35 Beautiful Updos That Instantly Transform Your Look
Audrey Hepburn, is that you?
Updos instantly kick your look up a notch, whether you want to add more edge or elegance. From Kate Winslet's sophisticated bun to Julie Bowen's edgy twists, here are all of the beautiful ways you can pull off an updo.
Kerry Washington
Keep it simple with a stunning high bun, and pair it with statement earrings to be ready for anything, whether it's a family gathering or fancy evening event.
What you'll need: Hairspray ($8, amazon.com)
Jennifer Lopez
The fuller your hair, the better this look will be. Recreate it by pulling half of your air-dried hair into a high ponytail, leaving a two-inch section out to wrap around your elastic. Curl the bottom half of your hair, and the ends of your pony, with a curling wand.
What you'll need: Elastic hair ties ($8, amazon.com)
Adele
This elegant wavy updo will never go out of style. After lots of curling and pinning, let some of your locks down around the face to enhance your features.
What you'll need: Curling wand ($23, amazon.com)
Kate Hudson
Here's a stunning example of how to make a french braid look elegant. Give your hair some extra volume with a blowdryer before braiding, and add a velvet bow around the bottom for the perfect finishing touch.
What you'll need: Blowdryer ($25, amazon.com)
Janet Jackson
Spritz root lifting spray on your roots and blow-dry your hair using a large boar-bristle brush to achieve this elegant and timeless updo. Create a side part and sweep the larger section over the side of your face. Leaving out the front of your bangs loosely, divide three sections of your hair to form a chignon at the top of your head.
What you'll need: Paul Labrecque Volume Style Root Lifting Spray ($24, amazon.com)
Amy Adams
To get this polished look, Mizu New York Salon stylist Dominick Pucciarello says to avoid the blow-dryer and simply finger-dry your hair. Then, make a side part and comb your hair to form a ponytail parallel to your part. To keep hair in place, spritz texturizing spray and gently tease the ponytail for added texture. After twisting the ponytail into a bun, stick in bobby pins to hold it in place. Apply more spray if needed.
What you'll need: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($46, amazon.com)
Cate Blanchett
Apply SALON By Sally Hershberger Luxe Layers to wet hair for this stunning 'do. "This will add body and moisture, while protecting hair from heat damage," says celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger. Next, blow-dry hair with a large round brush and place medium Velcro rollers throughout your head. Pull your hair up and back around the rollers, and let it set for 20 minutes. Take out the rollers and loosely brush your hair with your fingertips, separating the curled sections. Finally, pull back your hair into a loose ponytail, wrapping the hair into a bun and adding pins for a secure hold. Finish with hairspray.
What you'll need: SALON By Sally Hershberger ($9, amazon.com)
Kate Winslet
For this classic look, Herschberger says to apply Shagg Style Primer For Layered Hair of All Types to wet hair for added texture. Blow-dry hair in one-inch sections. Set each section in heated rollers, pulling hair back and away from the crown. Let the rollers sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Then, brush your hair back, away from your face. Apply a generous amount of hairspray and slightly tease hair at the roots for a lift at the crown. Pull hair back and tuck it into a bob-like shape. Secure the curled pieces with bobby pins and finish with shine spray.
What you'll need: Shagg Style Primer For Layered Hair of All Types ($8, amazon.com)
Gwen Stefani
To achieve this voluptuous updo, Pucciarello says to blow-dry your hair first. For added body, rub a pea-size amount of Oribe Crème for Style. Brush back the sides and rub in another bit of crème so your hair is tightly in place. "The top should have volume so, if needed, lightly backcomb and brush over to smooth it out," Pucciarello says. Twist your ponytail into a light French twist, securing it with hairpins. Finish with hairspray.
What you'll need: Oribe Crème for Style ($18, amazon.com)
Emily Blunt
Pucciarello says to flip your head over before blow-drying it to get the necessary volume for this chic updo. Apply texturizing spray all over and tease the front section of your crown. Put hairspray onto your brush and lightly comb hair back into a low ponytail. Lifting the ponytail straight up, stick bobby pins underneath, causing the ponytail to flop over them. Secure the rest of your hair with bobby pins.
What you'll need: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($46, amazon.com)
Zoe Saldana
To get this sexy, sophisticated updo, Pucciarello says to create a part and separate the front of your hair into sections. Form a messy bun with your remaining hair and secure it with pins. Use hairspray and pull out some pieces for a messier, but still polished look. Then, take a 1 ½-in curling iron and curl your front hair sections away from your face. Finish with Oribe Anti-Humidity Spray.
