We all have those days when our hair just won’t do what it’s supposed to. Or when we’re so busy meeting deadlines (and, let’s be honest, friends for happy hour) that spending an hour shampooing and blow drying in the morning just isn’t going to happen.
Truth is, we could all use some tips on how to deal with a bad hair day that don’t involve hiding out in a cubicle. So we turned to YouTube’s best beauty vloggers for some inspiration, and found seven styles that’ll spruce up your look and let you get out the door with plenty of time to still grab a latte. But be warned: They’re so awesome, you may want to wear them on good hair days, too!
This everyday updo, courtesy of Wendy’s Lookbook, requires only a few hair clips and a few minutes! It works best on medium-long, fine hair that hasn’t been washed in a few days—the oils in your hair will give the style more texture, and that “I look cute but didn’t try too hard” look.
Perfect for: Those mornings when you hit the snooze button one too many times.
What You Need: A hairbrush, 2 hair clips, a few bobby pins, and 2 elastic hair bands.
The ballerina bun is by far one of the chicest ways to camouflage unruly or dirty hair. In fact, oily hair will make the bun look better—sleek and flyaway-free! There are actually several ways of doing this that involve using a clean tube sock or doughnut ring, but we like this version by Beauty Department.com.
Perfect for: Days when your hair is dirty or a hot mess! It also works great for an evening out on the town.
What You Need: A hairbrush, long bobby pins, and 1-3 hair ties depending on how thick your hair is.
If your hair is short, headbands are your new best friend. We love this look by Beauty Department.com that creates the illusion of an updo with the use of a beautiful elastic headband. You can also try a head scarf for a summer night or casual Friday.
Perfect for: When you want to take it up a notch with a great accessory or for a fun night out.
What You Need: A hairbrush and headband—that’s it!
Spending 30 minutes on your hair just to have it fall flat due to a rainstorm or wind gust isn’t a good way to start the day. Beauty blogger Dulce Candy has a solution for all-weather hair with an adorable updo that works on short, medium, or long hair.
Perfect for: Rainy or windy days.
What You Need: A hairbrush, hair ties, bobby pins, and hairspray (optional).
In the YouTube world, the Luxy Sisters are the authority when it comes to hair (and hair extensions). Here, they show you how to braid your hair two different ways in under four minutes! Or, check out this other tutorial that contains a few more easy styles for bad hair days.
Perfect for: Lazy days or when you want to channel your inner Katniss Everdeen (don’t act like you don’t think she’s awesome!).
What You Need: A hairbrush, hair tie, and nimble fingers.
If you want a bit classier way to wear a ponytail on bad hair days, look to the fabulous Ms. Jessica Harlow (don’t hate her for looking great, she just can’t help herself!). Something about this twist on a classic just screams confident, powerful woman.
Perfect for: A day in the boardroom and a night out on the town in between hair washes.
What You Need: A hair straightener (optional), hairbrush, a comb to tease the crown, and a hair tie.
If you absolutely have to wear your hear down and are in between washes, here’s a quick way to lessen the appearance of a greasy scalp, courtesy of Daven—Your Hair BFF. (You can also invest in a dry shampoo.)
Looking great doesn’t have to take a lot of time and energy, thanks to our expert vloggers. OK, now get off YouTube and get back to work!
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Rock Your Ringlets! How to Make Curls Work in the OfficeCurly-haired girls, I know, you’re nervous to step away from the straightener after The Daily Beast article that vilified Rebekah Brooks’ red curls. But I did, and so can you, even in the office. Here’s how.
The Easiest Work Hairstyle—EverYou wake up Monday morning and realize you’ve been hitting the snooze button—for an hour. Afraid you can’t get to work on time and look pulled together too? Think again, thanks to the return of an old favorite: the ponytail.
Betsy Aimee is a women’s health advocate and political junkie by day, and a career-obsessed fashion enthusiast by night. After years of wishing to be a writer, Betsy decided to start documenting her musings on career, fashion and the millennial woman in a blog titled, Eastside Career Chic. Betsy lives, and works in East Los Angeles and is constantly thinking of shoes and looking for new entrepreneurial opportunities. She is new to Twitter and would love it if you followed her @betsyaimee.
can you do a follow up for thick, pin straight medium to short length asian hair? the hardest part, that these videos don't cover, is to get your hair to the place it needs to be pinned up without looking disheveled (in a bad way) and immediately falling out. i'm also a working mom, so i'm looking for at least a couple updos that i can do quickly and easily before work. thanks!
I've been a hair dresser since 1986 and have enjoyed working with all kinds of hair. I also enjoy creating different hair styles in my youth, when my hair was longer, but learned to be creative with short hair by experimenting. One suggestion for short hair would be to find a hairpiece that matches your hair and that is easy to insert (comb or clip style). Pull all your hair back into a ponytail (as much as you can get in and maybe leaving out a side bang). If it hangs down in the back, try using a firm holding paste (hard-play by KMS) to hold and even pin up in the back.. Then clip in the hair piece to hang down in the back and wolla!
You may even want to take 1 inch vertical sections of hair from the front,top and sides, twist and clip them at the crown,(or mid-section of head). Those little butterfly clips work good for this.
No hair piece? Then just take 1 inch sections in the back of hair (from the nape up, to wherever on the back, clip into place (maybe making 5 or 6 sections). Then using "Hot Set's" by redkin, spray remaining hair, curl with 1 or 1 1/2 inch iron (or rollers) and break up the curl using your fingers. Use a little "deep shine by Rusk to softly coat hair and then preferably spray into place. Hot sets has an awesome holding power, so you won't be needing alot of the holding spray. Wolla! There's the new look.
I would also suggest to play around with these techniques ahead of time before you actually are going to be using them.
well thanks for uploading this video i think that is is so cute i love it but one question can you do this on short hair?
@Katie I have some friends that are incredibly insecure about their hair too, I don't see it - I think they're beautiful but I know how it can bother them. Keep trying different hairstyles until you find something that works for you. It make take a few tries but eventually you'll get the hang of it :)
I have a bad hair day almost every day :( Even though I am very comfortable in my skin and style, my hair is something that makes me really conscious. As the day for an outing, party, wedding or get together approaches, the most I fret about is how I am going to manage my hair woes. Thanks to these video tutorials, I am feeling a little better. But will have to get back to you on whether it really helped or not. I say this because I tried following a couple of videos earlier also but failed....hope it doesn't happen this time :) Thanks again.
Thanks for your comments, short- and curly-haired ladies! We're working on a follow-up piece--stay tuned!
Love these!! I love that I can wear these to the gym too - keep my hair off my face and it still looks cute! :)
None for curly hair? I'd have to flat iron mine for any of those to get it looking close to alright...
Ditto! My go-to is a wide head-band, but some days (today!) that doesn't even work that well...
These are cute, but #3 is not really that short... my hair is ACTUALLY short, so these are not terribly helpful, but SO cute... and the reason I miss having longer hair sometimes :)
And thanks to Shelley for her comment :)
Well, the short hair title and description was somewhat misleading "all you need is a hairband and a brush", when in reality, you need the hairband, a curling iron, some "product", and possibly some bobby pins...and it really isn't short hair, is it? more like medium length hair...but I'll definitely try that when my hair grows out a couple more inches...
Love the tips! Another great hair style that I love for bad hair on a hot summer day is the sock bun! It's a cool look for the summer and it looks great!
So...I am wondering if you have any tips/ideas for those of us with short, bob-like hair. :) These ideas above look awesome. I just don't have hair that grows very long! I'd like an alternative to the old baseball hat on bad hair days. :)
