Great Hairstyles for Business Women

Hairstyles for business women have changed through the years. Most styles now are chosen for the shortest amount of time spent achieving the hairstyle and having a clean, pulled together look. Contrary to popular belief, business styles do not have to be short or a face-lifting tight bun.

Short Hair Styles

The Pixie

Jamie Lee Curtis has one of the most popular hairstyles for women over 50. This low maintenance pixie cut is basically a 'wash and go' style, and will go from board room to evening with little to no effort. If the top length is left a little longer, a curling iron can be used for a different look. This is a particularly suitable hairdo for women with narrow, oval shaped faces. To achieve this look:

1. Ask your stylist for a Jamie Lee Curtis pixie cut. (Take a photo with you to your appointment to be sure you get the right cut.)
2. Apply mousse to towel dried hair. While blow drying, use a brush or your fingers to move the pieces where you want them.
3. If you have thin hair, use a small round brush to lift the roots while blow drying to add volume.
4. When dry, use a styling taffy or wax with your fingertips to pull pieces of hair to one side.
5. Finish with hairspray if you like extra staying power.

Chin Length Bob

This is a popular look with younger business women. It is very low maintenance, and can be curled for a formal event. To achieve this look:

1. Ask your stylist for a chin length bob with subtle layers around the bottom two inches (perimeter).
2. Apply mousse or a smoothing serum to towel dried hair. Use a small to medium round brush while blow drying for volume.
3. Make this style look sharp by using a flat iron to smooth out the hair.
4. Use hairspray to smooth down any stray or fly away hairs along the part.

Short Curls

This style can be worn on naturally curly or permed hair. Short curls are the epitome of a 'wash and go' style, and this look is appropriate for the office, business meetings, and even formal events.

1. Have your stylist give you a neckline cut with short layers, but not a man's tapered cut.
2. Apply a leave-in conditioner and a curl cream.
3. Do not use a hand held dryer. It will make the curls frizzy. Either use a hood hair dryer or let it dry naturally.

Medium Hair Styles

Collar Length Layers

This is a popular style among all ages because it is low maintenance. You can take it from work to an evening out easily by adding more curls with a curling iron, adding a hair comb, or creating a small twist in the back. This style works well with most face shapes and is easy to achieve.

1. Have your stylist cut your hair to rest just below collar level but not touching the top of your shoulders. Start the layers just below the cheekbone. Bangs are optional, but here the style is shown with a deep side bang that is worked into the layers.
2. Apply mousse or gel to make the style last longer.
3. Use a medium round brush while blow drying to add volume and a little flip at the ends.
4. This style can part to either side and the part is easier to do while drying than after the hair is dry.
5. Use hairspray to make the hair at the bang area stay in place.

Layers With Curls

This style is similar to collar length layers. The difference is that the length and layers are cut longer to allow for the shrinkage of curly hair. This style can be achieved with a perm or naturally curly locks. To get this look:

1. Find a stylist who knows how to work with curly hair if you have natural curls. If that is not an option, ask for the length to be cut to rest on your shoulders.
2. The layers are fairly short with the length of the bangs being the shortest layer. Be sure not to go shorter than the tip of the nose for the bangs.
3. Apply mousse or curl cream to towel dried hair.
4. If using a hand held dryer, use a diffuser so the curls will not be frizzy. Scrunch the hair while drying. Part at your natural part to avoid fighting curls sticking out.
5. Use hairspray to hold the bang area in place.

Medium Natural Curls

Natural curls can be a pain to style at times. Stop fighting them and let them be. You can add a bit of control with a fashionable accessory such as a headband, which helps to keep your curls away from your face. To get this look:

1. Ask your stylist to cut the length to rest just above your shoulders and add some long layers. Long layers keep curly hair from looking like a helmet.
2. Keep your curls moisturized. Apply a leave-in conditioner and a curl cream to towel dried hair.
3. To keep frizz down, use a diffuser on a hand held blow dryer and leave the hair slightly damp. This will add some volume at the roots. This style can also dry on its own to cut frizz out.
4. Add some personality to the style with a headband or scarf.

Long Hair Styles

Long Layers

If you love your hair long but not in your way, this is the style for you. It is low maintenance, and can easily be put into almost any updo for social events. To get this look:

1. Ask your stylist for the length to fall a couple of inches below your shoulders with long, face framing layers. Bangs are optional with this style, but here it is shown with a subtle side bang.
2. Mousse or gel can be used for volume. If you have thick hair, try a smoothing serum.
3. Use a medium or large round brush while blow drying to add some volume and turn the ends toward your face.
4. Hairspray is optional with this style.

Side Wrapped Ponytail

Ponytails are making a comeback, but they don't have to look like you're ready for a lazy weekend at home. Long hair looks very professional in a ponytail when it is wrapped with hair. To achieve this look:

1. Part your hair. Here the part is shown just off center to the right.
2. Brush all hair to the right side and secure with an elastic band, leaving out a section about an inch wide.
3. Smooth this section by combing it. Then, starting under the ponytail, wrap the hair to cover the elastic band. Fasten the ends on the underside of the ponytail with two bobby pins.
4. Hairspray can be used to tame any pieces of hair sticking out.

Long Loose Curls

This style takes a little time, but it is worth the work for those who love their hair long. This style can be achieved with either a curling iron or hot rollers, and can be done on naturally straight or curly hair.

1. Ask your stylist for layers starting at the cheekbone. Bangs are optional. Here the bangs are styled back to blend with the other layers.
2. Apply a mousse or gel to towel dried hair.
3. Blow dry the hair using a round brush for added volume.
4. Whether using a curling iron or hot rollers, run the curls vertically in moderately wide sections - about an inch thick by the width of the roller. This will produce the loose spiral look.
5. Use your fingers to separate the curls and feather the bang area back.
6. Finish with hairspray.

Versatility and Personality

Great styles are versatile ones that can go from a big meeting to an evening gala event with ease. Low maintenance and travel-friendly styles are what business women now look for. If you have naturally straight, flat hair, getting a body wave perm can give you the versatility and volume that you are looking for to create these styles and more.