Choosing the right hair style

CEBU, Philippines - The hair being considered as every woman's crowning glory, most women spend time, and even money, to have that perfect hairstyle. The hairstyle affects the overall appearance. But many a time a woman ends up sporting a hairstyle that doesn't fit.

For the Curvy and Full Build

Layered, soft waves or side-swept bangs complement a full figured woman. The best choice for length would be up to medium on the front, and up to waist level at the backside. Avoid having Too much volume or too many curls shall be avoided because these tend to make the woman look bigger. On the other hand, having the hair too short or really close to the head will also give the same effect, so it's best to avoid that as well.

For the Boyish Figure

It's best to put curves if possible. Straight figured women need volume. It helps to go for the wavy or curly style. A long and wavy hairstyle is a smart choice, although medium and wavy also works. Bangs would also be flattering provided that it complements the size of the forehead. Straight hairstyles would only emphasize the straight figure, so it's best to avoid that. For a more feminine look, going too short are to be avoided since it can make for more boyish or masculine appearance.

For the Petite

Petite women look best with a short to medium-length hairstyle; it suits their body proportion. Keeping the hair too long is not advisable since it overpowers the body and would make them look shorter. But they need to be careful not to have it too short or else the head could look big. Ideally the hair shall fall slightly below the chin level. Also, too much curls as well as styling the hair into pigtails or ponytails can make them appear child-like.

For the Tall and Athletic Type

Women with a tall and athletic body will not have a hard time choosing a hairstyle. Any style will flatter their body type. But proportion still has to be considered; although but in general, tall and athletic women can carry short, medium and long hairstyles.

The Stories Behind the Hair Trends

It's a well known fact that the music industry plays an integral role in the setting of trends - the rise and fall of in-fashion hairstyles being a notable example.

From the laidback longhair vibe that stems from "grunge," to the funky-but-glamorous tresses inspired by "sprock," there are haircut styles that owe their popularity to the cliques and subcultures spawned by music's ever-evolving genres - covering "rock," "funk," "heavy metal," "emo," "J-Pop," "K-Pop" and others.

However, not all hairstyles hail from popular music's ups and downs - as the behind-the-trend stories of the dreadlocks, the mullet and the mohawk would tell.

The Dreadlocks The hairstyle popularly associated with Reggae

The dreadlocks' association with the Rastafari movement (which started in the 1930s in Jamaica) is very much well known, but its origins did not stem from the Caribbean-based spiritual ideology.

Characterized as a hairstyle that is formed by matting coils of hair to form into "locks," Ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs and statues depicting people sporting dreadlock-inspired hairstyles have been discovered - alluding to how old it actually is.

Historically, the style holds certain ties with a number of spiritual convictions - with the Dervishes of Islam and the Sadhus of Hinduism noted to have worn dreadlock-like tresses at one point in time.

Today, dreadlocks are not necessarily worn as an expression of one's spiritual beliefs, but are sported as a form of expressing one's cultural roots or political convictions - apart from being classified as an exotic hairstyle form.

In terms of its connection with reggae music, the Rastafari movement is known to have influenced the growth of the genre - linking the hairstyle with the fans of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Ziggy Marley and reggae music in general.

The Mullet The hairstyle popularly associated with New Wave

As a hairstyle, the mullet is described to be one that is short at the sides and front but long at the back.

Though the 1980s is widely considered to be the decade when the hairstyle's popularity reached its peak, the term "mullet" was not popularly used until the mid-1990s - when the US-based hip-hop group Beastie Boys released the song "Mullet Head" in 1994.

The Beastie Boys' Mike D is often cited to have coined the term, but he did not - nor did any of the 80s or 70s top recording artists - sport the world's first mullet.

Based on descriptions of ancient texts, hairstyles resembling the mullet have been around since the 6th Century - with the observations of a Byzantine scholar named Procopius often brought up in this regard.

Though he did not distinctly note how "sweet" or "rad" the mullets he saw were, we have to assume that they must have been - considering how "challenging" having one's hair styled must have been at the time.

The Mohawk

The hairstyle popularly associated with punk, emo and alternative metal (with a variant referred to as the "fauxhawk" generally associated with pop)

As a hairstyle, the mohawk takes its name from its association with the Mohawk and Mohican/Mahican Native American tribes - though it is believed that the first Native American tribe to sport the style was the Wyandot.

Characterized as a hairstyle where a longer strip of hair is formed by leaving both sides of the head without any hair patches, the mohawk may owe its moniker from the name of a Native American tribe, but it has been around for centuries.

In 2003, a 2000-year old preserved body named the Clonycavan Man was discovered near Dublin, Ireland. The body sported a mohawk that was styled with pine resin and plant oil, and its discovery says something about just how old the hairstyle is.

Historically, the hairstyle holds certain ties with warriors. From the ancient Scythian warriors, who roamed the central Eurasian steppes from the 7th Century BC to the 4th Century AD to the Ukrainian Cossack soldiers of the 16th century, a number of World War II American paratroopers are recorded to have worn mohawks during their tour of duty.

In line with its connection to the punk, emo and alternative metal genres, the mohawk's menacing look and allusion to nonconformity is often attributed to be the reason why it is such a hit among "rebellious punk rockers."

However, there are social commentaries that try to explain why people would go out of their way to sport mohawks today - essentially commenting that by sporting a mohawk, one is saying; "LOOK AT ME, but keep your distance."

To certain extent, the same could be said about the other hairstyles mentioned here. (FREEMAN)