Beautiful hair, made simple — for every age.
Hi, I'm RaDona. For over 25 years I have cut and styled hair in my Utah salon. Every week I share the real techniques — braids, bobs, pixies, updos, kids' cuts, and everyday looks — on video, free, so you can do them at home. Every guide on this site is anchored to a real client transformation.
Real haircuts and real styles, taught by a real stylist
Generally, most hair tutorial sites use stock photos and pretend the results are typical. Specifically, this site is different. Every guide and every video on this website comes from an actual client in RaDona's chair — real hair, real technique, real results.
Generally, the internet is full of hair advice from people who have never touched a client's head. Specifically, this site was built to be the opposite of that. Every guide, every tutorial, and every product recommendation on Boys and Girls Hairstyles comes from RaDona Ludlow's real work with real clients — hundreds of families over 25 years in her Utah salon. Notably, the site's name reflects the full range: from a toddler's first haircut to a grandmother's silver pixie, from a first-grader's morning braid to a woman-over-70's confident transformation.
RaDona became a licensed cosmetologist in 2000 after graduating from the Bon Losee Hair Academy. Specifically, her career started with a simple observation: most parents wanted to give their kids beautiful hair for school photos, sports, and special occasions, but felt intimidated by the steps. Generally, the same applied to women navigating their 50s, 60s, and 70s who wanted current, flattering cuts but did not know how to ask for them. Notably, RaDona started filming her salon work in 2012 so anyone — anywhere in the world — could see the real technique behind a great cut.
Today, that YouTube channel has grown to over 180,000 subscribers watching more than 800 videos of real client transformations. Specifically, everything RaDona films is based on a real appointment with a real client — not staged for the camera, not edited to hide mistakes, not filmed with a paid model. Generally, this authenticity is what makes the tutorials actually work when viewers try them at home. Notably, the site you are reading now is the written companion to that channel. Every article links to the video, every video is anchored to a client story, and every product recommendation has been tested on real hair in the salon.
Whether you are styling a child for the school picture, refreshing a pixie you have been wearing for years, or preparing for a wedding or prom — there is a step-by-step guide here for you. The same applies if you are wondering which shampoo actually helps thinning hair. Specifically, the site organizes everything into five main pillars: Kids & Family, Styles by Age (women 40-70+), Tutorials & DIY, Occasion & Event Styles, and Hair Care & Shop. Notably, every pillar section below walks through what is inside so you can go straight to what you need.
Where would you like to start?
Generally, five collections cover just about everything on this site. Specifically, pick the pillar that fits what you need today — kids' morning styling, a women's cut update, a step-by-step tutorial, an occasion look, or product picks. Notably, each pillar links to dozens of specific guides underneath.
Kids & Family
Little-girl bobs, braids, school-morning styles, sports hairstyles, boys' cuts at home, first haircuts, and everything for children ages 2 through 12. Real techniques a parent can actually do in five minutes.
Explore Kids & Family → Pillar 2Styles by Age
Flattering, confident cuts for women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. Bobs, pixies, layered cuts, and silver-hair styles that celebrate mature hair instead of fighting it. Every age has its own dedicated guide.
Explore Styles by Age → Pillar 3Tutorials & DIY
Step-by-step videos you can follow along at home. French braid, Dutch braid, messy bun, wavy hair, curly hair, men's cuts, boys' cuts, and everything in between. Watch it, pause it, follow it, and get salon-quality results.
Explore Tutorials & DIY → Pillar 4Occasion & Event Styles
Prom, graduation, weddings, holidays, Disney trips, sports team hairstyles, themed events, and everything special. Elegant updos, festive styles, and looks that photograph beautifully for the day that matters.
Explore Occasion & Event → Pillar 5Hair Care & Shop
Honest product picks, tested shampoos, styling tools RaDona actually uses, and the Amazon storefront with every recommendation organized by hair type. Every review is based on real 90-day testing with salon clients.
Explore Hair Care & Shop → MeetAbout RaDona
25 years in the salon chair, and the story behind why she films it all and shares it free. Read about her training, her philosophy, and why every guide here starts from a real client instead of a stock photo.
Read RaDona's story →Five favorite tutorials to watch first
Generally, these five videos represent the range of the channel — from a women-over-70 transformation to a baby's first haircut, from a fine-hair thinning solution to a classic braid tutorial. Specifically, each one is a real client filmed in RaDona's Utah salon. Notably, subscribe on YouTube so you never miss the weekly new tutorials.
The most-requested haircut for women over 70
Generally, the pixie cut is the runaway favorite for women over 70 — soft, confident, and low-maintenance. Specifically, this transformation shows the full salon technique on a mature client. Notably, the same cut works beautifully with silver hair, thinning hair, or fine hair textures.
▶ Watch on YouTubeThin long hair transformation — women over 50
Generally, thinning hair after 50 does not have to mean cutting it all off. Specifically, this transformation shows how the right cut restores fullness and movement without sacrificing length. Notably, this is one of the most-watched videos on the channel because thinning hair over 50 is such a common concern.
▶ Watch on YouTubePatty's fine-hair bob at 60
Generally, the bob is the strongest cut for fine, thinning hair over 60 — it maximizes the illusion of density. Specifically, this transformation shows Patty's complete bob makeover from consultation through styling. Notably, the same technique works whether the goal is a chin-length or shoulder-length bob.
▶ Watch on YouTubeThe complete French braid tutorial
Generally, the French braid is the foundation braid every parent should know. Specifically, this tutorial breaks the technique into eight clear steps that anyone can follow on the first try. Notably, once you learn the French braid, the Dutch braid, fishtail, and side braid all become dramatically easier.
▶ Watch on YouTubeHow to cut a 15-month-old baby's hair at home
Generally, a baby's first haircut is one of the most stressful moments for a new parent. Specifically, this tutorial walks through the tools, the technique, and the tricks that make a first haircut painless. Notably, the same approach works for any toddler-aged first cut, boys or girls.
