Deciding to go short or even just a little shorter than your normal length is often a daunting experience but you can get the most out of it by experimenting and trying not to fall into a style rut. There are tons of quick and easy hairstyles you can achieve with a little flick, twist and ruffle here and there.

Here are a few ideas to get you going:

Sleek and chic: go for a sweet little look with an ultra short pixie do, apply serum to wet hair and blow dry hair straight using ghd mini stylers to carry out any extra smoothing and straightening. Sweep hair across your forehead for a side fringe and team with a strapless top/dress for a barley there look, finish with some statement jewellery dripping from ears or neck, not both.

Messed up: in this instance, use a texturizing spray on damp hair and then blast hair with a blow dryer instead, use a brush to sweep hair in various directions. You can add some extra twists and flicks with a ghd mini styler and finish with a waxy or gum like styling product to add movement to your look.

The bob is back: if your hair is not as short as the above two styles, a wavy bob is very 2011. Go for either a very deep side parting or a centre parting, both very fashionable at the moment again use a texturizing cream on damp hair and then dry hair with a large brush for added volume. Use a ghd mini or classic styler to add some random waves, you do not need to be very neat about this, give hair a little ruffle before finishing with a shine spray.

Remember short hair should be easier to style so you do not have to spend hours on these looks, if you are short of time, tease unwashed hair backwards with a bit of height for a edgier, slicked back look.

The extensive GHD hair care range is a 4 step protection process from cleansing and nourishing, protection and styling to finishing. The aim behind such effective products is to help create fantastic looking hair and prevent damage caused by excessive heat exposure.

Before using any kind of hair care appliance it has always been strongly recommended to use supplementary products to maintain strong, healthy looking hair. Over exposure to heat, colouring and styling accessories can leave the hair prone to damage and ultimately lead to split ends and breakage.

GHD hair care products are amongst those used by the top professional stylists who cater to the stars and world famous celebrities. All of their shampoos, conditioners, moisturisers, balms and serum contact natural herb extracts which are not only gentle to the hair but also highly effective in achieve a great end result. Apart from offering protection to the hair against salon treatments and processes, the majority of the Thermodynamics hair care range has UVA and UV protection incorporated. With this is mind you can feel confident that even though your hair may be subject to frequent heat styling appliances, it will be fully protected to any potential added damaged that can be caused by the sun.

If it is durability combined with effectiveness you are looking for it might be worth investing in professional hair straighteners. Professional hair straighteners may be on the expensive side but they are designed to withstand years of usage. In addition to durability, salon hair straighteners will be top of the range when it comes down to technology and effectiveness. The most commonly used type of professional hair straighteners would have to be those with ceramic plates. Ceramic plates are far kinder to the hair and allow you to pass the straighteners along the length without causing rasping. Metal plates on the other hand often have rough surfaces which ultimately cause damage with continuous use.

Another reliable type of hair straightener, also preferred by the professionals, is that of tourmaline. Tourmaline generates negative ions which help smooth and seal the hair therefore locking in moisture and colour in the case of dyed or highlighted hair.

Other features to look out for when buying hair straighteners is an adjustable heat setting. This is particularly useful for those with fine or barely wavy hair. A long cord is another important feature as it avoids becoming all tangled up when working your way around the head.

Paying a little more may therefore be the best option and not only for durability and functionality. In the long term professional hair straighteners will be without doubt much more cost effective, not to mention satisfactory regarding the end result.

Ionic Hair Retexturising, IHR, is becoming an increasingly popular choice in the UK for those people wishing to permanently straighten their hair. Although Yuko was the first hair straightening technique available, it falls short of the successful results provided by IHR. Because Ionic treatment incorporates a protector it can be used on hair that has been submitted to further treatments such a colouring, highlights or perming. Yuko is renowned for leaving the hair stiff and unmanageable when used on coloured hair.

So what exactly is Ionic Hair Retexturising? Most substances contain both positive and negative ions or small particles which gather round an object such as the hair. With IHR the ion clusters of water are reconstructed to allow water molecules to penetrate to the core of each hair follicle. This therefore results in the hair being rehydrated and conditioned.

