New Hair Ideas For You In 2010

I have already mentioned that I like to experiment with my makeup, but when it comes to hair, I bet on the messy look. I have thick long hair and its so hard for me to style. It takes at least an hour to blow dry and it will not hold a curl for shit, although it's wavy. I refuse to use a curling iron because my arms would fall asleep before I finished half of my head! So I'm always looking for new things to do that will be stylish and manageable for my unruly mane (yes, I am a Leo).

Here are some fantastic styles I found on Allure.com recently... (descriptions are under photos)

1. Give Yourself a Smooth Blowout
Using a blow-dryer rather than an iron to straighten hair creates a softer, more natural look. First, blot excess water with a microfiber towel. Then remove the dryer's nozzle and sweep damp hair from side to side with your fingers while blasting it; do this until hair is almost dry. Reattach the nozzle and, working in three-inch sections, pull each one out to the side using a paddle brush—keep your thumb on top of the bristles to help tightly pull the hair smooth all the way through to the ends. Run the dryer up and down each section until dry. This is something that is waaay too difficult for someone with thick hair like mine. I blow mine out using a paddle brush, but I can never finish it. I end up having to flip my head over to get underneath, which makes it poofy, so I have to flip it back over and dry it on cool. THEN flat iron it. If you can manage this, I envy you!

2. Create a Romantic Chignon
A rumpled texture and casual pinning make the standard bun look sexier and more youthful. Use a large curling iron to create loose waves (if your hair is naturally wavy, let it air-dry). Gather your hair loosely at the nape and twist it around just once so the bun drapes low. Then, instead of wrapping it with an elastic, stick long bobby pins into the bun haphazardly to secure it, which keeps the style from becoming too tight. I like this style because it's fantastic for any occasion. Although when I wear it casually I always feel I have to wear lipstick so it looks like I put a little effort into my look and didn't just wake up.

3. Wear Hair Halfway Back
To make this style more grown-up, take the top section of your hair from temple to temple and lightly tease the underside with a paddle brush. Skim the brush over the surface of hair to smooth it, then secure at the back of the crown with a simple metal or tortoiseshell barrette.

I do this a lot, despite it taking forever to straighten my hair. I prefer it with stick straight hair than rounded because my hair is too long. This style can also be pulled into pigtails. a ponytail, or pulled back into a bun.

4. Get Big, Bouncy Curls
Nothing says "bombshell" like a flowing heap of curls. Apply mousse throughout damp hair, followed by a little serum on the ends, then blow-dry without a brush. Use a one-inch curling iron to roll hair sections up, from the ends to the scalp, and hold each there for a second. After sliding out the iron, pin the curls to the head. When they've cooled, release the curls and fluff them with a brush. A very 70s look! My mother (who had straight fine hair) wore her hair like this all the time. I have never been able to pull it off because the curl drops out of my hair in an hour or so. I'll continue to dream.

5. Make a Messy Doorknob Knot
Step 1. Flip your head upside down and finely mist your roots and hairline with an aerosol hair spray. (This makes the hair a bit coarse, which keeps the style in place.) For fine hair, tease the roots before spraying for fullness. If you have curly hair, skip the spray and instead rub in a dab of styling lotion. Step 2. Lift your head up, rake your fingers through your hair, then gather it in a loose ponytail just above the nape of your neck. Wrap a thick elastic band around the base twice. Step 3. Wrap the elastic around a third time, but pull the hair only halfway through, so the knob is on top and the ends poke out underneath. Pull out a few wisps around your face for softness, and tuck any longer pieces behind your ears. A total staple style for me. I wear this look 75% of the time. I like it because I can pull my bangs back, leave them down, wear a headband, and if it gets messier throughout the day, it only looks better!

6. Rustle Up
Tousled, barely-there waves make hair look incredibly sensuous. Hold a one-inch curling iron vertically, and wrap just the center of each section of hair—not the roots or ends—around the barrel for only a few seconds. (Any longer and the curl will get too tight.) When finished, flip your head upside down and lightly skim a paddle brush over the curls to break them up, then shake them around with your fingers before bringing your head up. My hair is naturally wavy, so after I was it and air dry it, it already looks like this. It can look pretty when it calms down, otherwise it looks like a crazy mane.

