To help you out, we’ve compiled some of our favorite easy hair updo ideas that will have you feeling inspired again. Bonus: No one will be the wiser that you may have hit the snooze button.
Fun Easy Hair Updos We Love
1. Messy Bun
You may think you were born knowing how to create a messy bun, but you’d be surprised: This top-knot style actually requires a little bit of skill. To start, brush hair and gently gather strands into a ponytail. Since the look is a little more tousled, don’t worry about the strands that get left behind—they actually work wonders in softening the overall look. Use your non-dominant hand to twist your hair around in a circle and secure the loop with a hair tie or several bobby pins. Lightly tease the strands at the crown for some slight texture.
2. Ballerina Bun
If you’re looking for slicker, more refined easy updo hairstyles for long hair, the ballerina bun is probably your best bet. Gather your locks together to create a high ponytail. Your dominant hand will hold the ponytail as your other hand works to twist it around into a circle. Once all your hair is looped around, adjust and tighten the strands around the loop so that they are securely in place. Hold them together with a hair tie or some bobby pins and be sure to spritz everything in place with hairspray.
3. Half Updo
Another no-fuss style to try over the weekend is the half-updo. This style can vary based on your preferences and be worn as a half-pony, half-bun or by simply tying it together with a clip or hair tie. Start by brushing your hair and horizontally sectioning off half of your strands near the crown. Next, refine the separation of the top half from the bottom with a fine-toothed comb and work it into your preferred style. You may also need some serum, like Bed Head by TIGI Control Freak Serum to tame any frizz or flyaways that acclimate along your crown.
4. Braided Updo
Those of you with long braids can work your long locks into a low pony/quasi-updo to look effortlessly cool.
5. Milkmaid Updo
We love this look but it does require a little more work to achieve (check out our milkmaid tutorial for some extra help). This look is particularly darling with loose pieces of hair that acclimate along the sides of your face. Be sure to lock this look in place by using a non-sticky hairspray.
6. Bandana Updo
For a casual look, cover up those oily roots with a bandana! This fun bandana updo is easy enough to create, you probably don’t even need a mirror. Just pull your hair into a high ponytail and create a big bun. If you need a volume boost, use a hair doughnut to fill out your bun. Then just tie on a bandana to match your outfit. We love this style all year long!
7. Twisted Chignon
For more unique easy hair updos, try a twisted style. Start off by refreshing your roots with some dry shampoo. Then, take a section of hair from behind your ear and twist it once or twice before securing it into a ponytail with the rest of your hair. You could wear this in a pretty, twisted low ponytail or create a bun at the nape of your neck.
8. Piecey Top Knot
To get a voluminous top knot with a little bit more interest, try making it piece-y. To create this look, start off by hydrating the ends of your hair with a few drops of Nexxus Oil Infinite Nourishing Hair Oil. Then pull all of your hair into a messy top knot. To create the piece-y texture, you’ll need to apply another drop of oil to your fingertips. The oil will help to streamline the little pieces as you pull out small sections of hair from the top knot.
9. Curly Hair Fauxhawk
We’re a little obsessed with this curly fauxhawk. And guess what? It’s really only a series of ponytails! Yep, you could do this style with your eyes closed. You can follow along our curly fauxhawk tutorial to recreate this one at home. Just make sure to have some hair oil on hand to help you achieve glossy, hydrated ends.
10. Roped Ponytail
This style works—coast to coast, L.A. to New York—because of its foolproof yet chic simplicity. Smooth on some shine cream such as Bed Head by TIGI After Party Smoothing Cream and secure hair in a tight ponytail, with no part. Divide the ponytail into two sections and proceed to twist them around each other, securing the end with a hair tie.
11. Bangs with a Bun
Before the sight of that baby-bun gets you running for the hills, hear us out. A fringe is the most requested haircut of the season, and when paired with a chignon (of all sizes, we don’t judge), it’s a fast-pass into instant It Girl territory. At least several grungy, street-style fashion labels thought so, as they paraded down the runway with tiny, punky bangs-and-bun combos.
12. ’90s Knots
Gather your hair into a secure ponytail and begin coiling it around itself, securing the ends with a hair tie or pins (tug some ends to peek out from under for a truly authentic look). Some light-wearing hairspray like TIGI Copyright Custom Complete Volume Finishing Spray is enough to offer all the control you need for this perfectly undone-done look.
13. Polished Drama
Create a side part and ensure hair is dried and super-shiny before creating a low chignon at the nape. Secure with a hair tie, tame down any cowlicks with a rat-tail comb and spritz on some maximum-hold hairspray for major staying power. Leave some ends out to wisp out, melancholy-like, into the wind.
14. Cheerleader Ponytail
Have fun with this flirty, easy updo! Gather freshly washed and blown-out hair into high, easy ponytail hairstyles at the crown (give it some grip and extra bounce with a texturizing spray). Secure with a hair tie, leaving one lock to discreetly loop over your hair accessory of choice.
