Whether you want to chop, de-frizz, go brunette or master the curl, we’ve enlisted the best hair experts to guide you through the mane maze. 

Girls with curls
Clever cutting: “Curly hair’s more about shaping hair than cutting it,” says
Brad Ngata from L’Oréal Professionnel. “The trend is to have your hair shaped to encourage the best curl formation. Products are key to finishing off the look, so try L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni.art Curl Memory Up Spray.”

Fluid twirls: “Cutting curly hair into long layers will allow it to fall without the undesired ‘triangle effect’,” says Kenneth Stoddart from Redken. “For soft curls or waves, try blow-drying with a round-bristle brush and a product like Redken Satinwear 02. A lightweight milk or cream, such as Redken Fresh Curls Curl Boost, can then be applied to control fly-aways.”

Curls are big: “Curls are a huge trend this season,” says Tracey Hughes
from Redken. “Wear them either loose, soft, brushed out, wavy or as bigger, tighter curls. Encourage the natural shape of the curl with curl-enhancing products made especially to target the elasticity of this hair type.”

Straighty 180
Curved straight: “Forget wig-like straight,” says Wild. “Curve your hair with a ghd styler for a beveled effect. Remember to apply ghd Thermal Protector beforehand, and remove excess water with a towel.”

Modern layers: “Seamless layers allow the hair to be mobile around the head,” says Ngata. “The layers become invisible, create movement and add maximum root-lift in problem areas, like the crown.”

Cool cut: “Straight hair’s perfect for the long bob – the new bob length,” says Stoddart. “It’s not too long or too short, usually falls a couple of inches below the collarbone, and is angled longer towards the front. Long layers can be cut into this shape, if the ends are trimmed, to give a seamless layer.” Hein van der Westhuizen of Tanaz Hair, Body & Nails agrees. “Strong color suits the shoulder bob, like Cameron Diaz’s platinum blond version, and it looks great teamed with a fringe, as seen on Lily Allen.”

Long hair shortcut: “Give the styling iron and your hair, a rest,” says Fred Slabbert of Sneak Preview Hairdressing in Joburg. “Right now, straight hairstyles have lots of movement and volume. Let your hair dry naturally for a sexy, tousled look, and finish your ends with a shine serum. If you really want something a bit sleeker, use your iron and twist locks of hair to create body and bounce.”

Easy Ethnic
Want to shave it all off? Short hair is back, but consider some style advice from SoftSheen-Carson’s Xoli Ntshingila before you face the razor. 

For high-maintenance hair:
“Hair that’s relaxed and well-looked after always looks sleek. A good blow-dry will give hair lots of body and bounce, which is huge this season. If you want long, thick hair, the quality and color of weaves from Brazil and India are amazing, and the micro-bonding process makes for a totally natural look,” says Ntshingila.

For the daring:
Short, cropped hair is back in a big way,
just think Rihanna. Relax your hair and ask your stylist for a layered effect – or go for a sexy pixie style – and add a strong color like red or blue-black for effect. Feeling brave? Shave it all off… Ntshingila has!

For sensitive scalps:
“To avoid a dry scalp, use a relaxer without lye, which is a chemical that damages the skin,” says Ntshingila. “Use a hair dress or scalp treatment once a week, like the Dark and Lovely Tea Tree Scalp Hair dress, and keep hair clean and conditioned."