Fashionable Haircuts for Girls

Having the right haircut is usually more important for girls than for their male counterparts. Girls take fashion and beauty cues from trendsetting celebrities, wanting to wear the most popular styles and express their personalities through their hair. There are a number of fashionable haircuts that are suitable for girls and are versatile enough that they can be adorned with ribbons or barrettes for special occassions. Does this Spark an idea?

The Bob

The bob is a hairstyle that never seems to go out of fashion for girls. A simple chin-length bob brings out the girl's facial features and is easy to style for girls with straight hair. A bob can be parted in the middle or dressed up with a side part and clipped with a cute barrette. Bobs can also be worn with eyebrow-length bangs cut straight across. Matilda Ledger, the young daughter of Michelle Williams and the late Heath Ledger, is one celebrity who effortlessly wears a casual bob.

Long Haircuts

Longer hairstyles for girls are popular because they look great and can be pulled back into ponytails or pigtails, or braided to create different looks. Longer haircuts for girls can be cut in a variety of ways. Some girls want bangs; typically blunt-cut, heavy bangs that fall at eyebrow level. Another variation on a long haircut is trimming layers throughout the hair to take away some of the weight, adding volume. Face-framing layers can be worn or clipped to the side with a barrette.

Inverted Bob

The inverted bob was made popular by Victoria Beckham and remains one of the most popular short haircuts for girls of all ages. This haircut is characterized by short, stacked layers at the back that gradually get longer as they move toward the chin. Parted either to the middle or to the side, the front layers can be all one length or cut into face-framing layers or bangs. The inverted bob haircut is not only fashionable, but easy to style for girls who have straight hair.

Edgy Haircuts

Celebrities like Willow Smith and Rihanna are setting the trend for edgy, funky haircuts. Willow Smith has worn a variety of buzz-worthy styles, including a half-shaved style that is brushed over to one side, giving it an asymmetrical look. Rihanna once wore a similar style, sometimes shaved like Willow's and other times with the shorter side grown out. Instead of combing the longer layers over to one side, this haircut could also be cut shorter on the top so that the girl could spike her hair. An edgy haircut would work best for a daring girl who has natural texture in her hair.

How to Make a Hair Clippy Holder

In the morning rush to catch the bus on time, many young girls scramble to find just the right matching hair accessory. Help organize young girls’ hair clips and barrettes with a simple craft. Girls will take pride in their homemade clippie organizer and, therefore, be motivated to use the organizer to keep their clips in one organized location. School mornings will move along more smoothly with one less item to hunt for.

Cut 30 strands of yarn to a length of about 2 1/2 feet. Bunch one end of the yarn strands together and bind them with a small piece of yarn wrapped around the strands and tied in a knot. Tape the bound end to the edge of a table with masking tape. Divide the dangling yarn strands into three sections of 10 yarn strands each. Braid the yarn strands beginning at the tape and working down to 1 inch from the bottom. Bind the bottom of the braid with another small piece of yarn wrapped around the braid and tied in a knot.

Place the powder puff on a work surface with the puffy side up. Glue googly eyes on the powder puff to create a face. Add a smile and rosy cheeks with permanent marker. Fold the braid in half to locate the center point. Glue the center 3 inches of the braid to the top of the powder puff face. Allow 15 minutes for the glue to dry.

Tie a small bow with 6 inches of grosgrain ribbon. Glue the ribbon to the center of the yarn braid to conceal where the hair part would be on the powder puff head. Tie two bows on the bottom of each braid's end. Thread a needle with embroidery floss. Stitch a small loop in the back of the powder puff to hang the organizer on a wall. Clip barrettes and hair bows on the clippy organizer braids.

Different Rock 'N Roll Fashion Styles

Rock 'n roll was born in the 1950s -- the era that also created teenagers as we know them today. This rebellious new generation created their own new fashions to express themselves. Since then, there have been many types of rock music, although many people still refer to the scene as rock 'n roll. With each new genre of music and each decade that goes by, new fashions emerge. Does this Spark an idea?

1950s: Original Rock 'n Roll

The men and women that listened to rock 'n roll acts like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis in the 1950s tended to dress in a specific way. Some adults found the music offensive and put limits on where it could be played, and the different types of fashions kids wore only served to intensify the older generation's sense of the music's inappropriateness. While girls opted for blouses teamed with wide belts and wide-hemmed skirts, boys started wearing pink shirts and gray or black trousers. Some young women wore a matching set of slim skirts and sweaters, and men also grew their sideburns to look like Elvis. Neck ties and flat shoes tended to be preferred by the girls. Other fashions young men went for included suede shoes, baggy pants and trousers with white stripes down the sides.

