Sarah Maingot
Ugh! Hot? Sweaty? Get that hair up off your neck right? That’s exactly what these 10 styles do—in just minutes.
Crown of Braids
Simple braiding skills are all you need for this style, which works for hair that’s medium-length to long.
Get the look: Separate hair into two low pigtails. Braid both sections and secure with clear elastics. Pull one braid up over your head and bobby-pin it an inch back from your hairline. Repeat on the opposite side, positioning the second braid behind the first.
Get the look: Separate hair into two low pigtails. Braid both sections and secure with clear elastics. Pull one braid up over your head and bobby-pin it an inch back from your hairline. Repeat on the opposite side, positioning the second braid behind the first.
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Easy Knot Updo
You create this style by tying your hair into knots. How easy is that?
Get the look: Section off the hair horizontally at the crown. Subdivide the section into two pieces, then tie them into a knot. Pin the knot to secure it, letting the ends dangle freely. Repeat the process: Section off hair midway down the head, subdivide it into two pieces, then knot and pin them. Repeat again with a last section at the nape. Then gather any two ends on the left side of the head and knot them together; pin to hold. Repeat until all sections have been knotted and pinned. Pin up any loose ends. Spray hair lightly to hold the style.
Get the look: Section off the hair horizontally at the crown. Subdivide the section into two pieces, then tie them into a knot. Pin the knot to secure it, letting the ends dangle freely. Repeat the process: Section off hair midway down the head, subdivide it into two pieces, then knot and pin them. Repeat again with a last section at the nape. Then gather any two ends on the left side of the head and knot them together; pin to hold. Repeat until all sections have been knotted and pinned. Pin up any loose ends. Spray hair lightly to hold the style.
Side French Braid Bun
One for the French braiders out there.
Get the look: Work a little mousse into wet hair, or spritz hair spray on dry hair, to make it more workable. Starting at the temple, French braid the hair, working across the back of the head. (Don’t worry if strands pop out.) Secure the end of the braid with an elastic band. Twist the end of the braid around to form a bun. Pin ends to secure. Spray hair lightly to hold the style.
Get the look: Work a little mousse into wet hair, or spritz hair spray on dry hair, to make it more workable. Starting at the temple, French braid the hair, working across the back of the head. (Don’t worry if strands pop out.) Secure the end of the braid with an elastic band. Twist the end of the braid around to form a bun. Pin ends to secure. Spray hair lightly to hold the style.
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Easy French Twist
A slightly messy take on the classic.
Get the look: Sweep your hair to one side, just off center. Slip in a bobby pin vertically, up from the bottom. Working from the bottom up, insert a row of bobby pins vertically, crisscrossing them to secure the hair. Finish by pushing in the last one downward. Gather hair in one hand and twist tightly, pulling up. Insert bobby pins horizontally into the base of the twist, intersecting with the vertical pins to hold the style. Arrange the ends, letting them fall freely. Spray hair lightly to hold the style.
Get the look: Sweep your hair to one side, just off center. Slip in a bobby pin vertically, up from the bottom. Working from the bottom up, insert a row of bobby pins vertically, crisscrossing them to secure the hair. Finish by pushing in the last one downward. Gather hair in one hand and twist tightly, pulling up. Insert bobby pins horizontally into the base of the twist, intersecting with the vertical pins to hold the style. Arrange the ends, letting them fall freely. Spray hair lightly to hold the style.
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Triple Knots
This trio of mini-buns looks elaborate but couldn’t be simpler.
Get the look: Comb hair back. Divide into three sections, and create three low ponytails at the hairline. Twist each ponytail fully, then wrap the hair around the base of the tail to create a small bun. Secure each with bobby pins and set with hair spray.
Get the look: Comb hair back. Divide into three sections, and create three low ponytails at the hairline. Twist each ponytail fully, then wrap the hair around the base of the tail to create a small bun. Secure each with bobby pins and set with hair spray.
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High Bun
This bun, which works for hair of almost any length, is not about perfection: Casualness is part of its charm.
Get the look: Spritz a texturizing spray on dry hair, scrunching sections to create body. Gather hair into a high ponytail so it rests at the very top of your head. Secure with an elastic; use bobby pins to tack up shorter strands in back. Gently tousle the ends, randomly twisting them under and pinning them around the ponytail’s base. For longer lengths, create a loose bun and secure with pins.
Get the look: Spritz a texturizing spray on dry hair, scrunching sections to create body. Gather hair into a high ponytail so it rests at the very top of your head. Secure with an elastic; use bobby pins to tack up shorter strands in back. Gently tousle the ends, randomly twisting them under and pinning them around the ponytail’s base. For longer lengths, create a loose bun and secure with pins.
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Swept-Up Curls
This style highlights curls while getting them out of the way.
