Simple Solutions

Here are more easy, new styles to keep your strands healthy, swear off frizz and flatness, and make your hair look its best.

Basic care tips:

Long hair offers the most styling choices, and it’s low-maintenance (you can go a few months between trims).

But keeping your hair evenly moisturized is key.

Avoid overshampooing, which could lead to dry, damaged ends; two to three times a week is enough. Use a rich conditioner afterward, applying from your ears down to your ends.

Spritz on a leave-in conditioner daily (you can layer other styling products right over it). Apply mousse, twist into three loose buns, blow-dry for about 10 minutes, then take hair down. It will have loads of body.

If you have two minutes:

Give a ponytail polish with a simple twist.

Create a center part that’s about 3 inches long.

For volume at the crown, lift that section up, spritz it with hair spray, then blast with a dryer (or, in a pinch, just tease it).

Sweep hair into a ponytail and secure it with an elastic. (Tip: Look down when you make the ponytail so the back of your hair is smooth, not bumpy.)

Take a piece of hair from the underside of the tail, wrap it around the base, and pin the end.

If you have five minutes:

This bun appears a lot more complicated than it is, and it’s a great solution when your hair is looking flat.

Pull hair back into a low side ponytail just behind your ear and secure with an elastic.

Separate a 2-inch-wide section from the ponytail and braid it.

Pull the braid aside and wind the rest of the ponytail around its base. Anchor with hairpins.

Wrap the braid around the bun and pin the ends into the underside.

If you have 20 minutes:

Changing your hair’s texture dramatically transforms your look. It is also time-consuming and involves (potentially damaging) heat styling, so save it for special occasions.

Apply mousse to damp hair. Blow-dry, tousling with your fingers. Make a loose center part.

Using a curling wand, wind a section of hair away from your face.

The wand doesn’t have a clamp, so it creates smoother curls (no weird crimps) on long hair. Pause for 20 to 30 seconds, then gently slide hair off. Repeat all over.

Run your fingers through the ringlets to separate them into bigger waves.

Spritz with hair spray to help them hold their shape