What you'll need: Oribe Anti-Humidity Spray ($22, amazon.com)
Julie Bowen
Apply Style Primer for Wavy Hair into wet hair to get this elegant look, Hershberger says. Next, blow out your hair using your fingers as a brush. Then, take a 1-inch curling iron, wrapping random sections of hair around it, away from your face. Spray SALON By Sally Hershberger Body Fix for lift and pull pieces back into a loose, messy chignon. Secure with bobby pins and apply hairspray hold.
What you'll need: Curling wand ($23, amazon.com)
Heidi Klum
For a twist on a classic style, Hershberger says to blow out hair with a round brush, starting from the nape of the neck. Pull hair away from your face and flip up the ends of each section. Secure dry hair in a high ponytail at the top of your head and let down the pieces of hair that frame your face. Next, mist the ponytail with volumizing hairspay, and tease sections of your hair to add fullness. Divide hair into two sections and loosely twist the halves of the ponytail around each other. Hold firmly and wrap into a bun, pinning as you go.
What you'll need: Hairspray ($8, amazon.com)
Jennifer Aniston
Starting on hair that's been blow-dried straight, use your hands to loosely pull hair into a ponytail, letting some of the hair fall in the front to create side-swept bangs. (Pro tip: The most flattering ponytail is placed at the crown of the head, but aligned upward from the ears. This gives an instant face lift, flattering cheekbones and drawing attention to eyes.) Use a hooked elastic as your pony holder, which doesn't tear hair and allows you to control how tight the holder is, suggests celebrity stylist Ken Paves.
What you'll need: Blow dryer ($50, amazon.com)
Evangeline Lilly
Paves recommends using a 2-inch curling iron to curl large sections of air-dried hair for an effortless look. Then, pull each side back and twist into a bun. Secure with bobby pins and finish by spraying with a lightweight hairspray to keep it in place.
What you'll need: Hairspray ($8, amazon.com)
Julianne Hough
Starting on air-dried hair, use a 2-in curling iron on large sections to create waves in the mid-shaft of hair. Keep the roots and ends smooth. "This gives hair texture without looking set," Paves says. Next, spray some texturizing spray on the roots and tousle hair with fingers. Slightly tease your hair at the crown, and pull hair into a ponytail using a hooked elastic band.
What you'll need: Hooked elastic bands ($7, amazon.com)
Courteney Cox
To create texture for this chignon, start on air-dried hair and use a 2-inch curling iron to curl large sections of hair. Once complete, coat hands with a shine serum and run fingers throughout hair from root to tip, breaking up curls with fingers, Paves says. Part hair in the middle and, using a brush, smooth sides into a low chignon at the nape of the neck. Secure with bobby pins to keep it in place. Finish with a strong-hold hairspray to keep flyaways at bay.
What you'll need: Bobby pins ($3, amazon.com)
Sarah Jessica Parker
To get this '60s-inspired look, Miko Branch, co-founder of Miss Jessie's hair care and salons, says to tease your hair at the crown for volume and pull from the sides toward the back. From the left side of your head leading into center back, secure hair vertically with bobby pins. Form your remaining hair in a tight roll, allowing some pieces to fall out. Secure the roll with hairpins and continue to loosen some hair for a more laid-back look.
What you'll need: Hairpins ($8, amazon.com)
Carrie Underwood
Start on hair on that has been blow-dried straight and use a frizz serum to combat any flyaways. Next, create a deep side part and pin hair at the ear, creating a faux side-swept bang. Pull hair into a ponytail at the crown and secure using a hooked pony holder, Paves says.
What you'll need: Anti-frizz serum ($9, amazon.com)
Jessica Alba
According to Branch, this carefree chignon is created by applying Miss Jessie's Quick Curls to damp hair and scrunching it. Let hair air-dry, or use a diffuser to play up your natural texture. Make an invisible side part with your finger and direct your hair into a low ponytail, securing it with a hair band. Form a bun and stick in hairpins for hold. Pull some tendrils loose in the front for an effortless look.
What you'll need: Hairbands ($8, amazon.com)
Carly Breit is a freelance writer who loves to write about health, wellness, and strong women. She believes in year-round iced coffee and lip-syncing on treadmills.
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