HIGHLIGHTS

Harry Potter actress Emma Watson (for those you living under a rock for the past decade, she plays Harry’s brainy yet brave sidekick, Hermione Granger) was spotted last weekend sporting a very un-Hermione, extremely short pixie cut. Think “girl from the new iPhone commercial” short. Celebrity and fashion bloggers were immediately covering this new switch, and the result is in: Watson’s pixie ‘do is definitely a winner. Not only does she have the bone structure to pull off a short look like this, but she’s got the swagger and the high-fashion confidence that allows her to rock any cut and color we’ve seen on the young actress since she hit the big screen.

http://www.wwtdd.com/2010/08/friday-morning-headlines-10/

Emma’s new look isn’t just about a short cut, though. True, rumors are swirling that she chopped her locks in order to show director David Fincher that she’s seriously considering a role in his upcoming flick, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (based on the book by the same title). Whatever Watson’s reasons are, though, she’s really started something fresh and new in a world dominated by long hair as a security blanket behind which many women are hiding. Let’s be honest, long hair isn’t easier to style or maintain, and it’s not a “no-fuss” look that many women say they’re looking for when they plop down into the hair stylist’s chair. In fact, having had both long and short hair, I can tell you which one is a lot less of a burden–and cheaper. I mean, hello, do you know how much more shampoo and conditioner we go through with longer hair?!? So yeah, shorter hair is definitely easier to upkeep and style. But more than that, short hair shows off a kind of confidence that long hair tends to hide. Emma Watson’s hair isn’t just shorter–it’s REALLY short, exposing every contour and facet of her facial and shoulder structure. Most women, who aren’t too happy with their bone or face structure, tend to use longer hair to hide behind and cover up, say, ears that they were teased about in second grade or a cheekbone structure that doesn’t rival that of celebs they see on the red carpet.

But thankfully, mega-celebs like Emma Watson, Hayden Panettiere and Selma Blair have started somewhat of a hair revolution, showing that short hair can be sexy and exudes a lot more confidence than locks that cover one’s face. They are really showing that taking risks with hairstyles can be a fresh, fun approach to tackling new challenges, and in Watson’s case, can really get positive feedback from an industry that generally conforms to one standardized ideal of “beauty.”

And I’m jealous, really, because all I can think about now is how much earlier Emma Watson gets to start her day while the rest of us spend upwards of 30 minutes drying and styling our long locks every single day of our lives.