People looking for a new hairstyle this fall, can borrow ideas from what's in fashion: cutting hair, cutting bangs, wearing a mullet or dyeing hair dark.

Bangs are in fashion, although this season's bangs take a long leap from the poof Madonna and Paula Abdul sported in the '80s. Instead, they are being replaced with the signature side swooped, short bangs that stars like Ashlee Simpson and Paris Hilton wear.

"Just by cutting bangs, it can give a woman a new, fashionable look," said Holly Sohn, hair stylist at Regis Salon. "And if you look through magazines, you will notice that side bangs, or just any kind of bang for that matter, is what a lot of actresses and singers are wearing."

Brittany Shaw, a junior from University Place, Wash., majoring in psychology, has side bangs and said she likes the new style.

"They are the cool new thing, and I got sick of having my hair straight and plain every single day," Shaw said. "I thought it would add a little dimension. Plus, I have a very round face, and I figured they [bangs] were a little more slimming."

Shoulder and collar length hair with short, choppy layers have replaced the traditionally fashionable long locks.

"As of recently, most people end up walking out with a haircut that has layers because they give hair a little bit more style," Sohn said. "Also there is a shorter, layered cut that is used on many people. Not only is this cut fun and funky but you can wear it flipped out, curled under, straight or even just let it go."

The unforgettable mullet is back too, like John Stamos from "Full House" and Alan Jackson.

"When I was in Europe, the big thing was mullets, even girls, and then they'd spike their hair in the middle," said Jeannine Plamondon, junior from Prince Edwards Island, Canada, majoring in international relations. "It must be fashionable because everybody in Italy is fashionable. I don't think mullets for girls will ever catch on here. Mullets all the way."

Kass Henson, head instructor at Dallas Roberts Hair Academy also said mullets were coming into style.

Cyrus Keller, a senior majoring in biology from Omaha, Neb., said he's fulfilling his goals by wearing a mullet.

"I have a mullet for two reasons," Keller said. "No. 1, I have a list of 100 things to do in my life, and one of my life long goals was to have a mullet. Also I have two jobs on campus that I had to get my hair cut for because my hair was too long. I prefer longer hair in general, and I wanted to keep mine, so I cut a mullet. I also think they are very attractive."

Now that fall has officially arrived, more girls are darkening their hair. Plamondon said blonde is out for fall. Althought the trend started earlier this summer, Henson said more girls generally tend to go darker in the fall and winter.

"It used to be that it was kind of weird to color your hair, but not any more," Sohn said. "There are many people who come in and want to be blonde. However, recently people [come] in trying to get back to their natural color because the up-keep is getting too hard and too expensive."

Sohn's observation fit the explanation Shaw gave for dyeing her hair.

"I got sick of highlighting it and up-keeping the blonde, so I started to go back to more my natural dark color," Shaw said.

But what do girls do with their freshly cut and colored hair?

"It's all about the messy," said Eliza Busby, head night instructor at Dallas Roberts Hair Academy. "Just [let your hair] air dry, [get] the natural wave and [put hair] product in it."

With busy schedules, college girls need a hairstyle that is low maintenance, and that's what today's hair styles can offer.

"I believe that people want something simple to do because we are always on the go," Sohn said.



Copyright Brigham Young University 4 Oct 2004