Justin Bieber cuts his hair, sending legions of boys to the barber

It was the snip heard 'round the world. Justin Bieber made his new haircut public on Feb. 21. Just like that, his signature bowl cut with the flirtatious fringe hit the cutting room floor in favor of a gelled, layered look that harkens back to the New Wave singers of the 1980s. And this time it was for real, unlike his eerily prescient head-shaving joke on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

This is no small thing. Seriously. The television show “Glee” recently devoted an entire episode to Bieber hair fever, staging a glitzy production number in which most of the male cast members proudly wore long bangs (and busted some teen idol-worthy moves) in hopes of reigniting the spark with their girlfriends after the “post-Valentine slump.” Needless to say, the ruse worked. The girls simply could not resist the hair.

The Canadian pop singer cut his hair during the shooting of a new music video with Rascal Flatts, and then tweeted about it. He also tweeted that the shorn locks were being donated to an unnamed charity for auction.

A mere trim cannot dim such a radiant shine as that possessed by Mr. Bieber, however. It’s not just his hair that delights so many screaming fans. He was the American Music Awards 2010 Artist of the Year, and nominated for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album at the latest Grammy Awards. Not only does he sing, dance, and play the piano, drums, guitar, and trumpet, he is possessed of the prototypical “baby face” to which girls are known to which respond favorably.

According to FirstScience.com, “men…with baby-like faces are seen as being warmer, more honest, and more sincere...In simulated court trials, baby-faced individuals are less likely to be found guilty of charges involving intentional criminal behavior.” And, furthermore, “…feminine-faced men are thought to be interested in long-term relationships." It's all in the perception, fellas.

So, as Justin Bieber continues on his course of world domination, it’s reassuring to know that if you have a cute mug, you can get away with anything – even lopping off the look that was your trademark.