5 Easy Hairstyles You Can Do At Home

Lockdown is tough, especially on hair. With most of us having been parted from our hairdresser for weeks, our tresses are definitely in need of a little TLC. Despite most of us not yet being able to go to events or venture out afar, working from home, taking a meeting or socialising with friends via Zoom is still putting pressure on our beauty maintenance - waist up that is. Someone wise (the internet) once said that your hair is 90% of your selfie - or video screen - and we couldn’t agree more. So if you’re having difficulty knowing what to do with your hair every day, then we’ve got you covered with these 5 easy hairstyles to create at home. 

From the OG messy bun to the more put-together half-up, half-down, these looks prove that there are plenty of simple ways to level up your hair look at home. Plus, it’s inevitable that when you look good, you feel good. So what are you waiting for, keep scrolling for our five favourite hairstyles that’ll cover all sorts of hair sins.

The Messy Bun

The messy bun is one of those hairstyles that looks pretty simple on the surface, but actually requires some work in order to get that je ne sais quoi. The best kind of messy buns (those that don’t go saggy at the back, fall out after an hour or look super put together) are trickier to achieve, but are in no way impossible, with a few easy tricks to remember. Working best on second or third-day hair for added ‘messy’ texture, the next step is to curl the hair. We’ve used a 25mm Ceramic Curler to add texture to the locks.

Step 1:

Start by pulling your hair into a loose ponytail. Don’t make it too perfect, the look is supposed to be effortless, with nothing precise or 'done' about it. Instead, ditch the brush and use your hands to gather the hair into a tight pony at the crown of the head. Make sure to get the hair really tight at the back to avoid any potential sagginess and tie it in place using a hairband. Resist the urge to smooth any flyaways or rebelling baby hairs which are key to the look.

Step 2:

Next up you want to add some texture by separating your ponytail into 2-3 sections and teasing each section. This will give you volume and create a lived-in look, avoiding anything that will be too sleek.

Step 3:

After teasing your hair, you want to then separate each of your sections into 2 sections and start wrapping the hair in opposite directions. This will make the next step of wrapping your hair into a bun even easier and avoid any fallout.

Step 4:

Using bobby pins, start wrapping your hair and secure your bun an inch from the bottom of your strands. Don’t pin too neatly, instead finish by pulling a few loose hair strands from the nape of the neck and around the face, creating soft edges. For added lived-in texture, try using your fingertips to tousle the surface of the hair from the scalp, which is key to creating the dishevelled effect.

Step 5:

Set the look with a misting of strong hairspray or texture spray for extra hold. 
Top Tip - If your bun is feeling too tight, use your hands to pull it gently apart, making sure to tease at the roots as you go.

Half Up Half Down

Step 1:

Start by curling your hair and don’t be afraid to curl the hair opposite directions, as this will create more of a natural look. For easy styling, we using the Curl Secret Optimum.

Once the hair is curled, brush out your curls gently to give it a softer and fuller look.

Step 2:

Once you’ve brushed out your curls, grab a triangle-shaped section from the crown of the head and lift it up, separating it from the crown area. For added volume, gently back-brush this section of hair with a comb or a smoothing brush.

Step 3:

With the section you’ve just teased, bring it back down so that is meets the rest of your hair, making sure to smooth it over to cover the teasing. Fasten it in place, securing the top section with a hair tie.

Step 4:

To hide the hair tie, separate a section of hair in front of your ear and twist away from your face all the way until you reach the ends. Add volume, by holding the end of the twisted section with one hand, and with the other gently pull on the outer edges for a full, textured appearance. Finish by taking your twist to the back of your head where you pinned the crown section and secure it in place with a bobby pin.

Step 5:

Spritz hair spray to hold the style in place.

Top Tip - To make this hairstyle all the more special, try adding a hair accessory like jewel clips or logo bobby pins.

Side Swept Braid

It’s a fact that braids will never go out of style. The perfect effortless hairstyle, they’re a girl’s best friend when you’ve accidentally forgone a much-needed shampoo or root touch up. What we love most about a side-swept braid though, is that the look can be simultaneously undone and put-together, pairing just as well with sweatpants as it will with a dress and heels. Call it your hairstyle chameleon.

