27 Easy Ways To Change Up Your Hair Without The Commitment
New year, new you (but not really).
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1. Straighten even the thickest hair texture with alarming ease (and speed) thanks to a powerful ceramic styling brush. If regular flat irons don't work for you, this is definitely worth a try!!
It has 65 ceramic heated plates to separate and style each strand of hair. You can adjust the temp from 300°F–450°F, depending on how much heat you'd like to apply.
PS: The girl on the left wrote a review!! Check it out here!
Promising review: "This brush really does the job and is a better alternative for flat irons. It took me just 20 minutes to straighten my hair instead of one hour with a traditional straightener. Love the result!" —Amazon Customer
2. Master new hair styles without needing tutorials by using a braid-maker clip. It keeps hair in place for you while trying new braiding techniques so you don't find yourself in a *tangle*.
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $1.62.
3. Lighten dark hair without paying big salon bucks by washing your tresses with highlighting shampoo and conditioner.
What you'll need: lightening shampoo ($13.94 on Amazon for a two-pack) and lightening conditioner ($6.97 on Amazon).
Promising review: "I bought this product to add tone and dimension to my flat brown hair. I had only used it twice before multiple friends and coworkers commented on the richness and shine of my hair color. It is subtle but noticeable. A great way to improve your natural hair color without the hassle or cost of hair dye. Lastly, the smell is pleasant. A great overall option to improve your look easily and affordably." —Juli Anne
Get the full tutorial from Song of Style here!
5. Skip expensive blow outs and opt for a hot air brush. The outcome is exactly the same (if not better), and it gives you drastic results before your arm is even tired.
It has a 1-inch titanium ceramic barrel for even heat, fullness, AND frizz control (the struggle amirite) with less damage (v important). Its nylon and ball-tipped bristles give you full control and ensure comfort (aka no snagging). Plus, its two heat settings (and cool settings) make sure you get long-lasting results!!
Promising review: "This product is a game-changer. I have thin but very curly, kinky hair that has become very damaged due to years and years of flat ironing. With this product, I can style my hair in less time and WITHOUT a flat iron. It gives me beautiful, soft curls that I've gotten tons of compliments on." —S.G.
Get it from Amazon (available in two sizes).
6. Crown yourself as the fairest of them all by knotting three sections of your hair into a playful half updo. This royal makeover only takes about ten minutes to complete!
7. ~Cut out~ the hairdresser and clip on faux bangs. You can style them any way you'd like (fringe, thick, etc.) and best of all, you can take them off as soon as you feel like showing your forehead again.
Promising review: "I have dirty blonde hair with highlights so it's always hard to find the right colors without needing to change it to match my hair. This piece matched perfectly! You definitely get a lot for the clip-in and it's definitely worth more than the price! I even have a human hair one and it doesn't compare to this!" —Alex
Get them from Amazon for $5.99 (available in 15 colors).
8. Restore shine and health to overworked hair with an enriching apple cider vinegar rinse. Not only does it cleanse without stripping natural oils, but you'll be left with softer, shinier tresses.
Use it as a shampoo or conditioner substitute (like a much healthier dry shampoo). It contains seriously nourishing ingredients like argan oil, lavender extract, and aloe vera, which condition and calm damaged hair and further protect you from harsh elements. ALSO it's gluten-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and color-safe!!!
Or just use regular apple cider vinegar ($8.43 on Amazon) — it works just as well!
Promising review: "This stuff is absolutely amazing. My fine, thin, curly hair was lackluster and the curls were so limp. To top it off, my hair was super frizzy. I've used this stuff twice and I can not believe the difference. The frizz is gone, my hair is shiny, and my curls are rejuvenated. I'm seriously wired right now." —Jessgw76
Get it from Sephora for $35.
9. Shave yourself from the finality of razors without giving up the *edginess* and go for a fauxhawk. It's essentially just a bunch of ponytails, but that's between you and me.
10. Drastically repair damaged hair (or just add a whole lot of shine if it's healthy!) with organic leave-in conditioner.
Use it about once a week (believe me, a little bit goes a long, long way). Its lavender and avocado oil are combined with plant extracts and oils to intensely moisturize each and every lock. Plus, the lavender scent will give you life.
