#celebstyling

When a one-hairstyle-wonder gets a much-needed upgrade.

By Ally Dean

Associate Editor, ELLE Canada Magazine

A chorus of “ooh” and “ahh” erupted in the office today when I walked in. No, that is not the usual greeting I get for showing up to work. Yes, I did love it.

The cause of the commotion was thanks to my new haircut, which is inspired by New York-based model Freja Beha Erichsen. The ELLE Canada office has been on “Freja Watch” since I decided to get the chic-but-shaggy style six months ago (what can I say, I’m super impulsive ha!).

To understand why a haircut could cause such fuss, it’s important to know my hair history. And that history is about as varied as Kim Kardashian’s career, slim to none. Before now, I’ve never had a discernible hairstyle. I was never picked on for a mom-inflicted bowl cut, nor did I rock an asymmetrical chop during my teenage rebellion phase. No, my hair has always been long, somewhat wavy and completely forgettable.

It was time for a change.

Last Friday I found myself sitting in the Marc Anthony Salon in Yorkville with celeb stylist Marilisa hovering over me, her scissors poised. “Are you ready for this?” she asked. Before I could answer, I heard the terrifying ‘snip.’ It was official: I. Had. Bangs.

“I call this the French facelift,” Marilisa said an hour later when she stepped away from her masterful creation. The transformation was immediate and completely shocking, I looked like a different person. Not only had the face-framing chop made my cheekbones pop and defined my jawline, but I soon learned that everything I owned would take on a different vibe thanks to my new hair.

My distressed leather jacket from Line Knitwear immediately looked edgier and I found myself walking with new-found swagger in my Top Shop leopard booties. “Wow, I am obsessed with that necklace!” My friend gushed that night when we met for drinks (naturally, she had already fawned over my haircut). I didn’t tell her I’d been wearing the same necklace two weeks ago when we had dinner, and credited Marilisa for giving my tired jewelry piece a new lease on life.

It’s been a few days since my hair makeover, and I’m thrilled I shed my tired hair uniform in favour of my new (much improved) hairstyle. *Disclaimer: I’ve also bought a “bang comb” for my purse and developed an debilitating fear of even the slightest breeze.