Valentine’s Day is almost here! Whether you’ve been with your sweetie for two years or two weeks, get ready to spice things up with an ultra-glam come-hither look that’ll have him falling for you all over again. And hey, if you haven’t met your valentine yet, we’re betting you will soon when you try one of these flirty hairstyle ideas, inspired by the heads of our favorite beauties. Check ’em out, along with tips from our celebrity stylist Julia Papworth, and get ready to up your game come February 14.

1. Jessica Alba’s Old Hollywood Glam Curls

 

Knock his socks off this Valentine’s Day by channeling old Hollywood glamour a la Jessica Alba. To get the look, Papworth recommends starting out with a great volumizing cream. Then blow-dry your hair using a round brush and create a deep side part. With a 1-inch curling iron, now curl medium sections of hair horizontally across your head. As soon as you’re done with each curl, clip it up to allow it to set. Once your head cools a bit, take down the curls and brush through your hair to separate them. Apply a small drop of a smoothing cream, like argan serum, to calm any flyaways and mist on a medium hold hairspray to finish up.

2. Charlize Theron’s Sophisticated Side Bun

 

A carefree but elegant updo like Charlize Theron’s is perfect for Valentine’s Day. For this style, begin with dry hair. Curl your entire head with a medium-sized iron to add some texture, and piece out the curls with your fingers once they cool. Next, tease your crown to add a little lift. Pull your hair back and to the side, right behind your ear, to create a bun. Secure it with bobby pins, tugging out a few strands to give it that messy, sexy vibe.

3. Diane Kruger’s Messy Side Braid

 

Paired with a glitzy ensemble, this messy side braid is loose, gorgeous and oh so romantic! Start with dry hair and apply a sea salt spray to add some texture; braid loosely to the side, advises Papworth. Don’t forget to leave out some curly tendrils because the messier the better for this style.

4. Lauren Conrad's Luxurious Curls

 

Lauren Conrad is the queen of dreamy hairdos. Rock her signature luxe long curls to really make him swoon. Julia suggests applying a smoothing cream from the mid lengths of damp hair through the ends first. Spray a volumizing spray at your roots and then blow dry with a medium-sized round brush. After blow-drying, use a large-barrel curling iron (around 1.5 inches depending on your hair’s thickness) and curl in vertical sections around your head. Make sure to direct the curls away from your face. Once the curls cool, mist a brush with a light hold hairspray and brush through. 

5. Taylor Swift’s Va-Va-Voom Locks

 

Do vintage ’80s volume with a twist this Valentine’s Day! Start with towel-dried hair, and apply volumizing cream to the mid-lengths and ends of hair, and a volumizing hairspray to your roots, says Papworth. Blow-dry your fringe first as it can air-dry very quickly. Use a paddle brush on your bangs to achieve volume and smoothness, and then move on to the rest of your head. Blow-dry with a large round brush to get optimal lift, and after each section is dry, pin it up to allow it to set and cool. Leave the ends of your hair slightly out of the pin to help avoid curly ends. After cooling, let the hair down and separate with your fingers.

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Make Your Own Spa This Valentine’s Day

We complain about the humidity all summer long, but when it disappears, our hair stops shining along with our T-zone. “To have good hair in winter, you’ve got to know what you’re up against and how to beat the elements,” says stylist Jayne Wild, director of Wild Life Hairdressing in Sydney. Thankfully, it’s easier than it sounds.

Tackle Static
Virtually every hair type is more prone to static in winter, because there is less moisture in the air, according to Nikki Yazxhi, editor of beauty blog Bella Mumma. “Even the fact that you wear different manmade fibres exacerbates the problem,” she says. The good news is that well-nourished hair copes better, so switch to a moisturising shampoo and conditioner. Another trick: Spray a small amount of hair spray on a natural bristle brush and smooth it from the roots to the ends -- stiff plastic bristles actually encourage static.

Rethink Your Routine
“A lot of people change their skin routine in winter but forget to do the same for their hair. Within weeks, their hair is dull and frizzy,” says Wild. If your issue is compounded with limpness, apply conditioner from the ears down. And unless you have very fine hair, use a deep conditioning mask once a week. A dab of silicone-based serum before blow-drying will tame the frizz too.

Add Colour
When you look dull all over, you might consider booking a facial. But your cash may be better spent on adding a new colour to your hair. A few streaks around the hairline and the part of your hair can brighten your whole look. The trick is to only highlight a shade or two lighter than your natural colour so that everyone thinks you’ve just returned from holidays. Also, “a semipermanent hair color is the quickest way to add body and shine,” says Shane Henning, creative director of Noddy's On King in Sydney. Henning recommends going a little darker if you’re a brunette, and highlighting fair hair with warmer tones, like a soft caramel.

