How to Do Updos for Medium Hair

Create a flattering updo for your medium-length hair.

If you have medium-length hair, nothing adds more drama to your locks than an updo. Rather than slicking your hair back into a ponytail or wearing it super straight, the updo hairstyle is a chic style option for formal special events and dressy casual occasions. In fact, this style is perfect for bad hair days or when you are growing out a non-flattering hairstyle. Using a few expert beauty techniques, you can style your hair in an updo at your home.

Things You'll Need

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Large towel
• Setting lotion or volumizing mousse
• Plastic butterfly clips
• Round-barreled brush
• Medium-barreled curling iron
• Plastic bobby pins
• Plastic hairpins
• Light-hold hairspray
• Glossing serum
• Rat-tail comb

Instructions

1. Shampoo and condition your hair. Use products made specifically for your hair type. For example: If you have thin or limp strands, use a volumizing conditioner. Towel dry your hair.

2. Coat damp strands with a setting lotion or volumizing mousse. Apply a dollop of the product to your hair, starting at the roots and ending at the tips of your strands.

3. Dry hair completely using a blow dryer set on medium heat. Separate hair into four sections. Secure each section with a plastic butterfly clip. Using a round barreled brush, blow-dry your hair. Point the nozzle of the blow dryer downward as you straighten hair with the brush. Repeat with each section until hair is completely dry.

4. Curl 3-inch sections of the hair with a curling iron. Starting at the forehead, create loose spirals with a medium-barreled curling iron. After curling your hair, finger comb the hair to release the tight spirals and create waves.

5. Gather hair at the nape of the neck, and then loosely twist and pull upward into a loose full knot at the crown. Secure the knot with plastic bobby pins and hairpins.

6. Frame your face with stray tendrils. Curl long wisps in the front with a medium-barreled curling iron.

7. Finish the look with hairspray. Spray a light-hold hairspray to complete the updo.

Tips & Warnings

• To add shine, add a light glossing serum to the hair, before twisting the hair into the updo.

• If you want to add more lift in the crown, tease the hair or back comb with a rat-tail comb before curling the hair in step 4.

References

• Marie Claire: Updo Hairstyles
• Beauty and the Bath: Medium Length Updos

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Hair Finder: Hair Up Celebrity Hairstyles