I need an easy style for long hair

[Reesie]

After years of being a bit 'scruffy' I have decided to give myself a make over and smarten myself up a bit!

I'm not that bad really but live in jeans and t shirts with flip flops in the summer and boots in the winter!

Anyway - I'm going to start with my hair. It's really long, blonde with natural highlights in it and a slight wave. It's lovely but I've had the same haircut since I was 14. I need something easy to manage as I have a 3 year old and 1 year old. Most of the time at the moment it's in a ponytail.

If anyone has knowledge of a fab low maintenance hairstyle for longish hair ( I couldn't chop it all off!) - I would be gratful if you could post me a link as I'm so style and beauty inept.

Wang plait - my current hair saviour here

My goodness-I had my hair like that very often-more years ago than I care to remember.

Had to laugh that there are instructions though!

When I had longer hair I put my hair up in a ponytail but left the ends tucked into the last "round" of the hairband if that makes sense. Then twisted the hair ends over the top of the hairband and tucked them in underneath. Finally, held the whole thing together with a Chinese-looking chopstick contraption like this (scroll down to number 2094).

A sophisticated updo that takes less than a minute.

Is your hair just straight cut or are there layers in it?

If not, then I recommend you give yourself the MN haircut, it won't take a lot off the actual length at the back but it will put in heaps of layers. I have very hard to manage long curly hair, and once I gave myself the haircut I never looked back.

Before it was always up in a bun, now it is always loose and I always get compliments on it, and coz my hair is so curly I never brush it, so it is uber low maintainance.

cut it to bra-strap length

it'll still be long but easier to manage and in better nick

I am a devoted messy bunner and also wear elastic alice bands

I am also a messy bunner. Had a quick look at the mumsnet haircut and was very impressed so am going to pop to the hairdresser this weekend. Also - I have bought a handbag (honestly - a big thing for me!) and have the next directory for perusing. Dh is very supportive and has offered to have the children next weekend and given me a very generous sum of money to go shopping!

Cut a fringe.

Instant 'dressed' hair with very little effort and keep the length.

ooh!!
Somebody please tell me how to do the messy bun?
My hair is wavy (but not in a good way, more in a bushy-must-be-either-straightened-or-babyliss-curled way) and it's below shoulder length with some layers and a long fringe.... I just look silly if I put it in a bun!!

Ta!!

If i wanna feel girly, i pull one section of hair out at the front, plait it, and then pull it all into a pony tail or bun, so there is a plait lying usually to one side on the top, does that make sense?

Alice band, but get a cool one from accesorise , brilliant on a bad hair day, even hides the grease (sorry thats grim I know)

Ooooh! I don't think I could have a fringe. Just takes me back to 1982 when my late grandmother cut me a very short, very wonky one. 'twasn't a good look!

I love your idea cookielove - will have a go tommorow.

Just wondered about the band idea thinker - could I put a thin scarf on like an alice band - knotted at the back in the underside of my hair and have the ends running down with my hair at the back. Does that make sense? Will I look a bit weird?

What is the "mumsnet haircut" and where do I go to see it please?

If you go to youtube.com and enter "long hairstyle" in the search box, there are a lot of tutorials on styling hair.
Here is one from there.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy2i6RvLhUQ&feature=related

Lot's of different of hair accessories and earrings keep you feeling pretty and give you something different, even if it is a simple low ponytail with nice flower or silky scarf to dress it up.

Yes, you could do the scarf tied underneath I think. This girl does something with a scarf as well as a band with a flower. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tJXDUPff3U&feature=related