You walk into any bookstore or drugstore and you'll find a special section in the magazine isle. HAIRSTYLES. Ugh! In my many dreaded trips to the salon because I needed something new, I became wise. Finding the right style is nothing more than what I, myself like. I must let go and let Victoria Beckham have her signature bob. It won't look the same on me anyway. I also don't want to be trapped in a particular set of styles because of the shape of my face. Who made up those rules? So, here are some things to consider for your average and not so average gal.

* Is it gonna take forever to do? If so, reconsider! The last thing you need is to wash, dry, straighten, add product, spray, tweak, more product and tweak it again. It's too much. There are plenty of hairstyles that are low maintenance and trendy as well - if that's what you're going for.

* How often do you have to be in the salon getting it trimmed to keep its shape? Sometimes this happens when you take a gal who is accustomed to having long hair, and then she whacks it off short. She didn't realize how long hair is much easier to deal with, it just grows longer. Now the short hair, on the other hand, is a whole other story. If you want to keep up that look you paid $80 for, you'll be back in the salon for the $50 spruce-ups in no time. Unless you've got a stylist friend who will help you with keeping it looking short and sassy, avoid going short.

* What do you like? It may sound simplistic, but it's the best question you could ask yourself? Maybe take home some of those magazines and cut out a few of those pictures that catch your eye. Show them to your stylist, a key component, and ask them for their opinion on the maintenance, styling and overall appeal of the cut. I've found this to be difficult on occasion. I often feel I've done what my stylist wanted. In the end I'm not happy. If you really want something different than what they are suggesting, go somewhere else. You are there for some consultation, not insistent ideas of their own. This is your hair were talking about.

Bottom line itdo what you want. Color it or don't, you can change it. Long or short, it always grows back. Product or natural, sometimes yes and sometimes no. Make yourself happy with your own power of choice. We are not women who have a stylist to do our hair every morning because we're a celebrity. We are real women who work hard and just want to feel good about ourselves while we're doing it.

Learn more about this author, Brandi Powell.
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