It was the haircut heard around the world: Miley Cyrus chopped off her locks into a short pixie ‘do and dyed it platinum blond. Her reasoning? She wanted to emulate one of her idols, 60s modeling sensation Twiggy. Of course, Miley is not the first — nor will she likely be the last — celebrity to go the pixie route. She has followed in the famous footsteps of Anne Hathaway, who sheared her head for a role in the film “Les Miserables”, Emma Waston, Ginnifer Goodwin and Michelle Williams.

What better way to tend to your mane than by simply getting rid of it? Even though it’s April, that still means hot summer temperature for ladies in the Middle East. It’s right about this time as vacations are over, and many are heading back to school or work that many think about making a big hair change for a fresh, new look. But before you pick up those scissors, or head to the salon, be sure that you’re a right candidate for this chic style of the moment by following these simple steps. And if you’re still not convinced to take it all off, we also have some tips on how to keep your longer hair healthy for the rest of the hot season.

To pixie or not to pixie

Let us not kid ourselves: going pixie is definitely a drastic step. So, when you decide to take the plunge, be sure it’s for the right reasons so you don’t regret the move later on. It’s true that hair grows back, but you don’t want to be stuck with a style that will take months (or longer) to grow out. It’s not like a long bad haircut that you can cover up with a ponytail or baseball cap.

For example, if you’re simply having a bad day or had a fight with your significant other, do not take it out on your hair. On the other hand, if you just got a new job and want a dazzling look to go with your first day, and you thought long and hard about it, going drastic may be a good option.

If you’d rather be safe than sorry, then upload your picture into a hairstyle app and make sure that your face plus pixie har equals a great look. Or gradually chop off all your locks in steps. So, for example, if your hair reaches your back, first cut it to your shoulders. Try that for a while, and if you like it, cut it to your ears, and so on. Dipping your toes in first may make taking the plunge a lot easier.

Texture and shape

Sometimes it’s all about texture of your hair and shape of your face. No matter how much you may love going short, your hair type and bone structure just may not be right for it. Most of the celebrities we are seeing sporting the pixie style these days tend to have straight, fine hair and small features. Straight locks are definitely the easiest to manage with such a short style and require practically no products to keep it neat and tidy.

Many Middle Eastern women, however, generally have thicker, wavier hair. As such, a pixie haircut will be more difficult to maintain. The obvious choice is to go super short, like Halle Berry before the extensions, and leave little room for the hair to maintain its natural curl. An easier route may just be to forgo the pixie all together, and wear the hair a little longer.

Staying with slightly longer locks is also a good option for women with large features. A style as short as pixie will only highlight facial features and make it more prominent, so a short, chin length bob will probably work better in such cases (think Anjelica Huston). For those with a wide forehead, you can still pull off the extra short look, but keep the bangs long (think Ashlee Simpson). And if you’ve got a round face, keep your hair a little longer and fuller around the sides (think Sienna Miller).

The one face structure that can pull off just about any short hairstyle is one with wide cheekbones and a narrow forehead and chin. So it’s no surprise that classic diamond shape suits a pixie ‘do to a tee (think Keira Knighley).

The long and short of it

Whether you decide to go short or keep your hair long, you still need to keep your tresses healthy, which is not easy to do after hours in the sun. But with some expert help from Sayidaty, you may just do the job!

Use protection

Remember, the sun always shines in the Middle East, so you need to keep using heat and UV protection. There are a lot of effective products to choose from, but the easiest are leave-in conditioners that you apply to damp hair. These will protect your hair from potential sun damage. If you’re in a hurry, one quick, easy step is to simply don a hat or scarf, which can be especially useful when at the beach.

Frizz ease

Curly/wavy hair: Fizzy hair can be a major problem for curly or wavy haired women living in hot climates. To keep your locks under control, use a clarifying shampoo and conditioner along with a light silicone product that will keep your hair lush and shiny after it dries. Do not fall into the trap of applying a lot of product, as this will not only weigh down your hair, but also keep it dull.

Help with humidity: To absorb even more humidity to avoid frizz, try massaging a sprinkle of baby powder into your scalp when it’s dry.

Straight hair: For those with straight hair, you have to worry about losing volume as well as the frizz. Luckily, there are several straightening products specifically designed to protect your hair against humidity and keep it light and bouncy. One easy tip is to rinse your hair with cool water after applying conditioner to seal in the protection. Also, comb conditioner through your hair so that it is applied evenly. Helpful hint: Brushing straight hair when it’s dry can cause frizz, so use a brush with a natural bristle.

Damage control:

If you spent your summer at the beach or are simply enjoying the outdoors and forgot to use proper UV protection for your locks, it’s time now to do some damage control. First off, head to the hair salon for a trim and cut off all the split ends weighing down your hair, causing it to look dull and frizzy. While you’re there, get a hot oil treatment to restore some of the moisture undoubtedly sucked out by hours of sun exposure.

Don’t be fooled

One important thing to always keep in mind is that hair is dead, so don’t believe any product that says it can restore your hair. What you can do is mask the damage by coating your hair with strong conditioners and serums. The best way to bring your hair ‘back to life’ is to treat your hair follicles so that new growth comes in healthy. Use moisturizing shampoos and massage conditioners into your scalp. If you can, condition you hair daily. Also, layoff heating appliances, such as blow dryers, straightening irons and curling irons for as long as possible. If you need to deal with unruly hair, try putting it up to avoid applying heat until your hair recovers.

Helpful hint: If you must use a heating appliance, make sure you use a leave-in conditioner first to inflict the least amount of damage to your hair.

And there you have all the ways to maintain luscious locks for the rest of the season, whether long, short or yes, even pixie!

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