Hairstylist Serge Normant is famous for creating luxurious, full-volume looks — from Blake Lively to Sarah Jessica Parker — that typically fall well below the shoulder. That’s not to say he believes that one cut fits all. On the set of Ellen Barkin’s recent VIOLET GREY photo shoot, Normant drew inspiration from the patron saint of pixies, 1960s actress Jean Seberg, to devise a sleek, clipped crop that neatly framed Barkin’s face. “When you cut your hair that short, it’s like getting rid of a security blanket,” he says, referring to a woman’s tendency to hide behind her hair. “It’s very liberating.”

Here, Normant offers tips along with product selections from his eponymous line (available with the launch of the VIOLET GREY hair curation and approved by The Violet Code) for letting go of your length and making the cut.