1960s: The British Invasion

In the 1960s, the rock 'n roll trend that had been growing in the United Kingdom for a decade traveled over the pond with new bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. These popular bands brought a new style to the United States. While the Beatles wore tailored suits and bowl haircuts, the Rolling Stones opted for a casual and rebellious look. With the music of the 1960s came the hippie trend, which saw people don bright-colored loose clothing, similar to Native American dress and usually made with natural fibers. The Beatles also eventually changed their appearance to become more hippie in their style. The British also shared a new fashion for whom the poster girl was supermodel Twiggy -- the mini skirt.

1970s: Psychedelic, Punk and Goth

Hippie trends continued into the 1970s, when they became more psychedelic, while a new trend -- punk -- was also born. Punks wore leather jackets, safety pins on their clothes and ripped jeans. Meanwhile, the psychedelic hippies moved away from the matching clothing of their 1960s counterparts and began wearing clashing colors. Goths also emerged in this decade, with men and women dressing in black, painting their faces white and wearing heavy dark make up around their eyes.

1980s: American Hairband

In the 1980s, one trend that stood out was that of the American hairband groups. These included Guns 'n Roses, Poison and Motley Crue. These musicians wore tight pants, big hair and flashy makeup. Band members, including famous guitarist Slash of Guns 'n Roses, wore their hair frizzy or in bangs with hairspray. They also wore eyeliner, mascara and blusher. Clothes were tight and made of leather, teamed with leather accessories. Skull motifs were common.

How to Make Hair Smell Seductive

Scents such as musk, rose, jasmine, gardenia and sandalwood can entice people and evoke a seductive mood. If you are a woman who wishes to excite someone through the sense of smell, consider scenting your hair with one of these alluring scents. Many oils, perfumes and sprays made especially for the hair use a mix of these scents. Does this Spark an idea?

Shampoo and condition your hair with products that have a deep floral or musky scent to them. If you cannot start with freshly cleaned hair, blow-dry your dry hair to remove any odors your hair and scalp may have picked up.

Spritz your hair with a perfume made for hair. They are less drying than regular perfumes for your hair. Choose a seductive scent such as rose, musk, gardenia or sandalwood.

Brush and style your hair as usual. Wearing your hair down and loose will allow the scent from your hair to disperse about you as you walk or move your head.

Add a touch of essential oil in a complementary scent to your hair perfume to make your seductive scent last longer.

Tips

- Avoid "fresh" or citrusy scents. These create an energizing and awake mood rather than a romantic and seductive atmosphere.

Warning

- Avoid spraying too much perfume on your hair. Scents that are overpowering can be distracting.

Glamorous Hairstyles of the 1950s

The 1950s was a decade of relative prosperity in the United States. World War II was over, and the mood across much of the country was one of celebration and triumph. Women's hairstyles naturally became more glamorous and elaborate, a far cry from the previous decade where women would usually wear their hair tied back or in a roll around the nape.



In the 50s, housewives wanted to appear stylish, even when carrying out domestic chores. Does this Spark an idea?

New Wave

During the 50s, women were returning to their homes from the jobs they carried out during the war. They had more time to groom their hair and more money to spend on hair products and makeup. This meant simple, straight hair was out, and soft, curly or wavy hair was in. Options included having their hair teased, sculpted, sprayed or permanently waved. Elizabeth Taylor was a hair icon for women, largely because of the permed style she cultivated.

Beehive

The beehive emerged in the late 50s. It required the expertise of a salon stylist with a wet roller set and a hair dryer. The hair was piled up to the top of the head to resemble a real beehive. Women would sleep in curlers and rollers in order to achieve the look in time for weekend social functions. For daytime practicality it was often wrapped in a headscarf. The beehive remained in vogue throughout the 60s.

Poodle Cut

The idea behind the poodle cut was to frame the face in a round fashion to portray a youthful, feminine look. It was a short, but wavy, hairstyle exemplified in the look of Lucille Ball. Women from the mid-50s onward would spend big money to get their hair done this way in a salon. As products such as hair spray and rollers became more obtainable, women were also able to make their hair bigger and more extravagant in their homes.

