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Hairstyling 101: Five Easy Hairstyles for Class

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Taylor Chronis Student Contributor, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
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shannonsmith Student Contributor, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Chapel Hill chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Have you ever had one of those days when your hair just refused to cooperate with you? A day when you woke up late for your 8 a.m. class and barely had time to get dressed, let alone make your hair look presentable? Well, you can now kiss those days goodbye with these simple, fast hairstyles that any college girl can master!


The Fishtail Braid
Mix up your usual braid with this fun and unique look. A fishtail braid is perfect for keeping your hair out of your face while still looking stylish and put together. To start, gather your hair at the nape of your neck and separate it into two parts. Then, take a small portion of hair from the outside of one section and pull it under the other section. Repeat on the other side and continue switching off until the remainder of the hair is braided. Just like with a regular braid, fishtail braids can be pulled to the side or even be made into pigtails. For a step-by-step tutorial, check out this video.

Tip: To keep pieces from falling out, spritz some light hairspray before and after styling to hold your hair in place!

Simple Messy Bun
The classic messy bun is quick and simple, yet also stylish and even popular among celebrities. Plus, the look can be achieved with just some bobby pins and hairspray. However, for girls with thick hair, containing your mane in a messy bun just using bobby pins can sometimes be tricky. If traditional bobby pins just aren’t enough, Goody Spin Pins ($7) are perfect for creating a bun that will stay put all day and are super easy to use. To use, just gather hair at the nape of your neck and twist up into a low bun. Then, twist one spin pin into the top of the bun and another into the bottom for a fast fashion look. The pins even come in different colors to match your hair!


Bonus Tip: To spice up your look, braid a section in the front of your hair and twist it into the bun or let a few face framing pieces hang loose to make your look more casual.

Messy Waves
Whether your mane is naturally wavy or stick straight, it’s possible to get fun, beachy waves without spending hours fussing with your hair. Messy waves are great for days when you don’t want to bother with flat-ironing your hair, or for those days when you just want to mix it up. One of the easiest ways to get this look is to braid your hair at night when it’s wet, let it dry overnight and then take it out in the morning, styling it as needed. But, if your hair does not cooperate well with this method, there are new styling tools that can create this similar look in a shorter amount of time. The Remington Air Wave hair dryer is a great tool for making loose waves and is perfect for most hair types. It comes with an attachment that dries your hair while spinning it, creating loose, natural looking waves in no time.
 

Polished Ponytail
A classic ponytail is always a great alternative to fussing with unruly hair before rushing off to class, and can easily be transformed into a stylish, unique look. A high ponytail is a great way to mix up the traditional pony. Smooth your hair with a light de-frizzing serum before styling it, then mist it with hairspray afterward to keep the look polished. To really amp up your style, add a cute headband like this or a hair wrap. Or, if the high ponytail isn’t for you, opt for a low side ponytail and let your bangs hang out to complete the look.

Bonus Tip: To add some extra volume, try teasing your hair at the crown before putting it up. Then, backcomb your ponytail to add volume to the loose hair.

Second-Day Hair
For those days when you truly only have a minute or two to fix your hair, try using a dry shampoo to refresh your style from the day before. Drug store brands like Tresemmé now make affordable dry shampoos that are tailored to your specific hair type. For an even cheaper option, try putting baby powder on your roots to absorb excess oil, and brush through your hair to freshen it up. Just be careful not to use too much or you will end up looking like you have dandruff all over your hair!


What is your go-to quick and easy hairstyle for busy days?
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Taylor Chronis
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shannonsmith
Sophomore, PR major at UNC