Any suggestions for a REALLY simple updo?

[SandyStar]

I am seriously style challenged. LOL

I wear my hair in a ponytail or incomplete ponytail almost everyday, but now I hear that elastics are bad for my hair so I want to put my hair up in another style. It has to be an extremely easy style though. I cannot for the life of me do a French braid or anything complicated. I tried using a chopstick as a hairstick, but it wouldn't stay on my head.

Are there any really easy to use, safe for hair hairtoys that would help me?

Any suggestions would be great. I tried searching for easy updos, but haven't found anything I think I could do yet.

My hair is about armpit length I think and it is on the thicker side, with a circumference of 9 cm.

[Quixii]

Is your hair long enough to tie in a knot?

[Anje]

There are a few that you should find quite simple...

Sock buns (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=36) are easy, though they require a sacrificial sock and an elastic or scruchy. You can just wind the extra length around the base, if you like.

Cinnamon Buns (http://www.whiterosecreations.nl/updos/#4) are pretty much the standard starter bun for people. Gather hair in a ponytail (don't bother securing it), and twist it. Let it coil at your head, then keep twisting and coiling outward. You'll need to secure it then. Hair pins are pretty easy, but I think some of the best results are had with "Wavelength pins", which are double-pointed knitting needles folded into a U shape.

You'll also want to look at the "Gibralter Bun" (scroll down) (http://www.io.com/~cortese/hair/styling.html) and "Lazy Wrap Bun" (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=72), which are particularly easy to secure with a hair stick (or chopstick, colored pencil, large nail, whatever).

[Lemur_Catta]

Ez Bun is very, very easy to use - expecially at your length - very comfortable and secure. https://www.ezbun.com
You could also do a sock bun or a french twist. These are the easiest styles I can think of :D

[SandyStar]

I just tried to tie my hair in a knot and it didn't work. Maybe if I had really nimble fingers I could get my ends through the hole, but the hole is too small and I don't have enough length to come out of the knot well. If my hair were thinner it might work, but it is on the thick side.

[SandyStar]

Oh wow! Thanks! I just looked at the EZ bun and that actually looks like something I can do! I usually spend about 1 minute on my hair in the mornings and that looks like a perfect safe, fast updo!

I'm going to buy one.

[SandyStar]

Aw, I'm not sure they ship to Canada. Their form didn't have a place for International orders. I'm going to have to keep looking.

[bigevilgrape]

Just twist it up and secure it with a jaw clip. When my hair was a bit shorter i would just twist it up and clip. You could also use a clip instead of an elastic for a half ponytail.

If you are trying to use a make-shift hair stick I would suggest a pencil or pen (use a pen without a built in grip) I have much better luck with that then a chopstick.

[plainjanegirl]

Oh wow! Thanks! I just looked at the EZ bun and that actually looks like something I can do! I usually spend about 1 minute on my hair in the mornings and that looks like a perfect safe, fast updo!

I'm going to buy one.


I've got two that I would trade or sell cause they dont work for me anymore.

[kdaniels8811]

Orchid bun is my easy every day bun.

[SandyStar]

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions! I looked at every one of them. :) Unfortunately I don't think my hair is long enough for most of them right now. I tried and tried with a chopstick but it won't stay on my head. My hair combination of being not long enough and thick, coarse and slippery makes it really hard.

Thanks for the EZ bun offer. I checked with the EZ bun site and it turns out that they DO ship to Canada! I wanted pink and black ones and now I will have them! I can't wait to get them in 5 to 10 business days!

[Debra83]

Just twist it up and secure it with a jaw clip. When my hair was a bit shorter i would just twist it up and clip. You could also use a clip instead of an elastic for a half ponytail.

If you are trying to use a make-shift hair stick I would suggest a pencil or pen (use a pen without a built in grip) I have much better luck with that then a chopstick.


This is what I was going to suggest. I've received many compliments from putting my hair up like this - even though I prefer to leave it down, I've even started putting half ponytails in a claw clip - sooooo easy!!!! And claw clips are way easier on my wavy hair than ponytail holders so I get a lot less breakage!

