Melissa Cook - DIY Updos, Knots, and Twists: Easy, Step-by-Step Styling Instructions for 35 Hair Styles--from Inverted Fishtails to Polished Ponytails!

Avon, Massachusetts

To my family, who supports me in all my endeavors and reminds me I can do anything I set my mind to. I love you!

CHAPTER 1:
Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Updo

CHAPTER 2:
High Buns and Mid Buns

CHAPTER 3:
Low Buns

CHAPTER 4:
Braided Updos

CHAPTER 5:
Knots, Twists, and Ponytails

Are you stuck in a rut with that boring ponytail and basic bun? Not sure how to amp up your style? Do you think braids, updos, and twists are just too difficult to incorporate into your everyday look?

If this sounds like you, the styles found in DIY Updos, Knots, & Twists are going to change your look for the better! Here you will find more than thirty hairstyles ranging from twisted looks, like the Twists to Bun in . In addition, youll find a chapter that teaches you everything you need to know to successfully create the various updos in this book, including information on the materials you should have on hand as well as various techniques like how to reduce flyaways, back-comb your hair to add volume, get the perfect curl, and more!

So how can you master these on-trend, beautiful hairstyles? Thats actually the number one question Im asked all the time! Was I born with the talent? Is my hair different somehow? The truth is that all it takes is practice, practice, practice. The more you practice these styles on your medium to long hair and wear these hairstyles out and about, the more confident you will feel doing them. Read each step carefully, follow along as I show you how to make these fun and chic styles, check your work in the mirror as you go, and soon people will be amazed by your skills! You will feel more confident in your ability because you will know you look great. Whether you have fine, thick, curly, or straight hair, pretty soon you will be able to create such beautiful, intricate styles that all the looks in this book will be easy-peasy and you can start to show your friends how to create them too.

My hope is that this book will inspire you to really get to know your hair, to play around with it more often and discover and try out new ways to wear it. I hope it will help you improve your skills at creating these stylesbut most of all, I hope this book will encourage you to be confident in your ability to do your hair, and to love and enjoy it as I have learned to love my own.

Creating that perfect updo takes practice but knowing the right tips and tricks can make it ten times easier to accomplish. The techniques explained in this chapter will help you achieve beautiful styles, whether it is with the right amount of back-combing, the perfect texture of curls, or knowing when to use an elastic band versus a bobby pin. Learning if a comb or brush is more helpful in creating a smooth style and which hairspray is the right one to reach for will be useful in creating a finished look that will make you feel confident in your hairstyling abilities.

Here youll find information on the basic tools and hair appliances youll need in your beauty arsenal. They include the necessary items for completing each style in the book as well as a few useful pieces to help you give each style a polished and perfected finish.

• Wide-tooth comb: for untangling and straightening wet or dry hair. This type of comb has teeth that are well spaced apart and is great for all hair textures and lengths.
• Paddle brush: wide, flat brush with soft bristles. This type of brush is best for medium to long hair to help smooth it down and tame flyaways. It works well on curly, frizzy, or wavy hair and is great for penetrating thick hair while providing a gentle scalp massage.
• Teasing brush: used to back-comb the hair. Learn more about back-combing in the Techniques section later in this chapter.
• Hairbands (also called hair ties): fabric-covered bands, 2" in diameter, used to secure large sections of hair. This type of band can be used on any hair type but works especially well with thick, coarse, or curly hair. These can be purchased at your local grocery store or beauty supply store. The metal-free type work best to ensure the least amount of hair breakage or damage.
• Clear elastic bands: reusable, plastic, stretchy bands, 121" in diameter, used to secure small sections of hair. This type of band is best used to tie off the end of a braid or twist, to separate small sections of hair, or when a portion of a hairstyle needs to be hidden or less noticeable, such as with a topsy tail. These can be purchased in the hair aisle of your local grocery store or beauty supply store.
• Bobby pins, also known as hair grips: small pieces of metal bent into two prongs pressed close together, about 2" in length. These pins are used by slightly opening the prongs and sliding them over small sections of hair, with the bumpy side against the head, and then the prongs close over the hair, holding it in place.
• Hair donut: stretchy, easy-to-use donut-shaped bun holder that adds fullness and shape to updos. This can be used for all hair types and be purchased to match your hair color.
• Stretchy headband: fabric-covered, circular headband used to hold the hair back from the face, generally 67" in diameter.
• Duck-bill clip: lightweight metal clip with coil springs, about 34" in length, used to secure hair after it is sectioned off.
• Flexible-hold hairspray: maintains style with a soft, natural finish. This type of hairspray is ideal for holding curls while still allowing for movement. It helps keep hair under control without stiffness and is perfect for everyday use. To effectively hold the hair in place, spray a mist of hairspray all around the head for 34 seconds.
• Medium-hold hairspray: provides a stronger hold than flexible-hold hairspray, but allows movement with minimal stiffness when applied sparingly. This type is ideal for soft, looser updos and for half updos where sections of hair are pinned up and the rest is left down.
• Maximum-hold hairspray: the strongest of all the hairsprays and ideal for dramatic updos. It helps keep every strand in place for hours at a time.

The items on this list are all essentials that every woman needs in her beauty kit. They will help you create smooth, refined styles for every day of the week.

Mastering that perfect hairstyle always takes a bit of practice, and the items on this list can help make achieving it a little bit easier. They are not necessary or required for everyday use but can be helpful to have on hand. These are all best used in moderation and should be applied a little bit at a timethink pea-size to nickel-size amounts. Of course, more can always be added if needed. Remember that its easier to add more product than it is to remove the excess after it has been applied.