The formula uses a ratio that looks at the length between your chin and your earlobe to determine whether long or short hair would suit you better. If the distance you measured is less than 5.5cm, a short haircut suits you. If it's more than 5.5cm, longer hair will (theoretically) flatter you the most.
Practically fool proof, this rule states that if the longest part of your chin is less than 2.25 inches from the tip of your earlobe, then short hairstyles are for you.
But does it work? A brief summary of the 2.25-inch rule: Grab a ruler and a pencil. Place the pencil horizontally under your chin and the ruler vertically at your earlobe (see the image above). If the pencil and the ruler meet at a point less than 2.25 inches from your ear, chop away.
The 2.25-inch rule, which was created by John Frieda himself, measures the angle of your jaw line to determine whether long or short hair will suit you best. No longer do you have to photoshop your face onto celebrities' luscious manes. Ready to test it out? Grab a ruler and a pencil.
Number 6 Haircut: Three-quarters of an inch
This haircut leaves 3/4″ (or 19mm) of hair, which is plenty to brush and style. This clipper number is also popular for clients who want their hair to taper at the sides.
What Are the Numbers in Haircuts? If you ask your barber for a number one cut, you are asking them to cut your hair so it is an eighth of an inch long. If you ask for a number eight cut, the hair left on your head will be one inch.
The greater the number, the more hair will be left after cutting. Different brands of clippers have specific number kits with haircut clipper sizes varying by 1/8 of an inch. So, a number 3 haircut means 3/8 inches of hair, while a number 4 haircut means ½ an inch long.
Generally, anything chin-length or above is considered short. But it's not limited to that length and some people consider the definition of short hair to be anything above the shoulders. Someone with longer hair, who has never had anything other, may consider a long bob to be short.
Called the "2.25 inch rule", it states that if you hold a pencil under your chin, and a ruler vertically, and the space between the chin and lower ear is 2.25 inches or less, then you'll suit short hair.
There's a reason many older women choose to have chin-length hair, instead of longer tresses: “Long hair drags the eyes down, emphasizing drooping facial features,” Butterworth says. “A shorter cut is a non-surgical facelift that draws the eye away from facial imperfections.”
There is about 12 inches between a pat on the back and a slap on the behind. We all know what a slap on the behind feels like. A pat on the back feels good, especially when it is given with sincerity and done when the action is performed that warrants the recognition.
It was one of the reasons the girls bonded quickly." Mixing with the boys was more difficult. The "six inch rule" referred to the distance the two sexes had to keep between them at all times. This was only relaxed for the end-of-term dance.
Shoulder length cuts are universally flattering (think the lob or a modern shag). These medium length haircuts toethe line between bob and long hair, enabling you to cherry-pick the best elements of both. As an added bonus, it's the perfect middle ground when you're growing out a buzz cut or pixie look.
How to measure? Place the pencil horizontally on your chin and the ruler vertically from your ear. Look at the point where the ruler and the pencil meet and measure both distances. If the two measurements are no more than 5.7 centimetres apart, you can go for a pixie or short bob.
Just one week is enough breathing room to allow even the starkest of changes to grow into something that's the right amount of lived-in—the idea here being that if your hair looks at ease, so will you.
It's tempting to cling to long hair like a security blanket. However, the most flattering lengths for fine or thin hair are shoulder-length or shorter, no matter your age. It removes enough weight to give your mane a boost of fullness at the ends, and it makes it much easier to add volume to the roots.
Each comb has a number on it to represent the length of hair that will be left on the head after the clipper has passed over it. These guide combs range from No. 0.5 (3mm) to No. 8 (25mm) with additional left & right ear taper combs for navigating around the ears evenly.
Short hair refers to any haircut with little length. It may vary from above the ears to below the chin. If a man's hair reaches the chin, it may not be considered short. For a woman, however, short varies from close-cropped to just above the shoulders.
Long hair can look less professional
De Joseph, whose mother was a hairdresser, expresses a similar stance. “In general, shorter hair is usually perceived as more professional and confident,” she says. “Long hair, especially if it is a hair weave, can be perceived as more youthful and sexy to some people.”
To tell your barber the haircut that you want, tell them the name of the hairstyle. More often than not, the barber knows the haircut. The other way is to describe the haircut. Indicate the length on top and how you want the sides cut or styled.
Simple clipper cuts are also often referred to using numbers. These refer to the guard length used on the blades and therefore the subsequent hair length created. #1 – 3.4mm, #2 – 6.4mm, #3 – 9.5mm, #4 – 12.7mm, #7 – 22.2mm, #8 – 25.4mm.
The #0 haircut – or 1/2 for Wahl clipper users – is, basically, the shortest there is. In fact, this number doesn't have a guide comb; it uses the clippers blades to deliver clean, even, and extremely close cuts. In a #0 haircut, the hair will be at most 1.5mm or 1/16” long.