As someone who blow dries and straightens my hair every day, I am here to say this product WORKS. Check out my full review here!
Promising review: "This stuff is AMAZING! My hair has gotten so soft. I have really thick, curly hair that is very dry and tangles almost every time after I wash, so when I got out of the shower the first time, I was surprised to see that my brush slid right through almost effortlessly, with no hairs being pulled out or broken from my ends. Before I ordered this, I had been using the Rainforest hair butter from the Body Shop brand, which also works well, but it wasn't fully effective for my bone-dry ends. I think I just found my replacement! —Athena
Get it from Amazon for 20.72 (available in two sizes).
11. Channel your inner Hollywood diva and recreate the famous wet-hair look with nothing but hair oil and hair spray. Cheap products > expensive stylist (unless you have Kardashian money, in which case — adopt me).
12. Reach new heights (and volume) with little more than a teasing brush. You could bring the eighties back with these babies, but maybe stop at respectably full.
Promising review: "Being a southern girl, I love big hair, even though my hair does not tease easily. I have fine, thin hair and I have really loved this brush (and found myself wondering why I waited so long to buy one). I am able to achieve lovely volume for my fine hair. The pointed end is great for sectioning your hair and the bristles are also good for smoothing out the top of your teased hair. I use this brush for curling my hair in addition to teasing, so I've been surprised at how much I've used it. I am able to separate the sections out and brush them smooth before curling my hair." —SouthernDame
Get it from Amazon for $6.69.
13. Show off a faux bob without *going to lengths*, by curling and pinning your mane underneath itself — you'll look like a starlet by night and still have your long 'do come morning.
14. Surprise yourself with how different you look after simply moving your part from the middle to the side.
Learn how to perfectly map out your side part on the Beauty Department here!
15. Update your regular pixie cut by curling the top strands for a look that'll bring you a wave of attention.
16. Accessorize away a bad hair day or just a boring outfit with a standout head wrap.
Promising review: "I love this head wrap. It's very soft and feels so nice in my hands. It's easy to wrap your head with this material. I have since purchased another head wrap because I am so pleased with this one!" —Denise Borum, JD
Get it from Amazon for $22.80+ (available in 11 colors).
Check out more head-wrap cheat sheets here!
17. Add a pop of color to your look without a hefty price tag or time commitment. A semipermanent hair dye is the perfect first step to dipping your toe (strand?) into fun hues.
Did I mention it has a vegan formula?? No sad animals here! It lasts about four to eight shampoos (that's a long time for people like me, who wash their hair once a week — oops).
Check out a full review of this rosé-worthy hair dye here!!
Promising review: "Loved this!!! I can’t have colored hair at my job, but I had a week and a half off and this worked amazingly on my hair, and showed color even more than I thought. As it gradually washed out, the colors still looked super cute, fading from peach to a rose-gold color to my usual color just in time to return to work." —Brooke
Get it from Amazon for $9.69 (available in 11 colors).
18. Still too long of a time frame? Hair chalk only lasts up to three days, which is just long enough to make a lasting impression after a ~vibrant~ weekend.
They literally work like markers, so just press down (on dry hair!) as you would with a coloring book. Really! Plus, you can can still straighten or curl your hair! And they can blend, so your hair can have all the damn colors of the wind.
Promising review: "I've always wanted pastel or bright colored streaks in my hair, but it seemed like too much hassle. First, you would have to bleach your hair (which can cause damage). Then, you would have to apply hair dye, and I've heard that colorful dyes fade fast anyway, so you would have to do this frequently. Instead, these hair color pens are a great alternative! You can switch up your look by using different colors, and it takes less than five minutes to apply (depending on how much of your hair you want to color). Unlike other hair chalk, you don't have to wet strands of your hair before applying or spray your hair with hairspray afterwards. You just apply the color onto your dry hair and within 30 seconds, the color seals itself. I've had no problems with the color rubbing off onto my skin or clothes either, which is great. I even slept with the color on my hair and there was no trace of it on my pillowcase when I woke up the next day. These pens have become a must-have in my beauty supply, and I use them frequently." —Britney
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $11.95.
19. Volumize fine hair with just shampoo and conditioner so you achieve more in the shower than just practicing for The Voice.
