How-To: Sleek Updo

Begin by sectioning the hair into three section: two little sections in the front that line up with ears and one larger section that you will pull into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck. 

Next, lightly curl the ponytail and gently tease it at the base of the elastic. 

Divide the ponytail into two sections. Roll one section underneath the other and pin it in place (here's a tip: bobby-pins have a little 'lip' at the opening, make sure that the lip is on the bottom, closest to the head, and the straight end of the bobby-pin is on top - this is probably one of the most misused hair tool). 

Make sure you fan out your hair roll. 

You are now going to roll the other section of the hair and pin it next to the first one. 

 Use hairspray to provide some additional security for your hair rolls (here's a tip: sometimes hair is too silky and falls out of these rolls, if this is happening, you can use a mattifying powder, like Osis Dust-It powder, to get your hair to have some more grip.

 Once you have secured your hair rolls and sprayed them in place, take a one inch section from the back of one of your front hair sections. Lightly tease the one inch hair at the base and then bring the section across and fasten it underneath the base of the ponytail.

Do the same thing on the other side - you should get an "X" shape. 

Repeat this step several times until the front sections are all secured - it's a lot like making a fishtail braid.

Go back with a pointed end of a brush and lift up any section gently to add volume. The take the remaining strands that are hanging down and wrap them around the top of the bun to cover the elastic. You should end up with the following: