Updos can be a convenient and gorgeous way to add some variety to your hair's same-old, same-old routine. Designing a becoming updo of your own doesn't have to involve big bucks, tons of time or feats of personal contortion. With just a few simple styling products, a little time, and some practice, you can soon be on the road to hairstyle success all on your own.
Laid-Back Braids
Up-front braids can be a fabulous way to control unruly bangs and layers, according to Marc Mena, celebrity stylist for Garnier Fructis. In an article for Fitness magazine, Mena lays out the steps for achieving this easy, breezy updo. First, add texture to your hair so the braids don't wind up flat and unappealing. One method involves applying spray gel to your hair the night before, and then securing it in two or more buns.
The next day, release the buns and part your hair like you usually do. Rub styling wax or pomade onto your fingers and apply it to the hair on each side of your head. Create an inch-wide French braid on one side of your head, then the other. If you don't quite have the knack for French braiding, weave your hair into a tight traditional braid instead. Secure each braid with a mini elastic band.
Next, pull your hair back into a low, tight ponytail. Rub styling wax or pomade onto your fingers again, applying it to the hair in back. Twirl narrow pieces of hair around your finger, then pin up random pieces of hair using bobby pins. The final step is to pin the ends of each braid under the ponytail in back, tucking it beneath pieces to conceal them. And voila, you've achieved your own easy, gorgeous 'do!
Soft Chignon
Mena also created another easy, pretty updo for Fitness magazine: a soft chignon. He stresses that you shouldn't worry if you haven't tried this before, pointing out that chignons look more modern when they're slightly messy. "Don't stress if pieces fall or aren't perfectly placed; that's what makes the style so wearable," he says.
Adding texture to your hair is again the first step to this simple updo. Mena recommends spraying volumizer onto clean and dry hair roots, setting your hair using medium-size rollers, and then heating them with a blow dryer. Remove the rollers after 10 minutes and mist hair liberally with a light hair spray. Next, divide your hair into three even sections: two from hairline to crown, and the third from the crown to the back.
Tease the rear section of your hair, making sure to smooth any tangles with a paddle brush. Pull this section of hair into a low ponytail, wind the tail loosely around the elastic band, and pin the pieces of hair up, hiding the hairpins underneath your hair. Next, pull the right section of hair diagonally over the elastic band to the left side, rolling it under the bun and securing it firmly with pins. Repeat on the other side, this time pulling the left section over and under to the right.
Polished Ponytail
To create the polished ponytail hairstyle designed by Mena, first go a day or two without shampooing. "Natural oils at the roots help ground flyaways and make the knot-creating process easier," Mena says. You can run through a quick conditioning treatment ahead of time, however, since it will amp up shine and de-frizz hair.
Next, pull your hair back into a ponytail at the middle of your head, securing it with an elastic band. Spray lightweight shine spray onto the ponytail. Straighten the hair in the ponytail with a flat iron. Doing so will reduce bulk and make the next step much easier.
Make a loop in the ponytail and then make like you're tying a rope: pulling the ends through the loop. Push the knot upward toward the hair elastic band and pin it in place. You can then apply styling wax or shine spray to tame flyaway strands of hair.
Tags: your hair, elastic band, hair back, hair into, Next pull, pieces hair, your head
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