14 Easy & Cute Updos for Long Hair (With DIY Steps)

Simple long hair updos can be formal, flirty, and even messy and take only minutes to do yourself even if you're a beginner. To help keep these styles in place, it's best to start with hair that hasn't been washed in a day or more. Add accessories like barrettes, clips, and headbands to show off more of your personal style and keep flyaways in place.

The standard twisted bun is a staple of any long-hair styling playbook. In four easy steps, you can create this classic bun style for formal events or even sports practices.

1. Pull all hair back into a ponytail at your desired bun height and secure with an elastic ponytail holder that matches your hair color.
2. Hold the end of the ponytail and twist hair until the entire ponytail is twisted.
3. Wrap the twisted ponytail around the ponytail holder.
4. Tuck the end of the ponytail into the elastic ponytail holder or secure with a bobby pin.

If you want bangs for the day, create a cool bun with faux bangs to totally transform your look.

1. Pull all hair back into a ponytail at the crown and secure with an elastic ponytail holder.
2. Grab the base of the ponytail and wrap it clockwise, down and around the ponytail holder.
3. Bring the middle of the ponytail up to the front of the ponytail and secure with a bobby pin.
4. Spread the loose hair from the end of the ponytail across your forehead and spray with hairspray to keep it in place.

Whether you're in the ballet or in search of an elegant updo, the donut, or ballet, bun is a more formal version of the twisted bun. You'll need a donut bun ring to complete this style.

1. Start with a ponytail in the middle of the back of the head. Slide the bun ring on until it rests over top of the elastic hair tie.
2. Open the ponytail to find the center of the donut ring and spread hair over the ring to cover it. Secure with an elastic.
3. Take a section of hair from the left side of the bun, twist, and wrap around the bun securing with a bobby pin.
4. Repeat on the right side. Add a decorative elastic between the twists and bun if desired.

If you want a quirky and unique updo, try out the high and low bun look.

1. Use your finger or a comb to separate hair from the top of your crown forward.
2. Pull together this front section of hair in a high ponytail. Twist the hair and wrap it around the ponytail base. Secure with a bobby pin.
3. Pull together the back section of hair in a low ponytail. Twist the hair and wrap it around the ponytail base. Secure with a bobby pin.

Get the look of a complicated, textured updo in a few simple steps with a quadruple twist wide bun. This style works great for workouts or weddings.

1. Part hair down the center from forehead to neck. Pull each side into a ponytail in the middle of that side of the head
2. Split the left ponytail into two sections, twist the two sections and secure with an elastic. Repeat on right ponytail.
3. Holding the ends of each ponytail, cross the left over the right.
4. Bring the left twisted ponytail around the right ponytail holder and over it, securing with a bobby pin at both elastic ties. Repeat with the right.
5. Tuck the ends of the ponytails under the elastic ties.

Double twisted low buns can read as cute and quirky or uniquely elegant. This style keeps hair off your face and neck, making it great for warm weather occasions.

1. Part hair down the center from forehead to neck and pull each section over a shoulder.
2. Grab the front section of hair on the left side and begin to twist from bottom to top toward your head. With each twist, grab the next section of hair and incorporate it into the next twist.
3. Once you have the entire section of hair in your hand, secure it with an elastic then twist the whole ponytail and wrap it into a low twisted bun secured with a bobby pin.
4. Repeat on the right side.

Chignons are similar to buns, but they always sit low on the head near the top of the neck. Chignons are often considered formal, but this messy updo is great for work.

1. Smooth hair from front to back (with no part) and pull into a low ponytail secured loosely with an elastic hair tie.
2. Pull up the elastic band and pull the ponytail up through it about so there is the same amount of hair folded over and left hanging.
3. Tease the end of the ponytail still hanging with a comb.
4. Fold the teased hair over the elastic band and tuck into the underside of the bun.

If you're looking for a romantic updo, a side braid with low bun is the perfect option. You can even add some flowers to turn up the romantic feel. You'll need a donut bun ring to complete this look.

1. Start a French braid on one side of your head from the forehead and finish that section of hair in a regular braid and secure.
2. Take the hair that's left down from the other side of your head and pull it into a smooth ponytail at the base of your hairline.
3. Add the donut ring to the ponytail, wrap hair over the ring, and secure it with bobby pins.
4. Wrap the braid around the bun starting from the underside and secure the end.

For the ultimate in messy elegance, try a twisted and tucked braid at the back of your head.

1. Start with hair smoothed back, no part. Pull one section from the top, front on each side of your head.
2. Cross the left section over the right, then push it up around the back of the right section and pull it over the top through the hole.
3. Repeat the process until there are no sections left to start with. Secure the twisted ponytail with an elastic band.
4. Tuck the remaining, unbraided part of the ponytail up and under the braided part and secure with bobby pins.

When you really need to keep hair securely off your face or just like the Heidi look, a braided horseshoe updo works well.

1. Part hair down the middle and reverse French braid each side separately, finishing each off with a regular braid and elastic tie.
2. Hold the end of the left braid and pull it across and under the right braid, then up toward the forehead. Secure with bobby pins.
3. Repeat with the right braid.

Get the Grecian look with a simple braided halo. Add texture by crimping straight hair first.

1. Start a French braid or reverse French braid off to one side at the front of your face.
2. Continue the braid down one side of your head, around the back, and back up the other side until all hair is up.
3. Lay the end of the braid behind the first row of your braid and secure with bobby pins.

If you've got thick, long hair, it's easy to create a whimsical bow made out of hair. While you can recreate this look with fine, smooth hair, it works best with textured hair.

1. Pull hair into a loose ponytail just under the crown and secure with an elastic band.
2. Separate ponytail into one large section on each side and a smaller section in the middle.
3. Take the left section of hair, pull it straight out to the side, then fold the end in toward the elastic band. Pin in place.
4. Repeat with the right section. Then pull the center section straight up and under to the elastic band where you can secure it.

From the classic bun, to intricate braids, these long hair updos work with almost any kind of long hair. Keep hair loose and imperfect for more informal occasions. Make sure hair is sleek and smooth or add accessories for more formal occasions.