Stylish with Substance

A new hair style is one of the best ways to do trends. Why? Hair is usually changed every couple to a few months, that means you can update your style with the season, and also not be late to the game. You don't have to worry about Winter when Autumn is approaching, either - and that allows for some ease and a lot of fun.

Of course trends never have to be drastic, especially with hair. But what else is so easy about looking current with your tresses is you can wear anything, and depending on the styling-time, always look fresh on "top". If you want to be instantly recognized as stylish, whether you work in fashion or just like that appearance, this change can make that happen.

But there need be "signature" hair looks for a season, and not just the typical clothing/accessories stuff. And of course you've got to either know the 'do trends or research, so I'm doing that for you now.

Autumn 2009 Hair Cut Trends:

- Whether one has straight or curly hair, above-shoulder lengths that are drastically longer toward the front are popping up everywhere.
- Right now is a safer time (maybe) to dare for bangs - simply because they're in!
- Keep it long:

• - Upgraded braids. Mix braids in with looser, other-styled or "down" hair to make it more grown-up and today.
• - Or you could just keep it long and loose and still be trendy. Try accessorizing or home-curling for some variety.

What about color? I wouldn't suggest switching color for a trend, but while we're still recessionistas, I'm calling the go-natural a trend. Unless you hate your color or your grey, I think born-with is always most beautiful.

Photos: 1, 2, 3

If you didn't hear, Michelle Obama's recent 'do was a sort-of-did. It's the temporary up-do now called the "Tuck Up". Read the story here on Pursed Lips.

Tools:

We know this style seems extremely difficult to pull off, but maybe not! Here are the instructions. (Via the Canadian Press.)

"It's super simple," says Amy Farid, editorial stylist at Manhattan's Bumble and Bumble salon. "You probably need some layers in your hair if you don't want it to look like a bun. Around here, we call it 'the faux bob.'"

Basically you make a loose ponytail, twist and roll it, she explains, and pretty much anyone with hair longer than the chin can do it."

Farid lays out the steps:

• If you have just-above-the-shoulder hair with a few waves like Obama, pull the hair into a ponytail, twist it and tuck it under the nape of the neck. Use bobby pins, positioned into Xs, to secure the hair.
• If you have long hair, make a loose, low ponytail, then roll it and tuck it under.
• For very fine hair, try teasing (just a bit) the portion of the hair above the ponytail. Conversely, for very thick hair, pull down on some of the top hair and also secure the ends under the roll, probably using hairpins.

"Do" or a Don't, It Might Matter Less. Michelle's Short Style is TEMPORARY...

Bloggers get a lot of flack for posting unfactual information, but at least we have the excuse of lacking resources and contacts. In a Google News search, I'm unsure how to weed blogs from newspapers, but if you try, you will find actual news/big media publishing commentary (hmm journalistic commentary? Oxymoron? I guess we're all just bloggers these days, some just have the luck of more respect!) on the First Lady's "cut" - no questions asked.

No interviews done.

That is, not at first. Mrs. O's stylist, Johnny Wright, has spoken "up" now, about his style-to-the-stars temporary up-do: The "Tuck Up". We don't quite understand it, but we're researching more, and will have a How-To-'Do coming up next!

The interview was given to, and news broken by, Us Weekly. Whom Best Week Ever wants to give a journalism award (yep, to a near-tabloid, chuckle). The BWE post's comedic writer basically claims he's traumatized for life by Hair Gate! Seriously amusing!

Hey, humans are human, no matter the job. So I fault none (not really) for publishing opinion and alerts on this beauty matter. But I also know even style & political icons are people as well. I actually am kind of frustrated with the ease in which we judge. That hair was cute!

Of course we still remember Barack's "Dad" Jeans ... quickly followed by Michelle's "Mom" Cut (and again, they're mature parents/professionals, not rockstars). Why so harsh on the first family when it comes to style? What - no scandals? I guess this is a blessing.

She may be Painfully Hip, or at least the author of that site, but Diana is not only a fellow fashion blogger, but fellow member of the oily scalp club. And she's given us the greatest tip!

I've learned that fewer-and-farther-between washes help me to produce less "grease", but Diana not only warned against shampooing daily, which many know already - but she tells us to rinse with a scrubbing motion daily. This can be added super easily if you already shower short-of-the-shampoo every day. Most women do, but some of us are lazier and feel clean hair is the #1 result of the tub, anyway. At least I hope that's not just me. So for us, sure, we will need to add or re-add enduring the frozen feeling of stepping out past that curtain wet and uncovered, and deal with soaked strands, also forget soaking your body attempting to sink-rinse, your underarms might benefit from a scrub, too... Still it sounds super worth it keeping up with this routine to keep or get extra beautiful!

If you currently wait longer than every other day to shampoo, you might try adding a rinse only in-between, and maybe not daily.

I'm noticing bangs look really cute lately, so I predict the "fringe" will blow up huge any time soon, or months from now. Who knows, that's how it works.

Here are cute looks from Reese Witherspoon and "Chuck" actress, Ivonne Strahovski.

Hmmm, I'm also seeing medium loose, loose waves. Very nice.