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.