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Free Time: Is Big Hair Dead?

Is Your Hairstyle Past Its Expiration Date?

UPDATED: 1:10 pm EDT March 30, 2007

You might think big hair is a thing of the past, much like rolled jeans and tie-dyed T-shirts.

But big hair still seems to have a life of its own, at least for the spring.

Make your hair speak volumes with "back-combing, Velcro rollers, hot rollers, volumizing tonic and Pure Abundance hairspray," said Michelle Jindrich, owner of Salon Evolve in Gresham, Ore.

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To back-comb, take a 1- to 2-inch section of hair near the crown of your head, and using a using a small-toothed comb, comb toward your scalp multiple times to create volume. Make sure to repeat with other sections, then hairspray and make sure to comb through the top layer to prevent hair from looking messy or unkempt.

With Velcro rollers, make sure to roll hair back and allow hair to dry while on rollers. Use a hairdryer to speed up drying time and lock curl into your hair. If hot rollers are your choice, make sure to allow them time to heat, and allow them to cool completely before removing. Tousle hair lightly with your fingers to break up curl and give your curls a healthy dose of hairspray to finish and hold your look.

Color Me Pretty

If you're looking for a new look this summer, a touch of color might be just what you're looking for.

"With summer coming, blondes are always popular," said Jindrich.

Ask your stylist for "honey, caramel and sun-kissed looks," she said. Avoid overdone platinum and skip brassy blondes.

Make sure not to go overboard, as less is more this season when it comes to highlights.

Short Hair Ideas

"Strategically placed high- and low-lights will accentuate the dimensions of a short haircut," said Jindrich. "Less is more when it comes to highlights."

Whether your hair is choppy or sleek, you can make it work this season by making a minor change.

"Strategically placed high- and low-lights will accentuate the dimensions of a short haircut," said Jindrich. "Swept-over bangs give dimension."

They also help to elongate your face if your cut is overly short for your face shape. Swept-over bangs can also help you grow out a haircut or soften the look of a too-severe style.

Volumizing tonics work great to give short hair a boost. Most tonics work best when sprayed onto the roots of the hair while it is damp and blown dry. Flip hair upside down while drying for an extra boost.

Long Hair Trends

More dimensional, not-so-traditional color techniques will work well when you have more hair with which to play. Color melting -- when a shade goes from darker or lighter into the other without a strong definition of line -- and block color -- chunkier pieces of colors that are placed in specific areas to highlight different parts of the haircut -- will be popular this spring.

"Layers, layers, layers," will be big this season, too, said Jindrich.

"Bangs are still popular whether you are doing a side-swept bang or a full bang, but keep them lighter," she said.

In other words, make sure your bangs don't extend to your crown. A heavy fringe is not in style, nor will it be easy to out grow.

"Curly, wavy hair is in," said Jindrich.

If your hair is naturally curly, enhance your look. If your hair is straight, braids can do the trick. Rollers or a curling iron can also kick your hair up a notch.

Glam It Up

Make a statement with your hair as you go from day to evening.

"Add some back-combing and go through the top section with your curling iron," said Jindrich. "Tousle it with some hairspray to make it big and sexy."

Those easy moves shouldn't take more than five to 10 minutes and can make it more full and ready for a night of fun.

If you want to pull it back, make sure to back-comb at the crown for volume and to enhance your face.

Your Face Shape

Different face shapes look better with different hairstyles.
  • Prominent Nose --
  • "If you have a larger nose, get shorter, angled bangs to draw attention upward toward your eyes," said Jindrich.
  • Prominent Chin --
  • Make sure layers either fall either below your chin or above it. Layers that land parallel to your chin will only draw eyes toward it.
  • Square Jaw --
  • "Avoid getting a bob," said Jindrich. The bobbed hairstyle will only accentuate the width of a prominent jaw.
  • Large Forehead --
  • Bangs, either basic bangs or side-swept bangs, can diminish the appearance of a broad or high forehead.

What's Coming

Big hair may not be dead, but it's not going to last forever. Just as the seasons change, so too do hairstyles.

"Straighter hair will become more popular as we get closer to the fall," said Jindrich. "Clean-lined haircuts will increase in popularity."

Just as layers helped bring in the fall, they will be thinned-out for sleek looks as the weather gets cool.

Men's Trends

Of course, men can use hair guidance from time to time.

"Men's hair is all about more length, though not ponytail length," said Jindrich.

Many men choose to color their hair, but improperly applied color can leave their hair looking spotted and awkward.

"Color should be textured, blended and not overly highlighted," she said.

They should avoid brassy and platinum tones and stick with warm honeys and caramels. As with women, less is more.

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