November 2009

THE STYLE A new (!) below-the-chin bob with piecey, bouncy waves

WHERE The 2009 American Music Awards in Los Angeles

WHY WE LOVE IT Carrie Underwood's fresh, short cut is unbearably cute, plus the side-swept, pinned back bangs add a prim-but still playful-touch.

THE STYLE Big, wavy spirals with tons of alluring volume

WHERE A screening of Broken Embraces in New York City

WHY WE LOVE IT Penelope Cruz is one of the sexiest sirens in Hollywood, but this soft look is touchable and girlish in all the right ways. To give your strands extra bounce, try a body-building shampoo and condition regimen-new formulas contain moisture-attracting humectants that make the hair shaft look fuller.

THE STYLE A short pixie with a sexy, bedhead finish

WHERE An Evening of Awareness event in New York City

WHY WE LOVE IT Have we mentioned how happy we are that Halle Berry traded in her long locks for her signature stylish crop? To give your short cut a playfully mussed texture, let it air dry, then finger-style with a tacky pomade for extra shape.

THE STYLE A neat and brushed back coif with a hefty dose of volume

WHERE An event at the White House in Washington, DC

WHY WE LOVE IT We've been seeing pompadours on the red carpet for some time, but this is the first one we've spotted at the White House. Leave it to the First Lady Michelle Obama to transform this edgy style into something business appropriate (but not one bit dowdy).

THE STYLE A wavy, centerparted style with a twisty half ponytail

WHERE The opening of Undrest Pop Shop in Los Angeles

WHY WE LOVE IT Want to know a secret? Word has it that Whitney Port's signature twisty 'do was actually a look she came up with-and styled!-on her own. To try something similar, part your hair in the middle, gather two sections on either side of your head starting just above the ears, then twist and secure at your crown with a few bobby pins.

THE STYLE Loose and natural curls with plenty of texture and volume

WHERE The 43rd Annual CMA Awards in Nashville

WHY WE LOVE IT To create Nicole Kidman's casual and defined spirals, stylist David Babaii started with freshly washed hair. "My motto is rinse, rinse, rinse so you have a clean canvas," he says. He spritzed the hair with salt spray and scrunched it with his fingers as he blew it dry. He twisted small sections around a curling iron, pinned them in place, and let them cool. To finish, he took out the clips and loosened the curls with a bit of styling polish rubbed between his hands. "Remember, your hands can be your best styling tools," he says.

THE STYLE Long on the top and flipped to one side, with tightly cropped sides

WHERE Glamour's 2009 Women of the Year event in New York City

WHY WE LOVE IT Rihanna has been flirting with blond streaks and highlights all summer, and we couldn't be more pleased that she finally took the plunge. An added bonus? The flaxen color flatters her pearly, mocha skintone.

THE STYLE Tons of tight and tiny curls

WHERE The MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin

WHY WE LOVE IT No, this isn't a crazy new style from Beyonce, but it's drop-dead gorgeous all the same. We especially appreciate the way the textured look accentuates her honey-colored highlights that get minimized with straighter styles.

THE STYLE A sleek below-the-shoulder crop with subtle front layers

WHERE The 2012 premiere in Los Angeles

WHY WE LOVE IT Is it just us, or is Thandie Newton having a Pulp Fiction moment, minus the bangs? Either way, her long bob (or "Lob") is the perfect cut for the low-maintenance girls among us. The crisp lines of the style allow it to fall naturally into place with very little extra effort.

THE STYLE Wide, undone waves and a bold center part

WHERE The opening of a Diane von Furstenberg art exhibition in Moscow

WHY WE LOVE IT It may look haphazard, but this beachy, windblown look does take a bit of effort-but not a single styling tool. Loosely braid damp hair and comb through the plaits with your fingers when they're fully dry. Finish by working a dab of smoothing serum into the bottom few inches for extra polish and shine.