Don't sweat it out with long hair this summer. Just ask your stylist to snip the strands and let the breeze reach your neck!

NEW looks, new styles and super easy to maintain. The best part, these looks take the heat off your back, this summer! Whether it's a party you're heading to or a presentation you're making to investors, the cut and styles just effortlessly blend with the occasion.

Pune based stylist Neda had a flirty and fun look in mind for model Carol Gracias. She worked with sharp layers, razor-edged ends at the base, some volume on the crown and a fairly assymetrical fringe. With this basic cut, Neda created two distinct looks by using just a few styling products.

She used the slightest hint of colour - just enough to enhance the cut. Although the cut will hold shape even if it dries naturally, Neda believes you haven't really maximised a cut if you haven't used styling products to create different looks.

"Cut and colour is incomplete without a styling product. They not only make it easy for the stylist to give you best results after a cut, but also allow you to enjoy the cut in different ways or maintain the look," says Neda. "You just have to know what product to use, how to use it and what look it will give," she adds. And for that, talking to your stylist works best. Ask you stylist to teach you how to maintain and modify a cut.

Golden Diva
To cop this style (opposite page), take a nut-sized amount of a styling gel or mousse, muss it between your hands and run your hands through towel-dried hair. Take a round brush and blow dry your hair in sections, brushing it up and out from the crown. Use a bit of gloss to add shine and use your fingers to guide pieces of your hair to fall in a romantic mess over your forehead.

Summer Girl
Neda modified Carol's cut just a tad bit for this look (this page). Juliette Binoche and Meg Ryan have sported this sexy cut. Pixie and quite Parissenne, it needs a volumising spray, a styling mousse for medium hold and a gel for firm hold, a round brush and a blow dryer. Start by applying a bit of L'Oréal Air Pump at the roots. There will be lots of blow drying, so use a hydrating product like Hydra Repair from L'Oréal before you start styling. Follow this with some styling mousse all over the head. Section the hair, lift up each section into the brush and roll out while drying. Once you're done, add a spot of styling gel for strong hold just on the ends, flick them out and dry.