One of the trendiest and easiest to accomplish hairstyles is the messy updo or bun. These are not the carefully constructed updos of yesteryear, with every hair diligently sprayed and cemented in place. The messy ‘do is full and soft, feminine and elegant but fun and easy.

To achieve the look, gather hair in a ponytail at the nape of your neck and twist as you pull upwards. Then pin the twist to the back with hairpins or use especially designed “claw” clips. Ends should hang free. They can be straight and spiky or curled. Pull a few hairs at the sides, in front of the ears to further soften the look. These can be curled too, for tendrils that frame your face. Give yourself more height on top by back-brushing the hair in front before styling, or use your fingers to pull it out and up a bit. You can use a finishing spray or gel to tame shorter stray hairs and keep them in place. Add a hair stick or hair jewelry to jazz up your style.

A ponytail is one of the easiest and quickest to create hairstyles. Ponytails are making a big comeback this year, being worn by some of the most visible stars and celebs.

Ponytails can be worn high or low, back center, off center or to the side. They can be styled for long, sleek hair or soft curls that fall sensuously about the shoulders. Hair that is day-old actually works better for styling a ponytail so they are twice as time-saving.

Ponytail holders can be made into a fun accessory, but no scrunchies, they have definitely gone out of style. Instead, today’s ponytail holders are less bulky, but come in expressive styles and colors. Or, leave some of your hair out of the ponytail elastic and use it as a wrap around.

For a sophisticated version of a ponytail, don’t wind the elastic too close to the scalp but instead, place it a few inches down the hair shaft. Then, with your two thumbs make a “hole” in the hair above the elastic and flip the ponytail through the hole. Slide a hairstick into the center to add a little pizazz.