National Post

Times change and so, inevitably, do hairstyles. In the 1990s it was the “Rachel,” Jennifer Aniston’s long aerated shag. Before that, it was the “Farrah Fawcett,” a leonine mane synonymous with the disco era. In the late ’60s, it was “the Sassoon,” a boyishly short bob created by Vidal Sassoon and popularized by Swinging London’s ultra-gamine Twiggy. And before that, it was Jackie’s bouffant, the lacquered crown of the queen of Camelot.

Now, the “Pob” is poised to become the It do, thanks to Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, wife of L.A.’s hot new soccer saviour.

Though few Canadians may have heard of the term — a handy hybrid of Posh and bob — the hair-obsessed will tell you that Beckham looks gorgeous in her gleaming asymmetrical topper. And though she may have dibs on the one and only Becks, her hairstyle is now anyone’s for the snipping.

Ian Daburn of i. daburn salon in Vancouver has been tailoring the Pob for eight to 12 customers a day for the past few months. And The Loft for Hair in Gastown has customers of all ages asking for it.

“We figure it’s probably going to be the next big one,” says Franco Peta, owner of Vancouver’s Alta Moda Hair. “Not everyone can wear it. You’ve got to have the hair and you’ve got to have the face for it. It’s courageous.”

Perhaps the Pob is a western craze, provoked by all the feverish hype about the Beckhams’ recent move to L.A. Certainly, the hairstylists at Calgary’s Ginger Group have been buzzing about it.

In Toronto, however, there seems to be some skepticism. No demand has been detected so far at Civello Salon & Spa, though the co-ordinator at Fiorio Salon & Spa will admit, “It is catching on.”

“Definitely, some people are coming in for it,” says Nicole Charles of Toronto’s Angst Hair, “and some of the stylists are laughing about it because they did it in the ’80s.”

Daburn agrees that the asymmetrical look has a long history. Today’s version is more commonly known as a “soft graduation.”

Daburn is an alumnus of London’s Toni & Guy, where one of his teachers in the early ’90s was Ben Cooke. Cooke was taking the scissors to Posh back when she was just the poutiest Spice Girl. Daburn was amazed to see him still tending Beckham’s locks on her recent reality TV series. Could he recognize the scissor-sculpting of the master in Posh’s latest do?

“The cut definitely has his flair,” he says. “I could spot it a mile away. It’s basically a Toni & Guy haircut.”

In this case, the hair has been skilfully designed to suit Beckham’s face, with layers cut in to show off her jaw, cheekbones and eyes. Daburn thinks it’s extremely becoming, because “she’s very petite and elflike and it has an elfish look to it. “It’s definitely a chic shape,” he says. And, though it can look thoroughly elegant, the Pob can be made to seem rock ’n’ roll — “almost punky,” Daburn says. “It’s a top one for her, for sure.

“I’m not sure it’s going to be as big as ‘the Jennifer Aniston’ was, because it’s shorter, and people are reluctant to go short. But this is definitely the biggest we’ve seen since then.”

Daburn believes almost anyone can wear the Pob, as long as it’s modified to play up a person’s most attractive features by cutting the layers to fall toward them. Extremely curly hair forced into a Pob would wind up looking more “abstract,” he says tactfully, but even women with a bit of a wave can manage it, if they’re reasonably skilled with a straightening iron.

Singer-songwriter Laurell Barker recently ambled into Daburn’s salon with shoulder-length dark-brown hair, and danced out of it with a spiky cap of blond. She describes her Pob as “edgy,” sort of “funky California surferchick.”

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David Beckham isn’t the only one making waves with his recent move to North America. His famous wife is creating quite a stir as well…or rather, her hair is.

With three or four requests per stylist per day, the Posh Spice bob, now affectionately dubbed the ‘Pob,’ is very quickly becoming the ‘it’ do of the season. And the beauty is that this haircut can be modified to suit any face shape or skin tone. If you put your precious locks in the hands of a trained professional like Ian Daburn and his team of stylists and technicians, you can be sure to leave with a big smile on your face (our model Laurell did!).

Contrary to what you might believe, you don’t need Victoria Beckham’s diamond-shaped face or olive complexion to pull off this look. For instance, if you have a particularly square or round face (these two are usually in the same category), Ian would add more layers in the front and create an elongated shape. By doing so, he can lengthen your face and enhance more of your facial features.

If you’re Asian, you know blonde is not a suitable match. What Ian would suggest is that you avoid going too bright because your hair won’t lift the same way. If you have darker skin, warmer tones would make ideal choices and again, you should avoid those big bright splashes of blonde that are more suitable for someone like Laurell.

For those of you that have had long hair all your life, cutting it off is understandably an alarming thought, but as you can see from the video, the Pob doesn’t have to be super short. Why not experiment a little? The transformation can be amazing when you try something new and exciting. And don’t worry. If Ian doesn’t think a particular look or colour suits you, he’ll be sure to tell you and help you make the right decisions. What sets a good stylist apart from a mediocre one is their experience and their ability to communicate with a client.

They also take care of the little details at i.daburn salons. While you’re in to get your celebrity makeover, you’ll also be treated like one. When you arrive, you’ll change into a robe that they provide for you so that you don’t get those annoying little hairs all over your clothes (I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a brilliant idea). While you wait for your colour to set, you can also sit back and enjoy a complimentary latte or cappuccino. Visit them at 1073 Cambie Street, Vancouver for an experience.