This is for all you long hair gals itching to get every last strand off your neck. Loosely braid, wrap, tug loose for more texture, and pin. And note how messy that front looks. No one cares -- she still looks fabulous!
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The infinity French braid
Instead of doing the traditional milkmaid style braid, simply keep braiding all the way around your head until all your hair is woven into the plait. Tuck or pin the ends behind the outer rim braid (wherever you finish) and voila, a fancy updo that really only consists of one braid.
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The headband
I don't know about you, but I'll fully admit I hung onto the top knot trend for so long because it was the quickest, chicest updo out there. But there's another not-so-secret way to get a polished style without actually trying (like, at all): Wear a headband. The trick is that it has to be a really fancy headband (think metallic or rhinestones). Then simply create a textured twist in the back and it will seem like a purposefully messy style.
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The loop
OK, so this is kind of cheating, but we're still going to count it as a 2013 hairstyle trend. If you're still not ready to give up the top knot style, try this: Instead of creating a knot at the top, do a neat loop. Be sure to wrap a small section of hair around the base to give the look a polished effect.
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The pony
Of course we had to include the ponytail in this top knot replacement roundup. It is the golden standard when it comes to easy updos, the only one-step style that can be worn at the gym or to a black tie wedding. To make it appropriate for the fancier side of that scale, keep strands silky smooth and add volume in the front with a just a touch of teasing and a light mist of hairspray.
For the last two years, my go-to updo has been the topknot. I'd always been partial to the high bun, so it seemed like a natural transition when the tight twist became the chicest hairstyle since the chignon.
Then, 2013 hit and celebrities were officially over the trend. In fact, the only star to wear a topknot during this year's award season was Jennifer Lopez at the Grammy's. Needless to say, after three months of lots of loose waves and low buns, I received the message loud and clear: It was time to retire my own topknot.
But what to wear instead? The genius of the topknot is that it's as simple as a ponytail yet it has a certain sophisticated, polished look. True, a French twist is always classy -- but it also takes too much time to create. So, I scoured red carpet pics from recent Hollywood events and discovered how celebrities are dealing with the end of the topknot. Naturally, I found countless easy hairstyle ideas that'll keep you on-trend. Keep clicking to see my top six favorite replacements for the topknot.
