By Ruby Cline

Undo that up-do. There's no need for perfection this spring. It's all about the no-fuss, no-muss mind frame. You may have a good cut that doesn't require much maintenance, but with some advice of the stylists below, you easily could turn good hair into great.

Spring serves up an array of styles, from the trendy, rebellious and more-defined shapes to the classics renewed with waves and curls. Fifties glamour returns to the spotlight, and the bob just never seems to get old.

Wind-blown, sun-dried, slicked-back and loosely rolled, the options are effortless and the results are sure to stand out.

Chic cuts

"So much of everything is going, from long hair to short hair," says Stefanie Peckham, hairstylist at Brunette. "Most people are looking for more volume and fullness. I usually try to give more layers for volume, although layers can be scary to some people."

Had a bad experience with layers? Nervous to part with your one-length tendrils? Opt for longer layers, which take the weight out of heavy hair and add edge to once-limp locks.

If you're the transitional gal who changes her hairstyle almost as often as she change her purse, a multifunctional coif is sure to satisfy your ever-evolving needs.

"I usually do something that can go from looking professional to looking fun," says Sandy Dodd, owner of Scandals. Her suggested style is primarily boxy around the edges with a shattered (textured) interior. With this cut, you can wear it calm (without product) to work. Once the clock strikes happy hour, take a few minutes, run some pomade or adhesive through your hair for a piecy or chunkier look, and you're ready to hit the town.

Techniques Day Spa hair designer Cammie Mehedinteanu explains that there's no trend that applies to just one category, because, technically, there are three categories. "There's the humbled, slowing-down look, not terribly defined, with casual and simplistic shapes. The exotic and seductive look, where the styles are more sensuous and soft. And the rebellious and provocative styles, which are more, well, rebellious."

Matrix spring and summer trends also indicate a return to the exemplary. "The new classics are easy to wear because they're tailored to everything about you. Cuts are personalized to flatter your features and mold to your mood with a range of styling choices." Additionally, the pros at Matrix define contemporary classic as having no hard lines or interruptions - cut and color are fluid and connected.

Accordingly, Reeda Beam, Global Purefessional Color Educator for Aveda and owner of Reeda Todd Aveda Lifestyle Salon Spa, says, "We're kind of relating (hair) to water. The waves in the hair, razor-cutting to soften edges and lighten hair, rippling effects with golds and blonds with a flowing texture."

And apparently, going out with a bang is the thing to do...again. "Bangs are making a big, big comeback," says Shawn Dillman, owner of Hairspray. "Also, more movement in the hair, big sexy hair and loose curls."

Color you happy

From highlights to lowlights, colors streak through the spring scene with bright and brazen vividness. Regardless of the length, texture, color or style, highlights shine in this season's plethora of hues.

"Bold blondes, copper reds and chocolate browns (think milk chocolate to rich dark chocolate) are what's in," says Suzie Burley, senior stylist and DL Lowry Salon haircut educator.

"We're seeing a lot of red violets at the nape and also muted red with blond tones," says Beam. "Also, we're doing a lot of interconnecting panels, melting colors into one another, like red and yellow" to look like fire.

Tammie Baker, president and owner of Tyler Mason Salon Spa says what's in, of course, are highlights ... but more "blocks" in multiple colors. "We call it multidimensional color. It's natural, yet trendy. Kind of what you see in little kids hair - if you look close, you'll see that they have many shades of their natural color all blended together perfectly, by nature!"

If Mother Nature never granted you the tinted tresses of your dreams, salons across Indianapolis are sure to streak you right. Multidimensional highlighting, chunking and all-over coloring liven up the lackluster hair of yesterday.

Straight strands

It seems we always want what we can't have. If we have straight hair, we want it curly. If we have curly hair, we want it straight. For coarse, frizzy or unmanageable hair that seems it will never go straight, there's an option that's sure to tame your hair demons.

"Japanese hair-straightening is huge right now," emphasizes Peckham. "It basically accomplishes the same as a perm does ... except it's straight. You apply the solution and comb it out instead of using rollers."

Brunette is one of the salons in Indy that offers Japanese hair-straightening. Another salon featuring this celebrity-embraced service is DL Lowry Salon. Here, all of the stylists have Japanese hair-straightening certifications from New York City.

Brandy Woods, senior stylist, explains, "When it rains, it pours ... and your hair gets frizzy, but with a Japanese Thermal hair-straightener, it will stay sleek, straight and shiny."

The downside of this process is that cost ranges in the three-digit area, and the treatment doesn't last forever. "It does grow out, and you have to get it redone. It just depends how fast your hair grows," says Peckham. "Some agree the fee is worth it, but others disagree." Price - anywhere from $500 to $800 - ranges depending on salon.

Up-dated dos

When time's running thin and you need a fab do fast, think up. One of the trends seen during New York's spring/summer fashion week is Bumble and bumble's ballerina look. A bun, twist or anything slicked back, up and off the nape of the neck to elongate the silhouette and figure fits the bill.

Another up-to-the-minute hair fix is the "un-do." According to the Ladie's Home Journal Web site (www.lhj.com), this look is "purposely loose and seemingly on the verge of tumbling down." In the article, Mark Garrison also suggests the low-down pony, which is "decidedly not prim or perky." This loosely tied, low-sitting style, full of free-flowing tendrils and bushy tails is sure to comply with time constraints as well as style standards.

For a new twist on things, adaru Natural Hair & Braiding Salon offers a unique experience (as implied by the name, adaru) with a focus on humility and servitude. Owner Erin Anthony offers styles suitable for the black and white woman alike. "The most popular and requested style is the baby curl twist extension, which uses high-quality imported hair and can last 12-16 weeks."

Another look is the "lock," which uses your natural hair in this permanent style - akin to a funky, designer dreadlock. People also come in for the Nubian wavy spiral, which is widely popular because no matter how long your hair is, be it natural or relaxed, this is a style you can achieve that typically lasts 10-14 weeks.

Whether your hair is windblown or wavy, frizzy or flaxen, spikey or shaggy, it helps make up who you are.

"Some people (in Indianapolis) go for ultimate trends, although mainly we have a softer market when it comes to that. Most people here do more everyday wear," says Mehedinteanu. So stick to the norm if that's good for you, or go out on a limb and go for the great. Whatever style you fancy, be sure to make it your own.

Article appears as published in the IW March 2004 issue.