Long hair dominates back-to-school 'dos

For boys and girls, long hair rules in school.

Stick-straight, past-the-shoulders hair remains the most popular look for teenage girls this fall. For boys, the shaggy, mod squad Jonas Brothers look is in.

Long, straight hair need not be plain, though.

Bangs, face-framing layers or "curling iron curls" are good ways to add style to lengthy locks, said Johnathan Breitung, owner of a new self-named salon and luxury spa at 3226 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

When it comes to color, brunette is better than blond, he said.

"Natural is better right now. People are getting away from blond. Brown shades and auburn are very hot now," Breitung said. "When you're in high school or college, you can get away with a lot more than when you're older and looking for a job. These should be the years when you experiment with your hair. Try everything."

That's what four local high school students did last week. They hadn't had haircuts since June, and they agreed to let stylists and a colorist at the Michael Thomas Salon and Day Spa in Buffalo Grove give them new back-to-school 'dos.

No one walked out with bobs or bangs, but rather, long, styled hair that had been brightened with highlights or glaze. They all loved their new looks. And best of all? The girls liked that they could still pull their hair into a ponytail on those slept-too-late mornings.

"We try to make it easy for them, so they can wake up and go," said hairdresser Saad Yalda, of Buffalo Grove. "You can have it long. But you want it to be elegant. Not crazy."

Emma Levich, 16, of Vernon Hills, a junior at Vernon Hills High School

Cost of her new look: $192 ($52 for haircut, $75 for partial highlights, $65 for the up do)

Hairdresser: Isella

Levich tried a homecoming dance hairdo, which is a far cry from the ponytailed look she sports while playing varsity soccer. She describes her hair before as "just long and brown." But now, with carmel highlights, chin-length layers and no more split ends, she looks stylish and refined. "I was kind of anxious at first, because I didn't know how it was going to look. But I really like it a lot."

Theresa Wojton, 14, of Long Grove, a freshman at Stevenson High School

Cost of her new look: $135 ($60 for haircut, $75 for partial highlights)

Hairdresser: Larry

The Michael Thomas stylist only cut an inch off Wojton's hair, but in doing so, eliminated many of the overgrown layers. Honey blond highlights were added. Since Wojton's hair is naturally wavy, she'll still need to use a flat iron each morning. But she likes the style, and so does her mom. "It looks good. It looks natural. Nothing too drastic for a 14-year-old," said her mother, Pauline.

Max Gruber, 16, of Highland Park, a junior at Highland Park High School

Cost of his new look: $70 ($45 for haircut, $25 for glaze)

Hairdresser: Saad

Up until the time he was 14, Gruber had a buzz cut. Then he let his hair grow and grow, grooming it only by running his fingers through it after a shower. This year, the varsity football player plans to try out for the school play and doesn't want a huge head of hair to ruin his chances. So this stylized version of his long hair works for him. A dark blond glaze was added to blend with his natural color. "I love it," he said, "and it'll be easy."

Alyssa Dee, 16, of Highland Park, a senior at Highland Park High School

Cost of her new look: $117 ($42 for haircut, $75 for partial highlights)

Hairdresser: Brittany

As one who likes to color her hair a lot (once, she did bright red), Dee isn't afraid to try new things. So her new hairstyle was a twist on the long, straight look: She was given light brown highlights, plus intermittent twisty curls. "I like it. And I like the color a lot," she said. "It's different, but it's subtle."