A few months ago, when Garren chopped Selma Blair’s locks into a short, asymmetrical neo-punk cut, for some it was a hair event of Britney-head-shave-shock scale. Was it pretty? No, but it gave hair, so boring for so long, a much-needed kick, and was all the more surprising since the cut was done at a very Upper East Side salon.
But Blair (and Garren) wasn’t weird; she was the tipping point. Now pointy, choppy, chin-stabbing cuts are cresting, making the Williamsburg shag and the West Village artfully tousled wave alike look about as hip as Uggs. Agyness Deyn launched into the supermodel stratosphere with her severe platinum locks, and Rihanna’s hair is cut into manga-worthy asymmetrical points. The only downside to the angled style is that it may make its wearers look like tomboys underneath the season’s man-tailored clothes.
WHERE TO HAVE IT DONE
Nick Arrojo cuts bobs with shattered-looking layers on one side and a smooth, side-swept graduated razor cut (from $68 with a staff stylist; starting at $500 with Arrojo; Arrojo Studio, 180 Varick St., nr. King St.; 212-242-7786).
April Barton’s always loved choppy cuts; she free-styles in Suite 303 in the Chelsea Hotel (from $95 with a staff stylist, starting at $300 with Barton; 222 W. 23rd St., nr. Eighth Ave.; 212-633-1011).
Aurora at Pashah Salon is for the short-hair-baby-step-taker. She’ll start off with a chin-length cut, then go shorter if you’re feeling nervy ($120; 601 Madison Ave., nr. 58th St., penthouse; 212-371-7337).
Ricky’s pint-size Shears Hustle & Blow salons (there are two chairs on Third Avenue, five on Crosby Street) don’t require appointments or a lot of your cash for a choppy cut (from $50; 124 Crosby St., nr. Houston St.; 212-219-9626; and 111 Third Ave., nr. 13th St.; 212-388-9990).
Serge Normant created a lot of punky cuts in current editorial spreads, but an appointment with him is hard to come by, and expensive. His highly competent staff is a lot less (from $175 for a staff stylist to $500 for Normant; 30 E. 76th St., nr. Madison Ave., and 825 Washington St., nr. Little W. 12th St.; 212-879-1000).
For Anna Sui’s spring 2008 show, Garren added purple and red streaks to his asymmetrical coifs (from $100 with a staff stylist to $700 with Garren, 781 Fifth Ave., nr. 59th St.; 212-841-9400).