PDA

View Full Version : Easy, Idiot-Proof Updoes



Bunnehlvr22
July 13th, 2015, 10:14 AM
Let me start by saying I have never been able to style my hair well. Most girls spent hours in front of the mirror as teens, I spent those hours reading. My attempts at updos leave my arms sore and me in tears. But I wanted to learn some protective updoes for work (grocery clerk). I bought some hair sticks and two hair forks but don't know how to use them. So I was wondering if anyone could suggest some super easy APL length protective updoes that are idiot proof?

Also, my ends are super thick and hard to fold under buns. I also have a tendency to pull my hair super tight in updoes. Maybe I should just learn to keep it down. :confused:

Anje
July 13th, 2015, 10:52 AM
How long is your hair? That affects what works, as does thickness.
ETA2: LOL, my reading comprehension today apparently sucks!


Most idiot-proof protective thing I can think of is a basic braid. Works at almost any length that is even thinking about updos. Grab hair, ponytail it if you must (though long term I think it's better not to), divide in 3, braid. Secure ends. Keep it from getting caught on things, between your back and chairs, or eaten by wandering goats.

ETA: OK, I'm going to just keep adding things.

Lazy wrap buns take a little practice to figure out how big to make the first loop, but they're really easy and pretty stable. Again, they work at most lengths, even if you just have your ends sticking straight up after the outer loop. There are lots of videos and minor variations, but this is just like how I make mine, and it's pretty easy to see what she's doing. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3LWSGiDBbk) The bit of twisting at the beginning is something I find useful to help hold it all together. Mind, if your hair is long enough you can do this and just about anything else with a braid instead of a twisted ponytail.

Disc buns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y5sSEBy7HQ) get a lot of love around here, and are easy to pull off with shorter and thicker hair. They're not great for me, but I've got a huge length:thickness ratio that seems to work against me for these.

Even easier than a braid, if you're braid-declined is a Caterpillar braid: Make a ponytail. Then grab another band, and secure the ponytail again a few inches down. Band it again, a few inches below that. Repeat... This doesn't get everywhere or tangle up like a ponytail does.

meteor
July 13th, 2015, 11:45 AM
Bunnehlvr22, depending on your hair type/thickness you might be able to do Peacock Twists or Cinnabuns at this length. I think they are probably the easiest, because they just require to twist hair and pin it in place.

If your hair is too thick or short for some buns you like, just split hair in two or more and do sectioned buns or double buns.

Since you have a tendency to pull your hair too tightly, why not start with a braid or 2 - and just fold the braid(s) or coil it upwards and pin it. I think braided buns hold better so they allow you not to pull too tightly. I'd check out the Oval Bun for example.

Nique1202
July 13th, 2015, 11:59 AM
I heartily second the disc bun. It's probably my favourite updo and it can be done on pretty much any hair type some time between shoulder and APL with just one stick, and it doesn't require you to pull tightly on the base at all.

Peacock twists are nice and simple, they only require one claw clip big enough to hold your hair up. There's also a way to secure a french twist with a peacock tail with a stick or fork. Cinnabuns, if you're on the thicker end, you might not be able to do so well yet without pulling them tight, but spin pins might help a lot there.

lapushka
July 13th, 2015, 12:30 PM
Seriously, it all depends on how thick your hair is. Are you i, ii or iii? If you're iii then I'm afraid about all you can do at APL is a peacock twist or some such style secured with a claw clip. I'm a iii and my first bun was when I hit waist! Before that buns were impossible as I lacked sufficient length for my thickness.

Madora
July 13th, 2015, 02:26 PM
Perhaps a Gibson Tuck? Here's a tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u4neDtqsDk

You could dress it up even more if you do two strand lace rope braids on the side, THEN ponytail all your hair preparatory to ponytailing.

Be sure you detangle thoroughly before you do anything else! Good luck!

vpatt
July 13th, 2015, 02:36 PM
There is a thread of "updos for APL and shorter". Sorry I cannot link to it.

meteor
July 13th, 2015, 02:58 PM
There is a thread of "updos for APL and shorter". Sorry I cannot link to it.

:agree: Great point, vpatt! :D Here's the link to the ongoing thread:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=123749&page=28

Night_Kitten
July 15th, 2015, 01:42 PM
I don't know if it's doable at APL, but my favorite "fail-proof" style is the lazy wrap bun... For me it works consistently even on days I can't seem to coordinate my movements properly (lack of sleep can be a real PITA)...

Bunnehlvr22
July 18th, 2015, 06:37 PM
Thanks everyone for the suggestons! :D


Seriously, it all depends on how thick your hair is. Are you i, ii or iii? If you're iii then I'm afraid about all you can do at APL is a peacock twist or some such style secured with a claw clip. I'm a iii and my first bun was when I hit waist! Before that buns were impossible as I lacked sufficient length for my thickness.

I am a iii (hair type is 1b/m-c/iii). My hair circumference measures 4" dry. So I might be stuck with a french braid and regular braid for a while.

Aderyn
July 18th, 2015, 07:32 PM
I definitely second the sectioned buns idea. Nautilus, LWB, and the disc bun are all easy places to start. You could also try the cinnabun, peacock twist, french twist or a tucked braid.

akuamoonmaui
July 22nd, 2015, 06:24 PM
I found a YouTube site called 'makeup wearables' (I'm pretty sure). She does up dos that are do-able. I'm not a big fan of fuss, either.....

