What is it about long hair that makes a gal get a little lazy? Think about it: Do you (or your long-haired pals) have one -- maybe two -- signature hairstyles? And do both of those involve wearing your hair down and straight or down and curled?

Here's the thing: Unless you've got a pixie cut, your options are endless when it comes to hairstyles -- and updos are a fantastic way to get yourself out of a hairstyle rut. The catch? If you're like us, you drool over the gorgeous updos you see on the red carpet, but then click for a how-to and your eyes have glazed over before you even get to the "secure with elastic" second step.

But it doesn't have to be that way. We clicked through all of our favorite looks from recent red carpet events and found five easy updo hairstyles that can be pulled off in three steps max. (Seriously, we tried them ourselves just to make sure.)

Oh, and did we mention they are all amazingly chic and sure to get you all kinds of compliments? So, if updo means ponytail in your world, keep clicking. This guide is going to be your new go-to.