The gowns were, as always, long at this year’s Oscars. But short was definitely in. We’re talking about hair, of course. Some of the chicest hairstyles at the ultimate red carpet event were clipped, cropped and barely grazing the ears -- proof that gorgeous and glam comes in all lengths.

Charlize Theron

Sporting a stunning Dior gown with a dramatically plunging neckline and dripping in 31 carats of Harry Winston diamonds, the blonde beauty made everybody’s best-dressed list. But it was her cropped ’do that had us turning our heads. Charlize’s hair, grown out since her pixie days, was sleek and sexy, with a very modern side part. Absolute perfection.

Anne Hathaway

When Anne Hathaway presented the best supporting actor Oscar to Jared Leto, the two made a striking couple. His hair flowed past his shoulders, while hers was boyishly short. But Anne looked every inch the lady with her beautifully toned arms and shoulders on full display and the most perfectly arched brows of the night. (Brow maintenance is a must with super-short hair.)

Lupita Nyong’o

Along with her Oscar for best supporting actress, Lupita Nyong’o also deserves top props for the best hair accessory. Her glimmering diamond and gold headband was designed by jeweler-to-the-stars Fred Leighton. To recreate the look for less, search the Web for “glitter headband” and you’ll find entire online boutiques devoted to the sparkling accessory, with styles starting at less than two bucks. Or shop Etsy for handmade versions just a dollar more in dozens of colors, including orchid (Pantone’s color for the year), charcoal, rose, turquoise and wine.

Jennifer Lawrence

The Oscar contender may not have won the golden statue this year, but she wowed with the latest incarnation of her pixie -- brushed back and elegant with tons of volume. Reports say she was wearing $3 million-worth of Neil Lane jewels, but we think the most important part of her look was a genius root-lifting gel. 

Portia de Rossi

Uh oh, we’ve got dueling ’dos here. Much like Jennifer Lawrence, Portia wore her blond tresses swept back and amped up. Who wore it best? The envelope says … the tresses tie! 

 

If you’ve been contemplating to change your color this year, now’s the time to be bold and do it. With spring just around the corner, it’s time for a gorgeous renewal. To help you get started, we asked celebrity colorists to share the big color trends 2014. We love what they said!

1. It’s the year of the platinum blonde.

“I have dark brunette editors at Vogue and Marie Claire asking for platinum,” says colorist David Todd of the David Frank Salon in Scottsdale, Ariz. The runways were also packed with former dark-haired beauties now showing off that lightest of all blonde shades. Celebrities like Elle Fanning, Miley Cyrus and even Kim Kardashian are all going light blonde, and “it’s happening in every hair salon across America,” says Todd.

2. Monochromatic color is the new power shade.

Todd calls this “power color”: It's hair color like you mean it -- no in-between shades or wishy-washy tones, he says. Whether the color is red, blonde or brunette, it's solid and strong with no obvious highlights. Blondes are bright and light, brunettes are deep and rich, and reds are vibrant.

3. Pastels are passé.

“The color trend I'm seeing less and less of and I predict will be out in 2014 is pink, blue and other rainbow colors on adult women,” says Todd. “These hair dyes have very large color molecules which wash out very quickly and look like a faded mess after just a couple of shampoos.” Which is OK for 13-year-olds, but at our age? Not so much.

4. Ombré gets an update.

“Modern ombré is about having depth at the roots that fade into lighter tips,” says Todd, “with subtle gradations and a soft haze between shades.” Frank Galasso, a Hollywood colorist who tends to the tresses of Gwyneth Paltrow, Olivia Wilde, Vanessa Williams and Sharon Stone, adds that ombré is a great, low-maintenance way to go lighter.

“Your natural color will still frame your face so you can experience a lighter look without it being too drastic,” says Galasso. “I always recommend highlights about three shades lighter than natural. It gives the hair a shiny glow.”

SEE ALSO: A Beauty Editor’s Hair Resolutions for 2014

Hair Color Makeover: DIY or See a Pro?

If you’re going just a shade or two lighter or darker than your natural color, you can achieve great results with today’s nearly foolproof at-home color products. (For more dramatic makeovers, see a pro -- you’ll want to leave the complicated process of going from, say, brunette to platinum to the experts.) Plus, many color lines have websites that are loaded with advice and can also connect you to pros through on-line chats to give you tips on application and choosing the color that’s right for you.

Go into a color tweak with an open mind, Todd suggests. “Start with some feedback about what’s working and what’s not,” he says. “Often we don’t see ourselves objectively and it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. For a minute, forget about your ideas about what color is best for you and get some professional suggestions.” And scrape the notion that you need to keep your hair on the dark side during the winter. “Contrary to popular belief,” says Todd, “winter is a great time to go slightly lighter. The skin gets lighter so a bit less color in the hair works well. Save the low lights for summer when you’ve had a bit of sun.”

SEE ALSO: How to Talk to Your Hairdresser

Maintain Your Hair Color and Shine

Once you’ve achieved your gorgeous hue, you can maintain it with a little bit of TLC. “The foundation for any hair care routine is a good shampoo and conditioner especially formulated for color-treated hair,” says New York celebrity colorist Kyle White, whose roster includes A-listers like Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron, Jessica Alba and Naomi Watts. Products like a color preserve shampoo give your hair a protective outer layer that helps keep the color from fading and also adds moisture and shine.

You’ll also want to be sure to use a product like a heat protection and shine spray whenever you use a hot styling tool. “The same way colored clothing tends to fade when placed in a dryer,” White says, “flat irons and other high-heat styling tools can fade color and dull shine.”

SEE ALSO: Simple Steps for Healthy Skin and Hair

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.

SEE ALSO:

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?

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!