• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · News

Up, Up and Away

Whether it’s a sleek, low pony or a sexy-messy bun, an updo is just the thing to make you look devastatingly chic at your next holiday party. The best part? Though complicated looking, these styles are secretly easy. Break out the bobby pins!
By · December 4, 2009October 29, 2020
01
Perfect Plait

Want to add oomph to an everyday high bun? Take a cue from Ashanti and wrap a braided piece around the perimeter.

Getty Image
02
Sleek and Chic

To rock a princess-y style like Gabrielle Union’s, slick strands back into a high ponytail and tuck hair under, securing with bobby pins. If you’ve got short hair, simply attach a fall.

Getty Image
03
Sweet Bun

Sanaa Lathan is all “movie star” in this beyond-elegant, braided bun.

Getty Image
04
Swiss Miss

We love Eva Marcille Swiss Miss style! To do: Part hair down the middle, and create two low Pocahontas braids (if you have short hair, add extensions). Wrap the braids around the top of your head, pinning the ends underneath.

getty Image
05
It’s all Greek

Beyonce’s Greek goddess ponytail is both stunning and simple. Simply sweep hair into a high ponytail, wrapping a tiny piece around the elastic. Then, curl the pony with a medium barrel curling iron.

Getty Image
06
High and Mighty

Angela Bassett’s bouffant is all about height! To do: Create a side part and sweep hair behind ears. Use a fine-tooth comb to tease hair at the crown and then lightly smooth back the top layer. Finally, wind hair into a French twist, securing with pins.

Getty Image
07
My Little Pony

Halle Berry’s low-maintenance upsweep is the last word in unstudied chic! Simply pull strands into a high pony, curl the hair with a medium barrel iron, and create loose pin curls.

Getty Image
08
Pretty Pouf

Kerry Washington channels 60s-era Diahann Carroll with this high-glamour style. First, create a side part and sweep bangs behind ears. Separate a wide section at the crown, tease the roots, and curl small pieces with a medium barrel curling iron. Wind hair underneath into a chignon, loosely pinning the curls around the twist.

Getty Image
09
Va-Va-Vamp

This avant-garde hairstyle is equal parts sexy vampire and Japanimation heroine—a whole lotta look, but Kimora pulls it off!

Getty Image
10
Braided Beauty

To create Alicia Keys’ “AMA” look, Pantene Celeb Stylist Tippi Shorter parted her hair into three sections, French-braiding the center piece from the nape to the front. Then, she gathered the two outside pieces into a pony, braided the hair, and tucked it into a bun.

Getty Image
11
Easy Breezy

To create Paula Patton’s easy-chic style, wind small sections around a 1" barrel curling iron and finger style. Leaving the top curly, comb back the sides and create a loose bun.

Getty Image

Read More

Entertainment
‘How We Got Here: The History Of Conflict In America’ Pr...
Entertainment
Regina King To Make SNL Hosting Debut Next Month
News
Trump’s Impeachment Trial Set to Begin Tuesday
Health & Wellness
7 Fitness Products To Amp Up Your Home Workouts
Beauty
Michelle Obama Wore Fenty Beauty To The Inauguration
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now