The Look: Sophisticated side braid Works best for:Long hair, any texture
Step 1: Haphazardly create a side part in dry hair using a wide tooth comb (try Sephora Wide Tooth Comb, $4). Step 2: With your hands, pull hair around to side opposite your part. Step 3: Section hair into three parts and braid them, securing at the ends with a clear elastic. For more braid inspiration, check out these celebrity braided styles or watch this easy how-to braiding video. Step 4: Pull out a few face-framing pieces of hair to soften the look.
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Jada Pinkett Smith
The Look: Slicked back half-updo Works best for: Shoulder length or longer, thick or fine straight hair.
Step 1: First, if your hair isn't stick straight like Jada's, run a flat iron over the ends to really flatten out. Then, apply a strong hold gel (try Redken Hardwear 16 Super Strong Gel, $16) to the front and sides of dry hair, and slick all of your face framing hair back.
Step 2: Section off a horseshoe shape of hair from your temples to the back of your crown, and clip up and out of the way for now.
Step 3: Use a comb to smooth back the sides of your hair (just above your ears) and secure each side (just behind your ears) with bobby pins that match your hair color.
Step 4: Let down the clipped section and carefully smooth back the top section of hair with a comb, so it hides the pins. Spritz with hairspray to finish (try Blow Blow Out Spray, $19.75).
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Michelle Williams
The Look: Zig-zag parted pixie Works best for: Short thick or fine hair
Step 1: Apply a smoothing serum like Moroccanoil Oil Treatment, $39.99 and blow dry hair with a round brush for added volume and shine.
Step 2: Decide which side you want to part on, then use a comb to create a large Z shape diagonally across the crown of your head.
Step 3: Tuck the hair on the same side it's parted on behind your ear and spritz your entire head with light hold hairspray (try Joico Finisher Shaping Hair Spray, $10.65).
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Alicia Keys
The Look: Textured half-updo Works best for: Curly shoulder length or longer hair
The Look: Side-pinned curls Works best for: Wavy or straight, fine or thick hair
Step 1: Quickly blow dry hair with large round brush to add bounce and shine.
Step 2: Create a deep side part directly above your temples using a comb.
Step 3: Secure the front of your hair on the side opposite your part with a bobby pin that doesn't match your hair color -- so it stands out.
Step 4: Use a large-barreled curling iron (check out top-rated ones here) and roll just the ends of your hair around the barrel in towards your face.
Step 5: Mist hair with flexible-hold hairspray like Pantene Pro-V Classic Touchable Hairspray Flexible Hold, $4.30.
The office is a magical place. It's where all sorts of interesting people come together to learn, grow and build better businesses. Oh, who are we kidding? Work is a 9-5 (if we're lucky) grind that pays the bills so that on weekends we can live our lives with the people we love. Most of us work to live and not vice versa, so the thought of racking your brain in order to pick the perfect office hairstyle sounds about as thrilling as reading a memo about new printing practices. That's why we picked nine flawlessly polished, easy-to-do hairstyles that are perfect for your place of work. Hopefully they'll give you one less thing to think about as you're rushing out the door in the am.
While we know it sounds like more fun to find the perfect party hairstyle or the best hot date hair, now would be the time to inform you (NOT via post-it note) that, while seemingly boring, it is important to find a hairstyle that works for the office ... strike that, a hairstyle that works for YOU while you're working at the office. And one that requires minimal effort (aka takes less than 10 minutes out of your hectic morning to achieve), and keeps you feeling confident and professional until your rush hour drive home.
And though these looks are simple, they are slightly formal hairstyles. Wear them and your co-workers won't ever gossip about your bad hair choice or your hair color mishap at the water cooler. Instead they'll talk about how you kicked butt on your big presentation. With a simple twist here, a hair accessory there, these celebrity hairstyles will allow you to walk out the door with confidence every Monday thru Friday no matter what hair length or texture you have.
Also, if you don't have a job, sport these hairstyles when you want an effortless, polished look. And if you're job searching, these looks can work for you too -- but consult these tips on how to look hirable first.
Celebs inspiring these office looks: Elizabeth Banks, Roxy Olin, Jada Pinkett Smith, Michelle Williams, Alicia Keys, Kristen Bell, Kate Beckinsale, Debra Messing, and January Jones.
