‘The Five-Minute Hair Stylist’

Author: Christine Moodie

Info: Crown Publishers, 1991. $18 hardcover. 88 pages, includes brief index.

Hair is a woman’s crowning glory, and a twist here or there can make a simple but sophisticated statement.

Thirty hairstyles for women range from the casual to the formal and include looks from a classic English braid to an elegant chignon. Each design, including some that can be easily adjusted from a workday to an evening out, includes a full color photo of the final look as well as some smaller photos of the step-by-step process.

Moodie proposes that with about six hair supplies, enumerated in the front of the book, and knowledge of your type of hair and proper hair care, also discussed, you can in theory implement these hairstyles in a few minutes. Although most of the styles are for medium-long hair, six are for cuts that are quite short and would also be suitable for more mature women.

None of the hairstyles are earth-shattering, previously well-kept secrets. Still, having this book around would release one from the excuse of being stuck with one look until the next visit to the hairdresser. If you really get into it, the techniques presented allow one to experiment and go beyond what is presented here.

This book would be especially helpful for working women--in or outside the home--who want the luxury of long hair without a mess in their face and for parents of little girls.

Also in this series is “The Five-Minute Scarf Arranger” by Pia Tryde Sandeman. These books are available at Barnes & Noble, Costa Mesa, and other area bookstores.