One of the trendiest and easiest to accomplish hairstyles is the messy updo or bun. These are not the carefully constructed updos of yesteryear, with every hair diligently sprayed and cemented in place. The messy ‘do is full and soft, feminine and elegant but fun and easy.

To achieve the look, gather hair in a ponytail at the nape of your neck and twist as you pull upwards. Then pin the twist to the back with hairpins or use especially designed “claw” clips. Ends should hang free. They can be straight and spiky or curled. Pull a few hairs at the sides, in front of the ears to further soften the look. These can be curled too, for tendrils that frame your face. Give yourself more height on top by back-brushing the hair in front before styling, or use your fingers to pull it out and up a bit. You can use a finishing spray or gel to tame shorter stray hairs and keep them in place. Add a hair stick or hair jewelry to jazz up your style.

Some women naturally have volumes of thick hair. Some women don’t. The actual number of hairs on the head varies and is mostly a matter of heredity. But the number of hairs on your head isn’t all that determines volume, the texture of your hair is important as well.

If you have thin hair, getting body and volume can mean hours of hairstyling only to find that your hair goes limp again before the end of the evening.

For short styles or multi-layer styles, apply some gel or mousse near the roots only and dry your hair with your head upside-down, drying the hair in the opposite direction of the one gravity will force it into all day long. When you are done and flip your head up again, your hair will now be falling against the way it was dried and will look more voluminous instead of just lying flat on your head.

If your hair is long and you want to create a little more volume on top to avoid the flat-head look, you can use a similar tactic. But this time, dry hair in the opposite direction of the part you usually make. For instance, if you wear your part on the right, make a part on the left and dry hair towards the right. When dry, brush it back to the direction you wish to wear it. If you use a middle part, then dry it upside down or brush it towards the back of your head as you blow-dry.

Lather, Rinse - Don’t Repeat

Regardless of which shampoo you use, from the least expensive drugstore brand to the poshest salon formula, the instructions never seem to change from bottle to bottle.

Lather, rinse thoroughly. Repeat.

Does your hair really need that second application of shampoo? It’s not likely. One lathering with any shampoo is sufficient to lift the dirt and excess oils from your hair and scalp. To repeat the process will only strip hair of too much oil and leave it dry and easily damaged by the rest of your styling routine (which probably involves heat in the form of dryers and irons, stressing your hair even further). So why do the directions on the bottle tell you to repeat?

Easy. You use more product, they sell more product. But they don’t just sell more shampoo, you will also use more conditioner as well, trying to make up for the loss of moisture as a result of a too-thorough cleansing.

So when you wash your hair, lather, rinse and don’t repeat. Once is enough.

There used to be an old joke that went:
“You have the prettiest blonde hair. Why’d you dye the roots black?”

Well, it had to happen. The newest hair trend is dark roots. Jessica Simpson has been seen wearing her roots long and in contrast, but Jessica started letting the roots grow for a movie role. It seems she likes the look and lots of celebrity bleached-blondes are following in her footsteps and letting their roots grow out. In fact, some are having the roots dyed to a richer color for more contrast.

I don’t expect this trend will last long, but consider it a free ticket to let your hair coloring appointment go a few more weeks. You will be fashionable with those dark roots and a little rest for your hair from the harsh chemicals can only be a good thing.