Rut Apathy

[dmarie63]

Recently, I'm very aware of being in a hair rut... I'm on break from school, working retail which is quite tiring, and just want to sleep the whole break... My hair rut did start probably right before finals though when I didn't have the time to worry about how my hair looked.

I didn't have time to do my hair then, and now I don't seem to care... I just kind of throw it up in a messy bun with an elastic (*gasp!*). Only a couple of days ago, though, I became very aware of the severe possibility of breakage since I always have it at the same low spot at the nape of my neck.

Also, while at home rather than on campus, my water is SUPER mineralized... It makes my hair feel like crap and so I wash every like 36-48 hours instead of every 3-4 days which was what I was doing at school. So it's super dry when I first wash it and super filmy by the next wash-time

My longest lengths are pretty much right at APL and my shortest lengths (not including my bangs) are around shoulder length.

I've tried to get out of the rut for the past couple days by using my hairsticks and spin pins to hold a simple cinna-bun in place, but I get bored with the same updo so easily (unless it's a messy bun lol)

I was hoping you guys could give me SUPER simple updo ideas or maybe even just some insight about how to get out of this no-updo-motivation rut.

Please and thanks!

[the.fee.fairy]

try some braids, with your lengths you could probably experiment with some french braiding, single or double. With a multi-length, french braiding (and dutch braiding) is a good way to incorporate all the hair into one up do, and it doesn't put so much pressure onto one spot.

[Kira94]

Try a flip through bun, or some different kinds of braids. :)
Oh, and you could do the headband curls only just wear it as a style. :)

[Hotrox]

You could join the updo challenge thread - I did it for 40 days and really found the motivation to vary my do's as each day I would post how I had worn my hair, you also get great ideas from other members.

Set yourself a goal, and then go for it :D

[dmarie63]

Try a flip through bun, or some different kinds of braids. :)
Oh, and you could do the headband curls only just wear it as a style. :)

what are headband curls?

[Kira94]

Headband curls is a method to curl your hair using only a headband, I've noticed some people wear it as a style as well though, and then you get curls when you're done with the style, win win! :) I think it's quite cute, rather boho, or whatever the current term is. ;)

Post from Oksana on how to do it:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=83476

Post from blogger wearing it as a style:
http://www.projectbabyblog.com/post/9397735603/8-25-11

[spidermom]

I liked the french twist at your length, with ends tucked in or left out - both looked good.

[jacqueline101]

I'd also recommend the up do challenge.

[QMacrocarpa]

I don't like to do the same updo all the time either, so I switch it up pretty much every day. Here are some ideas that might work for you:
Pencil bun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0k3dD4qX34) (more stable with a beak or similar clip than with a hairstick)
Folded braid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXP3fncLJa8) (style starts at 1:30, and this works great secured with an improvised elastic slide (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34370229@N07/6561233847/) if you don't have another suitable hairtoy handy to hold it in place)
Tucked French braid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSBAqxQCNKk) (spin pins work great to secure the tucked tail in place, just twist a couple into the French braid from the sides.
Cheater's easy hairstick bun (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=25145) (yeah, there's a hair elastic in there, so maybe no improvement damage-wise over your elastic-based messy bun, but I found it such a satisfying bun at shorter lengths that I'm including it. So stable and fuss-free!)

[Madora]

Here's a You Tube tutorial on how to do the lace twist braid on shorter hair:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPHEzUr5bWQ