7. Create a Rounded Blowout
Think Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface. With a slinky dress, this is still a seductive look for shoulder-length hair. Blow-dry hair straight with a round brush, then make a deep side part. Wind the ends around large hot rollers and leave them in until they've cooled. After taking out the curlers, gently brush through the ends, then rub a drop or two of shine serum between your palms and smooth them over your palms and smooth them over your hair. Very cute look for girls with shoulder length hair.

8. Try a White Headband
It's brighter than standard black, but it looks just as clean. Slip on a stretchy, inch-wide headband (any thicker can look like a bandage) so it rests just an inch or two back from the hairline. Don't push it back any further, or else it can slip off. I think this is better on blonde girls. When I wore the white band that came in a back of all my black, I felt like I should be playing tennis. Maybe I'll try it again when I wear something white. Maybe I will go play tennis. LOL!

9. Do the Wave
The key to faking supermodel waves is to make the hair look as thick as possible and to keep the ends straight, which gives a more natural-looking finish. Spread mousse throughout damp hair to bulk it up, then blow-dry with a round brush. Next, roll large sections of hair up in a one-inch curling iron, but leave the ends out. When finished, break up the curls with your fingers—not a brush—to keep the volume intact. This wave is more uniform than my rustled up messy waves, which you get from using an iron or curlers. Yet another difficult style for my heavy hair that refuses to cooperate.

10. Bump Up Your Crown
A smidgen of height at your crown adds a whole lot of sex appeal. For the classic Brigitte Bardot look, blow-dry hair with a round brush, then set it in hot rollers to amp up the volume. After taking out the rollers, part hair in the middle, then lightly tease the underside of the crown with a fine-tooth comb to give it a bit of lift. Skim a paddle brush over the surface of your crown to smooth any fuzz. I love this look, it's so "vampy" on dark hair. I think it's easiest with layered hair otherwise the top layer tends to part and reveal the little nest you teased underneath. Sometimes requires a lot of spray (use a lighter hold on the lose locks).

11. Do a Relaxed Twist
Who says a French twist has to be tidy? A slightly wet-looking texture and roughed up finish makes it young and cool. On air-dried hair, work a shine spray or serum from an inch below the roots to the ends. Comb hair back with your fingers without pulling it taut, then roll into a French twist and pin haphazardly. Don't worry about a few pieces falling out—they'll only enhance the look. Another style best if left to girls with shorter hair. I like it as a summery look because you can just walk off the beach and throw on a cocktail dress and makeup and be off for the night.

12. Start a Ripple Effect
Rippled waves on hair that's shoulder-length or shorter look elegant without seeming too retro. (See style on the right.) Work a quarter-size drop of serum through damp hair and air-dry. Roll just the front sections with a 3/4-inch iron (curling all the hair can make it poofy), then immediately run a wide-tooth comb through to make loose waves. I've mentioned a few times...because it breaks my heart) that my hair won't hold a curl for shit. This is one style I would LOVE to have! Someday I will have a professional do this to my hair because I think its gorgeous!!!

13. Come Undone
A little dishevelment in the front keeps an updo from looking rigid. Gently tease your hair with a paddle brush before wrapping it up into a bun or twist. Then, use the pointed side of a rat tail comb to loosen the front—slide it vertically into the side of the hair, then gently tug the hair away from the scalp ever so slightly. Use the point to lift out a few pieces at your hairline so they softly drape around your face. I love this all except the loose pieces around my face. I have a phobia of having messy pieces out like that. I don't care how dressed up I am and how great my makeup looks, it makes me feel so messy and not put together. THAT is just my opinion for myself. I really think it looks fantastic on the model in the photo, so don't let me discourage you from trying it.

14. Swirl It Up
Try this trick for a superfast updo: Gather your hair into a high ponytail, then tease the tail with a paddle brush, which will keep your hair from sliding out. Loosely twirl the tail around the base, pin it, then let the flyaways and loose pieces fall where they may. I have done this a few times lately and I feel it looks best with a flower at the base or some jeweled clips. There are so many cute clips out right now, they dress up any messy do and that makes me happy!

