How do I do my hair without resorting to a pigtail?

[sharond101]

I am so bad at styling my hair. It is below my shoulders with a side parting and no fringe. It is frizzy and fine. I normally tie it back in a ponytail or straighten it with ghd's and have it down. I need inspiration and step by step instructions to do something different. I cannot even manage a bun or ghd curls, I am useless... please instruct.

At the age of 40 my dd's friend who is 8 has just taught me a great easy one...do a low ponytail then make a whole just above where the band is and put the ponytail through the whole and down. Looks fantastic and is so quick.

through the hole...sorry

Look on YouTube! I did and taught myself to curl my hair with GHDs, messy side buns and a few others!

French pleat.

My go to style is a mix of braids and a pony looped as above.

I can't link to YouTube but type in

3 minute braided updo short/medium length hair. The YouTuber is yayalifestyle.

I wear my hair straight and down on day one and two after washing and then do something like this on day two or three. Add some dry shampoo to bulk up your hair a little if you need to

I am similar to you and cannot style my hair for love nor money. I have same length hair and just used to scrape it back in a ponytail. However, i have recently got the hang of buns, albeit the cheat's version: if you buy a doughnut ring (i bought mine from tescos) it takes all the skill out of it. Just pop in a ponytail, put doughnut ring over top then hide with hair and secure with another bobble. Job done and looks really professional for work!

Sock bun (youtube it) or you can buy bun donuts from boots or primark.

Pin twirls are good for securing buns etc - they look like little corkscrew things and you just twist them in place, where they magically hold your bun.

Agree with scouring youtube and pony-through-hole.

A hairdresser taught me a lovely quick 'do recently: take the front section, leaving strands around your face, tie it in a double knot at the crown, secure, then do the same with two more sections down to your nape. I haven't mastered it many times yet as my hair is slippery, but it does look messy and gorgeous and you can't tell what's been done to the hair iyswim, which adds to its charm. If I was going out I'd use loads of hairspray first I suppose.

This is a similar idea, but more formal; I don't carry on with same piece of hair iyswim, which gives you more trailing bits, but is more natural-looking, less contrived.

These are great, they make them look so easy, I probably still won't manage but will practice tomorrow.

shotgun

The knots work well if you have a bit of wax or hair gum on your hands -gives slippery hair a bit of grip

Oo thanks - will raid DS2's stash of hair stuff and have a go!

I have similar hair but thick & won't stay in styles very well. Plus I'm rubbish, I can't even get it in a bun with a doughnut

But I bought a marvellous thing in Superdrug on Friday, made by Babyliss, it's a messy bun of hair attached to a band. They do about 6 different hair colours & the dark brunette is such a good match to mine I can't see where my hair ends & the fake bit begins! So I basically put mine up in high ponytail, leaving it as a loop on the third pull through the band, then I pop the pretend hair on top of the formed loop...and hey presto, a messy bun!

Am going to a party on Sat night & have realised I can now have a messy low side bun - very pretty

I second the spin pins to hold a bun in place- very secure and looks better than a bobble.

So that's how you French pleat long hair!
I've always wondered, I can do mine, but not DDs mane.

Mummy1973 thankyou! I have always wanted to do that ponytail-through-the-hole style, but didn't know what it was called to search it - did it yesterday after reading this and it looked great. Very Game of Thrones!

I like the look of that bun too Sparklegeek. And I'm going to look out for those twister pins!

There are some good GHD curls tutorials on YouTube, I've started doing my ends this way recently. It is a bit fiddly but I think I have got the hang of it now. I don't do it all the time though, just if I'm going out.

I've just had a nice layered cut and my hair dries a little bit wavy, so for everyday I blast it with a salt spray and scrunch, it looks nice and relaxed and natural, I love it! For the first time in years I don't feel the need to tie it up all the time.

Salt spray sounds intriguing - any chance of a link?

By hair always looks a total mess after meeting the sea, so I'm not convinced.

Just adding my voice to YouTube tutorials. I'm no hair genius but I've got a few go to styles I've learnt off of YouTube and have learnt that bobby pins and dry shampoo are the best friends of any style.

I don't have time I used to leave it out, or do hairstyles that take 15 mins or more. I use those oriental clips a curved metal or leather piece and a metal stick or rod you insert through the curved piece with hair sandwiched in it. sometimes I use hair chopsticks. Looks elegant to me and so quick to do once you get the knack. No hair pins needs unless you have lots of short fly always, my hair is pretty long.

other option get a low maintenance cut then you can leave it out just wash and go and it should look fabulous. you say it's frizzy you can use oil in your hair just a tiny bit to tame and slick it up, a bit coconut oil is good I use it on my baby, she's got curly hair like her dad, it can look fizzy and dry and wild sometimes, so I put a tiny bit on makes her look tidy with tight curls.

look into braiding I learnt a lot on YouTube too for my girls it's too time spconsuming for me. Dutch braid or reverse French braid, fish tail, 5 part braid, rope plait.,im a dab hand at Dutch braid and 5 part braid. Fish tail takes longer so don't do it as much .habe water spritzer on hand spray liberally after combing then section and start . its easier to keep it neat , when it drys it will look more natural.

Shotgun I have been using this vo5 spray with sea salt and just scrunch it through the ends when my hair is dry. It gives me a bit of wave but looks nice and relaxed for everyday.

Thanks - will give it a try!

I totally echo the fabulousness of texturising sprays/powders and messy up dos - the small things blog has revolutionised my attitude to my hair. I look forward to the days when it's not newly washed now as it's so much easier to do something with.

The ponytail through the hole thing I have always called a topsy tail, used to do it about 20 years ago, it doesn'tcwork on me now, just bounces back out again. I do lots of tiny ones round DD's crown and it looks lovely.

Another vote for sock buns and spin pins here, far better than normal grips. I don't like a smooth donut bun, but use them for messy ones. Another good messy bun is to start with a ponytail, divide into two bunches, tie them into a single knot, wrap ends round loosely and pin in.