either. Leave it wavy and mussed, blown dried under or flipped out 60's style.
• The long bob works best on straight and wavy hair but it looks good on all hair textures (even curly). It's a versatile cut because you can wear it air-dried or flat-ironed.

See a photo gallery of demi-bob hairstyles.

The Bob

The bob remains a popular hairstyle, in fact, it's so hot that Alexa Chung (see above) has just cut off her signature shag for a chin-grazing bob curled under. I kid you not. See it here.

. This season's bob has a bit of edge to it. The hot bobs this year are messy, a bit tousled but they all end at the chin or just below it. Add in blunt bangs or fringe for a really edgy look.

So who can wear the bob? Anyone with a nice jawline and neck will look good in a bob. If you have a round face, a long bob is a better option for you (see below). As for hair texture, bobs work best on thin to medium hair. Stay away from short hair if you have coarse or curly hair, a bob will only puff out on you.

See a photo gallery of bob hairstyles.

The Spiky, Edgy Cut

Edgy cuts make the most dramatic statement and symbolize strength. Rihanna, Ashlee Simpson Wentz and Pink are celebrities with super hot, edgy hairstyles and other celebrities are fast following suit.

Who can wear this look? Anyone with guts, really. And it depends on the cut. A good stylist is adept at funky hairstyles and knows to follow the shape of your head rather than just your face shape when cutting a short, edgy style.

See a photo gallery of super short, edgy haircuts.

Which Short Hairstyle Trend Best Suits You?

Rule number one when choosing a short hairstyle: Choose a cut that flatters your face and your hair texture. Short cuts are popular because they make your features the center of attention. If you have a strong jaw, show it off with a bob that hits you at the jawbone, like this cut on Katie Holmes. Make sure and angle the bob so it's shorter in back than in front.

See the best short hairstyles by face shape.

If you have a round face, consider a short cut that ends an inch or two below the jawbone and has a few long layers, like this other cut on Katie Holmes. Blunt bobs only accentuate the roundness. High forehead? Cover up your large forehead with blunt or side-swept bangs like this one.

Consider hair texture and type. If you have straight, fine hair, you're in luck. Short hair will be easy for you to maintain with little fuss. If you have wavy hair, you may require a hair dryer and flat iron. Coarse or curly hair? Reconsider your quest for short hair. Curly hair tends to frizz up when cut short and it can make hair too triangular. Coarse hair needs length to weigh it down. Try to stay a couple inches lower than the jaw (when hair is dry).

Before cutting off all your hair, remember short hair requires trims every 6 weeks or so.

Personally, I think it's worth it.

View the original article here