How do I put fine, straight hair 'up'?

[HandlebarTash]

My hair is fine textured, straightish and shoulder length. It looks reasonable down when dried properly and kinky bits straightened out.

But I need to wear my hair up for work and nothing looks nice. Ponytail looks like a skinny rat's tail. Tried and failed at a messy sock bun, I just don't have enough hair. Tend to twist it up in a claw clip thingy, with the ends out and flopping down, but I don't really like that either. Have tried YouTube for tutorials and they never work, I just don't seem to have enough hair.

Advice? I dream of big messy buns...

[malteserzz]

Have you tried one of those doughnut things to make a bun fuller ? Also dry shampoo or one of those volumising powders you shake into the roots are good for making your hair fuller and easier to style

[ItsintheBag]

Alot of those really full messy buns have added extensions in as well my sister had an up do for her wedding and even though she has loads of hair then put some clip in hair to give it that full look.

To have a go at home,do it the day after you washed your hair,spray in some dry shampoo to make it a bit tacky,backcomb your hair from root to midlenght all over, get large paddle brush and smooth it out,put in the doughnut and smooth the hair over it,pin in place.

[MrsMills]

I swear by Batiste Dry Shampoo XXvolume. I have v fine straight hair which usually just 'flops'. This stuff is hardcore but genius.