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Summer Updos

We are rapidly approaching the hottest part of the season, and I don’t know about you, but I need my hair OFF MY NECK.

Now, I’m a little bobby-pin challenged, but the beauty of current summer updos is that a messy, imperfect look is the ultimate goal. Long gone are the days of stiff, hair-sprayed helmet heads. (Thank God.)

Just remember:

Perfect updo = Matronly

Messy updo = Soft and feminine

Here are three fail-proof summer updos that are absolutely fun and fresh.

What you need:

Bobby pins (if bobby pins aren’t your thing, try these tiny jaw clips)

A brush (to smooth out any tangles, although we didn’t use one)

That’s it!

The first video is a modern side bun.


Updo – Single Side Bun from Hair Thursday on Vimeo.

When placing the bobby pins, be sure to use the flat side of the pin against your scalp and DON’T TRY TO GRAB TOO MUCH HAIR WITH THE PIN. That’s the common mistake many (um, ME) seem to make – just push the pin into the hair, grabbing a little bit of hair at a time. For thick hair, you will need to use many bobby pins. (Or try the mini-claws shown above. Just make sure that the claws are well hidden.)

If you have thick hair, try creating two side buns on top of one another.


Updo – Side Bun For Thick Hair from Hair Thursday on Vimeo.

Asymmetrical not your cup of tea? Try these double knots.


Updo – Double Knot from Hair Thursday on Vimeo.

If you’re new to updos, these might take a little practice, but I promise you’ll be donning modern and feminine updos in no time!

What about you? Do you have any easy updos that you love?

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31 comments
  1. The Muse

    July 30, 2008 at 9:07 am

    I love doing a ponytail with a little bit of teasing at the crown on a day where I dry my hair naturally (so I get some texture to the tail), or pulling the top half of it back, teasing it and pinning it back, then doing a low, asymmetrical ponytail over one shoulder. Quick, easy, and off my neck, which, in this Georgia heat & humidity, is all I can ask for!

  2. Jaclyn

    July 30, 2008 at 9:11 am

    Awesome. I love messiness. Going to practice now. Thank you!

  3. Rebecca

    July 30, 2008 at 9:38 am

    Help! I have hair that is just above my shoulders. I’d love to put it up, because it sticks to my neck, but a bun just isn’t an option. Could you do a post on updos (or partial updos) for those of us who are length-challenged?

  4. jenvictoria

    July 30, 2008 at 9:53 am

    Very, very helpful! Thank you!

  5. sizzle

    July 30, 2008 at 9:54 am

    See I just have super short hair and skip all this hair fussing. :-)

  6. jora

    July 30, 2008 at 10:01 am

    I really like the look of these. Especially the off-center ones.

  7. Chiada

    July 30, 2008 at 10:21 am

    Great videos! Thanks for sharing this with us. I just scrounged up a couple bobby pins from my makeup bag and did the side updo from video one in the bathroom at work. It looks great! I never would have thought of twisting the hair to get it over to the side. I would have just swept or brushed it over to the side. But the twisting gives it a nice look.

    Since I’ve almost always had long hair I’ve used my imagination over the years to keep things different and fun. A couple updos I like are: 1) the very high pony tail with the Gwen Stefani type rise in the front. Kindof rockabilly-ish. Sometimes to finish it off I’ll wrap a small section of hair around the elastic to hide it. 2) The pulled-through pony. Where you secure your hair very loosely with an elastic. Then split the hair above the elastic in half and pull the pony through it so it creates twists on either side of the pony. This can be modified in several ways. (the topsy-tail look http://www.1worldmall.com/hairstylingtool/ ); 3) the pony with several elastics spaced evenly down the length of the hair for a retro look; and 4) the barrel roll updo where you first make a ponytail anywhere you like. then separate the hair into 5 sections. Roll each section around two fingers and then pin it against the head going around the ponytail holder so it sort of makes a flower. Kinda mid-90’s, I know, but hey, anything can look good depending on how one wears it.

  8. amy

    July 30, 2008 at 10:33 am

    Ooo, see I LOVE bobby pins. I usually twist n’ pin smaller sections of hair in a similar “low bun” style, but since it’s smaller chunks (hence lots more bobby pins, closer to a dozen) it creates a funky, hip piecy look with all the ends sticking out. I guess it wouldn’t create the same effect on really long hair, but for those of us with a little below/or at shoulder length, this is a nice alternative. Especially if there’s not quite enough hair to do an actual knot.

  9. jolie

    July 30, 2008 at 11:02 am

    Nice! Going to try one of these beauties for work tonight.

  10. rosalicious

    July 30, 2008 at 11:57 am

    I’ve totally been rockin’ the side bun this summer! Glad it got the HT seal of approval! :)

  11. Groovymarlin

    July 30, 2008 at 12:35 pm

    I suppose I’m terribly passé, like those chicks who use the clamp on their curling irons and get French manicures, but when it’s really hot I twist my just-below-jaw-length bob and clamp it to the back of my head with a jaw/butterfly clip type thing. No crazy colors or decorations – plain black or faux tortoise works for me. It keeps my hair off my neck, out of my face, and the curvy ends coming out of the top of the clip bend over and swing rather gracefully.

    This is a casual look though, for shopping or doing whatever on weekends. I never wear it like this to work. Am I banned for admitting I use such an implement?

  12. Kristin

    July 30, 2008 at 1:09 pm

    I totally miss my long hair and will now start growing it out, hope these are in style next summer!

  13. caleal

    July 30, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    I am so in love with these videos. I sat here and did the double side bun, with no mirror, just mimicking the hands on the screen.

    It it looks… good!… How did that happen?

    We definitely need more of these!

  14. Leticia

    July 30, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    Love these videos. You are such a hair goddess.

  15. bethany

    July 30, 2008 at 6:28 pm

    Great, these come three days after I cut my hair and am pretty sure it’s too short to twist o bun:( whaaaa! Love these videos though!