Nicole Briese

It’s an all-too-familiar dilemma for the summer girls of Chicago—you step outside, and within minutes, your hair has gone straight to hell. Our Hollywood role models seem to have found an answer to the unspeakable horrors caused by the unfortunate combo of hair and humidity, and the rest of us are following their example. These fearless leaders (see Selma Blair, Elisha Cuthbert, Michelle Williams and Monica, for starters) are shedding their luscious locks and emerging with a freshly shorn favorite: the pixie.

According to Brilli Salon’s Brenda Berry, the haircut originally made popular in 1968 by Mia Farrow in the film "Rosemary’s Baby" is making a comeback in a big way. "Long hair has been popular for so long, and it’s time for a change," she says. The pixie certainly offers that. Famous for adorning Ms. Halle Berry’s head throughout the 1990s, the short, daring ’do is popping up on stars today in a slightly longer version that relieves styling woes. "It’s like the easiest cut you can get," Brenda says. "It’s like a few seconds of styling."

Of course, some are more pixie-perfect than others. "First of all… one would have to feel comfortable," Brenda warns. Confidence is key for pulling off the cut. If confidence isn’t an issue, Brenda says an oval-shaped face with strong bone structure is characteristic of the ideal pixie client. The cut can work for everyone, however, with a little styling know-how. Brilli’s customized private lessons are a big help for short-hair beginners. Brenda says the salon, known for such lessons, "would certainly show you how to [make the most of your pixie]."

If you’re just not ready to take the plunge with such a drastic style, there is an alternative. Brenda suggests the "chop crop." "It’s a bob with layering," she says. "The edges are blunt…[and] the interior of the haircut is piecy and layered. It’s kind of like old meets new."

Either way, these cuts are a great way to cool down and fight the frizz.

Brilli Salon, 3334 North Ashland, (773) 775-4247

(2007-07-17)

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