Kibbe SN and short hair? Still confused

Anonymous

Help me out, Psychedelicate et al. I have a short pixie cut, as that's what seems to work best with my difficult hair. It looks like SNs aren't supposed to have short hair, but I have no intention of changing my hairstyle. So what gives? Why can't a SN have short hair? I did have my hair trimmed this week and although short, it is softly parted to the side, with bangs. The back is very short and stacked; hair is longer on top; sides are short around the ears.

11 years ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is why I say we need to treat all of these style systems as potentially useful information to be weighed in the balance with other valuable information -- not as gospel.

No human being is going to perfectly fit any category -- because we're individual, and categories are by their nature reductive.

I still think these systems can be valuable as guidelines. I still think it's worth the time to learn and study them, if that's what feels fun and helpful.

The best thing to do if you are wondering, is dress yourself like a "soft natural" for a while. Take photos. Listen to your heart . Trust your eye, or the eyes of forum members and friends IRL. Does it work well on you? Does it feel right? Is it more flattering than previous ways of dressing, or more authentic? If so, brava! If not, try out another category for a while.

Maybe put together ONE iconic SN look and snap photos. Wear it for a day. See how you feel.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I made the mistake of buying a copy of Kibbe's book, thinking it would clarify things. It's as clear as mud, quite frankly, and he doesn't really dress one style type much differently than another. They all have that '80s power look that was so heavily pushed back then. I think the present-day interpretations may be better, at least in identifying differences as well as similarities.

Btw, I had to laugh at the Natural "after" pic where panty hose are worn with strappy sandals and you can easily see the seams at the toes. Yes, we did stuff like that back then, but I could never go back to wearing panty hose that way. Lol!

Sally at http://www.alreadypretty.com has short hair like mine, yet successfully wears certain retro looks.

11 years ago

Meredith

Veteran

I imagine the prohibition against short hair has something to do with the angles of your face and how your hair might interfere or change them. But to your point, I wouldn't put too much stock in hair style suggestions from the 80s! Glad you're planning to stick with the style you know works for you.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Of course you can wear short hair with retro looks! It provides juxtaposition and brings the look more up to date.

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What Suz said. xo

11 years ago

Anonymous

Thanks. It just occurred to me that my hair style is very similar to the Dorothy Hammill cut I used to wear in high school (late 1970s), so maybe that's why I don't see any problem with it. Call it an updated version, as is my wardrobe. Also, so many women have complimented me on the cut and have said it really suits me. I never got unsolicited, favorable comments like that when my hair was longer. My interpretation of Kibbe SN is what I think he meant: Natural with a Soft edge to it. Not too much. Just touches of softness to an essentially Natural look. IMO, the SN picture in his book doesn't capture that.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thinking back to the 80s, I think "natural" of any kind might be a stretch! They probably didn't know what the word meant.

High five to another Dorothy Hamill haircut wearer. I had one, too!

And yes, unsolicited hair comments are usually a good indication that a style (or style direction) works on you.

11 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I am totally on board with what Suz said. No system should ever replace what you feel best in.

11 years ago

Anonymous

There was nothing natural about the '80s, that's for sure, and it was the style decade I liked least.

11 years ago

psychedelicate

(website)

Active Member

Sorry I didn't see this earlier; I have been traveling. Short hair isn't usually an SN's best look, but they tend to really like it because it's easy. Think Kaley Cuoco this season on The Big Bang Theory. Did she look better with her long hair? I think so, but she seems to like her pixie, so there you go. I can say that as a G-type, my hair is the longest it's been since sixth grade and I really feel it weighing me down and can't wait to get an angled bob on Tuesday, even though there are people who like long hair on me better. I feel invisible with it, though.

10 years ago

Anonymous

Thanks, Psychedelicate. FWIW, I love Kaley's pixie cut. I guess it's a matter of preference. She looks great either way, though.

I've worn my hair at various lengths and styles between the short pixie and below the shoulders. My hair does weird things and I have a cowl lick to deal with, so it's a royal pain. The pixie is easy and seems to suit me, at least for the time being. At some point I'll get bored and try to grow it out, and then realize what a mistake that was, and get it cut short again. And so the cycle goes...

10 years ago

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