▶ Watch on YouTubeKids & Family: haircuts and styles for children 0-12
Generally, styling a child's hair is a completely different skill than styling an adult's. Specifically, the hair is finer, the patience is shorter, and the parent has about five minutes before the child gets restless. Notably, the Kids & Family pillar of this site is designed around that reality. Every guide, video, and technique inside was built for the busy morning where a parent needs a quick result. The result must photograph well and stay put through the school day.
The Kids & Family collection covers the full range of children's hair from birth through age 12. Specifically, the first-haircut guides for toddlers cover both boys and girls, with the specific tools and techniques that make a first cut safe and mostly painless. The little-girl haircut guides cover every hair type — straight, wavy, curly, coily — with cuts that grow out gracefully so parents are not scheduling salon visits every four weeks. The daily styling guides cover braids, buns, ponytails, and school-morning updos that take under five minutes.
Generally, the most-visited guide in this pillar is the little girl bob haircut collection. Specifically, the bob for a young girl is the highest-impact cut a parent can request because it grows out beautifully, styles in seconds, and photographs cleanly for school pictures and family photos. Notably, the guide covers the classic bob, the layered bob, the A-line bob, and the choppy bob with real client photos for each variation. Every recommendation is anchored to a real child in RaDona's chair — not stock photography.
For everyday styling, the pillar includes an in-depth guide to 15 easy girls' hairstyles for school. Specifically, each style is broken into steps a parent can follow while the child is eating breakfast or watching a five-minute cartoon. The styles include the French braid, the Dutch braid, the side braid, the messy bun, the half-up half-down, the ponytail-in-a-ponytail, and the classic school braid. Generally, once a parent learns three or four of these, morning styling stops being a source of stress.
Notably, the sports section covers hairstyles specifically built for athletic children. Volleyball, softball, gymnastics, cheer, soccer, and dance each have their own dedicated guide with styles that stay in place through a full game or practice. Specifically, the volleyball guide is one of the most-visited pages on the site. Volleyball hair is a genuinely difficult problem that most tutorials do not address — braids that stay in through diving, blocking, and long tournaments.
Little Girl Bob Haircut
The classic bob cut for young girls — every variation from chin-length to layered to A-line, with real client photos for each style.
Read the guide →15 Easy Girls Hairstyles for School
Fifteen quick styles broken into simple steps — French braid, Dutch braid, messy bun, half-up half-down, and more.
See the styles →Little Girl Haircuts Ages 2-12
Complete guide to little girl haircuts organized by age — from first haircut through tween-appropriate styles. Every hair type covered.
See by age →Volleyball Hairstyles
Braids and styles specifically built to survive volleyball games — French pigtails, high ponytails, and long-tournament hair.
Get sports hair →Boys Haircuts at Home
Complete parent guide to cutting boys' hair at home — the tools, the technique, and the mistakes to avoid on your first cut.
Cut at home →Toddler Boy's First Haircut
The complete guide to a toddler boy's first haircut at home — tools, tips, and a step-by-step technique that keeps everyone calm.
First haircut →Generally, the single most important skill for children's hair is knowing when to stop. Specifically, most first-time parent haircut mistakes come from overcorrecting — trying to fix a small unevenness with more cutting until the cut is much shorter than intended. Notably, learning to leave a cut slightly imperfect is the mark of experienced hands. RaDona's kids' tutorials specifically teach this restraint because it produces dramatically better results than technical perfection.
Styles by Age: hairstyles for women 40-70+
Generally, the biggest lie in the beauty industry is that mature women should try to look younger. Specifically, the Styles by Age pillar of this site rejects that framing entirely. Notably, mature hair has its own beauty, its own texture, and its own set of design opportunities that younger hair simply does not have — silver tones, softness, and the confidence that comes with knowing what actually works.
The Styles by Age pillar covers the full arc of adult women's hair from the 40s through the 70s and beyond. Specifically, each decade gets its own dedicated hub with cuts, styling routines, and product recommendations tailored to what hair is actually doing at that age. Generally, the 40s hub focuses on first grays, face-framing layers, and cuts that transition well as hair texture starts to change. The 50s hub focuses on volume, fine-hair solutions, and confidence cuts. The 60s hub focuses on silver hair strategies, low-maintenance styles, and mature-face-flattering silhouettes. The 70s hub focuses on soft cuts, easy maintenance, and cuts that read as intentional and elegant.
Notably, the pixie cut and the bob are the two most-requested cuts across the entire Styles by Age pillar. Specifically, RaDona has spent 25 years refining the specific variations of each that work best on mature hair. The over-70 pixie guide covers the Ellen-style silver pixie that has become a signature — soft, textured, and framing the face without competing with it. The bob-for-older-women guide covers 15 variations from stacked to layered to choppy, each designed for a specific hair type and lifestyle. Generally, these are the two guides most-often shared between friends, sisters, and daughters helping their moms find current styles.
The fine-hair solutions section addresses the concern most-often raised by clients in their 50s and 60s: my hair is getting thinner and nothing works. Specifically, the guide walks through the eight cuts that create the illusion of density, the three products that actually help, and the daily styling habits that make fine hair look fuller. Notably, the guide differentiates between fine hair (individual strand thickness) and thinning hair (fewer strands overall) because they need completely different solutions.
Generally, the Styles by Age pillar also covers hair color for mature women specifically. Specifically, the guide on choosing hair color for your skin tone applies at every age but becomes especially important after 40 when the wrong color can add years while the right one takes them off. Notably, the guide covers embracing natural silver as a valid and beautiful choice rather than treating gray as a problem to solve.
Hairstyles for Women Over 40
The complete guide for women in their 40s — face-framing layers, first grays, and cuts that work with how hair is changing.
Over 40 guide →Hairstyles for Women Over 50
Volume, fine hair solutions, pixie cuts and bobs that make hair look fuller and more deliberate at 50 and beyond.
Over 50 guide →Hairstyles for Women Over 60
Modern, confident styles for 60+. Classic bobs, soft pixies, and silver hair that looks completely intentional.
Over 60 guide →Hairstyles for Women Over 70
Elegant, easy, timeless. Cuts that celebrate natural texture and look beautiful with minimal effort.
Over 70 guide →Pixie Cuts for Women Over 70
The complete 2026 guide to pixie cuts for women over 70 — the Ellen-style silver pixie, the tapered pixie, and the soft classic.
Pixie over 70 →Bob for Older Women
Fifteen bob variations for women over 50, 60, and 70 — stacked, layered, choppy, A-line, and every variation in between.
15 bob variations →Best Haircut for Fine Hair
Eight expert-recommended cuts that create the illusion of density for fine and thinning hair over 50.
Fine hair solutions →20 Modern Looks Over 60 (2026)
Twenty current, confident short hairstyles for women over 60 — the definitive modern update for 2026.
20 modern looks →Generally, the biggest mistake mature women make is asking their stylist to "make me look younger." Specifically, the phrase produces disappointing results because chasing youth through hair rarely works — it just reads as trying too hard. Notably, the phrase that produces dramatically better results is "make me look current." A current 65-year-old looks confident, intentional, and completely herself. RaDona has watched hundreds of transformations that started with the wrong question and ended with the wrong result.
Tutorials & DIY: step-by-step videos to follow at home
Generally, most hair tutorials online teach you what a style looks like without teaching you how to actually make it. Specifically, the Tutorials & DIY pillar of this site is different. Notably, every tutorial breaks the technique into clear, sequenced steps you can pause, rewind, and repeat until your hands understand what they are doing.
The Tutorials & DIY pillar is the practical heart of Boys and Girls Hairstyles. Specifically, every technique RaDona uses in her Utah salon has a corresponding tutorial video and written step-by-step. The braid tutorials cover the French braid, the Dutch braid, the fishtail, the side braid, the crown braid, and the milkmaid braid. The bun tutorials cover the messy bun, the low chignon, the ballerina bun, and the sock bun. The updo tutorials cover the twisted updo, the low updo, the half-up half-down, and specialty updos for weddings, prom, and holidays.
Generally, the most-watched tutorial in this pillar is the French braid tutorial. Specifically, the French braid is the foundation braid that unlocks every other braid style. Once your hands understand the three-strand cross-under technique, the Dutch braid becomes a simple variation. The fishtail becomes a small extension. The crown braid becomes a matter of positioning. Notably, RaDona teaches the French braid using an eight-step framework that beginners can master in a single practice session on themselves or a willing family member.
The cutting tutorials are the second major category in this pillar. Specifically, the men's haircut tutorial covers the basic clipper-and-scissor techniques a parent needs to cut their partner's or child's hair at home. Generally, the guide covers fade cuts, tapered cuts, and traditional trims with the specific tools required for each. Notably, cutting men's or boys' hair at home saves families hundreds of dollars per year and produces consistently good results once the basic technique is learned.
The curly hair tutorials form a specialized sub-section of this pillar because curly hair requires completely different technique than straight or wavy hair. Specifically, the guides cover the wash-and-go routine, the plopping method, the pineapple overnight technique, and the diffuser drying approach. Generally, curly hair benefits from being cut dry rather than wet because curl pattern only becomes visible when hair is not stretched. Notably, RaDona's curly pixie guide is one of the most-referenced curly-hair cutting resources on the site because it covers all four curl types from Type 2 waves through Type 4C coils.
The wavy hair tutorial addresses the middle ground that most hair guides skip. Specifically, wavy hair is neither straight nor curly and needs its own approach — enhancing the natural wave without either fighting it into straightness or forcing it into curls. Generally, the tutorial covers the specific products and techniques that bring out beach-wave patterns without heat damage. Notably, this is one of the fastest-growing categories on the channel as more women embrace their natural wave pattern instead of straightening it.
French Braid Tutorial
The complete eight-step French braid tutorial. The foundation braid that unlocks every other braid style once you learn it.
Learn French braid →Dutch Braid Tutorial
The Dutch braid (or reverse French braid) — the braid that sits on top of the hair rather than being tucked underneath.
Learn Dutch braid →Men's Haircut Tutorial
How to cut men's or boys' hair at home — clipper technique, scissor work, and the fade approach that saves families hundreds per year.
Learn to cut →Messy Bun Tutorial
The perfect messy bun — the intentionally imperfect updo that works for everything from errands to weddings.
Learn messy bun →Wavy Hair Tutorial
Enhance your natural wave without fighting it. Products, technique, and the beach-wave approach that works on any wavy hair.
Wavy hair guide →Curly Hair Tutorials
Complete curly hair care — wash-and-go, plopping, diffuser drying, and the routines that produce defined curls without frizz.
Curly hair guide →Curly Pixie Haircuts
The specialized pixie cut guide for curly hair — all four curl types covered, with cutting technique that respects curl pattern.
Curly pixies →All Hair Cutting Tutorials
Browse every hair-cutting and styling tutorial in one place — 800+ videos organized by technique and difficulty.
All tutorials →Generally, the biggest breakthrough for anyone learning a new hair technique is understanding that muscle memory takes practice. Specifically, watching a French braid tutorial once will not produce a French braid the first time you try. Notably, plan on trying each new technique three to five times before judging whether you can do it. Every hairstylist in the world learned every technique through repetition — there is no shortcut, but the payoff is enormous.
