Quick Hairstyles You Can Do In Under Five Minutes
We’ve all been there. You’re on track getting ready, then suddenly there’s less time on the clock than expected (‘how did eyeliner take fifteen minutes?!’). There are a handful of fallback hairdos everyone should master for those times when they find themselves a little behind schedule for whatever reason and need to have a nice hairstyle immediately.
Continue reading to find out our top picks of hairstyles anyone can do in five minutes or less. With this arsenal of quick and stylish hairstyles, you’ll be able to get ready for every occasion, from a date to an interview, faster than you can say hairspray.
The Low Knot
This is an elegant, simple style that works best with long, straight (or straightened) hair. The key is keeping the front of the style sleek and smooth, and pinning the ends of the hair under the 'knot' you make to create the look. Start with some root spray and back-combing to add volume, then smooth the top of the hair and part it down the middle from forehead to nape as if you were making pigtails. With one section of hair in each hand, twist and tie them together as if you were tying a knot. Do this twice (once if your hair isn’t long enough) and pin the ends under the knot. Finish up with medium-hold hairspray and shine serum.
Knotted Ponytail
The ponytail can be pulled off at nearly every occasion, but sometimes it can get a little…boring. This is a fun way to freshen up the traditional ponytail, and it’s blissfully simple. Just part your hair in two like you were making pigtails and tie the two parts together at the nape as if you were making the first tie in a shoelace. Secure the two ends of the knot with a hair tie, pin the knot in place, and wrap the ends of the shorter side of the knot around the hair tie to finish it off. The best part about this particular style is its sturdiness. Between the hair tie and the pins, that ponytail isn’t going anywhere. Bring on the day!
Tidy Hair Bow
This is an awesome hairstyle because it looks really complicated but it is so simple in reality. Start with a low half-up style, but leave a loop in the pulled back hair by not pulling it all the way through the elastic on the last wrap. You should have a loop of hair and at least three inches hanging down from the elastic. Use your fingers to split the loop of hair evenly in two. Fan out and shape each piece into a bow shape, and pin it to the hair underneath. When you have the sides of your 'bow' done, take the hair hanging down and wrap it around the hair tie one time, and secure it in place with a pin underneath the hair tie. There you have it, a perfectly pretty hair bow!
Messy Bun
The messy bun is fantastic because anyone can literally do it while walking, and there are many variations to match with different personal styles. The signature is a 'messy on purpose' look that’s perfectly undone. The basic technique is to pull your hair into a ponytail, then on the last pass through the hair tie, twist and wrap your hair around the elastic to create a bun. Leave the ends out and pull them around haphazardly to muss things up. Loosen the bun by pulling the elastic out from your head a little bit and use your fingers to pull or fan out certain pieces. You can wear it high a la topknot style, or low like a quick chignon.
Quick Braids
When in doubt, braid. It’s a solution for every hair texture, and even short-haired gals can solve a bad hair day with a well-executed braid hairstyle. A simple braid is a nice alternative to a ponytail, a loose side braid is a timeless fix, and you can make it look more stylish by doing a fishtail style. French braids are classic, and you can leave the ends braided down, loose in a low ponytail at the bottom of the braid, or pinned up for a more polished look. You can braid a half-up style and use French braid pigtails to put up short hair. Those who are not sure how to braid or want to learn how to do French or Dutch braids, check out online tutorials to learn the technique. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to create quick braids in no time at all.