The undercut trend was started in the 1980s. Sections of the hair are cut razor-short while the top hair remains long. You can easily explain it to your hair stylist: "Everything off on the side and nothing off the top, please!"
Only a few years ago, undercuts and sidecuts were associated with the punk, metal and gothic underground scene. Today, undercut hair styles are almost part of the mainstream; well, the former rebel haircut is at least clubbable now. In an undercut, a several inches wide lane of hair is shaved above the ears and around the head like in an extreme military haircut. Only the top hair remains standing. For a sidecut only a patch of side hair above the ear is shaved. The model Alice Dellal was one of the trailblazers for undercuts.
Shaved patches of hair add a pronounced accent to hair styles, especially when the hair is long. Sidecuts also give short shrift to hair style conventions. Surprisingly, the unusual style elements only emphasise the feminine appeal.
Please note: Even though undercuts and sidecuts look simple, you should only trust a hair stylist with them who is well-versed in the technique. You can then maintain the haircut yourself at home using a hair trimmer every two weeks. Asking a friend with a good pair of hands for assistance may be a good and pleasant alternative.
By the way, undercuts look particularly handsome on women with soft oblong faces rather than hard chiselled features. In case your hair is very fine or thin, it may not be such a good idea to shave even a small section of it for an undercut or sidecut. There may be days when you no longer like to look at your partially shaved head. On those days, simply part your hair in the middle to hide the bare section. Then there is also the old standby, the hat. Luckily, women don't have to take the hat off for a greeting.