Use a Brush
Ask yourself: When was the last time I actually brushed my hair? Summer is all about messy layers, textured curls and easy-looking styles. So we often abandon traditional grooming for finger styling and a little salt spray. Wild says that finding your brush again can make a huge difference. “Running the brush from roots to ends will add moisture, as it distributes your natural oils,” she says. “And a paddle brush with a magnet in the handle can also prevent static by neutralising the electric charge.”

Try a New Style
Cashmere scarves and wool hats can be exciting after a long, hot summer, but when you peel away the layers, your hair can look a little Young Einstein. Henning suggests an elegant updo, such as a soft chignon. Use a fine-tooth comb to gently tease the top and sides of your hair, and just a little at the crown; sweep your hair straight back with your hands into a low ponytail; tease the underside of the pony using the fine-tooth comb and twist into a loose bun, using pins to secure it. Mist with a little hair spray to finish. 

Get a Cut
Dry, frizzy ends are a result of lack of moisture, and sometimes damage too. Yazxhi says that losing even half an inch or snipping off the ends every six weeks can make a huge difference. “Experiment with noncommittal styles like fringes and shorter layers around your face. These are much easier to wear in the cooler months and will have grown out by summer when you tend to wear your hair off your face,” she says. 

So, Style Glossy readers, what is your greatest winter hair woe?

If you’ve rocked a classic style for a while, beware that even the simplest cuts need to evolve. The dawn of a new decade is a good time to update that hairdo. Take a tip (or two) from stylists and stars who know how to keep a good thing going.   

The Pixie
This ultra-short cut not only accents great cheekbones and jawlines, but it also portrays gamine youthfulness and chic sophistication for any age.

• Vintage Liza Minnelli has made the pixie her signature cut, which she keeps fresh by adding layers and fullness through waves and curls. In her days as Mrs. Frank Sinatra, Mia Farrow made the pixie so enduring that, years later, the boyishly attractive cut helped define the waif movement of the ’90s.
• Modern Today’s pixie vixens, such as Michelle Williams (who looks a lot like Mia Farrow) and Halle Berry, wear their short cuts with a mix of fragility and seduction.
• Keep it fresh Hairstylist Kristen Ess, who counts Rachel McAdams and Amanda Bynes as clients, likes to add a few accessories, such as a pair of narrow headbands, to make the pixie more playful. “You think when you cut your hair off that you are limited to that specific look, but the pixie is very versatile,” says Ess. “You can also use products to give a different look or shape. Pomade can make a matte texture, sort of like a shag carpet. A light-hold gel can make it go elegant and sleek, like Sharon Stone, with a lot of control.”

Long and Sleek
Nothing says “sexy” better than a long, flowing mane of luscious, shiny and thick hair.

• Vintage For Cher, long, shimmering hair has been as much her signature as have her wild Bob Mackie bugle beaded costumes.
• Modern Demi Moore not only has the body of a teenager, but also the flowing, shiny hair to match. The ageless beauty often lets her hair down for big red-carpet events.
• Keep it fresh Great hair requires dedicated upkeep, says Ess, who recommends applying a temporary gloss to hair every six weeks. “It seals down the cuticle and acts like a topcoat for your nails,” she says. Carla Gentile, owner of Steam, a hip salon near Beverly Hills, Calif., says the fast way to update long hair is to add bangs. “You can also get away with a really low side part, like Gisele,” she says.

The Shag
This layered hairstyle has become the chic rebel’s favorite look, if only because a bit of tousled imperfection makes it all the more appealing.

• Vintage Jane Fonda’s shag in Klute made her character tough, scruffy and sexy, and it launched a look that defined the 1970s and beyond.
• Modern Kristen Stewart and Ashlee Simpson have made a long, loose shag a sought-after look, with hair that is black, red or blond.
• Keep it fresh
  Gentile says modern shags don’t hug the head and neck as closely as Fonda’s cut. Longer, looser layers are today’s look. Gentile also suggests experimenting with products that thicken or add texture to make the layers more distinct and chunky.

The Bob
The classic bob endures because it is an easy-care style that radiates sophistication -- or in extreme colors, delivers an ironic, punk twist.

