A new hairstyle excites us women. For the more adventurous and daring, here are some current trends to turn your hair from blah to banging.

Braids
Ruling the runways of Alexander Wang, Oscar de la Renta and Miu Miu, braids took all sorts of forms. Boho braids are tousled with flyaway strands for a carefree effect. A single loose side braid is quick and a favourite of Nicole Richie. Tight, neat braids add a quirky polish to an outfit. If you’re a bit more adventurous, intertwine thin ribbon.

Pompadour
An exaggerated height of the hair on the top of one’s head, a pompadour adds volume and instant glamour. A favourite of Rihanna and Agyness Deyn, this look doesn’t require any cutting -- just lots of hairspray! If you have bangs, apply wax before blow-drying them up straight and hold them with hairspray. Longer hair needs to be backcombed and finished off with hair product as well. Slick back the sides of your hair for additional drama.

Pixie Cut
Fantastic on petite women, close crops draw attention to the lower half of your face and work best with heart or oval face shapes. Pixie cuts allow you to experiment more often with less recovery time, so it’s the best stage to try hair color you wouldn’t normally consider on healthy long hair. Take a cue from celebrities Cate Blanchett, Hayden Panettiere, Michelle Williams, Janet Jackson and Emma Watson, who all went for the chop in 2010.

Bangs
Bangs are the easiest way to update your look without losing those long tresses you love. A heavy fringe that falls just below your eyebrows suits most face shapes and detracts attention away from high foreheads. Long, side-swept bangs will elongate a round face. Short, blunt bangs above the eyebrows will add length to a small face with a short forehead (a la Jessica in this season’s “Australia’s Next Top Model”). For a more edgy look, try asymmetrical, poker-straight or short choppy bangs.

Photo: Corbis Images