Spring's hot new hair

Girls' Life, April-May, 2007 by Katie Abbondanza, Jan F. Lee, Andrea Thompson

We combed the runways to find the 10 cutest hair ideas worth trying. Read on for how-to-do something new for your 'do...

1 BOWS BIG & SMALL

Wanna make a trendy statement? First, ya gotta get a li'l bit crafty. Buy a yard of organza, then cut into three strips 2 1/2 inches wide and 2 1/2 feet long. Stack the strips, and tape middles together to hold in place. Make two bunny ears and cinch the knot, like you're tying shoes. Pull ends to adjust the loops. Pin the big-time bow into a slick pony, and wear it with a sparkly dress and cute heels.

TRY IT ON Any type of medium-length hair.

For a slim bow, cut a yard of 1/8-inch wide ribbon. Hold the midpoint at the nape of your neck, pull up lengths and tie a bow on the top of your head. Pull ends so bow gets smaller. Longer ribbons are more dramatic, but cropped bows look cute too!

TRY IT ON Straight or relaxed long hair.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

2 BALLET BUN

Ballet-inspired buns get a fresh twist. Smooth back your hair, leaving a few pieces loose in the front. Twist into a bun at the nape of your neck. Need to keep your locks smooth? After showering, run anti-frizz serum throughout your towel-dried hair to keep the look perfect all day long.

TRY IT ON Shoulder-length medium-thick hair.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

3 RETRO HEADBAND

A wide plastic headband is retro-cool. Straighten persistent hair with a non-chemical relaxing cream. Use a wide-barrel curling iron to add big, bouncy curls. Insert the headband a few inches away from your forehead, letting front strands frame your face.

TRY IT ON Longer to medium-length hair that's straight or wavy.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

4 DOUBLE PLAY

Headbands and clips are twice as nice when you double them up. For Jessica's look, sweep hair back and place two headbands near the front. Keep 'era dose, so they won't pop off.

TRY IT ON Any length or type of hair.

Gotta get going, like, now? Grab a pair of clips. Pull back the hair just above your ears, twisting it to create height. Use the first claw clip to grasp hair in place. Add the second clip right below it. Got a few extra seconds? A curling iron adds soft waves.

TRY IT ON Coarse, wavy, straight or curly hair that falls past the shoulders.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

5 FLOWY, BOW-Y SCARVES

Scarves with floral prints or polka dots brighten spring looks. Wrap an extra-long scarf around your head with hair falling behind it. Tie a low bow to one side of your face. Some hair pins behind the ear keep it secure.

TRY IT ON Any length and type of hair, even ultra short locks!

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

6 WRAPPED-UP BUNS

For a chic and springy 'do, rock a scarf-wrapped bun. Slick hair back into a ponytail, and twist into a bun. Wrap the scarf around the bun, and tie at the bottom, letting scarf ends hang down.

TRY IT ON Any hair type long enough to put in a bun.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

7 TINY PONY

Tiny ponies are easy and chic. First, spritz damp hair with a protectant like Got2b Crazy Sleek Flat Iron and Blow Dry Lotion. Dry hair, and finish with a straightening iron. Gather the front section of hair on the top of your head, securing with a teeny pony holder.

TRY IT ON All hair types. Great for girls who are growing out bangs!

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

8 SIDE PONY

This pretty style dresses up jeans and makes a flirty dress casual. After blow-drying, part hair to the left and pull back into a low, side bun. Secure with a pony holder. Leave larger pieces out to frame the face and create a messy but classy look. To add texture to the front, try Pantene Pro-V Style Texturize! Spray Wax. For total control, crisscross bobby pins to secure loose strands.

TRY IT ON Long locks and curly-haired chicas!

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

9 DEEP PART

Stumped with what to do now that your sideswept bangs are a little longer? Part your hair low on one side. "Use a little hairspray or bit of pomade on the part. You don't want to make it look greasy," says Tami Jensen, who styles celebs like Zooey Deschanel at the Prive Salon in L.A. Brush your hair into a pony, secure with an elastic and finish with hairspray. "Heavy parts work well with a low ponytail or a messy bun. It's a glam look."

TRY IT ON Straight or relaxed hair that's long enough for a pony.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

10 LOOSE CURLS

To score spring's flowing tresses, use a large-barrel curling iron, like this one from FHI Heat. The trick? Hold the curling iron straight up and twirl hair around it. Hold for a few seconds, then release. To keep the look more Golden Globes than Goldilocks, flip your head over and shake the curls to loosen 'em up.

TRY IT ON Any length hair with some wave. It can be tough to coax curls into super-straight hair.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]