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The school year is starting and you want to look as sharp as your children. Add flair to your hair with these easy, updated styles so you feel like a modern mom -- not a Stepford wife.

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One to two weeks before school starts, visit your hairdresser and get a trim or a new cut altogether. If you color your hair, have your roots done or ask for highlights that blend into your natural color in case you don't have time to get to the salon once school starts. At home, deep condition your hair with a product like Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask . One multitasking tip for time challenged moms is to wash your hair in the sink and then apply deep conditioner and pull into a bun. Then proceed with any chores so you can moisturize your hair while you clean the house!

Pixie cut

If simplicity is your style and you have the cheekbones to pull it off, ask your hairdresser to give you a perfect cropped 'do. Try a style that has slightly longer layers on top, so you can vary your style, from adding texture or slicking it back. For easy styling, keep a pomade on hand such as Got 2b Playful Texturizing Creme Pomade .

Bombshell glam

Voluminous hair makes you feel sexy and smart in the morning. To style this look, start with un-washed hair and part in the middle. Take a 2-inch curling iron and wrap large sections around your head, pinning each up to cool for five minutes. When you are done, take the pins out and flip your head upside down. Finish with hairspray and shine spray, such as TRESemme Smooth No Frizz Shine Spray .

Textured bob

Ask your hairdresser for a layered bob. To style at home, create a center part and spray a texture-enhancer such as Beyond the Zone The Scruncher throughout hair. Next, blow dry with a vented brush. This style also works with long hair to create a retro glam look.

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Photo credits: FayesVision/WENN.com, B.Dowling/WENN.com, FayesVision/WENN.com

Casual, messy updo

This first look is great on day old or "dirty hair." Here are the steps to get the look:

• To create texture, either tease the hair all over or spray with a dry shampoo. Even good old fashioned baby powder can create great texture.
• Grab your hair like you are pulling it into a ponytail and twist it towards your head.
• Secure the hair with bobby pins.
• If any ends are left out, either leave them for a more casual glam look or pin them back for a more polished, conservative look

Tip: Set looks with lots of hairspray

Wavy or curly updo

This second updo can be achieved by creating loose curls around your head with an iron or electric rollers. Next, take sections of your hair and twist away from your face and pin to the back of your head. Finish with lots of hairspray. Some pieces may fall around your face to create a messy but chic style. Sometimes hair that is too formal can make us look older, so opt for the softer, messier updos for the holidays.

A different curl

Try an alternative curling iron to create a party-ready look: Cone curling irons such as Conair YouCurl are great to create easy curls without any kinks. Other curling irons on the market are double barrel irons that create an S-shape curl. For easy waves, try a wave iron like BedHead's Wave Artist.

Sleek it up

Change up your usual look: If you usually wear your hair curly, try blow-drying hair straight with volume for an easy party look. To really change the look, try changing your part to the other side, or parting your hair down the middle. One celebrity trick: zig-zag your part to create volume at the crown.

Tip: Add sparkly clips or headbands to glam it up

Want more on hair care & hairstyles? Check out our guide to finding the best hairstyle>>

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Long-haired ladies always seem to be in style, but 2012 is the year of short hair, according to Pirri Brothers, Piero and Luigi! "With starlets debuting new short tresses, this trend is bound to catch on — fast," they said.

Short hair usually seems to look great on the top celebs, but they all have a team of stylists behind them, so it's no wonder that normal women are often a bit nervous about making the cut. If you'd like to find out how to rock sexy short strands, — you know, the normal people way — the Pirri brothers say there are a few things you need to take into consideration first: "You must take your personal style, face shape and hair texture into consideration and make it you."

You're in luck ladies, because we're taking all the work out of two popular short 'dos: the demi-bob and the modern pixie. Happy styling!

Demi-Bob

What is it? A demi-bob is a bob that falls anywhere between the mid-neck and shoulders and is one of this year's hottest trends.

Who's wearing it? Katy Perry, Shakira and Cameron Diaz have all recently sported the demi-bob!

How to wear it? To make the look work for you, the Pirri brothers recommend adjusting to your own personal style and preference. Here are a few tips!

• If you have a defined jaw: Complement the look with a bob that hits right at the jawbone
• If you have a round face: Keep your bob closer to shoulder length and avoid going too short.
• If you have an oval face: Try added fringe and angles with your demi-bob.
• If you have straight or slightly wavy hair: Spice things up with a cut like Katy Perry's in a fierce black or keep it sweet with strawberry blonde.
• If you have coarse or curly hair: Tame your 'do with the right products, like Pirri Elements Nature's Breeze detangler & leave-in conditioner.

Modern Pixie 'Do

What is it? Close to the head and edgy, the pixie is a minimalist look perfect for the gal who's pretty low-maintenance when it comes to her locks.

Who's wearing it? Emma Watson and Ashlee Simpson have recently turned heads for their short cuts, and, of course, Twiggy is the original pixie gal!

