Rock Your Locks

Amp up your new year with a head-turning new haircut, color or style

New Year’s Eve is almost here and you’ve sworn to go into 2012 with a bang. Or a bob. Or maybe even a pixie cut. Start the year with a new hairstyle and you’ll keep things exciting long after the noisemakers have quieted. Change doesn’t need to be drastic to make an impact. A face-flattering snip here, a ripple of color there and you’ll turn heads.

Fringe Benefits
“If you want something a little different, add bangs. They’re always in style,” says Chicago-based independent hairstylist Amanda Mitchell.

A thick bang a la Heidi Klum adds body, especially on those with finer hair. If you’re hesitant to leave bare forehead territory, try a feathery side swipe that frames the face.

The Short of It
Guess what? The bob is back, and it’s taken an artful turn. “There are a lot of fun, edgy versions out there,” says Mitchell. “One is the ‘lob,’ a longer bob that hits your shoulders or just below and is angled and textured.”

The really daring can turn up the boyish charm with a pixie cut. This super-short style is more flexible than you might think. Try a ruffled look for daytime and a combed, sleek mane for night.

Bangs, bobs, lobs, pixies or even restorative little trims are given at a leisurely clip at The Salon at ULTA. Ask for the Signature Cut service.

Color Us Happy
A new year calls for new hues. Color lovers have lots of choices at The Salon at ULTA, ranging from area highlights, which throw alluring shades in certain parts of your hair, to dimensional highlights, which cast different tones throughout for a more complex look. “As a whole, color brightens the face and adds dimension,” says Mitchell, who loves to see deep brunettes get a splash of luscious caramel.

For hair color and vibrancy, try a glaze. This treatment coats hair with clear or color gloss, adding shine while conditioning thirsty strands.

If nothing else, greet New Year’s Eve with a fresh shampoo and style. That way, your midnight festivities are sure to be a blowout.

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