Occasion & Event Styles: hairstyles for the days that matter
Generally, a special occasion is not the time to try a hairstyle you have never done before. Specifically, the Occasion & Event pillar of this site was built for the opposite approach — proven styles with clear instructions, practiced ahead of time, that photograph beautifully and hold up through a full day of hugs, dancing, and photos.
The Occasion & Event pillar organizes special-day hairstyles into the occasions people actually search for. Specifically, prom and graduation get their own comprehensive guide with updos, half-up styles, and braided options for every hair length. Weddings get a dedicated section covering bride hair, mother-of-the-bride hair, flower-girl hair, and bridesmaid coordination. Notably, holidays each get their own guide — Christmas hairstyles, Fourth of July sports-appropriate looks, Halloween styles that fit costumes, and Valentine's Day romantic updos.
Generally, the most-visited page in this pillar is the Prom & Graduation 2026 guide. Specifically, this guide breaks down easy updos for every hair type — fine, thick, straight, curly, short, and long. Notably, each style is anchored to a real client transformation and includes the specific products, tools, and step-by-step technique needed to recreate it at home. The guide is designed so that a mother or friend can help a prom-goer with the style without professional training — the whole point of the pillar is that special-day hair does not require a salon visit if you plan ahead.
The themed events section covers the styles that come up for cosplay, book releases, movie premieres, and specific fandom events. Specifically, the Hunger Games hairstyles collection is one of the most-shared pages on the site because Katniss Everdeen's side braid became a permanent style icon after the movies. Generally, the collection covers the exact braid technique for the side braid, the crown braid, and the tribute-day updo. Notably, these are practical styles beyond cosplay — the Hunger Games braid works equally well for regular daily wear and for other events entirely.
The Disney trip section addresses the specific challenge of long theme-park days in hot weather. Specifically, the guide covers styles that hold up through eight hours of walking, riding, and sweating without falling apart or needing constant touch-ups. Generally, the guide includes style choices for every family member — a mom's Disney-day style, a preschooler's Minnie Mouse-inspired look, an elementary-schooler's practical braid, and the classic Elsa braid for the day the family visits Frozen Ever After. Notably, these are also great examples of the same techniques from the Tutorials pillar applied to a specific real-life use case.
Sports events get their own dedicated set of guides because athletic hair is a specialty that most tutorials skip. Specifically, the volleyball guide, the softball guide, the gymnastics guide, and the cheer guide each address the specific movement patterns of the sport and the styles that survive them. Notably, the softball hairstyles guide is one of the fastest-growing pages on the site because softball hair — the classic braid with a bow — has become an identity marker for young female athletes.
Prom & Graduation 2026
Easy updos for every hair type — fine, thick, straight, curly, short, and long. Every style with step-by-step technique.
2026 prom guide →Hunger Games Hairstyles
Every Hunger Games braid on one page — Katniss's side braid, Effie's crown, and the tribute-day updo.
Hunger Games styles →Volleyball Hairstyles
Braids and styles specifically built to survive volleyball games — diving, blocking, and long tournaments.
Volleyball hair →All Occasion & Event Styles
Browse every event guide — weddings, holidays, sports, cosplay, and every special day people plan for.
All occasions →Generally, the best occasion hairstyle is one you have practiced at least twice before the actual event. Specifically, the day of the event is not the time to learn the technique — the pressure and time constraints make any style harder than it would be under normal conditions. Notably, plan to do a "dress rehearsal" run of the style at least one week before the event with the exact same products and tools you plan to use. This eliminates 90% of day-of hair disasters.
Hair Care & Shop: honest product picks and routines
Generally, most hair product review sites are sponsored by the brands they review. Specifically, the Hair Care & Shop pillar of this site is different. Notably, every product recommendation on the site comes from real 90-day testing in RaDona's Utah salon with real clients — not from press releases or marketing pitches.
The Hair Care & Shop pillar organizes hair care into two big categories: routine guides and product reviews. Specifically, the routine guides cover the daily care approach for every hair type — fine, thick, curly, wavy, straight, coily, color-treated, and heat-damaged. Notably, each routine is broken into a specific step-by-step order because the sequence of shampoo, condition, leave-in, style, and finish matters as much as which products are chosen.
Generally, the flagship product review on the site is the Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair in Women Over 50 guide. Specifically, this review is the result of a full 90-day testing program with 18 real over-50 salon clients. Notably, six shampoos made the final cut out of 14 originally tested. The winners include Nioxin System 2 for severe thinning. Briogeo Don't Despair wins for color-treated hair. OGX Thick & Full Biotin is the best budget pick. Pura D'Or offers the best natural formula. Aveda Invati Advanced represents best salon-grade luxury. Maple Holistics Biotin serves sensitive scalps.
The Hair Care section also covers color guides including the popular Choosing the Right Hair Color for Your Skin Tone guide. Specifically, this guide walks through the three undertone categories — warm, cool, and neutral — with four simple tests to identify your own undertone in five minutes. Generally, the guide includes specific color recommendations for each undertone category with photos of real clients who match each type. Notably, this is the guide RaDona wishes every client had read before their first color appointment because it eliminates the confusion around "what color should I ask for."
The Amazon storefront is the practical companion to the Hair Care pillar. Specifically, RaDona has curated her Amazon store into organized categories that match the routines and reviews on the site — shampoos, conditioners, styling products, tools, brushes, and accessories. Generally, every item on the storefront has been used or tested by RaDona personally in her salon. Notably, the storefront is not a random list of products but a working shopping list that corresponds to the specific recommendations in the guides.
The routines section covers the daily habits that produce healthy hair long-term. Specifically, the fine hair routine, the thick hair routine, the curly hair routine, and the color-treated routine each get their own detailed guide with the specific frequency, products, and techniques that make a difference. Notably, the routines are designed to be realistic — five-minute morning routines for busy weekdays and a slightly longer weekly deep-treatment approach for weekends.
Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair Over 50
Six tested picks from 90 days of real over-50 salon client testing. Nioxin, Briogeo, OGX, Pura D'Or, Aveda, Maple Holistics — honest reviews with ratings, pros, and cons.
Read shampoo review →Hair Care: Routines & Reviews
Complete hair care routines organized by hair type. Fine, thick, curly, wavy, color-treated — each type gets its own detailed daily approach.
Hair care hub →Hair Shop & Products
Browse every product picks organized by category. Shampoos, conditioners, styling products, tools, and accessories.
Browse the shop →Hair Color for Your Skin Tone
The complete guide to hair color matching — warm, cool, or neutral undertones, and the specific colors that flatter each.
Hair color guide →Generally, the most-common product mistake is buying based on packaging rather than ingredients. Specifically, a shampoo can promise "volume" and "thickness" on the front while the actual formula contains ingredients that build up and weigh hair down. Notably, learning to read the top five ingredients on any shampoo or conditioner label is a five-minute skill that saves hundreds of dollars over a year. RaDona's product reviews always start with the ingredient list, not the marketing claim.
How Boys and Girls Hairstyles actually works
Generally, most hair sites are content operations that hire writers to produce articles. Specifically, this site is the opposite. Every article, guide, and video here comes from RaDona's actual salon work. Notably, the sections below explain the weekly rhythm that produces the content and the editorial approach that keeps it honest.
The weekly rhythm
Generally, every week in RaDona's Utah salon produces new content for this site. Specifically, the rhythm is straightforward. Real client appointments happen Monday through Friday. Notable transformations get filmed with the client's permission. Video editing happens on weekends. New tutorials publish weekly on the YouTube channel. Written guides that anchor the videos get created or updated on the site to match.
This rhythm has been running consistently since 2012. Specifically, RaDona has published new tutorial content nearly every week for more than 14 years. Generally, the consistency is what has produced the 800+ video library — one manageable step per week rather than a giant content push that burns out. Notably, the same consistency applies to the written guides on this site. Small, honest, incremental improvements every week produce the depth you see today.
Filming happens during actual paid client appointments. Specifically, this matters for the authenticity of the content. Generally, a client who is paying for a real salon appointment is present because they want the result, not because they were hired to model. Notably, this produces genuine reactions, honest before-and-afters, and real conversations about hair. The result is dramatically different from tutorials filmed with paid models or staged for social media.
The editorial approach
Every guide on this site follows the same editorial framework. Specifically, RaDona identifies a topic based on what real clients ask her most. Generally, if she gets the same question in the salon chair three or four times, that question becomes a written guide. Notably, this approach means the site's content grows organically from real demand rather than from search-engine keyword lists.
The writing process starts with RaDona's actual answer. Specifically, she dictates what she would tell a client sitting in her chair asking the question. Generally, this raw dictation becomes the backbone of the article. Notably, the article then gets structured, expanded with additional context, and cross-referenced against her real client outcomes before publishing. Every article gets a "last reviewed" line that reflects when she last verified the advice against current salon practice.
Product reviews follow a stricter process. Specifically, RaDona will not review a product she has not personally used on real salon clients. Generally, most reviews go through a 90-day testing program with real client volunteers. Notably, the recent shampoo review documented 18 real over-50 clients across a full 90-day product-testing cycle. Products that fail the testing get named as excluded picks with the specific reasons rather than being quietly ignored.
The community around the salon
Generally, the community that has grown around RaDona's channel and salon is one of the site's biggest assets. Specifically, over 180,000 YouTube subscribers are actively watching new tutorials as they publish. Notably, many of these subscribers have been following since the early years and comment regularly on new videos with feedback, questions, and their own results.
This community shapes the site's direction. Specifically, RaDona reads YouTube comments actively and often creates new videos in response to viewer questions. Generally, the "reader favorites" that appear throughout this site are literally the guides most-shared by community members with friends and family. Notably, this feedback loop is why the site's content stays relevant — the community tells RaDona what to make next.
The salon-based community is equally important. Specifically, many of RaDona's Utah salon clients have been in her chair for over 20 years. Generally, these long-term relationships produce the honest before-and-afters that make the transformation videos powerful. Notably, clients like Patty, Linda, DeeAnn, Ellen, Faye, Kathleen, and Lisa appear across multiple videos over multiple years — you can watch their hair evolve as RaDona refines cuts to match how their hair is changing.
How to find what you need on this site
Generally, the fastest way to find what you need is to identify which of the five pillars matches your situation. Specifically, kids' and family styling goes to Pillar 1, women's cuts by age go to Pillar 2, step-by-step techniques go to Pillar 3, special occasions go to Pillar 4, and products and routines go to Pillar 5. Notably, each pillar's deep-dive section above lists the most-visited sub-guides with direct links.
For urgent questions, the FAQ section below covers the ten questions readers ask most. Specifically, the FAQ addresses the general questions about RaDona, the site's approach, and how to get in touch. Generally, the FAQ answers link out to the specific guides that cover each topic in depth. Notably, if your question is not answered anywhere on the site, you can email RaDona directly through the About page — she reads every message and often turns reader questions into new tutorial content.
The site's YouTube channel is the second natural entry point for many readers. Specifically, if you prefer to watch rather than read, subscribing to the channel means you get every new tutorial as it publishes. Generally, the videos are indexed with clear titles that describe exactly what technique or client transformation they show. Notably, the channel's playlists organize videos by category — pixies, bobs, braids, kids' cuts, over-70 transformations — so you can watch a full series on a specific topic without hunting.
Generally, this site exists because I believe great hair advice should not be gated by money or geography. Specifically, everything I have learned in 25 years of professional cosmetology I try to share here so anyone can benefit. Notably, if you find a guide that helps you or someone you love, please share it — that is the whole reason it exists.
