How to Create an Easy Updo

I'm not one for fancy, hoity-toity hair accessories. An updo with elaborate crystal and beaded headbands and clips always looks as if the woman is walking around with a centerpiece on her head. Even when I'm styling an actress's hair for the Oscars, I use simple, unadorned elastics, headbands, and pins from the drugstore. They're easier to handle and put the emphasis on the hair, not the ornament.

HAIR ELASTICS

You can do virtually anything with a ponytail holder. My favorite kind is Blax Snag-Free Hair Elastics. Don't ever use a regular newspaper rubber band, even in an emergency—it's guaranteed to break your hair.
Pull your hair straight back into a high ponytail. Once it's secure, yank it evenly at the crown, just above the elastic, to create ridges and height, which makes the look more interesting and chic than a plain, sporty ponytail.
On long, layered hair, I like a good, falling-apart side ponytail. Leave out any layers around the face and place the elastic on the hair at shoulder level so it looks like it's just holding the hair in place, not tugging it. If you have bangs, sweep them to the same side as the ponytail.

BOBBY PINS

Bobby pins are younger-looking and more discreet than barrettes. Since no one can really see them, you can't mess them up. They can also be seductive, in a naughty-schoolgirl way.
If you're growing out your bangs, pull them to the side and slide two or three flat bobby pins (the same color as your hair) over your bangs at eyebrow level. If you don't have bangs, make a messy part off to the side and pin your hair back.
For another look, gather the section of hair between your temples and pull it straight back. Anchor it just in front of the crown with two crisscrossed bobby pins and let the side sections of hair fall straight down over your ears. It's very sexy, '70s babysitter hair.

THIN HEADBANDS

Nothing beats thin, plastic Goody headbands. My favorite color is black (or white in black hair), which can look very mod. Beware of the colored ones—they tend to be a little cheesy.
Tease hair at the crown and push one or two thin headbands straight back about one and a half inches from the hairline. But please don't push it in and then pull it forward so you get that pouf thing around the hairline. You'll end up looking too preppy.

LOOSE RIBBONS

My favorite ribbons are thin, black silk grosgrain because they go with everything. If you have black hair, try an oatmeal-colored one for contrast. The risk of wearing a ribbon in your hair is that it can look a little Jane Austen, a little precious. To make sure it doesn't, I scrunch it up and press it in a flatiron to wrinkle it—I've used this on Nicole Kidman a few times, and it looks great. Just don't get lazy and use the frayed ribbon from a present.
Once a ribbon is good and messed up, I tie it in a knot (a bow can look too cute) around an elastic at the base of a ponytail, leaving the ends flopping around unevenly.
Try a ribbon as a headband: Wrap it from underneath your hair to the top of your head, tie it in a knot, and pull the knot all the way to one side until it's just under your ear and the ends—no more than two or three inches long—are poking out.



SOURCE: Allure.com
(http://www.allure.com/magazine/2008/12/chris_mcmillan_updo_accessories)
AUTHOR: Chris Mcmillan