31 hair ideas for 2013

Adding a subtle braid is the quickest and easiest way to zhuzh up an otherwise basic style, says Nathaniel Hawkins. Tuck one on the side of your head by taking a two-inch section of hair on one side of your center part, braiding it tightly, and securing with a clear elastic. Leave the bottom few inches loose, like they did here at Rachel Zoe, to keep the look undone and sexy.

To get this look, as seen at the Givenchy spring 2013 show, part your hair straight down the middle and pull it into a low, tight ponytail. Twist the tail around into a tight bun and pin it neatly in place. Mist on a light-reflective spray, like Bumble and Bumble Shine On (And On...) Finishing Spray, to control flyaways and give hair a glassy sheen.

That luxurious, expensive-looking effect comes from a cheap trick: teasing. Curl large front pieces away from your face with a curling iron. Then lightly tease the undersides all around your head—this gives it a windblown effect, says hairstylist Serge Normant. To finish the look, pull a large section of hair from the front of the head straight back and secure with bobby pins.

To get the kind of swept-back hold Kim Kardashian has here, you need to take steps to avoid getting your roots all greasy with product. The key: Tie your hair into a loose ponytail at the back of your head before you start styling. Then smooth dry wax over the top of the hair and spray multiple layers of light-hold hair spray over it (leaving the hair past the elastic dry). Now you're ready: Remove the elastic and brush the ends, says Hawkins, who uses this trick on celebrity clients.

This sleek style isn't your typical, swingy cheerleader ponytail. Slick down the hair with gel and pull it into a tight ponytail at the crown of the head. Wrap a cloth headband (or heck, bondage tape) around the elastic to give the ponytail major lift. Flatiron the tail to finish the look.

For this equestrian-esque style, hairstylist Paul Hanlon sprayed the lengths with hair spray and pulled all the hair into a low ponytail. Then he held a tail comb horizontally two inches from the elastic (you could also use a pencil), looped the hair around it, and pinned it into place before sliding the comb out. He pinned the ends of the tucked-up hair around the elastic, and doused the whole thing with more hair spray.

Sure, braids can be fun, loose, and unfussy. But they also can get dressed up and unbelievably precise, says Hawkins. To get the look from the fall 2012 Salvatore Ferragamo show, part the hair in the center and smooth it straight back into a low ponytail with gel. Then divide the hair in two and braid each section. Wrap each braid up from the center to create an oval and pin the braids against the head.

Your fringe needs to be your top priority. "You should blow out your bangs the minute you step out of the shower to train your roots to go in the direction you want them to go," says Hawkins. Use a small round brush to blow-dry them straight. Then wrap bangs in a large Velcro roller to give them a slight '60s arc and to keep them out of your face as you finish styling the rest of your hair.

A chic clip is the perfect complement for a messy, roughed-up style. Go glam with a glitzy metal one, or a classic silver or black one from Goody works, too. Spritz a light texturizing spray on dry hair, drag it all back with your fingers, and loosely clip it together at the nape of your neck.

OK, this one may take a little practice, but it's not as hard as it looks, we swear! Gather all the hair above the temple and clip it up and out of the way, and flip your head upside down. Now the tricky part: French-braid the back section of hair from the nape of the neck up to the crown. It's going to look impressive even with bumps and mistakes, so don't agonize over getting it just right. When you reach the crown, brush the rest of the hair back and gather it into a single ponytail. Wrap the ponytail loosely into a bun and hold it in place with three large hairpins.