Making a First Impression

In no time, my neighborhood will clear of children cycling through the neighborhood, sketching stick figures on the sidewalks with their colorful chalk and screaming at the top of their lungs as they chase each other in the street, stopping speeding traffic along the way. They will trade their chalk for pencils and their bikes for books because it's time to head back to school!

If you're one of the millions of students headed back to school, don't forget that in addition to your gear, it's your hairstyle that counts. I found some looks that are sure to leave a lasting impression on the first day of school.

I was one of the few students who couldn't wait to return to school. Sure, it meant the end of weekdays scouring for boys at the mall and late nights loitering at McDonalds but I didn't care. As a teenager, I eagerly anticipated the first day of playing catch up with friends I hadn't seen all summer, seeing the campus nerd shed their braces and graduate from geek to gorgeous, and how fast the new kid would go from mysterious to obscure.

Because private school uniforms left very little creativity at my school it was always the hairstyles that would get the most attention. Who cut their hair, who bought new hair, and whose mom let her color her hair. As you or your teenagers head back this semester, here are a few celebrity hair styles which can surprisingly be carried off on the average person.

While most performers go to new lengths with their locks, it's refreshing to see that some celebrities are going for a more simple or traditional look. Fades, braids, soft curls and wraps are still popular and depending on the shape of your face, a great option for the first day of school when you want to come back and get noticed. I pulled a few images above – some old and new – in hopes you'd find your favorite. After you're done flipping through those pics, check out a few celebs who snipped their dreadlocks -- and left a lasting impression (some good and bad) with fans.