Stress-Free Hairstyles: 9 Easy Ponytail Alternatives by Baze Mpinja

Why leave the house sporting the same ol’ ponytail when you can whip up one of these chic hairstyles just as fast? Get inspired by these easy-to-DIY celeb ‘dos.

Rock an over-the-shoulder braid

Meet the new wherever-whatever hairstyle: A little bit sexy, a little bit sweet, Selena Gomez’s style works for day, night, weekends and any other time. Give yourself a deep side part, then gently swoop your hair over to one side. Braid lengths, then secure the tail with an elastic that matches your hair color. Perfection is not the goal—if little pieces stick out, no biggie.

Pin back the top sides

You gotta love a style you can do even when you’re running really late—Drew Barrymore’s look will take you all of 60 seconds to whip up. Just rub a tiny bit of shine serum between your palms and apply it to your ends. Run a paddle brush through your hair, then pin back the sides with bobby pins, letting a few wisps fall here and there. Done!

Dress up your bun

For an elegant but unboring bun like Jessica Biel’s, tease your crown with a rattail comb to give it a little retro-feeling volume before pulling it into a bun. Slide on a satin headband or wide ribbon and go!

Try a textured updo

Got natural curls or waves? Show them off like Taylor Swift. Loosely pull big sections of hair back toward the center of your head, twirl and secure with pins. If you want to do something a little extra spiffy, try bobby pins with rhinestones or another sweet add-on that’ll peek out through your ‘do.

Pouf up the front of your hair

To do the Brigitte Bardot thing like Scarlet Johansson, grab the sides of your hair and make an X with bobby pins to keep the pieces in place. (Or, if your hair is thicker, swap out the pins for sturdier metal barrettes.) Push your hair forward from the crown to create volume, add a few more pins in the back and blast the pouf with hairspray.

Experiment with a mini hair bump

Take a section of hair at the top of your head, right above your forehead, then gently twist and tug the front to create the bumplike volume. Secure with pins or a barrette. Leave the rest loose, or to glam the look up a bit, curl your ends with a 1-inch-barrel iron. Bonus: It’s a great way to deal with unruly bangs on a steamy, frizz-inducing day.

Revisit a classic hairstyle

Don’t call it a comeback, but old-school French braids like Amanda Seyfried’s are having a moment. Channel your inner sleep-away camper to craft the look yourself, or if it’s too tough to tackle this on your own, enlist reinforcements. (That’s what friends are for, right?)

Tie a little topknot

Feeling girly? Wear an über-high ballerina bun with a flirty dress during the day, or to show off your edgy side, sport it with a motorcycle jacket at night like Zoe Kravitz. Simply pull hair into a high ponytail and secure with an elastic band. Tightly twist and wrap the length into bun shape, then pin into place.

Add two tiny braids to any ‘do

For a boho vibe like Miley Cyrus’, braid small sections of hair on each side away from the face, then tuck them into loose, unstyled lengths and pin. So cute!