Changing your hairstyle is always a stressful event. Even though hair (usually) will grow out to something like its previous state within a little over a year regardless of how you alter it, waiting out a bad hairstyle can feel like forever. And everyone knows there's nothing worse than a bad hair day...

Selecting a Hairstyle

The key to selecting a new hairstyle is to begin by assessing the shape of your face and body. Needless to say, not every hairstyle is meant for every face and body. For example, tall, slender women should generally avoid very short haircuts. If you have a rounder face, long hair can help lengthen your face, and sharper angles or layers can help accentuate cheekbones.

 If your face if heart-shaped or oval, you are in luck--pretty much any hairstyle will fit you well. Shorter, bustier women should avoid long straight hair--to accentuate your curves properly, waves or curls are a great asset.

 To find a hairstyle that appeals to you, do some research online first.  There are countless online sites that offer services where you can scan a picture of your face in and try different hairstyles on your face. These generally cost a fee, but might be worth doing if you are considering a big change. At the very least, browse some pictures of hairstyles online so you can select one or more that you like to bring to your hairstylist. This can be a critical component of achieving your new look, for often, it is difficult for customers to communicate their desires clearly to the stylist. As they say, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Choosing a Hairstylist

Choosing a hairstylist actually requires a fair amount of research.  If you have someone that you like and trust, it's great to stick with them; however, if you're looking for something completely new and different for you, sometimes it's better to have a fresh set of professional eyes on the job. 

To select a hairstylist, it's very important to think about price range.  Good haircuts don't come cheap; a medium-priced women's haircut can be $35 to $60 dollars, and that's just the midrange.  While shelling out all that dough is painful, keep in mind that your hair is an accessory that you can't remove--you will be wearing it every single day for a significant amount of time.  Therefore, it makes sense to invest in a better-quality stylist.

To find aforementioned stylist, begin by asking friends where they get their hair cut. It's amazing how many people have already done much of the necessary research into finding a good stylist. If none of your friends have good recommendations, check out the Internet again. If you Google "Hair Stylist" and your city name, you will likely come up with a list of salons and a number of chat boards that comment on the question of hairstylists in your city. These can be very revealing.

When you select a stylist and make an appointment, make sure you feel comfortable asserting what you want done with your hair. Remember, you're the one wearing it, not the stylist--if the stylist makes suggestions that you don't like, be honest and ask him or her to stick to the picture you brought in.  This is one way to ensure that the style you're envisioning actually ends up on your head!

Where to find good hair products

Ultimately, a haircut is only as good as the care you put into it. To make your haircut a long-term success, be sure to check out various hair products designed to control frizz, nourish dry hair, or fix whatever ailment plagues your coif.

There are lots of places to find good haircare products. You can ask your stylist for recommendations about what kinds of products to use, but it's better not to buy those products directly from the salon--they're usually cheaper elsewhere, especially online.