Simple Updo Hairstyle
I’d like to take a moment to talk about something important to me. I was never one of the super popular girls in high school. I was what’s commonly called, “a floater”. I knew everyone and was very friendly (the drama club in me) and could safely say I wasn’t shunned by anyone. However, because of this, I never learned the tricks and trade of hair, make-up, and fashion. You know, the kind of tips that get handed down from one generation of cheerleader to the next. The seniors to the freshman. I spent my high school days with my hair straight and down, in a pony tail, or in a huge mess of curls on my head when I felt like sleeping in curlers. And I never owned a beauty magazine and rarely went to the salon to get my hair cut so I didn’t have the opportunity to browse for any secrets while I waited my turn! I didn’t know simple, neat little tricks. And I guess, I want to share what I’ve managed to learn later in life with you as I pick them up now, in my twenties.
Simple Updo Hairstyle
★ brush or comb
★ hair tie
★ bobby pins or small clips
★ curling iron (3/4) (for versions two and three of this style)
Pull your hair into a semi-high ponytail. Next you’ll want to take your finger, wiggle it into your ponytail (in between your scalp and the hair tie) and pull the remainder of your up from the bottom and through. Pull to tighten. From there you want to take the last 3/4 of your hair and flip it under your ponytail and securely pin it. If you want, before you pin it up, you have the option of giving your hair more lift and body. It can give you a “messy bed head” look. The longer your hair, the easier this is, which is why (because my hair is so layered) I chose not to. To do this, section off the hair in your ponytail to four or five sections and using your brush, hold the section straight up and brush from top to bottom (towards your hair tie) to spread it and give it more lift. After you’ve done this to all sections you can begin to pin it under and up.
Version 2
You also have the option of curling your hair (or if you have curly hair simply don’t straighten) and achieving a more elegant evening look. To do this we’ll need to curl your hair after it’s in your pony tail. For thicker hair you should consider splitting your hair into two different pony tails, one for the top hair and one for the bottom, and then curl those. After curling, gently tug the pony tails out (if you did two) and then reset into one. Then follow the same steps as above, except instead of clipping it up you can let the curls hang.
Version 3
This is my personal favorite, perhaps because it feels very Asian to me, but the steps are easy. To do this simply follow the steps for the elegant low hanging curl, and pin it up like you would the straight bun!
Julia • 15 Jan 2013
thanks! works great! and i would totally be your friend in HS
Amy Chapman • 20 Dec 2012
Wow you are a hair genius! I am so super impressed. THanks for all your great hair ideas!
Sarah • 3 Aug 2012
This was so cute and super easy! THANKS!
Ali • 2 Dec 2011
Can you possibly post this video on you tube? I can’t access the videos on the website
Sara • 2 Dec 2011
Uploading right now!
Sara • 2 Dec 2011
I uploaded it to Vimeo and YouTube. It should play in this post properly now, but if it doesn’t here are the links:
http://vimeo.com/33037997
Susan • 26 Oct 2011
Your easy up do steps saved me at the last minute for a wedding event. It looked great and I got lots of compliments. Thank you so much!
Krista • 9 Sep 2011
I found your blog via pinterest and love it! I read the first paragraph of this post and thought “HEY! That sounds like me!!!”…definitely the same experience in high school.
Wonderful hairstyles…loving the “Gibson updo”
Charmine • 27 Sep 2010
Thanks for sharing. I like your idea of sharing your beauty ideas to all of us. I just hope many more women can benefit from this. Styling your hair to be as beautiful as you can be is the really the best way to keep your confidence. I just hope people who have hair loss problems will do the same. Thanks again for sharing.
Dani • 7 May 2009
I never messed with makeup or my hair either. When I was in high school, I had long, super straight hair and would put it up on all kinds of crazy do’s (my famous one being Leia buns), but never learned to truly style it. I was never girly, and my mom was never someone I could ask. I still don’t know much about either. The most I’ve learned is for this wedding. I bought a bunch of Bare Escentuals makeup and have been dabbling with it, and as much as I hate to admit it…it’s kind of fun. =3
My hair is short now, and naturally curly, so I think if I did what your video showed, it would look totally different. It might not even work because my hair is shorter, but I want to at least try it with the first step when you pull the ponytail through itself.
