‘Tis the season for glamorous parties, mistletoe kisses and sexy looks that take minimum fuss—so you can spend more time with your guy and less on your hair! (P.S. Now he can look as hot as you do.)

Her Cut Don’t skip your haircut during these busy weeks; it’s the easiest shortcut to style. “You don’t need to do anything too drastic,” says Regis International Creative Director Gordon Nelson. A few tweaks to your existing cut, he says, can make a dramatic difference without moving too far away from the look you already love. Take our model, Bianca: Nelson snipped just two inches from her hair and layered the front for a subtle but noticeable change.

Her Color Regis National Artistic Director Kat Carey rejuvenated Bianca’s dark-blond hair with a warm-toned, honey-colored glaze that left her strands glossy and healthy-looking. “Dark colors reflect light better, so hair appears thicker and a lot more lustrous,” says Carey, who added drama and contrast with medium-brown and coppery gold-brown lowlights.

His Cut Your best accessory is a gorgeous date. Nelson cut model Antony’s hair shorter through the sides, cleaning it up around the ears and shaping the back. He kept the hair longer on top, so Antony can style it different ways: “From slicked-back to rough,” Nelson says.

Casual Chic

Her Look To create Bianca’s loose updo, Carey shampooed her hair with Biolage Volumathérapie Full-Lift Volume Shampoo. She used Biolage Hydrathérapie Conditioning Balm to protect Bianca’s color, then she blew her hair dry using a round brush for smooth waves. The casual, natural-looking style is perfect for everything from date night to an office party.

Makeup Tip “Color is back!” declares makeup artist Rie Omoto. To get Bianca’s romantic, red-tinted lips, Omoto applied lipstick just at the center, then blended it thoroughly with her finger. She softened the outer edges with a Q-tip to keep the look modern, not ’80s.

Downtown Waves

Her Look This sexy, undone party style “says you’re a poised, elegant and together girl who likes to have fun,” Carey says. She worked in a glob of Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Foam to damp hair, then did a quick blow-dry with a round brush, spritzing each section with Redken Spray Starch 15 Heat Memory Styler as she went along.

His Look To create Antony’s complementary style, Carey blew his hair dry, combing it with her fingers and aiming the dryer at the roots for extra lift. Then she applied Wella Professionals Rugged Fix Matte Molding Creme, a new styling product that “gives hair some separation and texture without all the shine.”

Makeup Tip Omoto paired Bianca’s unfussy hair with unfussy makeup, smoothing on a very sheer foundation and a barely there beige lipstick. Brown eyeliner and a touch of mascara draw attention to Bianca’s beautiful eyes.

Evening Curls

Her Look This life-of-the-party do “is a fun, unpredictable option for wearing your hair down,” Carey says. To create a mix of textures, Carey prepared the hair with the styling products from the second look. Then she curled one-inch sections using a conical-shaped curling iron on some, a waving iron on others and a regular curling iron on the rest.

Makeup Tip Omoto created “street glamorous” smoky eyes with purple shadow, black liner and tons of mascara. A peachy blush and nude lips let the eyes take center stage.

Holiday Fashion

For the holidays, “it’s all about ‘party!’” says wardrobe stylist Priscilla Polley, who dressed our models. Rich colors are popular, she says, but classic, creamy whites and nudes are also in. Layer different textures and shades to create a sophisticated monochromatic look and pair matte or translucent fabrics with shiny or beaded fabrics for an outfit that will put you in a festive mood. “People have a lot more fun with glitter and shine,” Polley says.

Polished Off Manicurist Rica Romain painted Bianca’s nails with Honk if You Love OPI, a luxurious purple. “It’s versatile with oomph,” Romain says. “With its deep, rich hue, it’s perfect for the holiday.”