As I wandered the streets of Manhattan last month, I was on a mission. Not only to take in the wonders of the amazing city, but to observe what all of us Midwesterners call "New York City high fashion." I saw stores and labels we in the Midwest crave such as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, and Louis Vuitton. What stood out in my mind the most? The fabulous hair I saw, which would send any trend-conscious hairstylist into creative overload.

I set forth on my mission. I saw this New York City high fashion and said to myself at every zany cut and color I saw on the street: "That's so New York." As I stood at the street corner sipping my latte, waiting to cross over 5th Avenue, I thought, "I'm taking that to Peoria." I entered the Redken salon for my training course with an open mind, hoping to get some insight and bring a little of the Big Apple to Peoria.

What did I discover? Just because we don't live in a huge metropolis doesn't mean our hair can't be a bit edgy. Most of our colors either whisper or talk. Let's make them shout. Did you know you can tie-dye hair? By using vibrant flavors of reds and blondes with a darker base color, you can bleed these colors together with this fantastic rubber band technique. Too over-the-top for you? What about your natural color with a bold flavor that flicks and flares out from underneath? Accompany these new looks with an asymmetrical haircut. One side long, one side shorter, and add some diagonal lines. These aren't signs of a bad haircut; it's trendy New York City high fashion that stems from the 1980s.

So stop flipping through fashion magazines and dreaming of that avant garde fashion. Wear it! Make a New Year's resolution this year to walk the runway-in Peoria. TPW