Promising review: "This is by far the best shampoo and conditioner for fine hair. I have tried many that my stylist has recommended and none can compare! With just washing and not adding any styling gels or mousse, my hair gives the appearance of fullness. No other product did that for me." —jbf
Get them from Amazon for $38.99 (available in three sizes).
20. Create pretty beach waves without any heat by twisting slightly damp hair before bed. I now pronounce you the new Sleeping Beauty.
21. Toss complicated products and stick with a curling wand. They're easy, straightforward, and will give you waves that'll look as effortless as they were to make.
Promising review: "This is the first curling wand I have ever purchased, as I gave up on curling my hair years ago. This wand makes it incredibly easy for even a novice like myself to get loose, frizz-free curls on the first attempt, and I have been using it quite often since then with equally great results! I find that my curls will last all night, so no re-curling is necessary (which my thin, easily damaged hair appreciates.)" —Hannah Nurmberg
Get it from Amazon for $23.
22. Explore new styling techniques for natural hair, because Monday isn't so bad when filled with compliments over your braided ponytail.
23. Grow your mane overnight — or at least that's how it'll seem to everyone when you wear clip-on extensions.
BTW, these have 1,448 five-star reviews!! They're synthetic, but you can still wash and curl them!
Promising review: "Okay, so I am very picky about hair extensions. I've spent hundreds of dollars on numerous sets, and have never been completely satisfied. UNTIL NOW! These are BY FAR my favorite (and for such an amazing price)! If you're worried that this deal is too good to be true (because I was) then stop worrying and buy these extensions! Also, I have very short hair and they still look great! Very full and luscious. And you can straighten them. I'm very happy." —Makenzie Long
Get a five-pack from Amazon for $8.99 (available in 17 colors).
24. Spritz an anti-frizz spray with caviar extract and a blend of omega oils (like avocado) to not only tame flyaways, but add major luster and shine.
It's super lightweight, plus its formula allows lasting moisture without weighing ya down. It's ALSO great as a heat-protectant (hello, flat iron). Not to mention, it's paraben-, sulfate-, and phthalate-free.
Promising review: "I asked the Sephora expert which one of three hair products I should try, pointing to three different brands. She said, 'Actually, this one!' pointing to the Omega and Anti-Frizz mist. I have very thick hair, with split ends from heat styling (dryer and flat iron). This amazing mist coats my hair in shiny moisture, and I have changed nothing else in my routine. My hair is so soft lately, I have to spray a heat styler mist on it, just to grab onto pieces to put in the flat iron." —Kahlua375
Get it from Sephora for $34.
25. Running low on time (and patience)? Texturizing volume spray is your one and only when it comes to giving your hair a quick boost.
This spray has 694 five-star reviews!! Check out more speed tricks from Advice From a 20 Something here!
Promising review: "This product is amazing! I have long, straight, fine hair. I have a lot of it, but it tends to fall flat. I've tried lots of products to add texture and volume. None have done much besides make my hair feel dirty. This product had my hair five times more voluminous from the first spritz! After spritzing all over, there's tons of volume in my roots and the long layers in my hair are more defined. My hair feels clean and it's not sticky or gritty or anything." —judith z gold
Get it from Amazon for $22.
26. Pamper yourself and your head with a widely trusted argan oil treatment.
In case you don't know, argan oil is pretty much a dollop of pure magic for just about any hair type. It's a one-stop ride to shiny town. Oh, and it's loaded with health benefits, too.
Promising review: "LOVE this for my hair. I have tried so many different brands of Moroccan oil and this one takes the cake. A little goes a long way, making these bottles last. The scent is fantastic (I get compliments on my hair when I wear this) and it makes my hair soft, smooth, and a tad shiny without looking oily." —Sarakimi95
Get it from Nordstrom for $15+ (available in three sizes).
Check out ways to use it here!
27. Transform an updo from lazy to glam with nothing more than a metallic hair clip.
Promising review: "I bought these clips because I wanted a way to dress up some of my hairstyles for work. These hair clips are not only unique, but they look much more expensive than their price! The quality is also good. The clasp of the barrette hasn't separated yet like the poor quality clips sometimes do and the feather itself is very sturdy. Overall, I would highly recommend them!" —kravemcg
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $6.49.
Trying all your new 'do's like:
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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