Bouffant

Many Hollywood actresses wore the bouffant, among them Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn. It relied on a lot of hair spray to attain its precise look. The hair at the top of the head is teased and backcombed and then given volume by spray. The rest of the hair was left to hang low and styled according to personal preference. The bouffant was fashionable through the early 60s, when it was favored by first lady Jackie Kennedy.

Ducktail

The ducktail was a high-maintenance men's hairstyle of the era, often sported by young men. The sides of the hair were greased back and the top was given a long cut with jagged edges. The sides would be combed behind the head to meet in the middle, like a duck's tail. This hairstyle would often be complimented with thick sideburns, a look that could be attributed to Elvis and James Dean.

How to Make Straight Hair Look Great for School

Girls with curly hair often want straight hair, while straight-haired girls wish their hair was more curly. Instead of wishing for something you don't have, learn to embrace the hair type you were born with. With the right haircut, styling products and styling tools, everyone at school will be envious of your beautiful, straight hair. Does this Spark an idea?

Shampoo your hair with a volumizing shampoo. After you rinse out the shampoo, add a volumizing conditioner to just the ends of your hair. Rinse the conditioner out after letting it sit in your hair for a couple of minutes.

Spray your hair with a leave-in conditioner to get the tangles out and prevent your hair from becoming frizzy during the day. Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb.

Squirt a quarter-sized amount of volumizing mousse in your hand. Distribute the mousse throughout your hair with your fingers.

Use a blow dryer to dry your hair. Hold up your hair from the roots with the a round brush as your blow dry your hair to give your hair more volume. Another way to add volume is to blow dry your hair upside down.

Finish your style with hair spray. Holding the hair spray two inches away from your hair, spritz the product in your hair to help hold your style.

Tips

- Ask your hair stylist to add layers to your hair. A layered haircut frames your face and helps your hair look more voluminous.

What Are Flapper Girls?

The term "flapper" and the women it was used to describe are part of the bygone era that reached prominence in the 1920s. But the fashion, frame of mind and trends that were first associated with flappers still influence us today and are worth a closer look. Does this Spark an idea?

The Flapper Chapter

The slang term "flapper" first started in the days after World War I. This period in our history there was a lot of cultural and political activity, coupled with a European cultural exchange that was booming since peace had been achieved. The term "flapper" is a reference to a young bird, flapping it's wings in preparation to take flight and leave the nest. The modern woman of the '20s was like this bird, preparing for a freedom and future hereto for unavailable to them until that time.

As the 1920s began, a time referred to in the history books as "the Roaring Twenties" societal changes were redefining the feminine principle decades before modern feminism or women's liberation would take sway. At this time women in the West started to latch on to jazz music, bobbed hair, short skirts, makeup and other new and appealing societal offerings previously unavailable.

The Great Gatsby and Beyond

It was not long before popular culture was echoing and illustrating flapper fashions. The great American novelist, F. Scott Fitzgerald detailed aspects of flapper culture, most notably in the character of Daisy Miller in his classic novel "The Great Gatsby."

Films also latched on to the flapper mystique, and international movie stars like Josephine Baker, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks and Joan Crawford came to fame as flapper icons. In dance halls, ballrooms and living rooms across America it was common in the 1920s to find flapper women embracing jazz music and dancing in jerky rhythms as faddish dance crazes developed around them. The Charleston, the Jitterbug and the Shag were among the many flapper inspired dances born from swing jazz music.

Fashion and Fame

Flappers had an influence on fashion. From high heels and short skirts with silk lace and corsets, to art deco hats, horn-rims and caps. The bob cut and similar short and boyish cuts caught on like wildfire and are still popular today. The use of blush and mascara, and deliberately pale skin also became all the rage due to the flapper influence. Old Betty Boop cartoons exemplify a lot of the playful roles the flapper fashions played in the popular culture of the 1920s.

A Way of Life

To a large extent, the flapper culture was more than a fad; it was a mindset and an empowering trend for women seeking the kind of independence denied them previously. Many early feminist voices emerged during this time period, and personal freedoms emerged that were not available to women before. Smoking cigarettes, for instance, was a much more rebellious act back then, and many flappers chose to smoke as an act of defiance against cultural norms. Traditional ideas of sexuality were also challenged by flappers, and playful ideas of hedonism, previously only enjoyed by men, were now practiced by woman in this era, too.