Easy Everyday Hairstyles for Teens

When exploring new do's, work with the natural texture of your hair, not against it.beautiful teenage girl image by Galina Barskaya from Fotolia.com

It's only natural to feel bogged down by all the hair products and styling tools on the market when you're trying to come up with easy, cute hairstyles for school or social events. It seems like there's a gel, spray, mousse, and iron for every hairdo imaginable--but the truth is, if you work with your hair rather than against it, you'll come out looking beautiful every time.

Curly Hair

Curly hair can be manageable and gorgeous when you know how to care for it. If your problem is frizz, try combing your hair before washing it, or just before applying conditioner in the shower. Don't brush your hair when you get out of the shower, instead let your hair air dry to allow your curls to form naturally. If you still have frizz or dryness, try a spray shine or natural oil to smooth it out. If you want to take the time to straighten your hair, you'll be happier with the results if you start straightening at the nape of your neck (put the rest of your hair up in a clip) and work your way to the crown. Brush each section before straightening and apply an oil for added glossiness. To further simplify, straighten your hair before bed and touch it up in the morning.

Teens with straight hair often have the opposite problem of their curly-haired friends: lack of volume. If this is your problem, you may only need a volumizing mousse and a round brush to fix it. Apply the mousse to the roots of your hair and blow dry with your head upside-down, using a round brush. When hair is dry, use a ceramic flat iron to straighten, flip out, or flip under your hair. For a flirty look, straighten all over and flip out your shorter layers. If you want a touch of wave, curl a few sections by twisting them in your flat iron.

The low side ponytail is a style that's here to stay. Start by blowdrying hair with a round brush, pulling up from the roots for added fullness. Pull dry hair into a loose side ponytail, and backcomb from the ends to give the ponytail a "boost." For the curly version, dry with a round brush then use a thin flat iron or curling iron to curl small sections of hair near the ends. Swoop to the side and secure in a ponytail. A high bun can be a good alternative for a day you don't want to mess with hair around your shoulders: start by parting the hair as desired and brushing back into a high ponytail. Secure the ponytail and wrap your hair around the hair tie, pinning the bun down with bobby pins. Leave some face-framing strands for a more casual look.