Ten ways to update your hair without breaking the bank

Monday, May 16, 2011
Ten ways to update your hair without breaking the bank

Your makeup is beautiful, your outfit is stunning and your shoes look incredible — it's a shame about the hair! Bad hair can ruin a killer outfit so we've found 10 clever ways to update your hair in 10 minutes.

1. Cut a fringe
A fringe is an easy way to update your style with minimal time and effort. If you're feeling confident you can cut it yourself, but we recommend going to a hairdresser — it will only take 10 minutes and won't cost much.

2. Get some texture
There are dozens of mousses, gels, putty and sprays that can dramatically change the look of your hair by adding a bit of texture. Puffy, one-dimensional hair can age your face and your look, so add some product and rough it up.

3. Try an up-do
If, like Kate Middleton, you are practically allergic to wearing your hair up, a sweeping up-do could makeover your whole look. Try braids, a loose bun or a sexy chignon.

4. Fight the frizz
If your locks are frizzy and unruly, it doesn't matter how expertly you style them — you will still look dowdy and unpolished. Visit your local hairdresser for advice on the right product to make your tresses silky, smooth and sleek.

5. Go for a ponytail
Ponytails used to be the style for when you don't have time to style, but this has changed in the past few years. A slick ponytail is now bang on trend and can make you look modern and sexy instantly.

6. To dye for
Changing the colour of your hair instantly updates your style. Avoid the time and expense of a trip to the hairdresser and do it yourself. Pick up some dye from your local chemist, but stick within a couple of shades of your current hair colour to avoid a hair disaster.

7. Ride the wave
The age of poker-straight tresses is all but over. If you want to refresh your look, add some sexy waves, a la Kate Middleton. This look can be hard to achieve at home, but with some practice, you'll be wielding your blow-dryer and round brush like a pro.

8. Add some volume
Limp, lifeless locks are not sexy. Use a volumising shampoo and conditioner and stay away from the hair straightener. Instead, blow-dry your locks out into a voluminous mane.

9. Lift roots
Another way to add volume to flat hair is lifting the roots. After washing, put mousse through your roots and blow-dry your hair upside down.

10. Play with a band
Headbands aren't restricted to school playgrounds any more. Adding a funky band can refresh your look, and hide a multitude of hair sins, including bad regrowth, dirty hair and locks in desperate need of a cut.

Your say: Do you have any quick and easy hair tricks to update your look?

User comments
Why is every first word of 'blowdrying' asterisked? Is this an exaggeration of PC gone mad??
I took sophia Lorens tip and used olive oil on my hair as a conditioner, and it really works, my hair was shiny , and felt healthier,warm some olive oil up put through hair massage it through and wrap in a towel for however long you wish to leave it in i left mine in while i was doing the housework then had my shower and washed it out using a little shampoo do as often as you feel your hair needs it. Also trim any bad split ends off, it will promote healthier growth. Hope it helps Bo.
I took sophia lorens tip about using olive oil on my hair as a conditioner, warm a little olive oil up put through hair and wrap in a towel and leave for as long as you wish or for an hour or two. It will leave your hair in beautiful condition and it feels lovely use once a week or more if you feel your hair needs it, get any bad split ends trimmed, i do my own it helps promote new healthier growth. Bo
Sometimes a leave-in conditioner will help moisturise and de-tangle.
When you ***-dry use a heat protecting serum - this will prevent your hair reciving any further damage from heat and will also smooth your hair. Another thing I use before ***-drying is a gloss, I like to use is the Fudge test tube series in the gloss. Is sets fly aways and smooths your hair - they are only about 10 bucks and lasts along time.
there are alot of products that you can try like a leave in conditioner, or even try the pantene deep fortifying treatment. it sounds like having you hair bleached is making it dry and damaged. spraying a mixture of water and conditioner in it will help smooth it to. Having the proper round brush will help alot aswel. when you *** dry your hair make sure you *** down and not up. If you use product in it and *** dry correctly the frizzyness wont happen.
A new colour I found was the key! I dye my hair a lighter shade of blonde normally but opted for a brown for once and am loving the reactions, results and colour!
I have a problem with frizz too - and find that an anti-frizz serum works really well - both before I *** dry - and with a little smoothed over my hair after it's dry. You can get different strengths too. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to use product names here, but John Freida's Frizz-Ease is pretty good and doesn't cost as much as a salon brand. I've also started using a curl-defining mousse when *** drying and have really noticed a difference - I get defined waves instead of fluffy hair! And get a diffuser!! This made the biggest difference of all. You can get them to fit over the end of your hairdryer. Using a deep conditioner once a week and leaving it on overnight helps too. When swimming, I comb my hair out then roll it up in a bun and keep it in place with one of those long spring-loaded clips. Or just plait it to keep the knots out. Try an anti-frizz range of shampoo and conditioners, as these are designed specifically to control frizz. Hope all this helps!!
Di - I had the same problem for many years and have tried all the 'anti frizz' products in the supermarkets and the salons. It wasn't until a good friend of mine put me onto a range of 'Stefan' products for frizzy hair and I can tell you I have NEVER been happier. I use the shampoo, conditioner, pre straightening spray and after gloss. Not only are they great for my hair quality but I don't seem to have to get my hair trimmed as much since using them and the price is no where near as much as other salon products!!!
i hear u girl. im 32 now and have had awfull hair all my life. no matter how it got cut, treatments,layers etc. so in despair[ considering doing a brittney spears] i spoke to my hairdresser and she suggested chemical straightening. it cost $80. but i only got the back done as the hair i have in the front is of different texture to the back.[go figure] now i wash my hair apply a little serum and walk out the door. best money spent EVER!! try it.

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