What do you dream of when you dream of long hair?

At Dessange, extensions take centre stage when we dream of long hair. The salon fits real-hair extensions for a more natural result. Here they are wheat-blonde and set onto a rounded bob, immaculately straightened from root to tip: simple and chic, the kind of hair glamour girls wear.

It is usually when your hair is short that you dream of lengths you could style into whatever comes into your head. The truth is that most of the time, long hair gets worn exactly the same way, or very nearly, every single day. Maybe because you are so used to it that trying something else no longer occurs to you, or maybe because at 7am, before dashing to work, the last thing you fancy is digging out the hairdryer, the curling tongs, the comb and the rest: so it is a ponytail or a quick bun again, and that is that. But this season's trends are made for long hair, and from curls to a flash of balayage, we are tempted — and we promise ourselves that tomorrow morning, brush in hand, we will make a proper effort and get our hair looking its best… or simply book in at the salon.

The mid-length is one of the season's key cuts. At Dessange it is billed as “natural sophistication”: a bouncy blow-dry, a natural colour with just a hint of honey through the lengths, and a soft taper on the strands that frame the face. Hair to live in and show off — soft, elegant, feminine and easy to do.

At Franck Provost, long hair goes graphic: a full, blunt fringe over sleek, finely layered lengths. We love the volume the fringe brings, balanced by the lightness of a tapered layer, which is what stops the whole thing looking like a helmet. A fashion-forward cut, but be warned: to recreate it at home you will need straighteners and a hairdryer.

We have fallen hard for Jean Louis David's curly long hair. Layered exactly as it should be to keep a lovely volume, with the lengths curled on tongs: properly romantic hair. We also love what they have done with the highlights — a soft, natural blonde, stronger through the lengths and barely there at the roots.

As for the evening version, it is the bun of the moment, styled that artfully undone way that says girl-from-the-countryside: a few strands twisted at the side and loosely pinned into a pretty tangle of golden pieces. We love it.

Still at Jean Louis David, lengths get roughed up and the sensible side is forgotten. Layered, tapered, pretending to be unkempt, it is a fresh, sunny cut lifted with fine honey-coloured highlights.

The ponytail of the moment, fashionable and simple at once, is handy on days when you cannot face a blow-dry, since it works perfectly well without straightening the lengths. All you need to do is smooth the strands framing the face and backcomb a few sections underneath at the back of the head, then cover them with neater hair. To hide the band, leave one strand free at the side, wrap it around the elastic and pin it underneath with a small, discreet clip. Hair here by Toni & Guy.

At Vog, long hair is light, even airy. We like the fresh feel of this cut with its wild streak: a fringe that has barely been combed, wavy lengths and a little flash of blonde on a few strands.

A complete change of register now, with a bit of bite: a rich brown lifted with chocolate highlights. Fringe and layers worked outwards for hair that looks modern and alive. Hair here by Sergio Bossi.

Maniatis offers a mid-length with relaxed, icy curls. We love the glossy effect that the curls and the colour give to hair left loose. Full of pep and character, this is one for anyone who would rather have the movement and romance of curls than the sensible, serious look of sleek hair.

This winter, brown is the mood, and mystery comes with it. Retro, glamorous hair for this brunette with a serious air: smooth over the top of the head and elegantly curled using a big round brush and a hairdryer rather than tongs, to get those big curls that then drop into waves — the movement is softer that way.

And a quick word for anyone with a head full of curls: say no to straightening and look after your curls — they are on trend and, well cared for, genuinely beautiful. Try disciplining them instead by redefining a few of the curls around the face with curling tongs, and add an accessory or two to style things up. Here we like this fine ribbon that holds the hair back and gives it lovely volume.

You have probably noticed the trend: the undone, slightly wavy long look is everywhere, and a quick glance around you is enough to get the idea. The good news is that while it does take a bit of a knack, you can often skip the blow-dry altogether: simply style the few strands framing the face and add a curl here and there for that wavy effect. Then lightly backcomb the sections underneath to give it some bulk. Boho style worth copying.

The hair is shiny and lit up with warm reflections, the wave is soft and the strand polished: we have a real soft spot for this bouncy mid-length — simple, soft, perfect.

A sophisticated bob, very much today's Barbie: lengths cut to the millimetre, layers for extra fullness and a strand swept to the side — the cut for busy women who like to look immaculate, chic and current.

What it costs

On price, there is no single figure: it all depends on the salon you choose, the length of your hair and how long you spend in the chair. As a rough guide in the UK, expect somewhere around £35 to £70 for a cut, and roughly £20 to £40 more if you add a blow-dry or a finish. Occasion hair — a proper updo, waves — usually lands between £45 and £85, more in high-end salons or if it has to survive a whole evening out. Real-hair extensions are a different category altogether: fitting runs into the hundreds of pounds depending on length, density and where the hair comes from, and you need to budget for upkeep and regular refittings on top of the starting price. The sensible move is to ask for a detailed quote before you commit, and to compare two or three salons — prices vary enormously from one town to the next.