Now that we are half way into 2006 let's review the two main hairstyle trends of this year.

The first obvious trend is that we are seeing a lot more short and curly hair with bobs and curls custom designed for different individuals. Berets and hair bands and pins to rein longer hairs in are also in fashion.

Gone are the long straight hair styles that dominated the last few years. At a maximum, shoulder-length hair is what we see in a lot of award ceremonies where celebrities and stars model the new trends.

Another anti-long-hair style for 2006 is the ponytail, in all its variants.

Beyonce led the way in this new style when she showed up with a lush pony tail to receive her Walk of Fame Star on March 28, 2006 in Hollywood, LA. Other stars preferring ponytails include Carmen Electra, Gwen Stefani, Pauley Perrete, Alexis Bledel, and Katie Lohmann.

The pony tails can be braided, let loose, or brushed up towards the crown of the head in the most popular style of them all, also known as the High Ponytail.

Even Jennifer Aniston, after years of straight hair in the successful FRIENDS series, is seen lately wearing a Stacked ponytail which has a fluffy rich look to it.

And when you see Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie posing for the cameras with long hair it does not mean that they are not following the current trend for shorter hair. Their secret is hidden in a single word: extension. Hair extensions allow a lot of celebrities these days to enjoy the best of both the old and the new hairstyle trends with ease.