With longer hair increasingly worn by women of all ages, there are more opportunities than ever for swept-up styles that flatter and frame the face.
While updo hairstyles may once have been seen as a formal style (think of the tightly coiled and elaborately styled hair in period dramas such as Pride and Prejudice), they’re now being embraced for all sorts of occasions. From messy buns and effortless top knots to elegant chignons and low ponytails.
Wearing hair in an updo can also have the benefit of making hair look fuller. With age, hair volume is sometimes lost, so being able to style hair ‘up’ has a double benefit: it looks chic, and can create the illusion of fullness.
What’s more, styling hair in a way that reveals all or some of the back of the neck can help to make your neck look longer and more elegant. It can also allow a pair of statement earrings to make an even greater impact.
There are practical reasons for embracing the updo as well: scooping your hair up can mask the fact that it’s unwashed, unbrushed, or that it’s ready for a cut or colour. Sure, this may not sound glamorous, but we all have bad hair days, or rushed mornings – and updos are a great antidote to these.
Another reason to celebrate updos is the fact that they enable women to make the most of having longer hair without always having to fuss over it being perfectly blow-dried or styled.
So, what are some of the best updo hairstyles to try, and how easy are they to achieve?
1. High ponytail
This is one of the simplest updo hairstyles to carry out, making it a great option for when time is short.
Even so, some tricks can enhance this style. For example, securing the hair with a silk scrunchie will protect your hair’s fibres and reduce breakage. Look to brands such as Slip, which has a range of colours, including silver, to create an appearance that blends with your hair’s evolution.
Using a brush to guide your hair high can also make the face look more contoured and defined. Depending on the occasion, you may wish to pull a few strands loose around the face too, to create a softer look.
If you’re using a fabric-coated elastic band, rather than a scrunchie, you might also consider taking a section of hair to wind around the top of your ponytail. This can then be secured with a bobby pin, for a chic look.
2. Low ponytail
The low ponytail is an elegant style, which is increasingly favoured on the red carpet by sophisticated actors such as Julia Roberts – so it’s great for an evening occasion or work.
Smoothing the hair down gives a sleek look, which can also have the effect of accentuating cheekbones and jawline, and making the face look slimmer. Alternatively, you can deliberately muss up the hair, for a perfectly imperfect look.
It’s a style that works equally as well with a middle or side parting, depending on your preference and where your hair happens to fall naturally. Simply brush the hair down and use a smoothing product to catch any flyaway strands. Pull into a ponytail at the nape and secure tightly.
3. Messy bun
There are few updo hairstyles as inter-generational as the messy bun. This is especially true these days when people of all ages are more aware of their fitness, and adopting styles that allow them to transition effortlessly from an exercise studio to chores or brunch.
Effortless is a keyword when it comes to the messy bun. In fact, few hairstyles demand so little in the way of time or skill. Whether you drop your head forward to pull your hair into a top-knot or gather it up from your neck, you can play with where the bun sits and how that works with your face shape.
“Several days a week, I look after my grandchildren before and after school,” says Heather, who’s 63 and lives in Surrey. “This means that my ‘day’ is only about 6 hours long, so I need to dress and style myself in a way that transitions from one thing to another.
“Wearing my hair in a bun is a go-to, because it takes me from my Pilates class to the supermarket, to the school gate. Additionally, it doesn’t get in the way when I’m playing with my grandchildren or preparing their supper.”
As with the ponytail, use a fabric-coated band or scrunchie to protect your hair. You might also wish to pull some strands loose around your face. Or you could work your fingers into your bun to loosen its structure and give it volume, as well as a more casual, ‘untidy’ look.
4. Claw clip
“I always have a few of these in my bathroom, bedroom, and bag,” says Katy, a 58-year-old legal secretary from Leeds. “When I’m in a rush in the morning – as I frequently am! – it’s the easiest way to bundle my hair up without causing it damage, and without compromising on looking pulled together.”
The classic tortoiseshell or black clip can be found easily at chain retailers such as Boots but, these days, you can find claw clips in a variety of styles. Some of these are quite elegant – such as these from Amazon.
Simply gather your hair from the nape of the neck and pull it upwards, while twisting it with your fingers, and then secure it with the clip. If your hair is longer, you can double the remaining end over, so that all your hair is caught within the clip.
5. Chignon
Although its French name may make it sound frighteningly elegant, don’t be fooled – a chignon, like most updos, can be styled to look casual and carefree, or sophisticated and chic.
Another name for this name is the French twist and a beautiful example of how to make this style look gorgeous yet ‘undone’ can be seen on Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia!
Check out the video below to see just how quick and easy a chignon can be.
6. Braids
Just that bit more intricate than a plait, braids can create an impactful look when incorporated into an updo. If your hair is around shoulder length, you might try braiding your hair at the back and then tucking and securing the remaining length underneath with bobby pins.
Those with longer hair could perhaps put the hair in two pigtails and bring each one up over the head like a headband, securing each one behind the ears in a ‘milkmaid’ style.
If you want to style your hair into a low bun or ponytail, but don’t want the front of your hair to look too slicked down, a braid can also add interest: simply braid a section on one side, and secure it into the rest of your style at the nape.
Although many people have no trouble successfully braiding the hair of others, they sometimes struggle to do their own. If so, these styles are ones that a friend or professional could help with – or you could try following a YouTube tutorial, such as the one below.
Achieving updo hairstyles with short hair
Even if your hair is short, this doesn’t mean you can’t wear it styled into an updo. The market is full of temporary hair pieces and extensions, which can be worked into your existing hair to give you more to play with and style.
This is something you can have fun with, experimenting at home in advance of an event. Or, if you’re short on time or heading out to a special event, you may wish to seek out the expertise of a stylist or salon professional.
Check out these 60 creative updos for short hair from The Right Hairstyles for inspiration.
What equipment do I need to create updo hairstyles?
We’ve already spoken about the importance of using hair ties and elastics that won’t damage your hair, and about choosing fabric-covered elastic products to minimise breakage. But let’s take a look at some other tools to have in the updo arsenal.
Brush
Whether you’re planning on loosening some of your hair for a more casual style or keeping things sleek, a smoothing brush can help you guide your hair into position without flyaways.
If desired, you can pull strands out once the structure is in place. This paddle brush, available from Beauty Pie, achieves great results.
Smoothing product
Once your hair is in position, you might like to smooth stray strands down with a product that keeps your hair in place without weighing it down or giving it a stiff appearance.
It’s best to look for a product that nourishes as well as smoothes, such as one by Olaplex.
Extensions and hairpieces
As we mentioned above, there are many hair extensions and hairpieces that can be used to lengthen short hair or add volume to fine hair when styling an updo. Milk & Blush has a large range of clip-in extensions, which can be applied easily at home.
You can also create a full bun with a piece from Additional Lengths, where you can browse a range of colours to blend with your own hair.
Final thoughts…
Whether your hair is long or short, fine or full, there are many simple ways to style it into an updo and to make that ‘do’ look as sophisticated or as casual as you want.
Many updos can be achieved with little effort at home, whether with the help of accessories or tutorials or not. For special occasions, you may wish to employ the help of a stylist.
Ultimately, updos work effortlessly for both day and night and can hide a multitude of hair ‘sins’ – so having a few tips, tricks and tools up your sleeve can make bad hair days good, and good hair days even better.
What’s your favourite updo hairstyle? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.