Short Layered Haircut with Rat Tails in Melbourne
BY TYLER PICKARDThe transformation
Our guest arrived with long brown hair falling well past the shoulders. It was softly layered and worn straight, with most of its weight sitting low around the chest. It was healthy and pretty, but the shape had gone quiet.
Before
AfterThe brief was a short layered haircut with a twist. We didn't cut away all of that length. We kept two thin sections at the nape and braided them into rat tails. Everything else came up to around the jaw and neck, so the old length only stays where it was chosen to stay.
Above the braids, layers stack through the crown for lift and movement, and the outline breaks into soft, flicked pieces around the nape. At the front, longer face-framing pieces sweep across and off to the side. They blend into the layers rather than sitting as a separate fringe. From either side the shape looks full and rounded on top and light underneath. That contrast is what makes the two long braids look intentional instead of left over.
The cut sits close to the wolf and shag family, but the rat tails make it personal. They can be braided like they are here, worn loose, or tucked into a collar on a windy Collingwood morning. They can also be cut off entirely later if the mood changes, because the short shape underneath works on its own. That flexibility is the point. Ten people means ten colours, and we never push one house style on anyone.
Book your look
Bring a photo of this look, or just tell us you want short layers with long pieces kept at the back. Before we start cutting, we'll talk through where the rat tails should sit, how thick they should be and how much length to take off everywhere else. At ASSORT MELBOURNE a Stylist Cut is AUD 100, a Top Stylist Cut is AUD 120 and a Senior Stylist Cut is AUD 140, and every cut includes a shampoo and blow-dry. If you'd like to talk it through first, a Consultation is AUD 50, and we deduct it when you book a service.
You'll find ASSORT MELBOURNE at 73/77 Wellington St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia. We're open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00, and closed on Sunday and Monday.
