I don’t know about y’all, but when it comes to my hair, my motto is almost always, “ain’t nobody got time for that.” Seriously though — with work, school, or just day-to-day duties (plus the time we allow for social media scrolling) who has hours to spend on their hair? Not me, that’s for sure. But sometimes, you just want your hair to look nice and styled. And fortunately, getting a fly hairstyle together doesn’t have to be hard or time-consuming for that matter. In fact, there are several easy-peasy hairstyles anyone can master, depending on their hair type. To prove it, we tapped the pros to get the real tea on their favorite easy hairstyles. Whether your hair is stick-straight, or you’re rocking a head full of flourishing kinks, there are options that are as easy to execute as they are gorgeous. Get excited: Your at-home styling sessions just got way easier.
Jessica Biel: Beach Waves
For straight and fine-haired folks, hairstylist Tippi Shorter recommends amping up the texture and creating super quick, “lived-in” beach waves, like the style Jessica Biel is sporting here. “Create beach waves in five minutes by separating your hair into four sections [and] twirling one section in your fingers until it is twisted close to the scalp,” she says. “Using a medium-heat flatiron, press the iron on the twirled-up hair, hitting each section for five seconds each. [Then] unwind and use a light hair spray to hold the waves.”
Meghan Markle: Wispy Low Bun
If anyone knows that there are a million ways to rock a bun, it’s the Duchess of Sussex herself, Meghan Markle. For a look like hers, part your hair down the middle and gather it into a very loose bun. Pull out two small sections from each side of your face, wind them loosely around a curling iron for a few seconds (directing the curl away from your face), and release.
Jennnifer Lopez: “Bronx Baddie” Half Updo
Shorter says that half-updosise a great way to play with curls and turn up the volume. “Using a light pomade on hands, smooth curls from ear to ear loosely to the crown area,” she explains. “[Then] take a small section of hair from the back and wrap it around the gathered hair many times and secure with a bobby pin,” she says, adding that you can also use a light oil to smooth through the hair and further enhance your curls. Add some extra swag to your look by laying down your baby hairs at the temples.
Teyonah Parris: Front Twist
If you’ve blown out your kinks and curls and want to switch up the style a bit, you can try a front twist like Teyonah Parris is rocking here. For this, Shorter suggests creating a deep side part and incorporating a braid or twist for a fun and simple accent. “[You can] create a cornrow braid and secure the end, [then] tuck the end under the hair that’s left out and use fingers to gently backcomb the hair that’s out for maximum volume and fun,” she explains. If you’re not up for a full-blown cornrow, Teyonah’s simple flat twist is a good substitute.
Lucy Hale: Half-Up, Half-Down
There’s a reason why the half-up, half-down hairstyle has been around for ages: it’s as straightforward as it gets. To get Lucy Hale’s look, part your hair down the middle, leave a small section out from each side of your face, and bring the rest together with a small clip. Want to take it up a notch? Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, hairstylist and owner of Takisha Studio in Brooklyn, New York, notes to use a 1-inch curling iron to add subtle waves (try the Sylkstyler one from Hai Beauty Concepts) to your hair before putting it up.
Janelle Monáe: Wrapped Braid
Janelle Monáe is known to do things differently when it comes to music, so it comes to no surprise that she applies the same mentality to her hair. Recently, she was seen rocking an ultra-long braid with a criss-cross white elastic tied around it by Brooklyn-based hairstylist Nikki Nelms. To top it off, she added a hashtag-like metal hair accessory at the end of the braid to match Monáe’s earring. Get the look by pulling your hair back into a low pony and securing with an elastic. Grab some braiding hair and start plaiting, combining it with your natural hair all the way to the ends. Secure the bottom, then start wrapping the braid with string or a long elastic. Make a hashtag out of four bobby pins and attach it to the very bottom of the braid. And of course, don’t forget to slick your baby hairs.
Jasmine Sanders: Sleek Topknot
Lacy Redway created this super sleek topknot for Jasmine Sanders at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards. The key here is to keep it tight and smooth: Once your hair is up in a knot, spray a bristle brush with hairspray
and run it over the crown of your head to slick down any baby hairs. The classic gel and a toothbrush work, too. Or, in a spray bottle, you can mix a bit of gel with water and mist it over your hair — a trick we picked up from The Radio City Rockettes. Secure the topknot with bobby pins so it stays in place.
Emily Ratajkowski: Modern Chignon
Another way to give straight hair a polished upgrade is to rock a low chignon. Sturdivant-Drew recommends using the pointy end of a classic fine-tooth comb to create a clean middle part like Emily Ratajkowski’s. Comb through with R+Co Wall St. Strong Hold Gel to give your hair a more modern, sculpted look. Secure your hair in a low ponytail and then braid the tail, securing the ends with a small, clear elastic. Finish by twisting the braid into a low bun and securing with U-shaped pins. Ready, set, cue the dramatic effect.
Sabrina Carpenter: Tousled Ponytail
If you have thin, straight hair, this breezy updo gives you a literal lift, boosting the appearance of volume. It’s versatile too and can be worn to the gym or a party (à la Sabrina Carpenter). Starting off, spritz on Amika Un. Done Volume and Matte Texture Spray to give your hair grip for easier styling. To execute the look, Shorter says, “Flip your head over and gently comb the interior of your hair with your fingers. Loosely grab your hair into a ponytail in the centre back, and flip your head back over before securing the ponytail.” Following, pull out some loose, wispy strands to hang around your face for an effortless feel.
Amandla Stenberg: Disco Ponytail
Can you say ’70s disco? Redway styled Amandla Stenberg’s hair in a glam high pony at the 10th Annual Governor Awards. To achieve the look, she first moisturized the actress’s hair with Nexxus Promend Leave-In Crème for Split Ends. “It’s extremely moisturizing without leaving hair slippery to the touch,” Redway tells Allure. Next, she gathered the star’s hair into the palm of her hand and brushed it toward the top and centre of the head to create a ponytail. “Once the hair was secured, I added hair extensions from Boho Exotic Studio and secured it with hair pins. I used a little R+Co Wall Street Strong Hold Gel on the actual ponytail to twist it all the way to the bottom.”
Emma Stone: Put a Bow on It
Ribbons are an easy (and inexpensive) way to dress up hair in a cinch. Have a ribbon from a present lying around? That works perfectly. Just tie up your hair in a half-pony with an elastic and leave a few front strands hanging loose, as Emma Stone’s hairstylist, Mara Roszak, does here. This look works great on straight hair as the texture doesn’t compete for attention with the bow. Tie the ribbon around the elastic and you’ve just elevated an everyday hairstyle.
Skai Jackson: Braided Pigtails
Braided pigtails look difficult to achieve, but with practice, they can become second nature. Just part your hair down the middle and create two large cornrows on opposite sides of your head, securing the elastic at ear level. Let the ends of your hair do their thing as Skai Jackson did here. If you find your hair is a little dry, spritz with a moisturizer like the Taliah Waajid Shea Coco Daily Leave-In Conditioner and use your fingers to gently fluff it through your puffs. If cornrows are out of your skill set, try this style with a flat twist instead. Before you head out the door, add a few spritzes of a light holding spray, says Sturdivant-Drew. We like the Cantu Style Stay Frizz-Free Finisher.
