Long hair driving you mad? Get a cute crop instead...

Get a new hairdo. The changing season means it’s time for a new look. Now is the time to take the plunge…

You don’t have to splash out on a designer wardrobe to get a new look for autumn/winter. It’s a lot easier than that to update your image – a brand new hairdo has impact, style and can take years off in the way no new dress can. And if your hair is suffering from post-summer stress, now is the perfect time to take action and get your crowning glory back in condition.

Don’t be afraid to go for a chop. ‘Long beach summer hair is out,’ says celebrity hairdresser Richard Ward. ‘It’s an annual trend, like a hair migration. Women all over the country go for a real departure hair-wise to greet the new season and compliment their wardrobes.’

Take a leaf out of the celebrity style book - Emma Watson went for her celebrated pixie chop to disassciate herself from the character of Hermione and her untameable tresses as soon as the final Harry Potter film was in the can, and she’s never looked back. She has described her cute crop as ‘the most liberating thing ever’ and it seems others are hoping that a radical cut will prove magic for them too.

‘The super-short crop is the trend of the season,’ says Josh Rees Hole, stylist at Urban Retreat. ‘Since stars like Emma went for the chop, women have been getting bolder.’

And the crop is not just for bright young things either – think of Judi Dench. ‘It’s versatile for any age,’ says Josh. If you’re planning on taking the plunge, though, remember that such a short cut can leave you feeling very exposed. ‘Every time I get my hair trimmed back I think “Oh my God I need botox”,’ says one short-hair fan in the Agenda office. And be sure it suits your features – a radical crop can look harsh if your face shape or features aren’t suited.

If you’re not sure, you can experiment at one of the many websites that allow you to upload a pic and try on new hairstyles. Try thehairstyler.com.

Go wild for colour

If going for the chop is a bit too drastic an idea for you, why not try a change of colour instead? Some younger celebs such as Katy Perry are setting a trend and brightening up their autumns with eye-popping candy hair colours, but you don’t have to be quite so drastic to effect a flattering change. Smart new colour techniques can give you a new look that also knocks years off.

If you’re going blonde, choose soft beige tones that will flatter, and make sure you condition well – the glossier your hair, the younger you’ll look. If you’re blonde already, consider taking it one shade darker than your summer colour – richer, denser colours are good for winter.

Bronze, multi-tonal colour is the order of the day for brunettes - handpainted caramel sections give hair a youthful boost. Red is a more difficult colour to carry off, and it’s more prone to fade and discolour, so go for semi-permanent shades which are gentler and will keep hair in better condition.

If you’re planning a major colour change, it’s always worth consulting a professional first to avoid disaster. It may be autumn, but you don’t want to spend the next three months having to wear a hat…

The psychology of hair

Hair sends out powerful signals about self expression, self esteem and identity. Our feelings of attractiveness and self-confidence are intriniscally linked to how our hair is behaving – either long term, as in losing it or going grey, or short term as in simply having a bad hair day.

Where once hair was a good indicator of vitality and breeding status – ie it was something that couldn’t be faked – now we can hide our grey, add extensions and use wigs to cover up. And colouring, cutting and styling our hair allows us to constantly reinvent ourselves, exploring identities that go way beyond what nature has given us.

For women especially, hair is significant to identity and emotional state. A bad hair cut or colour can have you hiding in bed for days, or literally tearing your hair out in anguish. Women feel their hair is a reflection of who they are, and that’s why finding a stylist who talks to you before getting the scissors out is vital.