If you’re getting tired of managing your hair or you just want a stylish look that’s easy to maintain, braided hairstyles are a very good option. While it’s true that they take time, braids afford you the option of choosing between many different styles without the need for cutting.

There are many braided hairstyles available, and one of the most popular is still the traditional single plait. Combined with a fringe that sweeps to the side, a single plait is a classic hairstyle that may never go out of fashion. Another of the most popular braided hairstyles is micro braid. These are very thin plaited braids that can be worn by both men and women.

French braids are slightly more complex than a simple plait, but benefit from that in terms of elegance. They weave tightly around the back of the head so as to gather all the hair together but flow into a single plait nearer the bottom.

The ‘Basket-Weave’ style’s popular among those wishing to achieve an interesting look on a special occasion. These braids form a criss-cross pattern on the crown of the head and consist of many smaller plaits. Loose hair beneath the neck level can be curled and tied into a bun, and the overall effect is one of complexity and sophistication.

For a feminine look, many women choose ‘Fishtail’ braids. Also popular for children, this type of braiding is not dissimilar to French braids except that strands of hair gathered from the back are very thin.

There are many African braided hairstyles that combine intricacy with colour and vivacity. One of the most popular is the ‘Zulu Knot’. This involves the hair being divided into rectangles or triangles across the scalp and then tied into a knot and braided.

On Sunday, July 25th the cast of the hit series “Mad Men” took to Duffy Square in New York City for the much-anticipated Season 4 Premiere. Actress January Jones sparkled on the red carpet in a haute couture gown and a modern Grecian-inspired hairstyle that complimented the look. Sebastian Professional Stylist Design Team Member Thomas Dunkin tended to the tresses of the leading lady, and shares a step-by-step “how-to” for achieving the actress’ slightly undone updo with modern texture:

1. Starting with damp hair, saturate strands from root to tip with Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray.
2. Tousle hair with fingers while blow-drying to work in volume to maintain a look of “yesterday” texture.
3. Once dry, run hands through hair while spraying Sebastian Professional Re-Shaper throughout for added texture and hold.
4. Randomly select pieces to set with a curling iron for another dousing of texture.
5. Section off hair starting at the top slightly to the right of center.
6. With each section, apply a dab of Sebastian Professional Matte Putty and twist the hair from front to nape making sure to keep a random, textured effect.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 across the whole head, securing each section with clear Blax bands and bobby pins.
8. Massage the hair over the whole head, pulling slightly, for a disheveled finish with a modern twist.

Kristin Ess of Chris McMillan salon is the woman behind Lauren Conrad’s new summer color.

Lauren Conrad leaving the Chris McMillan Salon after getting her color done by Kristin Ess

This is how she achieved this beach blonde look:

1. Lauren’s “Ombre” color starts with a low volume smudge which only stays on for 15 minutes and takes her natural color to a slightly warmer more golden tone.
2. Then I carefully applied a baby highlight around the hairline. And last, free handed highlights that get heavier toward the bottom, creating a more natural, believable, beachy summer blonde.

Nikki Reed at Women in Film Event

Kristin also gave Nikki Reed a sophisticated yet effortless looking up-do at the Women in Film Event. See below for the step by step “how to”:

1. Gloss the ends with a small amount of moroccan oil for shine and protection and lightly tease the crown area for subtle volume.
2. Without product, quickly curled the hair leaving out the ends (helps for texture).
3. Created a small messy bun near the neck just off to one side. this is what you anchor the other pieces to.
4. Grab medium sized sections close to the bun and “drape” them over, then secure with a no-slip bobby pin.
5. As you work your way forward take smaller sections and twist a little more each time.*don’t pin the twists too tightly. allow them to be loose and look effortless.
6. Leave out a little piece here and there toward the front or around the ear. wherever makes you feel more comfortable.
7. If neccessary, recurl just the loose bits in front, then spray a light veil of hairspray to secure the look.

There are many celebrities who embody beauty, style and sex appeal, but one that rises above the rest is Eva Longoria. The Desperate Housewife star seems to have it all, style, grace and sophisticated beauty. If you are looking for a role model, Eva Longoria certainly fits the bill. To get a look like Ms. Longoria, pay attention to the styles she chooses and the way they enhance her appearance.

According to inside sources, Eva Longoria enjoys a healthy and well balanced diet. She typically enjoys healthy fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and snacks, but occasionally indulges in her favourite snacks. This approach to diet helps to decrease overeating. When you deny yourself the foods you love for too long, the result can be overeating and weight gain. Eva Longoria plans on eating pizza and snack foods once in a while to satisfy those cravings and avoid overeating.