The women whose transformations shaped this site
Generally, a handful of clients appear across dozens of guides on this site. Specifically, these are real women RaDona has been styling for years. Notably, watching how their hair has evolved is watching how the site's content evolved with them.
Patty — the fine-hair over-60 client
Patty is one of RaDona's longest-standing clients. She has been coming to the salon for over a decade. Her hair became finer and thinner in her 60s. That transition became the source of many of the site's most-loved fine-hair guides. Specifically, her signature bob transformation appears on multiple pages. Notably, the specific technique RaDona uses on Patty's hair is what became the standard bob technique documented in the fine-hair guides. Every time Patty comes in for a refresh, the current cut gets photographed and any adjustments get documented. Her ongoing story is the reason the fine-hair-over-60 content on this site is so specific — it comes from a real client whose hair keeps changing.
Linda — the stacked bob signature
Linda is RaDona's stacked-bob signature client. Her cut appears in the bob-for-older-women guide, the pixie-vs-bob decision guide, and the best-shampoo-for-thinning-hair page. She has cool skin tones. Her hair is naturally dark. She wears the stacked bob with soft bangs. Specifically, Linda represents the client who wanted a modern update at 55 without going too short. Notably, her transformation video is one of the most-shared on the channel because so many women see themselves in her situation. Linda's specific cut is what the site refers to when the bob-for-thinning-hair guide talks about "the Linda variation" — a real client whose real hair produced the technique.
DeeAnn — the choppy bob at 53
DeeAnn came to the salon at 53 wanting texture and movement. Her hair is thick and coarse. Straight cuts felt too heavy on her. The solution was a choppy bob with strategic point-cut layers. Specifically, DeeAnn's transformation became the flagship example for the choppy-bob category. Notably, her cut also appears in the bob-for-older-women 15-variation guide as the "movement bob" example. DeeAnn is proof that the bob category is enormous. There is a specific variation for every hair type. The choppy bob is the answer for thick, coarse hair that other bob variations would weigh down.
Ellen — the Ellen-style pixie signature
Ellen is 73 and RaDona's neighbor. She has become part of the extended salon family. Her silver pixie has become one of the site's most-recognizable client cuts. Specifically, the "Ellen-style pixie" is now a shorthand RaDona uses in consultations. Notably, Ellen's cut represents the confident-over-70 aesthetic — soft but structured, silver without apology, and completely intentional. Her transformation videos have introduced thousands of women to a new idea. Specifically, a pixie in your 70s reads as elegant rather than as "cutting it all off." The Ellen-style pixie now appears in the over-70 hub, the silver-hair guides, and the pixie-cluster overview pages.
Faye — first met on vacation, 77 and going strong
Faye first met RaDona's sister on vacation. She has been coming to RaDona ever since. She is 77. Her hair is fine and mature. Specifically, Faye's most-watched transformation is her stunning pixie cut filmed in October 2024. Notably, the video documents the full cutting technique for fine mature hair. Faye represents the client who travels for the cut because she trusts RaDona's hands more than local options. Her ongoing appointments produce the mature-fine-hair content that anchors the over-70 pillar of this site.
Kathleen, Lisa, Crisanne — the recent additions
Kathleen is 68. Lisa is 65. Crisanne is 69. All three are recent additions to RaDona's signature client roster. Kathleen's timeless pixie appears in the "pixie cut that defies age" content. Lisa's piecey pixie appears in the styling-tutorial content. Crisanne's short pixie appears in the over-60 hub. Specifically, each of these women represents a slightly different take on the mature-woman pixie. Their transformations together prove that no two pixies are quite the same. Notably, the diversity of these clients is why the site's over-60 content covers so many variations rather than pretending one pixie fits all.
Why real clients matter more than models
Generally, a paid model produces a different result than a real client. Specifically, a paid model does not care if the cut suits her long-term. A real client cares intensely. Notably, that difference shows up in the video. A real client's face lights up when the cut is right. A model performs a lighting-up. Viewers can tell the difference even if they cannot articulate why. This is the core reason RaDona has never used paid models. Every transformation on the site is a real appointment. Every client is genuinely there for the result. This authenticity is what makes the tutorials work when viewers try them at home.
The client stories also shape what RaDona teaches. Specifically, Patty's changing fine hair over the years is why the fine-hair guides get updated regularly. Linda's request for versatility at 55 is why the bob guides emphasize styling flexibility. DeeAnn's thick coarse hair is why the choppy-bob guide is so detailed on point-cutting technique. Ellen's confidence in her silver is why the over-70 content celebrates rather than hides gray hair. Every technique on this site was refined on a real head. The results in the videos are what the readers will actually get if they follow the technique.
The signature-series approach
Signature series is how RaDona describes the recurring client transformations on the channel. Specifically, a signature series client comes in multiple times per year for years. Each visit gets filmed. The result is a longitudinal view of one client's hair over time. Notably, no other hair channel documents client evolution this way. Most tutorial channels use one-off models. This channel uses recurring real clients whose hair keeps evolving. The signature-series approach is why viewers feel like they know Patty, Linda, DeeAnn, Ellen, Faye, Kathleen, Lisa, and Crisanne — because they can watch them across years of transformations.
For readers of this site, the signature-series approach means the guides come from real longitudinal experience. Specifically, when the fine-hair guide recommends a specific technique, that technique has been used on real fine hair over multiple years. Notably, when the over-60 hub recommends specific cuts, those cuts have been styled on real over-60 clients dozens of times. The recommendations are not theoretical. They are documented outcomes.
Generally, the women on this page changed my career. Specifically, they trusted me to keep evolving their hair as they aged. Notably, in return, they let me film everything so other women could benefit. Every one of these clients has said the same thing when asked why they let me film. If it helps one other woman, they say, it is worth it. That is the spirit of this whole site.
Six commitments that guide this site
Generally, these are the promises this site makes to every reader. Specifically, they shape what gets published. Notably, they shape what gets refused.
