Every gal needs an elegant go-to hairstyle that she can whip up on the fly -- and this tousled topknot fits the bill. It doesn't take more than five minutes, and it still looks hella polished. Plus, it works for any hair texture (though second day hair holds best).

1. Create a side part in your hair, and gently move the front of your hair or bangs to one side to get a soft swirl.
2. Loosely pull hair into a high ponytail, and secure with a hair-tie.
3. Wrap the length of your ponytail around the elastic band, leaving a piece out in the back for the braid.Secure the topknot with bobby pins
4. Braid the piece of your hair you left out, and wrap it around the base of the bun. Secure with bobby pins and hairspray.

Image via Beauty Tutorials

Okay, so maybe this 'do takes slightly longer than 10 seconds, but it's pretty damn close, leaving you with more time to spend on perfecting your party-ready makeup.

1. Start with day-old hair, and tease the front of your hair for added volume. Pro tip: This look works best on the wavy- and curly-haired among us.
2. Brush hair back with your fingers, and secure hair into a ponytail on the crown of your head. (For even more volume, gently tug on the sides of your hair).
3. Twist your ponytail about halfway down, and then spiral it about halfway into a ballerina bun.
4. Holding the partial bun with one hand, grab loose strands and spread them over the bun. Once satisfied, pull a hair tie over the messy bun and secure it.
5. Gently tug hair out of the bun to create a bigger bun. Now get back to perfecting that glitter cat-eye.

Image via The Freckled Fox

Where has this beautiful updo been all our lives? It's quick, simple and gorgeous -- but best of all, it can be done in literally two steps. Try it on second-day straight hair for best results.

1. Part your hair down the middle, and create two separate sections. Lightly twist them around each other until you've twisted to the end.
2. Gently wrap your twisted pony around the nape of your neck until you make a bun. Secure the look with lots of bobby pins and a spritz of hairspray.

Image via Popsugar

This triple-threat of an updo has us singing, "Once, twice, three times a braid-y." (Sorry).

1. Separate your hair into three sections.
2. Secure middle section with a hair tie, creating a low ponytail. Braid this ponytail and secure with a small rubber band.
3. Wrap it around the elastic, making a bun at the nape of your neck. Secure it with bobby pins.
4. Braid one of the side sections, secure it with a hair tie, and wind it into a bun next to the bun at the nape of your neck. Secure it with bobby pins.
5. Repeat for the remaining section of hair.
6. Finish with a flexible hold hairspray.

Image via Fashionsy.com

Give us all the braids. They're cute, they're in style and they're easy to do. Plus, they look crazy sophisticated when they're pulled in a topknot. Exhibit A: This high bun.

1. Brush through your hair with your fingers, and pull it into a high ponytail.
2. Separate your ponytail into two parts. Braid one half, securing it with a small rubber band. Repeat this on the second section.
3. For a more bountiful bun, lightly tug at the middle of each of the braids.
4. Take one braid, and wrap it around the hair-tie, securing with bobby pins. Repeat with the second braid.
5. Secure the look with hairspray.


Image via PrettyDesigns.com