How to put hair up for a smart evening do?

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I've grown my hair a lot this year, and I would like to be able to put it up for Christmas parties, I tend to stick it in either a ponytail, clawclip or doughnut with a thick hairband if I need it up during the day, was wondering if anyone can give me any suggestions for how to put it up in a more sophisticated style? I haven't had it this long for about 20 years so I am seriously out of practice.

it is nearly bra strap length with layers (shortest about level with my mouth), fairly thick and wavy, i also have a very thin swept aside fringe.

If you look on e hair and beauty section on pinterest there are loads if pictures of sophisticated up dos with links to tutorials.

Thank you, I keep hearing about Pinterest, one of my friends is always mentioning it, maybe it's about time I tried it out.

YouTube good too and will talk you through them. Am liking messy-ish side buns at mo.

I don't have long hair, but was watching QVC the other day, and there was some sleb hairdresser called Ken/Kev Paves (?) flogging various clip on hair stylee extensions (ponytails/fringes/hairy scrunchie). they looked fairly easy to use, realistic (as mix of tonal shades opposed to flat one shade) and v glam. the scrunchie thing looked easiest - he did a low side ponytail on the model then turned it into a messy bun.

(Realises I have no life watching QVC )

I have been putting my hair up in a doughnut bun recently. I put my hair in a high ponytail then starting from the end of the ponytail roll the hair up in it IYSWIM. My hair is long and thick and it makes a really big bun which looks a bit retro and then I put a feather hair clip on the side of it. I have worn it like this to a wedding, a ball and a 40th and had loads of compliments so will be doing my hair like that for my Xmas do.

I've been browsing YouTube a bit but there's so much on there and it's not easy to narrow them down. Trixy is that using one of those doughnut shaped mesh things? I'm off to town tomorrow, might need to go and look at some accessories.

I have bought some lovely claw-clip flowers for all the ladies to wear in their hair at DHs birthday meal (instead of the usual tacky party hats!)... something like that might work?

Yes, it honestly is so easy to do. Most tutorials I have seen have you putting the doughnut around the base of the ponytail and then covering it with the hair, but then there's the problem of what to do with the ends. If you start at the very end of your ponytail and roll the hair up in the doughnut it looks much sleeker and I don't even have to use any hairpins to keep it in place.

Try pinterest as you don't need to know the right words to search for like on YouTube, you can just browse hairstyles other people have pinned. If you want an invitation PM me your email address.

like this except my hair is much longer so the bun ends up wider and a bit more glam IMO!

Thank you, I've had a look at doughnut buns on YouTube and found one just as you describe, but using a sock doughnut, going to have a go tomorrow, as well as shopping for some pretty clips.

Google the Small Things blog. She has great tutorials on there. Sorry for not linking. One handed typing on iPad and being lazy.