SHORT HAIR IS HAVING A MOMENT
But perhaps it’s a fleeting one, which may leave you wishing you had taken
less drastic measures to try this season’s hottest trend. Curious to further
explore the pixie movement, I sat down with Toronto salon owner Mary Tripi.
With an incredible 54 years of experience in the business, Mary can easily
decipher which trends are worth paying attention to.
Short hair is a surefire way to possess a “look”. It gives women the
ability to garner attention and break convention, without having
to extend much effort in the morning. “In my opinion, it’s more
creative,” says Mary, in a luxurious Greek accent. “Majority of the
time, people with long hair have two styles, either they let it down
or put it in a ponytail.” I sink in my chair, knowing she speaks
the truth. As a frequent user of the longhairdontcare hashtag, I
must admit that letting my
hair down is such a rare event,
snapping a picture of my
efforts often seems necessary.
With short hair, routine trips
to the salon are essential for
upkeep, but everyday maintenance is low. “It does takes
more time to style long hair”
says Mary “and I’m excited
because it’s about time we see
something else.”
The woman is onto something. Looking back in hair
history, not since Marilyn
Monroe has short hair held
the mainstream sex symbol
status. Perhaps it’s a backlash
to the outrageous popularity
of hair extensions. We are now
seeing a dramatic shift. The
magical mix of an androgynous pixie cut with playful
platinum color and suddenly a
trend was born.
Mary’s veteran status makes
her an expert on forecasting trends. Her first salon
opened at age 19, “It was a
great time,” she recalls. The
new location on Yonge Street
is her fifth salon to date.
When I ask her if this is the
best one yet, she replies. “No.
Every one was different and
every one was the best.” It is a confident statement, a reflection of
Mary’s personality. She is blunt, a woman who says it like it is. If
you walk through her doors demanding 10 inches off the length,
but her keen eye doesn’t see it working, she will let you know.
Reassuring news for hesitant salon goers with a history of cutters
remorse. This is what keeps her clients coming back for more. “Its
not a one night stand, it’s a long term relationship” as described
by her son, Nicholas, the head colorist at The Private World of
Mary Tripi Salon.
The two are a passionate and talented pair. Growing up in his
mother’s salon, Nicholas was shocked when Mary insisted he go
to beauty school, despite all the hours he had spent watching and
learning from the best. His
educational experience,
however, was not without
its perks. Nicholas traveled
to Paris with L’Oreal to
explore the color labs, and
had one-on-one
training from Schwarzkopf
and Wella to master his
craft. Eternally grateful,
he soaked in every bit of
knowledge and perfected
his skills. “I will not paint
a torn canvas. Its about the
health of the hair.”
It’ s entertaining to explore
new colors, trends, and
shapes, but healthy hair
never goes out of style.
Neither does being confident
that your hair is a
reflection of your personality. It’s possible that
underneath the superficiality
of this popular new haircut
reveals a glimpse into the
psyche of today’s modern
women: fearless, playful,
“long-hair-short–hair-either- way-I-don’t-care” confidence. And for those who
are fearless but just better
suit long flowing locks, there
is always makeup. Cheryl
Gushue, from SB890, is an
incredible talent. She can
introduce you to an orange lip or cobalt blue eyes that will have
you looking like you walked straight off the spring catwalks.