Hairstyle Ideas for Going Out

We all want to look special for a big night out. With the right tricks and tools, you can achieve a red carpet-worthy hairstyle that will give you that extra boost of confidence to impress your date or just your friends.

The High Ponytail

• This easy and sophisticated look has been made popular by celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Heidi Klum. The key to making it different from the bad-hair-day ponytail is to keep the sides sleek and the tail high, while creating volume at the crown. Smooth dry hair with a glossing serum or extreme hold gel. Brush through. Gather all of your hair into a high ponytail, smoothing the sides with a bristle brush as you go. Secure with an elastic band. Now, divide the ponytail into two sections with your thumbs and pull both sections firmly toward your ears. This will pull the hair even tighter at the sides and create volume on the top of your hair. Smooth any stray ends with a soft brush and spray with hairspray. Rebrush the tail to smooth.

Straight and Sleek

• This look is best on shoulder-length or longer hair. The key elements of this look are a flat iron and glossing spray. Hair should end up super shiny and straight with no frizz. Apply styling cream and straightening lotion to hair. Blow dry hair straight in small sections, using a round brush to pull the hair firmly while you apply heat. Next, use a flat iron on your entire head, clipping up in sections as you go. Get a friend to help you with the back if you haven't done this before. When finished, unclip hair and smooth gently with a soft bristle brush. Hold a glossing spray 4 to 6 inches away from your hair, and spray in a fine mist. Smooth any flyaways with your hands.

Beach Hair

• This hairstyle is great for curly or wavy hair and leaves you with a tousled, sexy look. Add styling mousse or cream to damp hair. Next, spray in a surf spray (available from John Freida or Bumble and Bumble) and flip head over, scrunching ends and running your finger through the hair. Let hair dry almost completely and then finish, head upside down again, with a blow dryer set on cool. Keep it messy, and spray on a shine spray with gold shimmer.

Messy Updo

• This is a great look if you're pressed for time or coming from the office or off the beach. Brush dry hair and rub in a few drops of smoothing cream or shine serum, distributing evenly through hair. Pull back into a low ponytail, securing with two turns of an elastic. Now, pull hair through the elastic a third turn, but before pulling hair all the way through, stop. This will leave you with a small bun and some wispy ends hanging out. If you have bangs, sweep them to the side, and let a few tendrils of hair fall loose around your face. Finish with a silk flower or a pretty crystal clip on the side or at the back.

Tips

• Use a combination of styling products to help your look stay all night; no single product can do it all.
• Hair is easier to work with when its not freshly washed. Second-day hair has more shine and stays put.
• Find a celebrity whose look is similar to yours, and check out her website photo gallery to get ideas for more hairstyles. Celebrities have highly paid professionals working with them; you can get the look for free.