How to Make a Cool Updo

Whether you need a pretty hairstyle to compliment your prom dress or you want to present a formal look for an important evening out, an updo will add instant class and elegance to your look. With options for long or short hair, making a cool updo is fun and rewarding.

Things You'll Need

• Hairbrush
• Ponytail holders
• Hairpins
• Curling iron
• Styling gel
• Hair spray

Instructions

1. Browse through fashion and hair magazines to get an idea of the variety of updo styles available. Notice the length and thickness of the model's hair and choose an updo from a model with hair similar to yours.

2. Wash your hair the day before you need to style it. Freshly washed hair can be hard to style. Waiting a day will allow the natural oils from your scalp to tame the frizzies and make styling easier.

3. Brush your hair while holding your head upside down in order to get the strands all flowing in the right direction.

4. Gather your hair into a ponytail while still holding your head upside down and put a thin ponytail holder around it. Choose a holder that closely matches your own hair color.

5. Stand up and check the placement of the ponytail. It should flatter your face. If it looks awkward, try again and alter the placement of the ponytail, either forwards or backwards on the crown of your head. Repeat this procedure until the ponytail angle compliments your features.

6. Grab your curling iron and put a few curls in the ponytail, sliding the iron out of the curl carefully and securing the curl to your head with hairpins.

7. Twist your ponytail instead of banding it with a ponytail holder. You can create an elegant up-swept look by twisting long hair, then standing up and finishing the twist, tucking it into a roll and securing it with hairpins.

8. Brush short hair upwards and pin as you go, using extra hairspray to hold stray hairs in place. There are fewer variations of updos for shorter hair, but if you can brush it upwards, you can use gel to set the updo and curl or spike the short top hairs.

9. Apply enough hair spray to keep your updo looking terrific. Instead of soaking your hair with spray, making it look gunky, try applying several light coats of spray, allowing each application to dry thoroughly before adding another.