Celebrity hair dos & don'ts

May 01, 2011 7:00 AM by Kim Grundy

Posted in Beauty & Style / Hairstyles & Hair Care / Celebrity Hairstyles

Celebrity Hair
Lessons

Having a bad hair day? Don’t worry, celebrities do, too -- and they have a slew of hairstylists at their beck and call! From Cameron Diaz's hair color mishap to Taylor Momsen's hair extensions, you can learn from their mistakes by checking out our pick of the top celebrity hair dos and don’ts.

For the most part, celebrities' hairstyles are usually flattering and beautiful, to the frustration of those of us who are struggling with our own hair. Many of us will take a photo of our favorite celeb to our hairstylist, only for it to turn out completely different than we imagined.

"Don't forget a celeb always has a hair and make-up person, so don't be frustrated if the look doesn't turn out to be EXACTLY what you imagined," says Laurent Dufourg, celebrity stylist to Tea Leoni and Terri Hatcher and owner of Prive Salon.

Despite their staff of hairstylists, celebrities do get it wrong -- almost as often as they get it right. Learn from their mistakes by checking out our list of celebrity hair dos and don'ts.

Do take risks

Harry Potter star Emma Watson took a big risk by cutting off her long locks to a short pixie cut, but it paid off! The 20-year-old said it was "the most liberating thing ever" and saw her career skyrocket as a result.

Photo credit: Lia Toby/WENN.com

Don't ignore skin tone

Cameron Diaz lost some of her sparkle when she colored her sunny locks a dark black hair color. Learn from Cameron's mistake and pay attention to your skin tone when coloring your hair.

"Bring a couple of photos of the color you desire to give your stylist an idea of what you want," says Dufourg. "Also, be sure too that your desired color may not exactly match that of the celebrity since you may have different skin tones. Do what is best for yourself."

Photo credit: Nikki Nelson/ WENN

Do embrace your natural texture

Taylor Swift embraces the natural curly texture of her hair -- and it looks fabulous! Whether your hair is naturally curly or straight, talk to your stylist about creating a hairstyle that works for -- not against -- your natural texture.

Do you love Swift's long, curly hair -- but have stick straight hair? "If you have a different face shape and hair texture than the celebrity you are looking to follow, go with the general style, but then cater to your own differences to obtain a natural look that fits you," says Dufourg.

Photo credit: Nikki Nelson/WENN

Don't get bad hair extensions

Britney Spears is guilty of it, as is Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen. Bad hair extensions can take your look from fab to frazzled in no time. Go to a reputable salon for extensions and make sure you upkeep them properly -- or just embrace your natural hair length as it grows out.

Photo credit: WENN

Do have fun with your hair

Celebrities such as Drew Barrymore and Lauren Conrad have infused fun in their hairstyles with braids, either across their part or worn down the side. Experiment with a side bun or switch up your part for a fresh look.

Photo credit: Nikki Nelson/WENN

Don't go overboard with color

Rihanna and Katy Perry may get away with bold hair colors such as bright pink and blue, but for the majority of us, bright hair color is a hair don't. Adding streaks of color or clip-on colored hair is one way to get bright color, without going overboard.

Ombre hair color is another hot trend that can give you a cool and modern look, without being too extreme.

Photo credit: Judy Eddy/WENN.com

Do experiment with bangs

From Reese Witherspoon to Kim Kardashian, wearing full and chunky bangs is a great way to give your look a fresh and modern feel. If you are unsure if you can pull off bangs (ahem, Sandra Bullock), try on temporary or clip-in bangs before you make it more permanent with a haircut.

Photo credit: Apega/WENN