Some of the hottest trends right now are lobs and V-shaped cuts.

“It’s a new year, I need a new ’do,” I told Patrick.

“A new what?” He looked up from his book.

“A new ’do, doofus. You know, a hairdo.”

“Well,” his eyes got that sexy pre-joke twinkle, “Do what you must do about your ’do.”

“But what ’do should I do?”

“Do leave me out of further ’do-related doings,” he said, turning his eyes bookward.

“I love braids,” says Stevie Meech of Millicent and Company. “A simple french braid for work is great, and then when you’re ready to go out, pull the braid out and you have a waved style.”

As the ladies sat drinking lattes at our weekly chat — this time at the newly opened Sheldon’s Service Station (8401 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa Village) — hair ideas were tossed about for the year ahead. Bernice echoed my feelings on the matter: “I could certainly use a fresh new look for the year ahead.” Of course she nominated me to find out what the hot ’dos for 2017 are. I didn’t mind accepting the nomination because I knew just who to call.

The following week I contacted my hair gal, Stevie Meech, stylist at Millicent and Company (4695 Palm Avenue, La Mesa), and got some info for Bernice.

“I have been doing hair for four years,” she started. “Once I graduated from San Diego State, I decided to give beauty school a try. My mom has been a hairstylist for over 40 years, so she’s the one who started it.”

What are some haircuts that are in right now?

“Some of the hottest trends right now are lobs and V-shaped cuts,” she replied. “The lob is a long bob, tends to be a bit shorter in the back and a bit longer in the front, resting below the shoulders. Long layers are usually added to help with texture and movement to help the cut feel a bit lighter. The V-shape has also taken off; usually we see this on longer hair. The back is shaped into a V, sides being shorter than the middle back of the hair, long layers are usually added as well for movement and volume.”

How do you style these new looks? 

“For the lob, I tend to create a beach wave. I use a 1¼-inch barrel curling iron and create soft waves and finish the style with Schwarzkopf OSiS Salt Spray [$11.45 for six ounces on Amazon]. For the shape, long layered cut, I also use a 1¼-inch barrel, curling smaller sections of hair in a cascade formation and then shake the curls out with my hands to help to create a more voluminous and soft curl. I finish with Kenra number 25 firm hold hairspray [$14 for ten ounces on Amazon].”

What do you recommend for a hairstyle to transition from work into an evening out on the town?

“I love braids,” Meech answered. “A simple french braid for work is great and then when you’re ready to go out, pull the braid out and you have a waved style and finish it with a top knot or even a top-knot bun.”

Are hairstyles cyclical, like fashion, in that they come back around in style after a certain amount of years? 

“Yes, hairstyles are cyclical. Certain styles go out and some never go out. Highlights are a style that lasts forever and never seems to go out — everyone wants a great highlight. On the other hand, things like the “middle part” we saw in the ’70s has been revamped, thanks to people like the Kardashians, who have brought it back. And there are brand-new styles like the balayage that just started in the past few years. I personally think it will never go out, just reinvents itself over and over again.”

The balayage is a French highlighting technique in which the dye is painted onto the hair; it is supposed to create a more natural look.

Do we get our styling hair cues from some other part of the world? New York? Paris? Or do we on the West Coast set our own styles? 

“Yes, we do get our hair cues from other parts of the world. Lots of the hairstyles come from Europe as well as the fashion industry. The major hair brands like Schwarzkopf actually go to fashion week in New York and Paris to see what’s hot on the runway for the season, and that inspires new trends in the hair world.”

Favorite styles of yours? 

“My favorite style is the half-up/half-down ponytail; it’s so fun and so easy and takes three minutes.”