Step 1:

Start with curled hair, enhancing your natural texture. We’ve used a 38mm curler for a looser look.

Step 2:

Part your hair to either the right or left side (whichever side you prefer) and gather it into a ponytail.

Step 3:

Take your ponytail and split it into equal sections and create either a loose french braid or messy braid starting from the nape of the neck. Don’t worry if your braid gets messy - in fact, embrace the messiness as it’s all a part of the look.

Step 4:

Next up, it’s time to make your braid less perfect. For a dishevelled look, lightly pull on each side of the braid to fatten it up and take a few pieces from the front sections of your hair to frame your face. Touch up these front strands with the curler, creating a soft effortless look.

Step 5:

Finish your style off with a spritz of medium-hold hairspray or finishing spray for added hold and texture, smoothing any flyaways at the roots.

Sleek Ponytail

Is there anything more classic than a sleek ponytail? We think not. As meh as a ponytail can sound, it can help you get one more day out of oily hair and is a simple way to switch your look up without too much fuss. When done right, a sleek ponytail is the perfect mix of elegant and cool and best of all, super easy to pull-off at home.

Step 1:

For this style, it’s best to start with clean washed hair. To help create the super-sleek look, use a hair straightener to smooth your hair. We recommend the Steam Straight Brilliance.

Step 2:

Gather your hair right below the crown of your head while still smoothing the hair out and brush your hair back into a ponytail. The brush will help knock out any static hair and make your hair sleek. Top tip: For optimum sleekness, spray the hairbrush with hairspray before brushing it through, which will both tame flyaways and adds shine.

Step 3:

Secure your ponytail with a matching coloured hair tie.

Step 4:

If you have any flyaways or any hair sticking out, use hairspray to smooth it out to achieve that sleek and smooth finisIf you have any flyaways or any hair sticking out, smooth a small amount of styling cream down the length of your ponytail to make your strands extra silky and add a touch of hairspray for added hold.

Step 5:

This step is optional but will add instant polish up your ponytail. Take a small section from underneath your ponytail and wrap it around your hair tie. Secure with a bobby pin underneath to conceal its appearance.

Fishtail Braid

There's no shortage of ways to wear a braid - tight or loose, messy or neat, up or down — but a fishtail braid might just still be the coolest. Perfect for fresh or even second to third-day hair, this technique takes a bit of practice, but after a few go’s just about anyone can have it mastered in no time. 

Step 1:

To create a strong foundation for your fishtail braid, use a hairdryer to blow out any kinks and create a smooth finish, we recommend the Digital Sensor Luxe Airsonic. Start by parting your hair to one side and gather it into a ponytail with a disposable elastic or hair tie.

Step 2:

Take your ponytail and divide it into two equal sections. You can secure your pony with a hair tie first if you need more control.

Step 3:

With the left smaller ponytail, take a half-inch section of hair from the outside, pulling this piece across the top of the left ponytail over to the right ponytail making sure you don’t twist it when you bring it across.

Step 4:

Repeat step 3 however with the right smaller ponytail and repeat the motion in the opposite direction. Each piece will fall into the center (the break between the two sections of hair), and then you’ll grab it, taking it over to one side.

Step 5:

Repeat this motion all the way down the braid. You can also choose to make the sections as big or small as you please and don’t worry if it gets messy, as this will create a cool, textured look.

Step 6:

For extra volume at the tail, hold the tail of your braid with one hand and in the other take a fine-tooth comb to brush up the braid, starting at the tail to backcomb in short strokes. Once done, secure the end of your fishtail braid with a hairband. With the band at the top of the braid you can cut it if it’s a disposable band or simply remove your hair tie.

Achieve Great Hair Results at Home!

No matter what your skill level, create these simple hairstyles at home with our incredible stylers and give your hair some extra flair and a touch of some much-needed glamour. The key to each of these looks is that they can all be done on any hair type, using our quality-made styling tools give you long-lasting, salon-quality results without compromising your own unique style. And most of all, it’s about forgetting about perfection. The old adage is true - all that’s needed is a bit of practice.

Love your style, from the VS Sassoon Team!