• Vintage The angular bob that silent-film star Louise Brooks wore in the 1920s and ’30s matched the elegant lines of art deco.
• Modern Katie Holmes has worn a variation of the classic bob for the last two years, first with razor-sharp bangs and now with longer, sideswept ones, while Keira Knightley wears her straight and wavy.
• Keep it fresh Wear it a bit longer to look modern, says Ess, adding, “The long bob is called the ‘lob,’ which is an awful word but a gorgeous hairstyle.” Ess also suggests giving the hair a few spiral twists around a 1-inch curling iron to add some wave. “And don’t be too uniform with how you’re curling it,” she says. “You want to break up the curl.” 

My goal for 2014 is to be a better citizen of the world. To get there, I’ve come up with several noble resolutions, from giving even more at work to going the extra mile in my relationships. But one of the most important resolutions to help me reach my goal is “Banish bad hair days.”

What’s the connection? Gorgeous hair is a confidence booster that lets you move forward better in all other areas of your life. If you’re like me, you know what a distraction it is to have hair that’s frayed, frizzy, fried, or just not behaving the way you’d like it to. So, here’s how I plan to achieve my best hair every day, all year round in 2014, so I can shine in every aspect of my life.

1. Prevent damage from hot styling tools.
The first step to gorgeous hair 24:7 is preventive. I wouldn’t think about plopping an egg into a skillet without first coating the pan with butter or oil, yet sometimes, I use my blow dryer, curling iron or flat iron -- which sizzles at 400 F -- without applying anything to my strands first. This can really dry out your hair, setting it up for frizz and other woes that keep you from looking and feeling your best. In 2014, I resolve to spend the extra five seconds it takes to prep my hair with a heat protectant, which creates a powerful shield that prevents damage, protects hair color, and adds extra shine and softness to my hair.

2. Show off my natural wave.
Most days I wear my bob sleek and smooth. But I also like to shake it up a bit without having to get a haircut -- something I haven’t done enough of this year because I’ve felt that my natural waves weren’t polished enough to go without straightening. In 2014, I’m going to experiment with letting my natural wave show. I’m going to add a no-crunch curls whip product to my beauty arsenal so that my hair looks satiny even when it’s not straight.

3. Bring my hair BB cream with me wherever I go.
I travel at least once a month, and when I do, I tend to pack at the very last minute. I fling things into my toiletry case almost literally as I’m walking out the door. That means I typically forget my reliable hair care products and find myself trying to use the hotel body lotion as a substitute for a styling product. The results aren’t pretty. My solution for 2014: I’ve stowed a powerful BB cream for hair right in my overnight case. This multi-tasking wonder, which can be used on wet or dry hair, is a shining, smoothing, heat protecting, moisturizing, frizz fighting, flyaway tamer, all in one. I love it! If only I could find a dress that had this much versatility!

A holiday party is a great occasion to get a little adventurous with a gorgeous new hairstyle. This year, the most modern look calls for retro hair. Try one of these vintage ’dos from the ’40s, ’50s or ’60s. One thing that’s timeless is shiny healthy hair, so make sure to spend a few extra minutes with a deep conditioning treatment or mask on every week this month, if you don’t already. 

Pinup Girl

Start with hair that’s been curled with a curling iron, and you’ll just need to do a bit of backcombing and place a few bobby pins strategically for smart and chic 1940s looks: a pompadour, pump swirl, Rosie the Riveter, victory rolls or more. These looks go great with an embellished cardigan, a pencil skirt and a bright cherry lip. A light mist of flexible hold hairspray and your look will last -- even through endless rounds of the jitterbug or lindy-hop.

'Mad Men' Bob

Whether your hair is short or long you can create Betty Draper’s glam chin-length do. The secret, if your hair is longer than chin length, is a deftly hidden ponytail. For this style, you’ll want to use a curling iron to curl the front sections of your hair toward your face. To keep your locks from getting scorched always apply a heat-protectant before using a hot styling tool. This hairstyle has a sly sexiness to it. Wear it with your favorite classic LBD.

Veronica Lake Waves

Reese Witherspoon, Tina Fey, Jennifer Lopez, Blake Lively and Kate Winslet have all worn it on the red carpet. We’re talking about old Hollywood glamour waves. The Veronica Lake look, curls cascading over one shoulder, is the ultimate accessory for a strapless gown. The key to these femme waves is wrapping hair around, not inside, the barrel of a curling iron and allowing them to cool completely before you brush them out. Keep your curls frizz-free and satiny with a no-crunch curls whip.

Photo by Paul Siewert on Unsplash