1. Real clients, always
Every guide starts from a real client. No stock photos. No paid models. If a technique has not been used on real hair, it does not appear here.
2. Free tutorials, always
All 800+ tutorials are free. No paywall. No premium tier. RaDona believes hair education should not be gated. This principle has held since 2012.
3. Honest product picks
No sponsored posts. No paid product placements. Every product review comes from 90-day salon testing. Failed products get named as excluded picks. The reasons get explained.
4. Age-positive framing
Mature hair is not a problem. It is a starting point. Every over-50, over-60, and over-70 guide celebrates the specific beauty of mature hair. No anti-aging language. No fear-based marketing.
5. Every hair type, respected
Straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair, coily hair. Fine, medium, thick, coarse. Every combination gets its own tailored guide. No default assumption that every reader has the same hair.
6. Community-driven content
Reader questions shape new content. Comments guide new tutorials. Repeated questions become full guides. The community tells RaDona what to make next.
The impact so far
Generally, the numbers tell a story. Specifically, over 180,000 YouTube subscribers actively watch new tutorials. More than 800 videos have been published. Notably, the channel has been running for over 14 years. Millions of women have used these techniques at home. Thousands of parents have learned to braid. Countless kids have gotten their first haircuts at home.
Beyond the numbers, the impact is personal. Every week, RaDona reads YouTube comments from women who tried a cut and loved it. Parents share photos of first haircuts. Grandmothers share their pixie transformations. Prom-goers share their updo results. Specifically, these messages are the actual measure of whether the site is working. Notably, when readers say a guide helped them or a tutorial changed how they style their family's hair, that is the whole point.
The pledge going forward
This site will keep publishing weekly. The YouTube channel will keep filming real clients. The guides will keep getting updated as RaDona's technique evolves. Specifically, nothing about the approach will change. Notably, the same values that produced the first 800 videos will produce the next 800.
If you find something on this site that helps you, share it. That is the only ask. Everything else is free.
Thank you for being here. Generally, this site would not exist without readers who trust it. Specifically, every guide gets written knowing someone real will read it and try what it recommends. Notably, that responsibility is what keeps the standards high. If you have a question that is not answered anywhere, email RaDona through the About page. She reads every message. She often turns reader questions into new tutorial content that appears on the channel the following week. The site is not a static publication. It is a living, growing library that evolves with the community around it. Welcome — and thank you for helping keep it real.
RaDona's Amazon storefront — the tools she actually uses
Generally, most Amazon storefronts are affiliate dumping grounds — hundreds of random products with no organization. Specifically, RaDona's storefront is different. Notably, every product on the storefront is something she has used in her Utah salon with real clients, organized by category so you can find exactly what you need.
The storefront includes shampoos, conditioners, styling creams, texture sprays, hairspray, dry shampoo, and every daily-use product from her salon. It also includes the tools — professional shears, thinning shears, hair brushes, round brushes, blow dryers, flat irons, curling wands, and the specific styling combs she uses. Notably, kids' and family categories include the small-child tools that make first haircuts safer and easier. Every product on the storefront also appears in a specific guide on the site, so you can read the review before you buy.
Shampoos & Conditioners
Sulfate-free options, color-safe formulas, and the thinning-hair top picks from RaDona's 90-day testing.
Styling Products
Leave-in conditioners, curl creams, texture sprays, hairspray, and the daily-use styling essentials.
Tools & Brushes
Professional shears, thinning shears, round brushes, blow dryers, flat irons, and the styling combs RaDona keeps stocked.
Kids & Family
Small-child tools, gentle detanglers, first-haircut kits, and the specific products that make family hair easier.
Meet RaDona Ludlow
Generally, most hair advice online comes from writers who have never held a pair of shears. Specifically, this site is different because every guide here is written by an actual working stylist. Notably, RaDona has been cutting real hair on real clients for over 25 years — and she films it all.
RaDona Ludlow, Licensed Cosmetologist
Generally, RaDona became a licensed cosmetologist in 2000 after graduating from the Bon Losee Hair Academy. Specifically, she chose cosmetology because she wanted a career that let her create something visible every day and connect with clients on a human level. Notably, both goals were realized far beyond what she originally expected. Her salon in Nephi, Utah has served the same families for over two decades — clients whose first haircuts she gave now bring their own children to her chair.
In 2012, RaDona started filming her salon work and posting the videos to YouTube. Specifically, she wanted anyone — anywhere in the world — to be able to see the real technique behind a great cut. Generally, the channel grew slowly at first, then exponentially as women discovered her fine-hair, over-50, and mature-hair transformations. Notably, the channel now has over 180,000 subscribers and more than 800 videos of real client work. She continues to film weekly.
Every guide on this website is written by RaDona and reviewed against her real salon experience. Specifically, she does not accept sponsored content or paid product placements — the site is funded through affiliate commissions from products she actually uses and honest recommendations she stands behind. Notably, the philosophy behind everything on the site is the same: real hair, real technique, real results, freely shared.
Visit RaDona's Utah salon
Generally, some clients prefer to have RaDona do the cut herself rather than follow a tutorial at home. Specifically, her salon in Nephi, Utah serves clients of every age — from a toddler's first trim to a fresh pixie for a grandmother.
RaDona's Salon — Nephi, Utah
Generally, RaDona's salon has served Nephi and the surrounding Utah communities for over 25 years. Specifically, the salon serves clients of every age and every hair type — kids' first haircuts, everyday cuts and styles, salon color, and specialty cuts including pixies, bobs, and specialty short cuts for mature hair. Notably, the same technique you see in every video on the site is what happens in the chair. Book ahead if you can — RaDona's chair fills quickly.
Phone: (435) 580-9160
Fresh RaDona videos this month
Generally, RaDona films real client work weekly. Specifically, the four newest videos below cover the current month's transformations. Notably, subscribe on YouTube to see every new tutorial as it publishes.
