Short hair is where it’s at. Let’s face it ladies, long hair is great to have, but can be hard and tedious to deal with at times. So, naturally this season - lots of women are opting to cut it all off and start brand new. Many Hollywood starlets have decided to go short or stay short recently - my favorite new cuts being Toccara and Tia Mowry.

Having a haircut is more that just a change of how you look, you even feel like a new person. It’s definitely a mental change, which you should be sure you’re ready for upon deciding to do the big chop. But, if you are ready - then you will have lots of fun looking for styles because short hair offers a huge variety of looks - just ask celebrity hair stylist Ursula Stephen.

I recently spoke with the stylist, who is widely known as the genius responsible for Rihanna’s infamous bob and current short cut. See what Stephens says about short dos this summer and how she maintains Ri’s locks:

Tianna: You’re known as the stylist behind Rihanna and Keyshia Cole’s new haircuts. Lots of readers particularly love Rihanna’s hair - what inspired her current look and what made you give her look?

Ursula: Well, it was first inspired by the bob - even going that step. It made me say, I want to take the next step because I’m always ready to do something new, crazy, and fun! So, one day I said to her - I’m cutting off all your hair today - because she kept saying she wanted to go shorter. Every minute, she was bugging me about going shorter! We just did it, and it was crazy!

Tianna: I read the cut was inspired by (model) Linda Evangelista - is that true?

Ursula: Not necessarily. Somebody mentioned that to her but, I had my own idea for the cut. The bob was so crazy and I was bitting my nails after thinking - ok, what do I do next?

Tianna: What styling products do you like to use for Rihanna?
Ursula styles Rihanna for “Take A Bow” video

Ursula: I use FHI styling products, the heat protectant is very good. I don’t try to use too much products - but, I also use Sebastian’s light holding spray. I just mist it around her hair.

Tianna: Would you say short hair is going to be a big trend this summer

Ursula: Yes! It’s crazy! I’m thinking when is it going to stop?! But, its getting better and better, and I’m glad. Just to put to put style back into the ish -and being able to switch it up, be young, and have fun with your hair. When your hair is short, its always going to look done.

Tianna: I agree. When I had short hair - it was easier to deal with number one and I just found more to do with it. With long hair, I just want to throw it in a ponytail because I don’t feel like fixing it all the time!

Ursula: Right!

Tianna: What particular styles or short cuts will be popular? Lots of people dig Keyshia Cole’s new cut, are more ladies going to bring pictures of her and Rihanna into the hair salons?

Ursula: People are just taking more chances with their short hair, and like you said can do more things with it. So its going to be a combination of things like heavy blunt bangs - where its longer in the front and it looks like its a long hairstyle by the front but, its still very short in the back. That looks real funky. People are going to want that length in the front because its more versatile and you can do a lot of looks with it.

Tianna: Right.

Ursula: Texturizing like I did for Rihanna in the Maroon 5 video - for that look, I basically curled her hair real tight with a stove iron. Then I combed it into fingerwaves to give a old Hollywood look, but it still looks funky because of the short hair. So its more about versatility and people combining different things with short hair now.

Tianna: What advice can you give ladies who are thinking about going for the big chop?

Ursula: I would say talk with yourself and make sure thats really what you want to do. Hairstyles to me are personality, alot of styles are about personality -you gotta feel it, so you can give it and bring it! Don’t try to get a hairstyle that doesn’t go with your life. Feel good about doing it so, you don’t have to lose sleep after you do do it!

Tianna: Yea I know some girls that felt like that afterwards.

Ursula: Yea, you can’t rush into it - you got to know what you want. This is a old one, but bring pictures! Not one picture - you may like the front of one hairstyle, and the side or another, and the back of another, so bring all of it from different angles. You have to talk to your hairstylist and be specific, because this is a big decision - you cuttin’ off your HAIR!

Tianna: I know that’s right! What product recommendations can give ladies who already have short locks?

Ursula: Definitely use a heat protectant because you will be curling your hair often. Also, deep conditioners for sure, once a month. A good heat protectant product is FHI because you can use it on wet or dry hair. As far as deep conditioners, Bed Hair makes really good ones. Silks scarves at night, and a great brush - you always want to keep your hair moving because its short.

Tianna: What other celebrities and clients are you working on? I know you just worked with Michelle Williams for her new video…

Ursula: Yep I did. Those three girls (Michelle, Keyshia, and Rihanna) mainly are my clients because they stay busy! I also do shoots for Essence magazine, Cover Girl, and work for America’s Next Top Model. So I’m all over the place!

Tianna: You are! How did you get into the business of being a Celebrity Hair Stylist?

Ursula: Well prior to this, I worked at a salon for 10 years and had very good clientale. I worked on people in the music business, and they basically put my name in there.