Thanks for the tips and the video. As someone else said, it’s fun and easy and something a beginner can definitely follow. =]
Emily • 6 May 2009
I love this post so much. Not because I can use the info (updo’s and dreadlocks don’t really go together), but because I was a ‘floater’ too and now find myself Google-ing things like “makeup for beginners”. You are doing a great service to humanity
:hearts;
phoenix • 6 May 2009
I haven’t yet had a chance to watch the video, but I intend to, as that’s a pretty and elegant style and it looks like my hair’s just long enough for it now. I love that you’re sharing what you’ve learned! Same as you, I didn’t learn this girl-knowledge from others, and while I have odd little daydreams of learning it in person, from friends, at awfully cliched teenage-movie-style sleepovers, it’s brilliant that technology allows us unlessoned girls to teach each other across the world.
stacey • 6 May 2009
beautiful! thanks for the video!
Lysha • 5 May 2009
Ahhh this makes me miss my long hair so much! I’m kind of like you – I didn’t even own a blow-dryer until the last year or so. I just kind of… went with the flow, with moderate, sometimes interesting results! But when I had long hair my favourite thing to do was pin it up in all kinds of complicated, twisty ways.
Your hair looks so gorgeous in all of those pics! So glossy and smooth!
Nicole Lee • 5 May 2009
It looks fantastic! And version 3 is my favorite as well. Thanks for sharing, dear. =]
Jessa • 5 May 2009
Ohmigosh. I was absolutely mesmerized by this post, because – like you – I have no idea how do to anything fashionable. And this is so simple, yet I never even thought to do it! Actually, I think this would probably work well, because my long-ass hair doesn’t do well in those hair clips, because it just looks… blah. I am totally trying this tomorrow. Thanks for the tip!
Oh, and P.S. – You have gorgeous hair, FYI. *grins*
Criri • 5 May 2009
Lady you are brilliant!
Sarasaurus • 7 May 2009
Thank you!
Sarasaurus • 7 May 2009
Thank you! I am learning. I guess for a long time I didn’t want to bother with fashion or hair care or make up because I associated those things with a lower intelligence (boo me!). Maybe it’s because I didn’t know how. But I find now it’s okay to be a geek and still like to fiddle with makeup and hairstyles.
Let me know how it goes!! I can’t wait until I have longer hair because I bet it’s really good with long hair!
Sarasaurus • 7 May 2009
Thank youuuu!
Sarasaurus • 7 May 2009
Thank you so much! Strangely enough my hair (from the top of my ears down) was bleached last summer and completely trashed!! Since I’ve been using
Ion Repair Solutions once a week and it’s made a world of difference!
Sarasaurus • 7 May 2009
<3<3!
Sarasaurus • 7 May 2009
Haha, I used to think about scenarios too! And in the movies and shows the older sister always helps out! Well I was the older sister! FAIL ON MY PART! Haha, but hopefully I can make up for it now. I’m not an expert or anything but I am finally (late bloomer?) taking an interest in self care and having fun with my appearance.
Sarasaurus • 7 May 2009
I.have.always.wanted.dreads.
But I was sooo scared! How did you do them, what’s the process like, and do you really have to shave your head when you’re done?
(I’m also starting to dabble in make-up, there are so many different types of brushes or powders, it’s a bit overwhelming!)
Sarasaurus • 7 May 2009
I went with Everyday Minerals because they offered free samples with $4 shipping. So I thought I’d give it a shot and it’s wonderful. And it is a lot of fun.
I’m not sure how this style will work for short styles, but perhaps if I run across some I can shoot them over for you and Cole to try and then we can blog about them! =)
Dani • 7 May 2009
That’d be awesome. =D
I may try to do a video of this one hair style that I do…I can put my hair up with just one chopstick or a pen. It astonishes most people, so I feel like I should spread the knowledge.
Dani • 7 May 2009
I just compared Bare Escentuals and Everyday Minerals and Everyday has better prices anyway. I didn’t get eye color with my kit, so I may order some from Everyday Minerals. I love that they have samples for only $2.50.
Sarasaurus • 13 May 2009
Me too! The samples are such a good value too! I ordered a free sample kit with some foundation (original glo) and this stuff will last me quite a while!! I want to try to get into the blushes too…. ooooooh boy oh boy.
Sarasaurus • 13 May 2009
I would like to know how to do that!! =D