Hair cutting tips for holiday hairstyles

Like you, celebrity stylist Billy Lowe (billylowe.com) wants his clients looking beautiful throughout the holidays. Every December, he sends them on their way with some of his best tips for keeping their "party look" fresh throughout the festive season.

"The more natural clients look, the more beautiful they'll feel," says Lowe (shown blow-drying a client). "Their healthy hair is an accessory and an investment, so what better time than the holidays to show it off?"

style-saving tip

Lowe's number-one tip is to keep a small touch-up bag in the car or in a coat pocket for last-minute coiffing before making a grand entrance. "A touch-up bag can be as simple as a large zip-lock bag with a few styling pieces," he explains. Key contents include a regular or teasing comb, travel size hair spray, small clips and Velcro rollers for a quick lift.

Lowe instructs: "If you need last-minute fullness, lift sections at the crown and sides, and tease lightly to create lift. With a light-hold hair spray, spray teased area lightly underneath to maintain cushion at the root for fullness throughout the night."

short holiday hair

"Short styles are great for the petite lady," says Lowe, who favors the defined/spiky look. Give clients these instructions:

Shampoo and condition as usual.

Apply a light styling gel, and blow dry hair completely.

Warm a little mattifying wax between your hands, and apply it lightly through the tips of the hair to shape it in any desired way.

For a glossier look, try a shine shaper, clay or wax.

Finish with a light- to medium-hold spray.

soft, tousled curls

Says Lowe, "This holiday trend can be achieved in several ways depending on the client's hair type and how much volume she wants." Tell her to:

Shampoo and condition as usual.

Apply a root boost at the root.

Apply a volumizing/shine serum through to the ends for added body and movement.

Begin drying the root area first, lifting up sections for more volume.

After removing 75 percent of moisture from the rest of the hair, use a round brush to begin drying.

As each section is dried, wrap that section in velcro rollers or in barrel curls around your fingers, and secure with a small clip. The smaller the roller or barrel curl, the tighter the curl; the larger the roller, the looser the curl.

When all the hair is set, spray with a light hold spray and allow 10-15 minutes for hair to cool down. This helps to lock in shape.

Remove rollers or clips, and use your fingers as you lightly blow dry the hair. For extra shine, choose the cool-air setting.

Finger style, and spray with a medium-hold spray as needed.

For added fullness, lightly tease sections at the crown and sides.

classic/vintage style

This is always a class act, and it works for a broad age range. Clients should follow these directions:

Shampoo, condition and blow dry hair as normal.

When dry, create a side part.

Lightly tease the hair underneath the parting.

Using a medium barrel curling iron, curl hair in one-inch sections to create soft ringlets or corkscrew curls throughout the hair.

When finished, lightly apply a light shine spray, from full arm's length.

Use a medium-to-firm-hold finishing spray.

a few don'ts

Less is always more! Encourage clients to avoid:

Over-spraying. It will make the hair look flat, dry and flaky.

Bits of hair products on black clothing. Check occasionally to ensure hair products haven't flaked onto the shoulders.

"Arrangements" in the hair like overly ornamental clips or large beads.

Lowe's final tip is to send off clients with your hope that they'll enjoy this special season spent with family and friends.