Every year when the temperature drops and the cool breezes turn to bone chilling cold, mother nature makes us keenly aware that it's time we layer and bundle up once again. When you are reassessing your winter wardrobe and are wondering what to keep and what to give away . . . keep the hats! Good hat's rarely go out of style in fact; they often are deemed the most stylish accessory of any fashion maven. Besides being a fashion statement, you will stay considerably warmer by wearing a hat on your noggin, where precious body heat quickly escapes on those cold, damp, freezing winter days.

So, can a winter hat be both warm and chic? The answer is yes! Want to make a fashion statement? Find a hairstyle that works for you first and then . . . put a hat on it!  But, of course styling is key for what makes a hat work or not work, so try these tips next time you're making a new hat choice or just reconfiguring your style to fit a good old hat you've had for awhile.

The Fur Hat

Ahhh . . . this hat makes a magnificent statement first and foremost!  And, it also ranks high in the warming factor too. This hat oozes classy sophistication when clothing is of the simple classic lines and other accessories are held to a bare minimum (and that includes the hairstyle.) The best hairstyle for a marvelous fur hat is simply no hairstyle at all! This accessory allows femme fatales and classy sophisticates to turn heads. There are some unwritten rules that make this hat absolutely shine; wear impeccable makeup and keep all your hair under your hat. Seriously!  Tuck it up under and call it a day. If you need to take this marvelous fur off before returning home, wear it simple, slicked back in a bun or in a style you can make into a bed head look with a little purse sized gel or spray. If you go this route, you must feel confident with your best face forward. Pay extra attention to your makeup!

The Oversized Knit Cap

This adorable floppy cap will be your best friend! It's become a classic! What's not to like? It's warm and cozy, fits all hair lengths and works for any occasion. The oversized cap looks best when set back on the head a ways, almost to the point where it looks as though it may tumble off. Some hair needs to peek out from around this hat, so if your hair is considerably short, sweep bangs to the side and piece out some face framing layers. Any length bob hairstyle looks smart in this cap with a deep side part and one side tucked behind the ear. Long layered hair, with soft girlie curls, is an ultimately feminine look and long, shiny, straight hair only needs a deep side part to stir up a whirlwind!

The Mesh Beanie Cap

Not every winter hat needs to be warm and fuzzy. A mesh beanie cap is all about working the Bohemian look. And for you lucky ladies with natural curls, well, this cap is absolutely made for you! With short, medium and long hair styles the beanie is made to be worn down on the forehead. Yes, it's meant to shape to your head with your hair softly cascading out from beneath. And the more natural looking the waves, the more boho chic! But you must definitely carry a purse size dry shampoo to fluff your hair back to normal after removing this cap (or you could be wearing the proverbial 'hat hair' look longer than you really planned.)

See more from Barb at Hairstyle-blog

Every year about this time, salons heat up with clients searching for the latest, cutest, quickest and easiest hairstyles they can manage. It's a balancing act to find a hairstyle that will hold up to both a busy summer social calendar and summer's heat and humidity. But who wants to spend the time straightening, smoothing or curling only for it to fall out the minute you step out the door? This year's hottest summer hair trends reflect the laid-back look that defines summer. Summer is not the time for showy, gaudy or glitzy looking hairstyles. Soft braids, loose buns, ponytails of all shapes and sizes, pixie cuts, crop cuts  . . . these are the hair trends this summer and they all work great with busy schedules.   

Braids
Braids have been stirring up a whirlwind for a while now and are the IT hairdo for summer. And, what's perfect is we have about a gazillion different ways to wear them. Braids are only as limited as the imagination of the braider. Quick, easy and fun, casual, sophisticated or zany. . . learn how-to do a braid or two, and eliminate blow-drying, curling irons and straightening irons . . . ughhh . . . give it a rest! Side braids are so easy and look great everywhere; at the beach, pool party or any dressy summer event. The key to these looks are their textured, casual, beachy flair.  Nothing is structured here.

If you need to use a dryer, just rough dry it, with fingers, fluffing it upside down. Brush to the side and braid loosely with even tension and secure with a clear elastic. Try a messy boho hairstyle, brushed to the side and pinned up with three random strands of fishtail braids. Let some strands hang out around your face for a relaxed, carefree, spur-of the-moment style. Are you all left thumbs when it comes to braiding? No worries, there should be a variety of salons now in your area who can do some creative braiding for you. Bring in pictures or let them have at it  . . . either way . . . your braid will be a new look that will last for days!   

Short Bobs, Pixies and Crop Cuts
The classic short bob is a quick wash-n-wear style for ladies with straight hair (just add pink or blue and you've got a Katy Perry do) For lift on top, brush it in the opposite direction while drying. Create a deep side part and tuck behind your ear. Shifting your part to the opposite side occasionally will also create natural lift on top. A short crop pixie cut is adorable . . . and it doesn't get any easier than this. Consider going platinum if you like to jump on the color trend bandwagon, but take note that it requires monthly or bi-monthly upkeep for most.

Ponytails
Ponytails are fun all year round, but summertime gives you even more reasons to wear one when temps get hot and muggy. Ponytail varieties are endless; smooth, curly, braided, high, low or to the side and in this summer, the messier the better. You can wear a ponytail even if you don't have long hair. The faux-ponytail can be clipped into short and medium length hair. Look for these faux-ponytails at kiosks in shopping malls where the sales ladies will show you how to work with them, or you can find them at beauty supply stores.

Buns
The messy bun is another style to wear for any summer occasion. The low messy bun worn slightly off to the side has been a top hairstyle trend on red carpets this year and it's a simple style to recreate. There's no wrong way to wear a bun, so experiment and see what suits you.

Add some bling with a sparkly pin. Brush hair back into a low ponytail and secure with an elastic. Separate into two strands and wind around the base securing with pins. For a secure hold, pin into the base of the ponytail and let some pieces fall out for a messy look. Finish bangs or soft wispy curls to frame your face.

Guest author Barb Quinn has been a professional hair stylist for over 30 years and has established herself as a nationally recognized hair designer, educator, and freelance writer. Barb has been chosen by her peers to serve on the advisory panel of Cosmos C International the global hair stylist network. Thousands of women each day follow Barb's hair styling wit and wisdom on her highly successful blogs Hairstyle Blog and Visual Makeover. In 2011 The Hairstyle Blog was selected as Top Beauty Blog by BeautySchool.com.