Boys and Girls Hairstyles — questions people ask most
Generally, RaDona Ludlow is a licensed cosmetologist who has been cutting and styling hair professionally since 2000. Specifically, she graduated from the Bon Losee Hair Academy and runs her own salon in Nephi, Utah. Notably, she has been filming her real salon work and posting it to YouTube since 2012, and her channel now has over 180,000 subscribers watching more than 800 free tutorials. Every guide, video, and product recommendation on Boys and Girls Hairstyles is written or reviewed by RaDona based on her actual salon experience with real clients.
Generally, most hair tutorial sites use stock photos and rewritten trend articles. Specifically, this site is different because every guide is anchored to a real client in RaDona's Utah salon. Notably, the tutorials are filmed during actual appointments, not staged for the camera. The product reviews are the result of 90-day testing with real over-50 salon clients, not press-release rewrites. The result is content that actually works when you try it at home because it is based on what actually worked in the salon.
Generally, yes — every tutorial video, every written guide, and every technique on Boys and Girls Hairstyles is free to watch and read. Specifically, RaDona does not charge for content and does not gate any tutorial behind a paywall. Notably, the site is funded through affiliate commissions from RaDona's Amazon storefront when readers purchase products she has recommended. If you never buy anything through the affiliate links, the site is still 100% free to use.
Generally, yes — RaDona sees clients at her Nephi, Utah salon by appointment. Specifically, the salon serves clients of every age and every hair type, from a toddler's first haircut to a specialty pixie for mature hair. Notably, her chair fills quickly, so book ahead when possible. The salon address is 465 E 600 N, Nephi, UT 84648 and the phone number is (435) 580-9160. You can find more booking information on the Visit the Salon page.
Generally, RaDona's YouTube channel is where you will find all 800+ tutorial videos, filmed weekly. Specifically, the channel is at youtube.com/channel/UCwWEsSuYKPmqGwIlQSww-gg. Notably, subscribing is free, ad-supported, and includes a bell notification option so you are alerted when a new tutorial publishes. Subscribers also get first access to weekly transformations and specialty content that does not always appear on the main site.
Generally, RaDona's baseline recommendation for beginners is a sulfate-free shampoo, a lightweight leave-in conditioner, a heat protectant, and a small round brush. Specifically, these four products cover 80% of daily styling needs across most hair types. Notably, the specific products she stocks on her Amazon storefront vary by hair type — fine hair gets biotin-based products, curly hair gets curl creams and gels, and thinning hair gets scalp-focused shampoos. The Hair Care & Shop pillar of the site includes complete routine guides organized by hair type.
Generally, yes — every product review on Boys and Girls Hairstyles is based on real testing with real clients in RaDona's salon. Specifically, the flagship shampoo review for thinning hair over 50 documents a 90-day testing program with 18 real over-50 clients. Notably, RaDona does not accept sponsored posts or paid product placements. When a product does not work, she says so — the reviews include specific pros AND cons rather than five-star praise for everything. Products that failed the testing program are named as excluded picks with the reasons.
Generally, the pixie cut and the bob are the two most-flattering hairstyles for women over 60. Specifically, the pixie is the right choice for women who want minimal daily styling and a bold, confident statement. The bob is the right choice for women who want versatility and slightly more styling flexibility. Notably, RaDona's Styles by Age pillar includes complete guides for both options with real client transformations. The over-60 hub also covers the fine-hair solutions that address the thinning many women experience at this age.
Generally, choosing hair color starts with identifying your skin's undertone — warm, cool, or neutral. Specifically, four simple tests can identify your undertone in about five minutes: the vein test, the jewelry test, the sun test, and the white paper test. Notably, warm undertones flatter caramel, honey blonde, warm copper, and chocolate brown. Cool undertones flatter platinum, ash blonde, espresso, and blue-black. Neutral undertones have the most flexibility. The complete guide is in the Hair Care pillar under Choosing the Right Hair Color for Your Skin Tone.
Generally, yes — RaDona actively encourages readers to share tutorials with friends, family, and anyone who might benefit. Specifically, every guide is designed to be shareable through social media, email, and text message. Notably, the fastest way to help someone is to share the specific guide that addresses their situation — the fine-hair guide for a friend with thinning hair, the little-girl bob guide for a new parent, the prom guide for a graduating senior. The site's mission is to make real salon technique available to anyone who wants it.
Sources & Methodology
Generally, every guide, review, and technique on Boys and Girls Hairstyles is anchored to real salon experience plus formal training. Specifically:
- RaDona's salon experience — 25 years cutting and styling hair in her Utah salon, thousands of individual client appointments.
- YouTube channel — 800+ real client transformation videos filmed since 2012, viewed by 180,000+ subscribers.
- Bon Losee Hair Academy training — formal cosmetology education completed in 2000 with continuing education throughout her career.
- 90-day product testing programs — flagship product reviews based on 90-day testing with real over-50 salon clients.
- Age-based real client data — recommendations for each age group verified across hundreds of real appointments.
- Independent testing — no sponsored content, no paid product placements, no ghost-written articles.
- Reader feedback — guides updated based on questions and outcomes from tutorial viewers.
- Ongoing salon work — every guide reviewed against current salon practice quarterly.
Methodology note: When marketing claims and real client outcomes conflict, real outcomes take priority. Products that "should work" theoretically but disappoint in practice are excluded from final picks. Reader contributions and corrections welcome.
Home page published: Original launch 2019 · Last updated: July 2026 · Next scheduled review: January 2027.
Reader favorites right now
Generally, these are the tutorials and guides readers search for and share most. Specifically, each one anchors a full cluster of related content on the site. Notably, if you are looking for the fastest path to what you need, one of these is probably the right starting point.