If you've ever had your hair cut from long to short, you know you have to make certain adjustments. I cut my hair from a shoulder-length bob to a pixie cut five years ago, and while I knew right away that short hair suited me, I still had to make some adjustments, including the way I wore my hat. I've changed the way I dress (for a while, I dressed more feminine, although now I'm in a comfortable middle ground). I changed the way I wore makeup and chose to have more fun with color and eyeliner than before. I also spent some time figuring out how to properly style my pixie cut.
However, as I mentioned, the hardest adjustment was figuring out how to put the hat on. It sounds silly, but for years I was convinced that I no longer looked good in hats. Then winter comes and it becomes less of a style choice and more of a necessity. Now, happily, I'm back to wearing a variety of hats. It's just that it took time for my brain to get used to how I look with the hat now, and the help of a few tricks I've learned along the way to make the hat look better for my short hair.
Here are the top 5 tips I can give to other girls with short hair who are wondering how to make their pixie cut work under a hat:
1. Position your knitted beanie correctly.
The key to wearing a knit beanie with short hair is to fit the hat correctly on your head. You don't want to pull it directly over your head, covering your forehead; instead, pull it up behind your head at an angle, as shown in the photo above.
As you can see, my ears and most of my head are covered, but the hat doesn't cover my face. Also, the hat is not fully tightened, which makes the back of the hat feel a bit floppy.
2. Let some hair show.
This is how to do it without wearing a knitted hat.
See how it pulls off my forehead and stretches straight toward the sky? It doesn't look good; I look like a conehead. Also, if you have short hair like me, having a hat completely swallow up my pixie cut would make me look like I have no hair at all, which is not a look I personally want.
3. Try different types of hats.
Sometimes when you go from long hair to short hair, you have to reevaluate what works for you. There are many hats that I find impossible to take off, such as baseball caps or cloche hats. On the other hand, a lot of women with short hair tell me they like to wear that type of hat. I used to feel silly wearing a fedora, but now it makes me feel like Jean Seberg in Breathless .
So try wearing a lot of different hats—yes, even a fedora—and keep an open mind.
4. No matter how short your hair is, a wide-brimmed hat is best.
Floppy, wide-brimmed hats are great for two reasons: They add a touch of glamor to everyday outfits, and they protect your face from the sun. If you get it in black or brown (or even burgundy or forest green), you can wear it year-round with almost any outfit.
Of course, this doesn't mean you no longer need to wear sunscreen, but it does help protect you from the sun while making you look better.
5. Add lipstick.
Finally, when in doubt, always add lipstick. My favorite is NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella (shown below); Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Standout is a similar, affordable option. When paired with a big hat, a bold lip will add some glamor to your outfit.
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Cruella , $27, Sephora; Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm, Standout , $6, Amazon
It also helps to style it with a basic knit beanie.
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella , $27, Sephora
So remember: always try to leave some hair, don't pull your knit hat all the way up to your forehead (keep it loose instead), try wearing a lot of different hats, and always add a big hat and some lipstick. confidence.
Image: Kelly Doyle