Get the look: Pull the back section of your hair into a ponytail at your crown, leaving the pieces around your hairline loose. Secure with an elastic. Twist the ponytail upward; anchor it with bobby pins. Sweep the front section of hair back toward the twist. Pin with bobby pins (a few tendrils may fall out). Slip in a pretty comb to finish.
Get the look: Pull the back section of your hair into a ponytail at your crown, leaving the pieces around your hairline loose. Secure with an elastic. Twist the ponytail upward; anchor it with bobby pins. Sweep the front section of hair back toward the twist. Pin with bobby pins (a few tendrils may fall out). Slip in a pretty comb to finish.
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Side Braided Bun
Flat hair? Here’s your new go-to.
Get the look: Pull hair into a low side ponytail just behind your ear; secure with an elastic. Separate out a 2-inch-wide section from the ponytail and braid it. Pull the braid aside and wind the rest of the ponytail around its base. Pin to secure. Wrap the braid around the bun and pin the ends into the underside.
Get the look: Pull hair into a low side ponytail just behind your ear; secure with an elastic. Separate out a 2-inch-wide section from the ponytail and braid it. Pull the braid aside and wind the rest of the ponytail around its base. Pin to secure. Wrap the braid around the bun and pin the ends into the underside.
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Side French-Braid Updo
Part braid, part messy bun, all cute.
Get the look: Part your hair from front to back. Clip up the hair on the right side of your head. Begin a French braid near the crown on the left, working your way down (the braid should fall behind your left ear). When the braid is level with the bottom of your ear, secure it with an elastic; leave the remaining hair unbraided. Unclip the right side. Separate the hair at the crown and at the very front of your head; clip up the rest. Gather the hair you’ve just separated out and fold it over the part you made in back. Pin the hair to hide the part. Unclip the rest of the hair on your right side and allow it to fall over the remainder of the part. Wind the end of the braid around to the back of your head and pin. Gather your hair into a ponytail near the end of the braid. Wrap with an elastic. Using a fine-tooth comb, tease the ponytail to create texture and volume. Separating the ponytail into strands, pin the ends onto your head around the elastic, making sure to cover all the bobby pins. Finish with hair spray.
For step-by-step photos, click here.
Get the look: Part your hair from front to back. Clip up the hair on the right side of your head. Begin a French braid near the crown on the left, working your way down (the braid should fall behind your left ear). When the braid is level with the bottom of your ear, secure it with an elastic; leave the remaining hair unbraided. Unclip the right side. Separate the hair at the crown and at the very front of your head; clip up the rest. Gather the hair you’ve just separated out and fold it over the part you made in back. Pin the hair to hide the part. Unclip the rest of the hair on your right side and allow it to fall over the remainder of the part. Wind the end of the braid around to the back of your head and pin. Gather your hair into a ponytail near the end of the braid. Wrap with an elastic. Using a fine-tooth comb, tease the ponytail to create texture and volume. Separating the ponytail into strands, pin the ends onto your head around the elastic, making sure to cover all the bobby pins. Finish with hair spray.
For step-by-step photos, click here.
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Twisted Side Updo
Curly hair is perfect for this style. If you lack natural curls, start by using a small-barrel curling iron.
Get the look: Working from the left, sweep the hair from about three-quarters across the back of your head up off your nape and over to the right, making a very rough diagonal part. Clip the hair. Clip up the remaining hair on the left. Gather the hair on the right; wrap it with an elastic as though you’re going to make a ponytail, but don’t pull the ends all the way through, so you create a small bun. Release the clipped hair on the right. Bobby-pin the curls to the little bun. Don’t get too fussy with your pinning: You want to keep the effect casual. Now unclip the hair on the left. Working from your left temple, begin twisting the hair alongside your head. Slowly incorporate more hair as you work downward. Pin the twist of hair securely to the bottom of your bun. Use as many pins as you need to make sure it won’t come loose. Finish with a mist of hair spray.
For step-by-step photos, click here.
Get the look: Working from the left, sweep the hair from about three-quarters across the back of your head up off your nape and over to the right, making a very rough diagonal part. Clip the hair. Clip up the remaining hair on the left. Gather the hair on the right; wrap it with an elastic as though you’re going to make a ponytail, but don’t pull the ends all the way through, so you create a small bun. Release the clipped hair on the right. Bobby-pin the curls to the little bun. Don’t get too fussy with your pinning: You want to keep the effect casual. Now unclip the hair on the left. Working from your left temple, begin twisting the hair alongside your head. Slowly incorporate more hair as you work downward. Pin the twist of hair securely to the bottom of your bun. Use as many pins as you need to make sure it won’t come loose. Finish with a mist of hair spray.
For step-by-step photos, click here.
