Day 1
I like my everyday style—first I comb in mousse, then blow-dry upside down (for volume), set in hot rollers, and hairspray—but after two years, it's time to break out of my lost-Kardashian-sister rut.
Time: 30 minutes*
Tools: John Frieda Luxurious Volume Thickening Mousse, Conair 1-inch hot roller s, Paul Mitchell Hold Me Tight finishing spray
*Washing and drying time not included.
Day 2
I take a 180 from my loose-wave comfort zone with a visit to NYC's hair hot spot, the John Barrett Braid Bar at Bergdorf Goodman. I ask for a boho-chic updo, and this Nicole-Richie-goes-to-Williamsburg look makes it through a Grouplove concert and the after-party.
Time: 20 minutes
Tools: Stylist Isabel Guillen, Shu Uemura Essence Absolue oil, 15 bobby pins
Day 3
In high school, I earned the nickname "bird's nest" for my messy updos (shouldn't Catholic school students, of all people, support the "higher the hair, the closer to God" theory?), but today coworkers compliment my ceiling-grazing topknot, which I've stealthily amplified with clip-in extensions.
Time: 15 minutes
Tools: HairDo Wrap-Around Pony, Goody spin pins
Day 4
I thought an exaggerated side part and flat-ironed hair would feel modern and sleek, but instead I look like I'm ready for my first day of kindergarten. Which, now that I think about it, wouldn't be so bad—they still get nap time and juice boxes, right?
Time: 25 minutes
Tools: Fine-tooth comb, Chi straightening iron, Scünci zigzag bobby pins
Day 5
It takes a few tries for me to perfect this '40s-style scarf knot (tip: iron the scarf first so it doesn't slip), so I air-dry my waves to make my morning meeting.
Time: 8 minutes
Tools: Marni scarf
Day 6
"Wet" hair, thanks to gobs of gel, may be cool on the Alex Wang catwalk, but I just look like I slept through my alarm.
Time: 5 minutes
Tools: Pantene Total Control gel
Day 7
Already experiencing styling fatigue (and it's only been a week!), I opt for an easy bun and secure flyaways with five bright rubber headbands. My hair's so tightly slicked back, I could swear it makes me more aerodynamic (hair-odynamic?) during my Saturday morning run.
Time: 4 minutes
Tools: Scünci No-Slip Grip headbands, 2 Goody spin pins
Day 8
At Peter Som's spring 2012 runway show, models wore rose-gold streaks in the comb-overs of their deep side parts. For my version, I flat-iron fuchsia extensions, clip them an inch below my part, and decide that 26 is the perfect age to unleash my inner Avril Lavigne. Thankfully, it's not "Complicated" and is only temporary.
Time: 10 minutes
Tools: Pop 16-inch color strips, a bobby pin
Day 9
Gently wrapping sections of hair around the barrel of my curling iron, I sculpt romantic mermaid waves that catch the attention of a very cute guy at my bagel shop—I kid you not, he stopped me mid-order and paid for my breakfast. This hair works, ladies!
Time: 25 minutes
Tools: Conair 1-inch curling iron, Oribe Après Beach Wave and Shine spray, bobby pins
Day 10
Channeling pop star Ke$ha (who once sent me a confetti-filled thank-you note for a story I wrote), I jazz up air-dried curls by layering on two feathered headbands. But instead of feeling "like P. Diddy," I'm getting a Zen hippie vibe. Something tells me the whiskey-guzzling "Tik Tok" singer would disapprove.
Time: 30 seconds
Tools: Dauphines of New York headbands
Day 11
Going for '20s-era glamour, I start with a side part and create twists along my hairline until both sides meet into a ponytail, which I then braid and twist into a bun. I immediately want to blow off all my deadlines and audition for Boardwalk Empire.
Time: 15 minutes
Day 12
My attempt at Brooklyn twee—Zooey Deschanel's bangs—leaves legit hipsters unimpressed. Shocking.
Time: 10 seconds
Tools: HairDo Clip-In Bangs
Day 13
Side-swept curls, seen at Jill Stuart's spring 2012 show, are a chic air-dried solution to rainy-day frizz.
Time: 10 minutes
Tools: Bumble & bumble Surf Spray, bobby pin
Day 14
I tuck my ends under, using an elastic headband, for a faux bob that makes me feel 10 years younger.
Time: 10 minutes
Tools: J.Crew headband, bobby pins
Day 15
A slick, high pony amped up with extensions is really fun to whip back and forth à la Willow Smith.
Time: 5 minutes
Tools: HairDo Wrap-Around Pony
Day 16
Buh-bye boring brown, hello honey blond. My colorist gives me the new ombré—instead of champagne-white ends, I get subtle, summer-at-the-beach highlights and a brown glaze. The results spur rapid-fire texts to my editor: Obsessed and I love my hair.
Time: 3 hours
Tools: Wella master colorist and stylist Alexandra Matiz at NYC's Patrick Melville Salon
Day 17
Friends have told me I resemble Grammy-winner Adele, so I crib the soul goddess's signature bouffant—my arms are still sore from all the teasing!—and curly pony. When I walk to my desk, coworkers do a double take.
Time: 40 minutes
Tools: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, fine-tooth comb, hair band, Conair 1-inch
curling iron
Day 18
Cheat day: Pigtails, even sleek ones, feel too juvenile for dinner with a friend, so I take them out on the cab ride over.
Time: 10 minutes
Tools: Clear plastic rubber bands
Day 19
This rub-on purple powder—it's like pressing a blush compact into my hair—gets all over my fave white tee.
Time: 35 minutes
Tools: Kevin Murphy Color Bug
Day 20
Many a celeb rock a loose, sexy fishtail braid, but mine's too tight to be red-carpet appropriate.
Time: 20 minutes
Tools: Frédéric Fekkai Coiff spray gel, hair band
Day 21
I go out on a high note—literally. I'm positive this frizz fest is why crimping never made a comeback. Meet me at The Max?
Time: 40 minutes
Tools: Tigi crimper
Julie's Tool Kit
Clockwise from left: A dollop of Wella Velvet Amplifier on wet hair controls frizz for smooth styling, and a dab on dry strands nixes flyaways; Oribe Superfine Strong Hair Spray is perfection: all-day hold (sans crunchiness) and a perfume-quality scent; Chi 1-inch Turbo Digital curling iron heats up superfast for loose waves in a flash.