15. Go Platinum
Yes, it's a bold color choice. But platinum blonde is having a resurgence, and on women with fair skin, it's a cool, almost otherworldly look. If you have yellowish skin, ask your colorist for ashy platinum. If you're pinkish, you need a little gold in your hair. And because bleach is tough on hair, platinum is best for cuts that are shoulder-length or shorter. A weekly deep-conditioning treatment at home is almost a must. If I had super light brown hair or blonde, I would definitely try the platinum look. I say if you are, go for it!!!

16. Add a Flower
A floral hair pin is sweetly romantic—but to keep it from looking juvenile, stick with a soft-colored one. Place it on the side of loose hair just above the ear, or tuck it right above a low bun.
Everyone that knows me knows I hate the whole flower over the ear thing. Despite loving the retro look, the young 'rockasilly' gals have killed the flower thing. Occasionally I will wear one further back at the base of my bun or ponytail, either on top or to the side. I have been daring and wore more than one of different colors, its fab!!!

17. Be a Radiant Brunette
To make brown hair even more lush, try going one shade darker than your natural look to a rich chocolate or chestnut color. If your color is almost black, though, warm it up with a few chestnut or caramel highlights. When doing allover color on brunette hair, ask your colorist to skip the ends, which are more porous, and instead apply a tinted gloss treatment on them. Otherwise, the ends can absorb too much dye and look darker than the rest. I want hair that color!

18. Bend Your Ends
The cheater's method to bouncy hair? Just add a few chunky waves on the ends. Hold a one-inch curling iron vertically and wrap inch-wide sections of hair around the barrel from the chin down without clamping the iron shut, leaving the bottom two inches hanging out. Loosen the waves by brushing gently. This also works with wearing a low bun over night and then running a brush through your hair inthe morning.

19. Wave Your Ponytail
Spice up the traditional ponytail with this easy trick: Part damp hair in the middle and gather it into a low ponytail. Braid the tail, and when it dries, undo the braid and brush through it to create a crinkly wave. Works best with thinner hair. When I do this I get so many flyaways and it gets too bushy and doesn't look flattering.

20. Move to the Side
What a difference an inch makes. By placing the classic ballerina bun slightly askew, the style suddenly looks fresh and young. Just be sure to pin it low on the neck and no more than an inch or two off-center—any more is too Princess Leia. So cute! I do this all the time and without trying. maybe my head is lopsided. Anyway...this looks gorgeous with a big flower on the opposite (of the bun) side.

21. Clip in a Feather
A feathered haircut is outdated. But a feathered hair clip looks striking for evening. Stick with black feathers, and place the clip on the side of your head, close to your face. I just love this photo.

22. Rise Up
A high ponytail never goes out of style. But to ensure that frizz and flyaways aren't part of the picture, work a pea-size drop of smoothing lotion into your roots and hairline before blow-drying. Brush the hair back and secure it just below your crown. To make the tail gleam, rub a drop of shine serum between your palms, them run them over the tail from base to ends. Being my hair gets so bushy, I have to straighten it to have a tame pony. I love this look, but I prefer a bit of a pomp up front to give my square face a better shape.

23. Create Billowy Waves
To create soft finger waves, it's worth buying a triple-barrel curling iron (about $35 on folica.com). Simply clamp it along dry hair, starting about three inches below the roots. Twist each waved section around your finger, and clip it to your head. When all of your hair has cooled, let it down and gently brush through the waves to soften them. This is a beautiful style! If you have the length and can do this...think of my because Im jeolous!

24. Rock Out
There's something provocative about hair that's a little roughed up and dirty. To mimic the effect without making hair too rough, finger-comb dry hair with a dab of texturizing cream rubbed between your palms. It coats the strands so they're matte and separated without being greasy. I wore my hiar like this for so long. It's more rock than emo, and I love it! I just can't stand the hair in my face, but super cute and it looks good on anyone.

25. Get Loopy
Polished hair doesn't have to be prissy. Try offsetting a sleek crown with a voluminous bun. Blow-dry hair straight, make a side part, and pull hair back into a tight, low ponytail. Spritz the tail with hair spray and begin to wind it into a bun, but stop after one loop and pin the ends under the elastic. Another style I would have to modify for my crazy hair. I do like the idea of the sleek loops. Im gonna try it someday.

26. Be a Tease
Teased waves mimic that just-off-the-beach texture. If you have naturally wavy hair, work a little leave-in conditioner through damp stands and let them dry naturally. If you have straight hair, use a one-inch-barrel curling iron to create relaxed curls. Then, on either hair type, mist texturizing spray all over to make the hair slightly gritty, and use a paddle brush—not a comb—to gently tease it. Start about an inch above the ends and work your way up, stopping a few inches from the roots. I've attempted this and it always looks so much better in the magazines. Maybe because these girls have a third of the hair that I have, I dunno. When I spend 2 hours doing this, I always end up pulling it back into a messy bun, otherwise I feel like cutting it all off. If yo have thin hair...do it!

27. Keep It Neat
For a bun that's neat but soft, skip the shine products. They can make smoothed-back hair look shellacked. Instead, use an aerosol hair spray to help strands stay in place. Do a light mist all around your head, then make a deep side part (or no part at all) and brush hair back into a chignon. I could NEVER get my hair this neat on my own. I love the knot though.

28. Extend Yourself
Clip-in hair extensions not only deliver length, they also make fine hair appear thicker. The kind that increase length are wide, stretching from about ear to ear with several clips along the seam. Here's how to put them in: 1. From crown to nape, divide hair into about six ear-to-ear sections, and gather each into a barrette. Leave an inch of space in between sections for thick hair and two inches in between for thin hair. 2. Starting at the nape, take one section, tease hair at the roots, and spritz with hair spray. Fasten the fake hair in place to the scalp as close as you can. Repeat this process with each section until you reach the crown, then check in the mirror to make sure there aren't any visible lumps where the clips are (if so, take out that piece and redo it, making sure there's at least an inch-wide section of your natural hair above it to conceal the clips). Just a quick note: clip on (human) hair extensions can be very pricey! I found that buying the wefts and making your own is much less. Just cut the weft to the size you need and sew in the clips yourself. It's time consuming, but if you want to pay less, it's worth it.

29. Decorate Your Updo
A jeweled barrette dresses up hair that's been gathered back. Fasten the clip just above a high bun or knot, slightly off center at the crown. With a low chignon, place the clip in the hair just above the bun—or, if the barrette is delicate, stick it near the front of your head, lining it up above the arch of one eyebrow. I love barretts and clips right now. I have jeweled ones, fethers, velvet bows. they make my messy hair feel so much more dressed up and thought out.

30. Create Major Volume
Body building is a cinch with these steps: 1. Apply a volumizing mousse throughout damp hair. 2. Remove the nozzle from your dryer. Flip your head upside down, and blow-dry while running a vent brush through hair. 3. When hair is almost dry, flip your head up and finish drying with a medium-size round brush. 4. Working in small sections, lift your hair off your scalp with your fingers as you aim the dryer, set on cool, at your roots—this roughs up the cuticle to add volume. Do this all around your head, then lightly smooth hair with a brush. This is for everyone BUT me. I have natural volume I wanna turn down! Her hair looks beautiful though.

31. Tease Your Ponytail
Fatten up a puny ponytail by using a paddle brush to tease the underside of a low or middle-of-the-head tail with a few broad strokes—not short, quick ones, which can compact the hair too tightly and create a puffball. Skim the brush over the top of the tail to smooth it, then mist with hair spray. This is what happens when I try to curl or volumize my hair. It turns into a raging mess and I have to pull it back into a pony. Still looks cute. rememeber to wear something low and without a collar otherwise its going to bulk you up and annoy you all day.

32. Get Rumpled
Shaggy waves are so easy to create, you don't even need a brush. Simply mist damp strands with a volumizing spray and toss your hair around with your hands while blasting it with a blow-dryer. Once hair is dry, wrap just the middle section of inch-wide pieces around a large-barrel curling iron. When finished, shake it all up with your fingers. Short-haired gals...go for it!

33. Brighten Up
Part hair on the side, then slide a colorful bobby pin in on the opposite side at the spot that lines up above the end of your eyebrow. Then, slide another pin of a different color right above the first one. Keep the colors to a minimum otherwise you'll end up looking like Hot Topic threw up on your head.

Hope this was fun to read and helpful! If you try any of these, take a photo and email it to me and I'll post it! YAY!!!!!