Head Trip.(hair styles and colors)

Byline: Cara Litke PHOTOGRAPHED BY BAARD HENRIKSEN

Chopping it, dyeing it, or letting it go naturalnothing changes your look like a new hairstyle. Six women become transformers.

W hile we can't say this story was inspired by Hair, the Broadway revival does remind us of the power of those strands of protein. For the women in this story, that power wasn't intended to make a countercultural statement. Instead, hair changed their appearancein some cases, drastically.

"Your hair is one of the first things people notice about you, so everything you do to it gets a lot of attention," says Mark Townsend of the Sally Hershberger Downtown salon in New York City. "It should be the first part of your appearance you deal with when you want a new look." It also requires commitmentno matter how many times someone tells you it will grow out, a haircut or color can't be erased with soap and water the way a faceful of makeup can. "Color can often be corrected, but a cut takes months to undo," says Rita Hazan, owner of the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City.

That's why it's a good idea to prepare for the unexpected. The makeovers on these pages demonstrate one of the truths about makeovers that reality shows downplay: There is risk involved. Even when top professionals do the work, the big reveal may shock you, surprise youor, in the best scenario, just thrill you. …