14 DAY TRIAL // Many years ago, rocking an undercut was seen as the ultimate symbol of rebelliousness, of refusal to stick to the norms and play by the rules. Today, it’s just trendy because celebrities have brought this style back and pushed it into mainstream. As such, an increasing number of women is taking hair salons by storm to ask for the undercut, the Daily Mail reports.
Stars always set trends even if they don’t do so deliberately. In the case of the undercut (perhaps even combined with a very layered ‘do on top, dyed in a contrasting or very striking color), Rihanna was definitely the pioneer, being the first celebrity to get a buzz cut and lots of exposure for it, as we also informed you one year ago. Many other female stars followed her example, and the ‘do became hot again, with regular women asking for it in the hair salon.
“When it comes to fashion statements, this one is razor sharp. Increasing numbers of women are ditching their flowing locks in favor of a much more cutting-edge look. Salons are reporting soaring demand for the ‘undercut,’ which involves shearing away a section of hair while leaving the rest longer. Once the preserve of punk rockers and schoolboys, it seems that women are adopting the edgy style after a series of celebrity endorsements,” the Mail also notes.
“High Street salons are now reporting a sharp increase in the number of women asking to have their heads partially shaved. According to HOB salons, home to British Hairdresser of the Year Akin Konizi, as many as a quarter of its clients are requesting some form of undercut. And at the Lisa Shepherd salon in London, staff say they are shearing the sides of around ten girls’ heads every week – creating styles ranging ‘from the subtle to the extreme.’ But celebrity stylist Shepherd insisted the ‘beautiful’ modern undercut was a long way from the punk style of the past,” the British publication further says.
The undercut of today has very little in common to the undercut David Bowie rocked in the ’80s in that it can also be delicate and beautiful, as opposed to edgy and shocking. Stylist Lisa Shepherd assures women looking for (quite a drastic) change that the undercut can be “beautiful” and elegant if done right, because it allows for layering and plays of contrasts that would not be possible with another ‘do. Of course, the key words here are “done right.”
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