It’s the beginning of a new decade. Make-up and hair experts tell us what to look out for this year — the trends that will rule, the styles that will become a rage and they also throw light on what to keep away from. Experts say that there is not one single trend that will rule the roost this year, instead a number of them will rise in popularity in the coming year. According to them, this influx of styles is a huge advantage because it gives the beauty-conscious a chance to experiment, pick and choose the ones that suit them the best. Here is the low-down on what to watch out for in 2011:

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Red hot
Again, this is one classic style that’s stood the test of time and stylists say that the kind of oomph and sexiness that pouty, red lips have is something unmatched. “Red lips are synonymous with sexy and that’s something which will never change,” opines Mitali. However, a twist on this classic will be the use of textures, “From creamy to matte and glossy, red lips will go through various avatars and still retain its essence.”

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Ethnic beauty
Indian influences are already becoming a rage world over and 2011 is set to see the emergence of ethnic influences. “A flawless complexion, offset by soft, smokey eyes and a touch of gloss goes very well with any Indian outfit. Loose braids and updos complete the picture. Someone like Vidya Balan is the perfect example of someone who carries off an Indian outfit with a modern touch,” adds Nandita.

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Crazy hair
If big and bright is the way to go for make-up, can hair be left far behind? Popular hairstylist Jawed Habib elaborates, “Funky cuts and colours will rule in 2011 — think neon streaks, asymmetrical haircuts and the likes. The hair is like a canvas for us artistes and the use of not just colours but even patterns and textures will be popular this year. The use of highlights is another this that will make waves.” As far as hairdos go, hairstylists believe that it is all occasion oriented and women will have a whole plethora of styles — right from simple waves to elaborate updos — to choose from. The one thing to watch out for will be the influence of retro, which is still going very strong, with a contemporary twist.

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Natural magic
The natural, no make-up look is something that will never go out of style and no matter how much one tries to perfect it, the quest for this perfection will always continue. Says Mitali Vij, a senior make-up artiste with a premium brand, “One of the biggest advantages of this look is that you can wear it anywhere – to a casual lunch or even to a party where you want the focus to be on your ensemble. Since no make-up lends itself to various occasions it is a huge favourite.” Talking about what will change in 2011, experts believe that the use of mineral make-up to enhance this look will be popular.

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Go graphic
Beauty experts say that bright, bold patterns, geometric lines and sharp edges will make a huge splash on the make-up scene this year. “In fact, this was also seen on the runways during some international fashion weeks,” quips Nandita Mehendiratta, a celebrity stylist, “We’re talking about contrasting colours, using patterns for eyeshadows and employing make-up to create various structures is something that will be very big.”