[Konstifik]

Ez Bun is very, very easy to use - expecially at your length - very comfortable and secure. https://www.ezbun.com
You could also do a sock bun or a french twist. These are the easiest styles I can think of :D

Oooh! Want! but they don't seem to ship outside United States. :(

[Tomato]

Hi SandyStar: I seem to have similar hair structure as you (very thick and heavy, nearly coarse). I got myself a maxima ficcare clip, they are quite pricey, but very much worth it. I just grab my hair, twist it into a coil, fold it and secure this folded coil with the clip. It's amazing, the thing holds the hole day without getting loose or messy.
Here is the link: http://www.ficcare.com/Collections.aspx?catId=1
As I said, not the cheapest, but to be stongly recommended!

[Katze]

Just twist it up and secure it with a jaw clip. When my hair was a bit shorter i would just twist it up and clip. You could also use a clip instead of an elastic for a half ponytail.

If you are trying to use a make-shift hair stick I would suggest a pencil or pen (use a pen without a built in grip) I have much better luck with that then a chopstick.

I can only keep my hair up with a stick if I put it to one side of my hair and turn and turn it, then weave the stick back through.

Twist and clip it about the only do that works for me.


This is what I was going to suggest. I've received many compliments from putting my hair up like this - even though I prefer to leave it down, I've even started putting half ponytails in a claw clip - sooooo easy!!!! And claw clips are way easier on my wavy hair than ponytail holders so I get a lot less breakage!

Terry or other thicker material are not damaging. Some people also make elastics out of stockings.


Hi SandyStar: I seem to have similar hair structure as you (very thick and heavy, nearly coarse). I got myself a maxima ficcare clip, they are quite pricey, but very much worth it. I just grab my hair, twist it into a coil, fold it and secure this folded coil with the clip. It's amazing, the thing holds the hole day without getting loose or messy.
Here is the link: http://www.ficcare.com/Collections.aspx?catId=1
As I said, not the cheapest, but to be stongly recommended!

Ficcares are another good idea. I gather my hair together, twist, fold the ends under, clip, and go.

hope you find something that works!

[janeytilllie]

I too have a really hard time trying updos. The ones I have found to be easy and quick are
*Peacock twist with jaw clip.
* Cheaters easy hairstick bun http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=138
*Chinese braided bun

HTH :flower:

[sandrak]

I just ordered the EZ bun from ebay. I got black and burgandy. They were 2 for $12.

[KarenLynn]

How about the lazy French twist (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=124)?

[florenonite]

I know this is going to seem really self-promoting, because I just posted this bun in another thread, but it really is a lifesaver for me. I've got thick midback hair with layers starting at APL, and this bun takes about ten seconds to do and holds all day. The only thing it hasn't held for is ceilidh dancing (it lasted for about half a dance before it decided to fall out):

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=32846

You could also try a Gibson tuck (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=49).

[amaiaisabella]

My hair is very short (now) but I always like half-ups. I take a piece from each side and loosely twist to the back of the head, then clip with a flexi or barette. If you want more hair up, then it wouldn't be so good, but I find it most beneficial to keep the front pieces back, and the rest just kind of stay back there :)

[eadwine]

This isn't by the way a bun or anything, but it IS as simple as it comes. If you have a large claw clip (no seams) then you can do this. Braid your hair, then fold the braid and secure to your head using the clip. It'll look something like this:

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/6178/braidclip.th.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/braidclip.jpg/)

This was French braided first, but you don't have to do that.

[Elvi]

Every second longhair in my country seems to wear those larger claw clips of some type, which can look boring here on the streets. But they are really simple to use.

[Elbereth]

If chopsticks won't work for your hair, there is still hope. I could never use chopsticks for more than a decoration. Proper hairsticks are different. I'd suggest you get a pair of Ketylos (a bit over $20/pair), as they hold hair well and are high quality hairtoys.

Have you tried a Peacock twist? Gather your ponytail to the nape and start twisting it upwards. Secure with a barrette or a clip.

Most LHC buns are easy, but require some practice first. Also, it would be wise to invest in a few high quality hair toys you can use to put your hair up safely and comfortably. The hair accessories sold at drugstores are usually not made long (or thick) hair in mind. Quality costs a bit more, but not a fortune.

[CurlyGirlCa]

Until I found LHC and saw the many hairtoys available, I've used Ficcares and the only style I knew was the peacock which is just twisting my hair up and securing with the Maximas clip. My hair is curly so the messier the better.

Now that my hair is getting longer, I can do French Twists and secure with the Ficcare.