The actual treatment starts off by shampooing the hair with the ionic relaxant shampoo after which pre-treatment care products are then applied to the hair. Next, the Ionic retexturising formula is applied allowing the hair to completely relax. After this, the formula is rinsed off and the hair is blow dried and ironed. The process takes around 3 to 4 hours in total depending on the length and thickness of the hair and should last some 4 to 6 months before which the process can be touched up to cater for growing roots.

Hair has a natural cleaning and growing process yet over-treating and over-styling can leave it looking lack lustre and prone to breakages. There is nothing worse than dull, dry hair overwrought with split ends but so many ignore the initial warning signs and continue to apply excess heat or products, which ultimately damage their hair.

When it comes to straightening the hair either by using hair straighteners or hot flat irons, the hair is exposed to extreme high temperatures and over the long term this leads to dry, brittle hair which eventually breaks. Before using any form of heat appliance on your hair you should always compensate by using vitamin enriched moisturisers. Try to avoid drying the hair with a hair dryer and towel dry instead. If you must use a hair dryer select a low temperature and limit the heat to the use of the hair straighteners. Be sure to apply a rich moisturising balm before using heated iron plates as this will protect the hair to a certain degree and lock in the hair’s natural moisture. If you do not require the straight hair look everyday give your hair a day off and let it to resort back to its natural curly state. By giving your hair a break from excess heat you will be allowing it time to recover.

There are many different kinds of hair straighteners available but each type requires the same motion when used. It is recommended that you take a small section of hair at a time and gradually work your way around the head. The straightening irons should be placed at the root of the hair and slowly worked down the length of the shafts. Light pressure should be applied at the roots and gradually increased towards the ends of the hair.

Before using a hair straightening appliance you should wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner as normal. Leading hair care specialists recommend using a vitamin enriched serum to protect it from heat and minimise frizziness. When applying the serum smooth out the hair along the length to detangle and towel dry the hair as much as possible. The hair will naturally be wavy at this stage so when drying with a hairdryer use a paddle brush to brush through the hair which will encourage the hair to straighten.

Once the hair is dry it will no doubt still maintain a wave or curl but it will begin to show signs of straightening. You then need to clip the hair into sections so that you can work on one area at a time. It is a good idea to always start at the front of the hair and work your way around. In some cases you may need to pass the straighteners over the same area two or three times in order to achieve a poker straight look. This is relevant to the natural wave already present in the hair type and of course the thickness and length.

Finish off by blending the ends by passing the straighteners close to the ends of the hair. This will help prevent separation of the sections that may have occurred when clipped.

Before opting for thermal hair straightening you should be made aware of all the pros and cons. Thermal hair straightening can be used on the curliest of hair but once treated the hair cannot be curled or waved until of course the straight hair grows out. The thermal chemical procedure starts out by perming the hair and then straightening it with a flat iron. It is also commonly known as thermal reconditioning and depending on the salon can be a rather expensive process.

The whole thermal straightening procedure can take anywhere as long as a whole day depending of course on the length and curliness of the hair. In general, the treatment is carried out on 2 inches of hair length at a time so depending on the type of hair in question it can prove to be an extremely long process. It is said that once the hair has been straightened it should stay perfectly straight and shiny for up to 6 to 8 months. However, as the hair grows touch ups will need to be carried out at the roots and this can occur 3 months after the initial treatment. Therefore it can become a very costly affair.

As the chemical process involved in thermal hair straightening strips the hair of its former texture it is impossible to curl the straightened hair. You cannot even achieve so much as a soft wave. So unless you are prepared to have permanently straight hair for a considerable length of time, this form of hair straightening may not be the correct choice for you. In addition, the hair can become extremely damaged as a result of the intense heat applied from the flat iron and this in turn can lead to hair breakage. It is strongly advised that thermal hair straightening treatment should be carried out at a professional salon.