Listen, I’d love to have someone style my hair for me every morning, but that’s just not my reality, and since you’re reading this, it’s probably not yours either. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to be stuck with average-looking hair for the rest of your life. All you need are a few little tweaks to take your hairstyling game to the next level. Ahead, 15 easy (like, really easy) hairstyling tips for curls, waves, and ponytails that’ll make it look like you had your hair done in a salon even if you most definitely didn’t.
How to Style Hair Tip #1: Use Hair Pins
If you’re trying to wear your hair up but it keeps falling out, grab a hairpin, and try this “locking” technique from hairstylist Ammon Carver. Aim the open end of the pin against the direction your hair is pulled and stick it into your hair. Just before the pin is completely inserted, rotate it so the open end is now facing the same direction as your hair, and then push the pin fully in to secure it. When done right, the pin will pull your hair tighter and be practically unnoticeable too. (P.S., you can spray the pin with hairspray to give it some extra grip).
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How to Style Hair Tip #2: Step Up Your Ponytail
This ponytail trick is the quickest, easiest way to make your updo look like it was professionally done and not like you just threw it up yourself. After you’ve secured your ponytail, grab a small sliver of hair (about the width of your pinky) from the pony, and wrap it around the base of your ponytail to cover the elastic. Coat the very end of the section with hairspray, and smooth it against the base to seamlessly secure it. And if it makes you feel better, you can stick a hairpin into the base to make sure it’s really stuck in place.
How to Style Hair Tip #3: Tug on Your Waves
Have you ever wrapped your hair around your wand too tightly or held it against the barrel too long and ended up with a look you weren’t going for? Cool, same. Easy fix: While the curl is still hot, gently tug on the end a few times while it cools to loosen the ringlet. It’s an easy styling tip for when you want to get loose beachy waves.
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Harry Josh Pro Tools 2-in-1 Ceramic Marcel Curling Iron 1.25 Inch
How to Style Hair Tip #4: Pineapple Your Curls
Whether you’re trying to air-dry your curls or protect them while you sleep, “pineappling” is the styling trick you need to try to make them look full and bouncy. It’ll prevent your curls from stretching out or getting matted. Just pile your hair on top of your head and loosely secure it with a scrunchie. In the morning or when your curls are dry, remove the scrunchie and you’ll be good to go.
How to Style Hair Tip #5: Make Your Own Salt Spray
If you have yet to find a salt spray that you love, hairstylist Ryan Trygstad recommends whipping up your own at home. Mix together 20 ounces of seltzer water and a teaspoon of sea salt in a spray bottle. While your hair is damp, spritz the mixture onto the ends of your hair, and use your fingers to scrunch them up. The effect? Tousled, beachy texture.
How to Style Hair Tip #6: Do a Fishtail Braid
Figuring out how to do a fishtail braid is hard, so help yourself out with this genius hack. Start with your hair tied in a low ponytail to keep it tight while you braid (this is especially important if you have a haircut with angles or layers since your hair isn’t one length and easily comes undone.) Once you’ve finished braiding, remove the hair tie at the base. If you want more of a messy fishtail, you can use your fingers to muss it up a bit, but having a strong foundation as the base of your braid will prevent it from coming apart throughout the day.
How to Style Hair Tip #7: Prop Up Your Pony
If your sad ponytail could use a little lift, whip out your trusty bobby pins (if you can find them), and give this trick a try. Once you’ve tied your hair into a ponytail, lift the tail, and stick two or three bobby pins underneath into the base. Then, flip your ponytail over and fluff it to cover the bobby pins. The final look: a fuller tail with no sagging or drooping.
How to Style Hair Tip #8: Create Flat-Iron Curls
Learning how to curl your hair with a straightener is a total game changer when you are traveling and don’t have room to pack a curling wand, a curling iron, and a flat iron. With that said, it’s not all that self-explanatory, so let me break it down. First, grab a small section of hair. Then, hold your flat iron vertically with the open end pointed upward. As you clamp the hair with your iron, begin rotating it away from your face. (The key here is to keep the motions fluid and not pause for any length of time or you’ll end up with kinks and creases.) As you keep rotating the iron away from your face, allow the hair to slowly slide through the clamp until you’ve reached the end. For looser waves, lower the heat on your flat iron and brush them out after you’ve finished curling.
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Ghd Platinum+ 1" Styler
HSI Glider Original Ceramic Flat Iron Hair Straightener
Kristin Ess 3-in-One Flat Iron
How to Style Hair Tip #9: Fill In Your Part
If you’re desperately searching for ways to make your hair look thicker, grab a makeup brush and an eyeshadow that matches your hair and use it to shade your scalp and create the illusion of more hair. Not only will this trick work IRL, but it’s even undetectable in pictures. You can also use this hack to perfect your hairline and fill in your part—it’s the trick that keeps on giving.
How to Style Hair Tip #10: Make Your Bun Stay Up
Don’t have a clip or hair tie? No prob. Make your bun stay up on its own with a sliver of your own hair. Once you have your hair wrapped into a bun the way that you like it, tug on a piece of hair from the side of your head to create a loose loop. Then, pull the sliver of hair over and around the bun to keep it in place.
How to Style Hair Tip #11: Get Beach Waves With a Flat Iron
While you work on mastering the flat-iron curls, try this slightly easier technique for flat-iron beach waves. Hold the flat iron horizontally, and clamp down on a small section of hair near the roots. Then, flick your wrist upward and downward in an alternating pattern as you move down the section of hair to create soft bends.
How to Style Hair Tip #12: Define Your Curls
If you struggle with keeping your curls defined, the trick isn’t necessarily what you do but the order in which you do it. So, instead of combing your hair after you apply your curly hair products, reverse that order and comb through your soaking wet hair first. With this process, you can detangle any knots without compromising the shape and definition of your curls.
How to Style Hair Tip #13: Flat-Iron Your Braids for Waves
If you can’t tell, we’re big fans of the hair straightener over here, it’s just so damn versatile! Now that you know how to use it to create perfect curls and beach waves, use this flat-iron technique to create undone texture. First, braid your hair (the more braids, the more texture your hair will be.) Then, press a flat iron down the length of each braid. Once your hair has cooled, unravel the braids for bend and movement in your hair.
How to Style Hair Tip #14: Try the Side-Swept Look
The side-swept look is great until you’re stuck constantly having to pull it over your shoulder all day long. To keep your hair in place, just pull the underneath section of your hair into a baby ponytail, and secure it at the nape of your neck behind your left ear, and put the rest of your hair right on top.
How to Style Hair Tip #15: Stack Your Ponytails
If you want the look of a longer ponytail without hair extensions, fake it by stacking two on top of each other. Start with the first at the crown of your head, then make the second in the middle (or secure it at the nape of your neck for an even longer-looking ponytail). Tease the top pony to cover and hide the lower ponytail so no one will know the difference.
Carly Cardellino was the beauty director at Cosmopolitan. If you follow her Instagram, then you know she'll try just about any beauty trend or treatment once (the pics of her purple hair are on IG to prove it). But her favorite part about being in beauty is finding the most effective products, and then sharing that intel with others—because who wants to spend money on stuff that doesn't work? No one, that's who. Her most recent discovery: De La Cruz Sulfur Ointment, which will change your blemish-clearing game! Hopefully through the beauty stories she writes—and the experiences she shares—you can see exactly why she's in this business.
