Keri Russell Short Hair

Short Keri Russell Hair - Click for Larger Pictures

Keri Russell	Keri Russell	Keri Russell	Keri Russell	Keri Russell

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Keri Russell short hair is something that fans of the television series Felicity never wanted to see.

They'd grown accustomed to her luxurious, extremely curly hair. Surprisingly, since curly hair is considered by many to be sexy and wild, Keri Russell's long hair became part of the wholesomeness that was Felicity.

They'd be horrified to see the Keri Russell pictures in this gallery, all of which show her wearing short hair.

But if it's not long, at least it's still curly hair!

It's hard to assess the pros and cons of Keri Russell short hair styles. There are times when they look extremely attractive, and times when they make her appear - well, a bit daggy.

As one example, take the last picture in the middle row.

There's nothing flattering in this Keri Russell short hair picture. The light is harsh, she's caught between expressions, and the shape of her hair makes her face look angular and lumpy.

Compare this with the middle picture in the middle row, which I think is the most attractive Keri Russell short hair picture in the whole gallery.

What is it about this short hair style that makes Keri Russell look so much more appealing?

Well, lighting, makeup and hair color to start with. They've been coordinated, and not just because matching tones look pretty. Light and color are absolutely crucial in determining how we see Keri Russell.

As usual, it comes down to face shape.

Keri Russell has a face that's almost an oval ... and almost a rectangle at the same time. There's a constant battle to see which of these two shapes will dominate our perceptions.

Her chin is pointy, but her cheeks descend in a line that's almost vertical. That's why she doesn't wear long, pendant earrings with her short hair - because they would highlight the verticals, widen her jaw, and help to convince us that her face was more rectangular than oval.

Her hair begins to curve up from in front of her ears like the edge of an oval, but suddenly it stops and runs straight across the top of her forehead, with the dip of a small widow's peak in the center. Together, these ruin the top of the oval.

Changing that hair line, in particular, is where light and color become important.

In the middle picture of the gallery, Keri's hair color and warm skin tones softly complement each other so that the transition from one to the other is barely noticeable.

The hair line is still straight - but we don't pay as much attention to it. Its role in determining how we see Keri Russell's face shape is diminished.

It's even tempting to believe that makeup has been used to mimic hair strands on her forehead, quietly adding the hint of a curve.

In tandem with this softening of the hair line, the shape of Keri's hair has been rounded, from above the ears, over the top and down again. It's just enough so that we process this sweetly curving profile, rather than the straight hair line, in our unconscious efforts to assess her face shape and decide whether we think she's attractive.

It's subtle, and very tricky.

Just about equally gorgeous - and some would say it's the best - is the second picture in the top row.

All the same tricks are used here to make Keri Russell look good in short hair - rounded hair profile, softened skin tones, a definite curl this time to round the forehead on her left.

Her widow's peak gets special treatment, with four curls highlighted and styled in an upward curve that adds another suggestion of roundness to the forehead. Even the camera angle, with Keri's face turned ever so slightly to the right, helps to round the far edge of her hair line where a pair of curls reaches quietly down to touch the skin.

Keri Russell had much more control over her looks when she had long curly hair. She could use well-placed curls to round out the edges of her forehead and soften all the contours of her face.

Her move to short hair was a gamble. It meant giving up all the control that long hair gave her, and relying on stylists, makeup technicians, lighting crew and photographers to make sure she came out looking good.

The alternative - leaving it to chance - didn't create a good look. Success or failure, pretty or plain, sexy or strange - fate could turn things either way, with tiny errors making the difference between Keri Russell short hair that worked, and Keri Russell short hair that looked awful.

Just compare the staged pictures in the gallery, where everything is controlled and nothing is left to chance - those with warm, soft tones and a plain or unfocused background - with the harshly lit event photos.

There is no comparison.

Keri Russell short hair allows no middle ground. Either it works, or it's a disaster.

No wonder she went back to long hair!