Okay, so let me tell you about parties and hair. For ages, it was the real struggle for me. I’d have the outfit sorted, makeup plan good to go, and then BAM… my hair. It would either take an absolute eternity, look like I’d been dragged through a hedge backwards, or I’d just throw in the towel and wear it down, feeling totally uninspired. I bet some of you know exactly what I’m talking about.
I’m just not cut out for those super complicated updos you see all over the internet. You know, the ones with a gazillion pins that look like they need a degree in structural engineering to build. Nah, not for me. I needed stuff that was quick, genuinely easy, and actually looked like I’d put in some effort – even if, shhh, it only took me about 10 minutes flat. So, I rolled up my sleeves and started my own little hair experiments. Lots of them.
The “What Works and What REALLY Doesn’t” Phase
My bathroom basically turned into a hair lab for a while there. I gave those fancy braids a go, the ones that look stunning on influencers but just left my arms aching like crazy. Total flop. Then I tried some sleek ponytail wizardry that mostly just showed off how bad I am at cutting my own hair (long story, don’t ask). Another one for the fail pile. I reckon I must have wasted a whole can of hairspray on styles that just deflated an hour into the party.
But, you know, through all that fumbling and testing, I actually stumbled upon a few absolute gems. The kind of hairstyles that are pretty much foolproof. And I’m going to share what I figured out, ’cause honestly, who has hours to spend on hair before a fun night out? Not me.
First off, there’s this little number I call the “Speedy Twisted Crown.”
Sounds way more complicated than it is, trust me. I literally just take a chunk of hair from one side of my head, near my temple, give it a good twist, and then pin it at the back. Then I do the exact same thing on the other side, making sure the second twist sort of crosses over the first one where I pinned it. And that’s it! Takes, like, two minutes, tops. Sometimes I gently pull out a few little strands around my face to soften it up. All you need are a couple of bobby pins. Seriously, that simple.
- Grab a section of hair from your temple.
- Twist it. Don’t overthink it.
- Pin it at the back of your head.
- Do the same on the other side, overlapping the pins a bit.
- Optional: Fluff it up or pull out face-framing bits.
Next up, my “Ponytail Plus.”
A standard ponytail can be a bit, well, standard for a party, can’t it? So, what I do is, I first make a tiny ponytail with just the top section of my hair – kind of like a half-up style, but only using the hair from the crown area. Then, I gather up all the rest of my hair, including that first little ponytail, into one main ponytail. This little trick gives it a bit of a boost at the crown, makes it look like you’ve got more volume than you do. Sneaky, right? I also sometimes take a thin strand of hair from the ponytail, wrap it around the elastic band to hide it, and then tuck the end in with a bobby pin. Looks way more polished, takes hardly any extra time.
- Make a small, high ponytail with just the crown section of your hair.
- Gather ALL your hair, including that first small pony, into a main ponytail.
- Optional, but nice: Wrap a strand of hair around the base to hide the elastic.
And for those days when I’m feeling extra lazy: The “Chic Messy Bun.”
Look, we all do messy buns. But for a party, I make it an intentional messy bun. The secret I found is to not try too hard, ironically, but also to give your hair a bit of grit first. If my hair is super clean and slippery, I’ll blast it with some texture spray or dry shampoo. Then, I just kind of pile it all up, secure it loosely with an elastic, and then start pulling out bits and pieces here and there until it looks artfully undone. A few bobby pins poked in wherever it feels like it might unravel are key. If I’m feeling fancy, I might even add a sparkly hair clip.
- Add texture with dry shampoo or spray if your hair is too soft.
- Gather hair up, secure it with an elastic – don’t make it too tight.
- Pull out strands around your face and from the bun itself to create that “messy” look.
- Use bobby pins to secure any really loose bits or to shape it a bit.
My Super Basic Toolkit
So, the stuff I actually use for these styles? It’s ridiculously simple. We’re talking:
- Bobby pins. The good ones that don’t snag your hair out.
- Clear elastics, or those little ones that match my hair color.
- A decent hairspray – nothing that makes your hair feel like a helmet, just enough to keep things from falling apart immediately.
- Sometimes, like I said, a bit of dry shampoo or texture spray.
And that’s pretty much the list. I’m not about to buy a load of specialized gadgets for hairstyles I’ll only do when I’m in a rush. These are the reliable basics.
The Big “Aha!” Moment
Honestly, figuring these simple styles out was a total game-changer for my party prep. I used to really dread the whole “getting ready” process if it involved tackling my hair. Now, I can genuinely decide on my hairstyle about 15 minutes before I need to walk out the door, and it doesn’t end in a meltdown or me just giving up. It’s all about finding those little cheats that make a big impact with the least amount of fuss.
I remember this one time, I was running so incredibly late for my mate Sarah’s birthday bash. I mean, proper panic stations, trying to book an Uber while I was still basically in my towel. I managed to do the “Speedy Twisted Crown” thing in the back of the cab – thank goodness for those tinted windows and a driver who wasn’t taking corners like a race car driver! I walked into the party, and people were actually complimenting my “effort.” If only they knew it took me all of three minutes while bouncing along in city traffic. That’s the kind of time-saving win I live for.
So yeah, if you’re anything like me and you want to look like you’ve made an effort for a party without all the usual hair-related drama, give these a whirl. They’re not complicated, just simple tricks that actually work. And hey, if you’ve got any other super quick party hair hacks up your sleeve, definitely let me know in the comments – I’m always on the lookout to add more to my “easy wins” collection!