Stylist December Fenez, from Hedkandi at Bankers Hall, has three looks to take you into the new year, all of which can be accomplished from the comfort of home. Fenez says the sleek ponytail, loose wave and braided up-do are styles that medium and long-haired lasses will love to experiment with this year.

“In 2012, my guess is that people will either have their hair quite long, layered and natural, or they will be cutting it very short — the Emma Watson pixie cut.”

For those of us who aren’t quite ready to take the pixie plunge, here are three options that will leave you feeling fresh and new. Instructions for each ‘do provided by Fenez.

The Braided Updo

This style makes for a great day look. To dress this updo “up,” weave a set of pearls or a scarf through each braid as you go to create an accessorized wedding or fancy-function ready ‘do.

1) Section hair down the middle of the back of the head into two sides.

2) Braid each side separately as if you were braiding pigtails (you can French braid the locks, or just do a normal braid).

3) Pull each braid apart just a tiny bit to loosen up the look of each braid.

4) Twist each braid up the sides of the head and secure with bobby pins (starting at the top of the head), working your way down each braid.

5) Hairspray can be added to help keep locks in place.

6) Make use of a string of pearls, scarf or another flexible necklace or material and weave through each braid if you would like to create a more avant-garde style.

The Loose Wave

The trick to achieving natural and wavy hair is all in how you prep things.

Trick number two: avoid perfection.

1) Use a thickening spray throughout wet hair. (Fenez suggests Bumble and Bumble Prep)

2) Blow dry while lifting at the roots and smoothing out the locks as you go.

3) Once hair is dry, take a curling iron and instead of clamping down on each section of hair, simply wrap the hair around the outside of the iron.

4) Take very random, loose and un-calculated sections of hair to curl. Some should be thick and large, while others are fine and smaller in width.

5) Finish with a flexible hairspray (Fenez suggests Bumble and Bumble Does it All Styling Spray).

The Sleek Ponytail

According to Fenez, sleek ponytails that feature shiny looking roots and natural looking locks are the style du jour on 2012 runways.

Seems simple enough to put a ponytail together, right? Fenez says there are a few tricks you can apply to help smooth out the process.

1) Use a prep and thickening spray on wet hair to give the strands strength.

2) Blow dry hair up off the face toward where you want the ponytail to sit.

3) Position the ponytail and secure with an elastic. If you have a bungee elastic, this works best. If not, use a regular elastic and secure the ponytail tightly.

4) Take a small (about one centimetre wide) piece of hair from the bottom of the ponytail, spray the piece of hair with hairspray and smooth it out by brushing it.

5) Begin to wrap the piece of hair around the base of the ponytail to cover up the elastic. When you arrive at the end of the piece of hair, tuck it into the ponytail by securing it with a bobby pin (push the bobby pin through the ponytail’s base so that the bobby pin is hidden from view).

6) Apply hairspray about three inches away from the scalp, all over the head, while constantly smoothing hair back with your hand (which will give the hair a sleek and glossy look).

ttayler@calgaryherald.com