WannabeViking
July 22nd, 2015, 10:53 PM
[...]
Lazy wrap buns take a little practice to figure out how big to make the first loop, but they're really easy and pretty stable. Again, they work at most lengths, even if you just have your ends sticking straight up after the outer loop. There are lots of videos and minor variations, but this is just like how I make mine, and it's pretty easy to see what she's doing. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3LWSGiDBbk) The bit of twisting at the beginning is something I find useful to help hold it all together. Mind, if your hair is long enough you can do this and just about anything else with a braid instead of a twisted ponytail.

[...]

Any tips on getting these to stay on shorter hair? Mine's about falling to the armpits these days, but the wrap bun tends to fall apart slowly on me.

Nique1202
July 23rd, 2015, 05:46 AM
Any tips on getting these to stay on shorter hair? Mine's about falling to the armpits these days, but the wrap bun tends to fall apart slowly on me.

Try the disc bun instead. Lazy wraps are often touted around here but thicker and slipperier hair needs a lot more length to get them to stay.

lapushka
July 23rd, 2015, 09:07 AM
I am a iii (hair type is 1b/m-c/iii). My hair circumference measures 4" dry. So I might be stuck with a french braid and regular braid for a while.

I wore a peacock twist from about shoulder/APL all the way to waist (had to fold it more like a log roll in later lengths), and it absolutely saved me. It was awesome. Just used a claw clip with it, and it was fine.

Bunnehlvr22
July 23rd, 2015, 09:49 AM
I wore a peacock twist from about shoulder/APL all the way to waist (had to fold it more like a log roll in later lengths), and it absolutely saved me. It was awesome. Just used a claw clip with it, and it was fine.

How did you keep the claw clip from pulling the hair at the roots?

Anje
July 23rd, 2015, 11:28 AM
Any tips on getting these to stay on shorter hair? Mine's about falling to the armpits these days, but the wrap bun tends to fall apart slowly on me.

Yeah, try something like the disc bun instead. My hair's a lot thinner than yours, so what I could do at APL isn't the same as what you'd be able to do.

Another easy trick: remember that any bun you see could be done with the top half of your hair only instead of all of it. You could make a second bun under the first, or wrap the remaining length around the bun after. :)

lapushka
July 23rd, 2015, 12:15 PM
How did you keep the claw clip from pulling the hair at the roots?

Just twist the hair loosely up, and then clip. That's all I did. :shrug:

Anje
July 23rd, 2015, 12:16 PM
Just twist the hair loosely up, and then clip. That's all I did. :shrug:

Lucky. Those things pull like crazy for me. Never could stand to use them.

WannabeViking
July 23rd, 2015, 04:11 PM
Try the disc bun instead. Lazy wraps are often touted around here but thicker and slipperier hair needs a lot more length to get them to stay.

Thanks, I might just do that. I just wonder what I'd do without youtube. :D

AZDesertRose
July 23rd, 2015, 07:32 PM
WannabeViking, I had the worst time figuring out how to get a lazy wrap bun to stay until I watched this video and read the tips and instructions linked to below the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltIpMdKZu9g

The video is in German as are the subtitles, but the tips link has an English translation if you scroll down.

Not saying that this is the be-all, end-all, just that this is what made it click in my head and hands, anyway. :)

WannabeViking
July 24th, 2015, 12:53 AM
Interesting, thank you AZDesertRose. I think ultimately I just need a few more inches of hair. :D

lapushka
July 24th, 2015, 05:09 AM
Lucky. Those things pull like crazy for me. Never could stand to use them.

I used one shaped like this one, with flat teeth on the head for a long time:
http://c3.q-assets.com/images/products/p/aht/aht-126_1z.jpg

AZDesertRose
July 24th, 2015, 12:52 PM
LOL, WannabeViking, don't we all? :D

WannabeViking
August 14th, 2015, 12:09 AM
I think I finally mastered the LWB. I'm hooked; it's so easy. And my super cool and passably masculine horn hair stick gets compliments from the ladies. :D

spirals
August 14th, 2015, 02:05 AM
I haven't read the whole thread, so I don't know if anyone suggested this, but try dividing your hair. The second half acts as a tail that you wouldn't normally end up with because of your thickness. I have a 4-inch circumfrence also and I was dividing at APL. I'm past waist now and I still divide and conquer.

WaitingSoLong
August 20th, 2015, 07:50 PM
Lazy wrap buns take a little practice to figure out how big to make the first loop, but they're really easy and pretty stable. Again, they work at most lengths, even if you just have your ends sticking straight up after the outer loop. There are lots of videos and minor variations, but this is just like how I make mine, and it's pretty easy to see what she's doing. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3LWSGiDBbk) The bit of twisting at the beginning is something I find useful to help hold it all together. .

You linked my video! SQUEEE!!!! :)


Another easy trick: remember that any bun you see could be done with the top half of your hair only instead of all of it. You could make a second bun under the first, or wrap the remaining length around the bun after. :)

I used to do this, totally forgot it was an option!