Ms. Longoria is also an avid exerciser. An hour long routine three days a week helps to keep her body in top shape. This workout routine is not as difficult as you might think. With a healthy diet, the fitness routine keeps you from gaining weight.

To dress like the celebrity, consider slimming jeans and hoodies. These are favourites of Eva Longoria when she is not attending special Hollywood events. When attending formal events, she dresses in simple styles that don’t overwhelm her natural beauty. Strong bold colours set off her dark hair and eyes.

Makeup is kept simple but strong enough to set off her dark eyes and classic features. She tends to wear light lip colour and dark black eye liner.
Eva Longoria owes much of her attractive appearance to her healthy lifestyle. Of course, you can enjoy great looks too if you follow a good exercise routine, healthy diet and skin care regimen.

Celebrity hairdresser David Babaii achieved this red carpet look by combining eras of vintage fabric textures with the perfect epoch red hair color. According to David, “Nicole Kidman always inspires me but for the 2010 SAG Awards, her beautiful skin tone and breathtaking beauty took the lead. The right style and hair color became my main objective.” David fell in love with this unique period wig that had various tones of ginger. In order to achieve the perfect color match, David sought out the master talents of celebrity hair colorist Lorri Goddard-Clark. Lorri created Nicole’s rich new color, while David created the perfect texture needed to enhance this natural but classic “Bohemian” look.

The Color: Lorri Goddard-Clark matched the vintage wig selected by David Babaii by utilizing a combination of deposit-only color, her signature foil-out reverse highlighting technique and a sulfate-free glaze. Nicole’s hair was transformed from a medium blonde into a rich, warm Gingered Toffee Red to enhance her azure eyes and porcelain skin.

According to Lorri, “It was truly an honor to work with David: he is a genius. I was thrilled to collaborate with him on this look for Nicole Kidman.”

The Style: David gently towel dried the hair and sprayed Bohemian Beach Spray throughout. Next, he gently rough dried the hair moving his hands in various directions to create texture. Once dry, he fashioned a center part and divided tresses into 4 sections (sides, back crown & nape). Starting at the nape area, he alternated between 1″ and 1 ½” ceramic curling irons, taking “V” shaped partings. He then wrapped hair around the inside of the barrel, holding for 10 seconds then gently releasing the curl. With each alternating curl, David slid his fingers up the curl to gently create a soft back combing effect and enhanced texture. After finishing the entire head, David used his fingers and added extra Bohemian Beach Spray to loosen the curls and highlight the richness of the hair color.

Long hair has its pros and cons. But a lot of women want to have long luscious hair because it is very feminine and sexy. Long hair is versatile and you can sport different looks everyday with different hairstyles. But the downside is- long hair is high maintenance. If you have long hair and want to give yourself a great do, here are three great ways to style your long hair.

Wear it big and sexy
If you want to look as foxy as Eva Longoria, you can wear your hair big and sexy. You can add volume to your hair with voluminizing hair products that you can find in the market. Use the product at roots of your hair when it is still wet. Divide your hair into section so you can blow dry efficiently. Blow dry your hair straight down and use a paddle brush. You can also add more volume to your hair by flipping your head upside down and massage the roots of your hair while blow drying. Use your handy hair spray when needed to hold your big and sexy hair.

Tie it in a ponytail
Most of the time, simplicity is the best way to go. If you want to style your long hair without fear of overdoing it, you can use the classic ponytail style. This is also something that you can do yourself. There are many versions of ponytail hairstyle that you can choose from. Beyonce like to have her hair tied up high and have her front hair brushed back smoothly in a pony. If you want to go for the trendy look, you can have a small portion of your hair in a puff and then pony them all up. You can also wear the ponytail classic style with full bangs or a side swept bangs to give it a twist. Celebrities like Carrie Underwood who loves wearing her a side ponytail, can look equally glamorous too.

Curl it up
If you have long straight hair, you can jazz it up by styling it with waves and curls. There are many curling products that you can find in the market today. You can purchase curlers in different diameters so you can have different volumes and sizes of waves and curls. You can also buy curling iron to have a casual curly look in an instant. There are many celebrities who go for long wavy hairstyle like Beyonce and Jennifer Love Hewitt, among others.

With long hair, you can do a lot of styling. The styles mentioned above are three simple hairstyles that you can do on your own. Try it out and save big on your saloon visit!