It’s very much a go big or go home game at Cannes.  And we’re responding to it.  To the volume. 

That was the plan for this post—hair that moves up, up, and away.  That was the plan, at least, until Liu Wen showed up in an elegant blue number with her raven hair made sleek, parted straight down the middle, tucked behind the ears, and floating on her back.  We were reminded of the reflexive gasp we emitted upon seeing Carey Mulligan’s nearly pin straight blonde at The Great Gatsby.

Is there anything so fresh and so clean-clean as this look? 

On the other hand:

Holy shit, Solange.  This is something beyond and including elegance.  How does she do it?  And do it better than anyone else?  The way she continues to reimagine her natural hair, her natural volume.  It is a revelation.  And a lesson to anyone looking to totally reinvent themselves.  Sometimes, just don’t. 

On the other hand:

There are times when reinvention is just what the doctor ordered.  Nicole Kidman’s ponytail at Cannes.  Is.  Spectacular.  She’s not always so bold.  So borderline strange.  This hair, quite ladylike 50s from the front, almost makes us uncomfortable from the side angles.  Almost.  Would we have adored it as much had she not gone a bit alien?  Perhaps.  But we believe that her sweet, floral Dior required a little alien to balance out the sugar.

On the other hand:

A full-on classic, 60s beehive can have a similar effect with a more modern gown.  For your enjoyment—Marion Cotillard’s beehive, everyone.  We applaud her this classic volume.

On the other hand:

It may be Zhang Ziyi’s less than classic rendition that we appreciate most of all.  We’re not claiming it is The Hair of the Fortnight.  What we’re saying, instead, was that we were beyond impressed.  Surprised.  The hair the you see at the top right, the boyish pixie? The pompadour on a bottom left?  The hair that looks to be pulled back into an elegant chignon?  That is all short hair.  And it’s also the most versatile styling of a pixie cut we ever did see.  Almost impossible.  In fact, it’s so well done that many bloggers assumed the top right had to be a wig.  Because, well, how?  How else could the rest of these looks exist?  The softness of the chignon and the way it seems to float up and around the face—surely that’s impossible for a pixie. 

On the other hand.

Or: How to Avoid the Awkward Grow-Out Phase by Embracing the Awkward

We can’t even promise you, not with total certainty, that’s she’s growing it out.  That’s how perfectly natural her (possible) in between phase appears:

Is she?  Isn’t she?  You tell us.

Because while it would seem so, based on what’s happening with the long fringe in the front and the length on one of the not-pictured sides—there remains another side that’s still resisting.  That’s being kept short.  That’s not quite sure it wants to go long.  

Behold, more angles:

What can we say?  From some angles, it’s divine and girly as can be.  From other angles, it’s divine and punk without looking too Try.  Michelle Williams in full-on mohawk punk mode?  That would look too Try.  

The cut is not unlike another another one-time blonde pixie;s.  It was long long ago, in a world far far away.  The 90s:

In the here and now, Gwyneth Paltrow resists whatever punk impulses she once had (see: Met Gala).  At the Met Gala, she showed up in fuschia Valentino, a ballgown of a dress with tight sleeves and one measly sheer panel.  One sheer panel is not enough.  Maybe if it had been torn or slashed, maybe then.  And, no, resisting punk on a night like that isn’t punk.  No, ma’am.  In a room full of socialites and Hollywood folk, it’s expected.  It’s easy.  But had G shown up with her 90s hair?  Perhaps then.  Pink is the color of punk, after all.  Perhaps we would have let it slide.  Hair did make all the difference that night.

Do you remember 90s Gwyneth?  Besties with our #WinoFoverever? Michelle Williams has got to remember 90s Gwyneth.  It’s not an exact replica, certainly not of the above Gwyneth, but there are plenty of subtle similarities running throughout Michelle’s modern rendition.  Not to mention nods to a younger Tilda Swinton and Cate Blanchett.  

Our supporting argument:

Now you see it, yes?  Even the Gwyneth.  Or, for that matter, the Brad (that’d be Brad Pitt).  It’s incredible, that these four lovelies (not including Brad) would have such a similar, semi-subversive twist on the blonde pixie.  Tilda’s short side is nearly shaved, flirting with hair anarchy.  Ms. Blanchett’s is the most adult, but there’s something that remains quite devil-may-care about it.  It’s that short side.  And Gwyneth’s is the easiest.  So where does that leave Michelle?  We doubt these other ladies wore the look as a segue between short and long, though G might have.  Instead, we’d bet they aimed for this look from the start.  And perhaps that’s why Michelle’s homage bespeaks such purpose.  Such girlish disregard for the awkwardness of the grow-out phase.  She chose the right inspiration.  

Though we do wish she’d occasionally take a cue from G and put a pin in the fringe: