In case you haven’t noticed, we love learning how women in different countries dress, style their hair, and wear their makeup. For starters, we’ve compared and contrasted Italian and American lingerie preferences and analyzed the difference between British and American outfit choices. Most recently, I wanted to explore how L.A. girls are inspired by French haircuts, and I found the perfect person to tap: hairstylist David Pierre Pappalardo.
Pappalardo grew up in the South of France and now owns a chic West Hollywood hair salon called The Hair Atelier, making him the ideal person to offer insight on Californian versus French hairstyles. “French women have a very particular style. When it comes to hair, they tend to work with the natural texture, and they understand what their hair can and cannot do,” Pappalardo told Who What Wear. “They also shampoo their hair significantly less and that has an impact on the texture.” Keep reading below for his take on the specific French haircuts that L.A. girls are asking for right now, with the most popular one listed at the end.
“The French bob sits at the mouth or jawline and often pairs with short fringe,” Pappalardo says. “I do this haircut on DJ and actress Mia Moretti when she comes to town. Adding layers on someone who has curly or naturally wavy hair is also a great way to give the cut more volume!”
“The long fringe is ’60s- and ’70s-inspired, worn perfectly by Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin,” Pappalardo told us. “This haircut is often for women who are attached to their length but want to seek a little change before a new season. It’s a good way to spice up your haircut without losing your length.”
“The textured lob or bob is inspired by French actresses like Marion Cotillard, Mélanie Laurent, and Vanessa Paradis,” Pappalardo told us. “It’s shoulder-length or collarbone-length with layers and texture. This is probably the most-requested haircut in L.A., inspired by French women. It’s easy to dress up or dress down. It has enough length to put it up in a loose bun or low pony, or simply leave pieces down, framing the face, and boom! You have a perfect, chic, effortless updo for a summer evening or even a day in Ojai or at the beach with friends.”
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This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.