Easy, elegant updos are a great way to dress up any outift. Even a relaxed weekend look – say, jeans, boots, and a pretty cardigan – will look more polished with a relaxed updo. And a beautiful cocktail dress will shine when you top it off with a gorgeous updo. But save the perfectly coiffed, helmet hair styles for bridesmaid dresses and winter formals, because the latest trend in updos is soft, relaxed, messy, glamour. Here are a few easy styles you can try with shoulder length or longer hair.
Keep in mind, that the easiest way to get your updos to last through the night is to curl your hair first. Put a little mousse and/or some heat protectant spray in your hair, and blow it dry. Make sure your hair is completely dry before curling. If your hair is still wet, the curl won’t take and you risk seriously damaging your hair. Next, curl your hair. You can use either a large barrel curling iron or large hot rollers. The hot rollers work best, because you can leave them in your hair until they cool. Once the curls are cool, remove the rollers and then spray your curls with a workable hair spray. This will give your hair lots of body and texture to maintain the style. It will also give a little bit of lift and volume at the roots, so your hair doesn’t look plastered to your head.
An inside out ponytail. This is the easiest updo, and a great one for beginners to try. The finish result resembles a chignon, but with much less work. Pull your hair back into a loose ponytail. You can make it a neat ponytail, or a messy ponytail, or anywhere in between. Just remember, the neater the look, the more formal it will be. Use an elastic hair tie that closely matches the color of your hair. Split the ponytail in half between your head and the elastic. Take the end of the ponytail and tuck it (in a downward direction) through the hole you just made, so that the tail hangs out the bottom. Tighten the elastic a bit if you need to, so that it feels secure. You can stop here and curl the ends if you like the look, or, take the tail and tuck it through one more time, but this time keep the ends inside. Add a couple of bobby pins or a pretty barrette to make it secure, then spray as necessary. Don’t over spray so you don’t end up with a hard head!
A sleek, high ponytail. This is a really simple but elegant look. It looks especially beautiful on thick, long, blond hair. All you need is a hair elastic that closely matches your hair color, and a bobby pin or two. Brush your hair back into a sleek, high ponytail. Keep it around the top of your ears. Make sure there are no funny lumps, and secure with an elastic. The key is to leave a small section of hair from underneath the ponytail out when you secure it with the elastic band. You may need to experiment to find the right spot for this. Wrap the extra hair around the elastic to hide it, and secure with a pin. Tuck the pin inside the hair so you can’t see it. Set with hair spray, of course. Don’t add anything fancy to your hair, unless you want to add extensions for extra long locks. The simplicity is the focus. If your hair is too short, you’ll know because some of it will stick straight out instead of hanging down beautifully.
A messy bun. A messy bun can be high or low, just find the placement that looks best on you. You’ll need two elastics. Pull your hair back into a secure, but not too tight – ponytail. It’s ok if you see some of the waves from the curlers. It adds texture. Secure hair into the first elastic. Then, wrap the entire tail around the base of the ponytail. It should be tight enough that it feels secure, but not so tight that it looks harsh or painful. Secure with the second elastic, leaving the ends to stick out here and there. You may want to curl the ends for a softer effect, or flat iron them extra straight for a more edgy effect. Finish the look by wrapping a silk ribbon, a chunky necklace, or even a small, lightweight scarf around the bun to hide the elastic and add interest. Or clip a pretty barrette against your head somewhat nestled into the top of the bun. The result will be a hint of sparkle and a lot of pizazz for your exciting event.
So even if you have never attempted an updo before, or if you’re an old pro, you’ll be able to give one of these simple looks a good try. Practice ahead of time so you know how long it will take you to get ready. Don’t forget your hot rollers. hair spray, bobby pins, and your sense of adventure. Practice, have fun, and wear your confidence and your best smile. You will look great!
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