How to style in-between length hair

Growing out bangs requires extra styling time. Always blow-dry your bangs first, says Victor Paul of the Victor Paul Salon in Costa Mesa, Calif. Controlling them as you begin to style will make them fall in line with the rest of your hair. He suggests using a flat brush for a sleek look that blends into the rest of your hair and a smaller round brush if you're flipping them to the side.

Once bangs reach your ears, it's easy to hide them underneath longer strands. Lift the hair behind your ears back, says Jess Stover, owner of Adelaide Salon in Brooklyn. Then, part your bangs, (either on the side or in the center), and pin the bangs up to the side of your head. Let the long hair fall back on top to disguise the bobby pins.

Stuck with a choppy, layered look you hate? The best way to hide a bad haircut is to put some curl and body into it, says Paul. He suggests using a curling iron to add a few loose waves at random intervals, or just loosely braiding your hair while it dries.

Another solution to a bad short 'do is to transform the look from soccer mom to vintage glam with some cute accessories. There are some really pretty hair combs and headbands that look just like what the flappers wore in the 1920s, says Stover. Use the bling to pull hair out of the way and to add some flair.

If you have a longer, layered cut that isn't working for you, try wrapping your hair high in a tight bun at the side or back of your head. To keep the shorter strands in place, Paul recommends scarves or headbands. It doesn't have to be ostentatious—even a plain black band will do.

Cute crops look great when they're freshly cut—not so much when they start to grow out and get shaggy. Put a lot of gel in your hair for a sleek, combed-back look, says Paul. It's polished and refined.

To minimize frizz with short hair—and make it lie flat on the head—Stover suggests putting a heavy knit cap or a pretty silk scarf on your head while your hair is drying. It pushes the hair down so it looks longer, she says. And flattens it so that it's straighter and smoother.

The best way to minimize an overgrown haircut is to make it look like it was meant to be that way. You can twist a little of the pomade into the layers on top and also around the bottom pieces so that it looks a little choppier and purposefully shaggy, suggests Bardo.

Not all hairstylists are created equal—especially not when it comes to creating natural-looking layers. When layers are too short on top, it's best to blow them out and keep them as smooth and flat as possible, says Bardo. I would suggest using a light hair cream to keep the top layers from popping up.

Another way to minimize uneven or unblended layers is to style them in a bouffant. Take the sides of your hair, and pin them together in the back, says Paul. Then tease the top, to give it a little height. It's a very retro, sexy look.