How to wear it? The pixie 'do is not for the faint of heart, ladies. But you can make the look work for your beauty type with a few key changes!

• If you have a petite face and fine features: Adding bangs will help to further open up the face, the Pirri brothers say.
• If you have an oval face: A lot of gals with oval faces think they can't rock this trend, but you certainly can! The Pirri brothers recommend asking your stylist to do a razor cut that complements your face shape, not one that elongates it.
• If you have a round face shape: To help create a slimming effect, you might want to opt for a demi-bob instead of a pixie. Of course, you can still rock a pixie with the right professional help!

The most important part of rocking a pixie cut? The stylist! Choose a hairstylist you trust and ask him or her for simple daily styling tips to make your life easier!

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Pixie cut

Michelle Williams, Emma Watson and other celebrities have been sporting pixie haircuts in recent years. If you have decided to go short, the pixie is a hip, trendy style that looks good on many women. The pixie cut is best suited for heart, oval and square faces, but you can pull it off with a round face too.

If you have a round face, add a little texture or piecing on the top so that the cut doesn't make your face look even rounder. The pixie cut works best for wavy or straight, medium to thick hair rather than super curly or thin hair.

The shag

If you aren't quite ready for a super short hairstyle, try a shag cut instead that is a couple inches above the shoulders. Alexa Chung popularized the sexy shag a couple of years back, and it's been going strong ever since. The layered style from the '70s can be worn with long sideswept bangs, short wispy fringe or a simple center part.

Chin-length bob

If you have been wearing a longer, modified bob for a while, consider making a change to a shorter, chin-length bob for spring. Bobs this season look great with blunt bangs, or for wavy hair, the tousled look is in.

Short and spiky

Make a fierce statement with a short, edgy hairstyle this spring. Spiky, edgy cuts aren't for the timid woman, so if you think you have the guts to pull it off, head to the stylist with a bunch of photos of different funky hairstyles that you love. Put some trust in your stylist to help you figure out which cut is best suited for your face shape and other features.

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Photo credits: WENN

NeNe Leakes goes to celebrity stylist Pat Sumpter Davis whenever she needs to update her signature platinum blond cut for media appearances. Leakes never has a hair out of place, so we asked Davis for tips on how to get her style at home.

• Slick your hair straight back with mousse and sit under a warm hair dryer.
• Starting at the nape, smooth the hair with a 1/2-inch flat iron. Be sure to lift at the crown of the head to create volume.

But, be careful with the flat iron on blond strands.

"Blond hair tends to pick up color easily, so make sure flat irons are clean before using them," Davis said.

• Tease around the crown to create additional lift, then smooth the hair.
• Style with a rake-like comb to create a slightly imperfect finish.
• Add sheen with a shine spray and finish it off with hairspray (like White Sands Infinity Hairspray, $21) to add hold.

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Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com

Before making the big cut, it's important to figure out what face shape you have. Lucky for you, we have a handy guide to help you out. Once you're all set with your face shape, there are a few things to consider before you head to the salon. We got Matrix Celebrity Hairstylist George Papanikolas to offer some of his best tips for what pixie cut to choose for your unique face shape and how to style your new 'do.

Now that you've cut your hair into a pixie, it's time to arm yourself with some top-notch hair products to style your new 'do. Lucky for you, we've selected a few of our faves!

Something sleek

For times when you want to polish your pixie, reach for a product that will keep your look flat and sleek.

Our pick: Matrix Total Results Heat Resist Iron Tamer (matrix.com, $16)

A volumizer

You're not resigned to boring hair days if you cut your hair into a pixie cut. In fact, pixies can have a lot of fun with their locks. The key? Volume. Play with the height and texture of your pixie with a volumizer that will instantly transform locks.

Our pick: Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Teasing Dust (ulta.com, $23)

A paste or wax

Mold your sassy pixie a number of ways with a flexible wax that will give you loads of texture and all-day hold.

Our pick: Fudge Urban Matte Wax (target.com, $11)

A spray

Just because your hair's short doesn't mean you won't need some hairspray. For those gals rocking pixies with bangs, a spray will come in extra handy to add hold. Or if you're simply looking to add some definition and shine, spray will do wonders.

Our pick: Dove Style + Care Strength & Shine Extra Hold Hairspray (cvs.com, $5)

An accessory

Show off your short 'do with some flashy hair accessories to add extra flair to your look. Bobby pins and headbands are always a fun way to switch things up.

Our pick: Remington Metal Headband with Flowers (remingtonproducts.com, $10)

A brush

Think chicks with pixies don't experience hair knots? Think again. The longer your pixie is, the more potential for knotting, so arm yourself with a brush that'll get you out the door in no time, knot-free.

Our pick: Knot Genie Peaceful Pink Knot Genie Brush (knotgenie.com, $20)

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