Carmen Electra- Hair in a Hurry

The prettiest hairstyles of the season are feminine, sleek and built for speed. Need proof? We created each of these looks in seven minutes or less.

As the weather turns brisk, so do our schedules--which is why there's no better time to master a few of fall's high-speed, high-impact hairstyles. The seasons chicest looks are polished but refreshingly imperfect, which means you can whip them up in a flash and feel groomed, even if a few strands are out of place. To show you how to do them yourself, we acked celebrity hairstylist Ken Paves to create four looks on actress and Max Factor spokeswoman Carmen Electra.He started each one with clean, blow-dried hair- and a click of the stopwatch. Electra, who recently filmed Cheaper by the Dozen 2, loved every rapid-fire style. "It's taken me a long time to feel comfortable changing my hair a lot. These styles are very freeing," she says. With these quick dos, you'll feel liberated too. --Jennifer Tung

(#1) Ponytail total time: 3 minutes
"It's so Bardot! It's so sixties!" exclaims Electra of this high, playful ponytail. "I've always tried to figure out how to give a little ooomph to my ponytails, and now I know how." Paves, who dressed up the timeless style by softly flipping the ends and covering the elastic with a section of hair, calls this look "the instant cure for a bad-hair day. It's clean, youthful and feminine.
How to get the look Paves smoothed hair into a ponytail, wrapping a small section of hair around the elastic and securing it with a straight pin. Then he clipped the base of the ponytail to the scalp with a jaw clip to create fullness.
Paves used a wide-tooth comb (Revlon volumizing comb, $2.49; at drugstores) instead of a brush to pull hair back because a comb won't flatten out the teased roots.
When wrapping a section of hair around the elastic, be sure to attach it underneath, where it's out of sight, using a straight pin (Meta Grip Premium bobby pins, $6 for 300; at Sally Beauty Supply).
For extra fullness seperate the ponytail in two, clipping the top part to your head just above the eleastic (Conair Mini Chunky jaw clip, $3 for eight; at Wal-Mart). Then let it fall back over the bottom part.

(#2) Middle Part total time: 7 minutes
A loose, lush mane with a center part conveys classic glamour and modern ease. But it doesn't suit everyone. "This look isn't for a narrow face, because it elongates." Paves says, "It makes round faces look leaner, covering an inch on both sides." Electra's take on the look: "I'm a down-the-middle girl. I like the symetry of it. Growing up, people called me Marcia Brady- that's me!"
How to get the look After blow-drying, Paves parted hair down the center and twisted large sections into pin curls while hair was still warm. After hair cooled he brushed it out gently, teasing a few strands on the crown for volume.
To create volume and soft bend in the hair, Paves blow-dried it in sections (Conair Pro Silverbird hair dryer, $50; as Sally Beauty Supply).
To curl the ends Paves used a round brush (Spornette medium round brush, $22) while blow-drying.
As a speedy alternative to pin curls, Paves recommends rolling large sections of hair on top of the head around Velcro Classic Stylers ($3 for five 1 1/2" rollers; at Sally Beauty Supply) while hair is still warm from the blow-dryer. When hair is cool, gently unfurl and brush it out.

(#3) Chignon total time: 4 minutes
To put a fresh spin on the ladylike chignon, Paves created waves and volume to get lift at the crown, then pulled hair into a loose, low knot that sits slight to one side. "I feel regal," says Electra. "It's a delicate but powerful look, in the same way a whisper can be more powerful than a scream." Adds Paves, "This look like you put some effort into it, but it's still young and touchable."
How to get the look First Paves teased Electra's hair along her hairline and pulled it back into a low, off-center ponytail. Then he wound the ponytail around an elastic several times to create a soft knot, which he secured with tiny jaw clips.
Prep fine hair for a ponytail with Redken Full Frame mousse ($14).
A rattail bomb (Ace, $2; at drugstores) will build volume at roots without causing tangles.
Set a chignon with a strong, flexible hairspray (Ken Paves Flawless Convertible-Proof spray, $6; 800-289-2273 for stores) that leaves hair looking soft, not stiff or crunchy.
The easiest way to secure a bun is to use baby jaw clips that blend into hair (Smoothies by Intuition Mini Clawettes, $3 for four). Place as many as you need under the bun's top layers, making cure they're inconspicuous and firmly in place.

(#4) Half Updo total time: 6 minutes
Pulling sides back into a partial ponytail looks pretty and polished on everyone. It's also versatile. "It's 'done,' but it's soft and flirty," Paves says. "It even works with short hair- you get the same feeling." Says Electra, "It can look casual or dressy. I could wear this to the MTV or Academy Awards."
How to get the look Paves swept a small section of hair across Electra's forehead. He then brushed the rest straight back and teased the crown before pulling the top half (above ear level) up and securing it with an elastic.
To make Electra's naturally thick harim more pliable before styling, Paves applied relaxing balm (Phytodefrisant, $20; at Sphora) onto damp hair, then blow-dried.
To help retain its shape and look groomed, finish this style with a fine mist of hairspray (Dove Extra Hold hairspray, $4; at drugstores).
Hooked hair elastics (Smoothies by Intuition bungee bands, $3.50 for three) gaurantee a sleek, super-tight ponytail and are easy to use. Just hold one end in place and wrap the other around a few times before securing it.

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