May Day Mayday! How to Fight the Frizzies & Create 5 Stunning Spring Hair Looks

Poodles look adorable with powder puff hair. However, if you're not a canine, frizzy strands can fizzle your plans.

Troubled tresses happen for a number of reasons. Dry hair, which occurs from sun exposure, humidity, excessive shampooing or improper maintenance, sucks up moisture in the air and causes strands to expand. Breakages and split ends from damaged locks also create unflattering frizzies. Plus, if you use a hair spray with a high alcohol content, it can swell the cuticle (the outermost layer of the shaft) and cause puffiness.

No need to fret over fly-aways. Aim to tame them by keeping dry hair brushing and processing procedures to a minimum. Frizzies and frays also respond well to the right leave-in treatments, smoothing serums, thermal/sun protectors and styling tools. 

Today marks May Day. So, in honor of the annual celebration of spring, we present the latest hair trends and products that will help you avoid an emergency mayday moment with your hair.

Photo by Tom Sorensen

Emma Stone: Shoulder swept locks with bangs.

Photo by JJ Duncan

Nina Dobrev: Long, straight strands parted in the middle.

Photo by Georges Biard

Karolina Kurkova: Tight curls with side part. 

Photo by Tom Sorensen

Amanda Seyfried: Messy side braid.

Photo by Neon Tommy

Cher Lloyd: Long, soft waves.

SHINE: Affinage Indigo Smoothie. BEAUTY: This thermal protector minimizes heat damage from styling tools and sun exposure, and helps repair split ends. BEACON: Supports The Alternative Hair Charitable Foundation.

SHINE: Belson Products Brazilian Heat After Dark Ionic 1900 Watt Professional Dryer. BEAUTY: Titanium-infused outlet grille eliminates static while the diffuser attachment helps curly hair achieve more smoothness and control. BEACON: The parent company, Helen of Troy, supports the American Cancer Society, Cookies for Kids' Cancer and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

SHINE: Conair Bamboo Carbon Ceramic Heat Flat Iron. BEAUTY: Nano bamboo carbon ceramic-coated plates promote shine and ant-frizz protection. BEACON: Supports American Red Cross, American Ballet Theatre and National Dance Institute.

SHINE: Davines OI/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion. BEAUTY: This leave-in treatment/styling oil prompts restructuring and an anti-frizz effect for softer and stronger strands. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Hamadi Organics Shea Spray De-Frizzing Sun Protector. BEAUTY: Aloe vera leaf powder, avocado oil and shea butter extract shield and strengthen strands to encourage smoothness. BEACON: Ecocert certified and no animal testing. Biodegradable, and contains no fragrances or colorants.

SHINE: Jane Carter Solution Incredible Curls. BEAUTY: This leave-in conditioning/styling product keeps fly-aways at bay for wavy and textured hair with shea butter, vitamin E, and jojoba seed and avocado oils. BEACON: Supports Women For Women.

SHINE: Redken Smooth Lock Butter Silk. BEAUTY: This rinse-out treatment utilizes sweet almond oil to nourish and help minimize unruly hair. BEACON: Parent company L’Oréal partners with UNESCO to support For Women In Science.

SHINE: Unilever TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Keratin Infusing Smoothing Serum and Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Shine Spray. BEAUTY: The serum seals in smoothness while the spray shields strands from heat styling. BEACON: The Unilever Foundation supports Oxfam, Population Services International, Save the Children, UNICEF and the World Food Programme. 

March Birthday Manes: Celebrity Long Hair Trends

Photo by Georges Biard

Jessica Chastain: March 24

Pop the champagne! Beautynista birthday wishes go out to Jessica Chastain this weekend. The vegan actress turns 36 years old on Sunday. She currently lives in Manhattan with her three-legged rescue dog named Chaplin.

Next week, birthday buddies Mariah Carey and Fergie share celebrations on March 27. Carey turns 43 years old, while Fergie lights 38 candles. Both singers have recently embraced motherhood. Carey raises fraternal twins Monroe and Moroccan, who were born in 2011, with hubby/actor Nick Cannon. Fergie and her hubby/actor Josh Duhamel expect their first child this summer. 

Besides star-studded careers, these women also share a trending beauty trait--long flowing locks. This versatile look can be braided, highlighted, curled, straightened, or placed in a pretty ponytail or bun. Long hair can also be parted in the middle or on the side, depending on the shape of your face.

Hair down to there needs lots of care and maintenance. Therefore, we've assembled the latest styling tools and products below for standout strands. Let us know which long hair look you're currently crushing on. We'd love to hear about it.

Mariah Carey: March 27

Fergie: March 27

SHINE: A.S.P. Kitoko Volume Enhance Active Treatment (For Fine Hair). BEAUTY: Boost body and step up the smoothness of your strands with shea butter, vitamins A and E, and green tea leaf and date fruit extracts. BEACON: Contains no waxes, mineral oils, parabens or sulfates. 

SHINE: Belson Products Gold 'N Hot Titanium Professional 1875 Watt Dryer. BEAUTY: Ionic generator emits negative ions to dry hair faster and with less damage. BEACON: The parent company, Helen of Troy, supports the American Cancer Society, Cookies for Kids' Cancer and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

SHINE: Belson Products Brazilian Heat After Dark 1" Professional Titanium Conical Iron. BEAUTY: Titanium-infused barrel and ceramic heater help give hair a glossy texture. BEACON: The parent company, Helen of Troy, supports the American Cancer Society, Cookies for Kids' Cancer and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

SHINE: Conair Carbon Smooth Round and Square Blow Dry Brushes, and Scunci Non-Permanent Hair Chalk. BEAUTY: Brushes help dry hair quickly, boost shine and reduce static, while the chalk allows you to glide color highlights onto your strands. BEACON: Supports the American Red Cross and National Dance Institute.

SHINE: John Frieda Smooth & Shine Sleek Finish 1" Straightening Plates. BEAUTY: Advanced ionic conditioning and titanium ceramic coated plates help straighten strands and keep moisture locked in. BEACON: Kao Brands, the parent company, supports United Way and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières.

SHINE: Natu Beauty Silkening Mist (For Thick Hair). BEAUTY: Transform coarse hair into smoother strands with oat peptides. BEACON: Vegan. Free of sulfates, silicones, parabens, artificial fragrances and colors, resins, phthalates, petrolatum and ethoxylates.

SHINE: Number 4 Hair Fleurs de Temps Volumizing Shampoo and Volumizing Condition. BEAUTY: Black currant leaf and green tea extracts serve to repair and revitalize your hair. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of sulfates, gluten and parabens.

SHINE: Redken Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow Dry Lotion. BEAUTY: Protect your hair from thermal damage, and maximize manageability with castor oil, cranberry seed oil and vitamin E. BEACON: The parent company, L’Oréal, partners with UNESCO to support For Women In Science.  

SHINE: Shielo Leave In Protectant For Styling. BEAUTY: Peptides, shea butter, and white tea leaf and sunflower seed extracts strengthen and shield strands from the elements. BEACON: Cruelty free and vegan. Free of parabens. Supports The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

SHINE: Twisted Sista Hot Curls Perfector. BEAUTY: Enhance your waves while protecting them from heat damage caused by blow dryers, curling/flat irons and diffusers with green tea leaf extract and vitamin E. BEACON: Contains no sulfates, phthalates, parabens or mineral oils.