Spring is a season of renewal, a time for refreshing homes, minds and wardrobes. While you are at it, why not refresh your hair? A haircut is among the quickest — and most drastic — changes in appearance that someone can make. No wonder they can induce so much anxiety. But few transformations can leave a person feeling new and improved like a good chop.

The recent fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris were a source of almost endless hairstyle inspiration. Some of the best cuts were short and sharply sheared (not unlike notable styles I saw at fashion weeks last fall). For many, keeping hair out of the face and eyes seemed to be a prevailing rule. Gel and mousse were used to give a wet look to certain short hairstyles, while longer ones of any length were overwhelmingly wavy — a mix of big, controlled sways and tight, messier crimps.