This literally took me all of 5 seconds to do, which means it scores bonus points for ease. The key to making this style cute is to find a cute scarf. (I cut up an old Free People shopping bag, which made me feel like a bonafide DIY-er.) Make sure the fabric is thin enough to not look bulky -- it should look like a headband, not a turban.
First, tie your hair up into a messy topknot, then wrap your head with the scarf, tying it in the center, and tucking in the ends.
Photo 5/9
The bow
This was the antithesis to the scarf headband look because it was so difficult to pull off. And the worst part about trying to recreate this look was how the Pinterest hair tutorial made it seem so simple. After troubleshooting for 20 minutes, I realized the main problems were: 1. My hair is too long, so the middle of the bow was too big, and 2. My hair is too fine, so the bow looked floppy.
To make my hair stiffer, I sprayed some Redken Quick Tease 15, $18, onto the first couple inches of my hair and teased it. Then, after making the bow, I looped the rest of my hair around the base of the elastic and pinned it in the back. It's not perfect, but this was the best I could do.
Photo 6/9
Headband tuck
This headband hairstyle is super chic and easy to do when your hair is dirty, messy, or unkempt. Just place the headband over your head, and tuck your hair up and over the lower part of the headband, securing with bobby pins. My hair is a bit long for this look, which is why my version has so much volume. The best part of this hairstyle? The messier it is, the better it looks.
Photo 7/9
Tousled hair
Turns out this effortless-looking bedhead, tousled hair actually requires a ton more effort than rolling out of bed. Because, let me tell you, the hair I rolled out of bed with did not look like this model's highly-styled 'do. Since the waves in this picture are so loose and deconstructed, I didn't want to use a curling iron. Instead I braided my hair into two pigtails and then ran my flatiron over each braid. I let them cool, spritzed some hairspray (I love Keratin Complex Flex Flow Finishing Hairspray, $25), and undid them.
Photo 8/9
Braided updo
This braided hairstyle was a wee bit harder than I expected. While it's essentially just a huge, side French braid, the further back I got on my head, the harder it was for me to braid. After completing both braids, I wrapped them into a bun and secured with bobby pins.
To amp up the thickness of your braid, add a few clip-in hair extensions. I'd give myself an A for effort, but maybe a B overall on this look. What do you think?
Pinterest is my SimCity.
It's my fantasyland where I can pin all the DIY décor of my dreams onto my "home sweet home" board -- then pretend I actually live in a house with hammocks hanging on my non-existent patio.
I also pin countless pretty pictures of shockingly pink lips, dramatically winged eyes, and gorgeous braided hairstyles, giving all of my followers the illusion that I'm a DIY beauty chameleon -- which isn't exactly my reality.
The same way pinning a fabulous chaise lounge doesn't make it magically appear in my living room, pinning a pretty hairstyle doesn't warp my go-to pony into a Gaga-esque hair bow. But I don't defer to my pony because of a lack of skill -- it's a lack of time (or at least that's what I tell myself, anyway).
When my editor challenged me to turn my Pinterest hair pictures into reality, I accepted the assignment eagerly. After all, if I were late to work, I could always blame "research." Right?
I'm not a hair guru by any means, but after being a beauty editor for all these years, I was fairly confident some tricks I've picked up along the way would make this road test a piece of cake. Keep reading to see my attempts at copying the biggest Pinterest hair trends right now -- and get my hints that'll help you recreate your favorite looks, too.
