Im Lena, a professional hairstylist with over a decade in the salon chair. In this post I share seven easy hairstyles for women—each paired with a clear image so you can reproduce the look at home. These styles were chosen to suit a wide range of hair lengths and textures: from fine to thick, straight to wavy, and short bobs to long layers. You’ll find quick ponytails, effortless buns, simple braids, relaxed beach waves, a sleek low knot, a twisted half-up, and a polished topknot. My salon tips include prepping with the right products (lightweight mousse for volume, texturizing spray for grip), using heat-protectant before styling, and working in sections for neat results. Each style is designed to take 5–20 minutes, making them perfect for busy mornings, last-minute plans, or low-effort date nights. Follow the seven step-by-step images to simplify each technique and adapt them to your hair type.
Twisted Half-Up Romantic Waves — Half-Up Twist for Long Hair
This romantic twisted half-up with loose waves suits medium to long hair and works well on fine, medium and thick textures. For straight hair, pre-curling adds body; for naturally curly hair, smooth and reshape curls before styling. Start by applying heat protectant and a volumizing mousse to damp hair, then blow-dry. Create loose waves with a 1–1.25 curling iron, alternating directions for texture. Take two front sections, twist each away from the face and wrap toward the center back, securing with bobby pins or a small clear elastic; gently pancake the twists for softness and volume. Tools needed: curling iron, tail comb, sectioning clips, paddle/round brush, bobby pins, small elastics. Recommended products: heat protectant, texturizing spray, light-hold hairspray and a shine serum for ends. Difficulty: easy–moderate; allow 20–35 minutes depending on length and thickness. Maintenance tips: refresh waves with a quick mist of dry shampoo and a few touch-up curls, sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely braid to preserve shape, and re-secure any loose twists with discreet pins as needed.
Loose Textured Side Braid with Soft Face‑Framing Pieces
This relaxed side braid pairs a slightly twisted crown with a loose, low plait—ideal for everyday wear or casual events. Best for medium to thick hair and for straight to wavy textures; fine hair benefits from light teasing or a texturizing spray to add grip, while very curly hair should be smoothed slightly through the crown for a cleaner braid. Start on dry or day‑old hair: mist roots and lengths with texturizer, create a deep side part, then pick up sections to form a loose French/Dutch braid along the hairline feeding into a three‑strand braid at the nape. Gently pancake the braid and pull small face‑framing pieces free for softness. Tools: tail comb, detangling brush, small elastic, bobby pins, optional curling iron for ends. Products: texturizing/sea salt spray, light smoothing serum for flyaways, flexible hold hairspray. Difficulty: moderate — expect 10–25 minutes depending on practice. Maintenance: sleep on a silk pillow or loosely wrap the braid, refresh with dry shampoo and re‑pancake to revive volume, and replace elastics every few days to prevent breakage.
Long Layered Voluminous Waves with Face‑Framing Layers
Suitable for medium to thick straight, wavy or loose curly hair; fine hair can achieve this look with added layers or extensions. Styling technique: start on towel‑dried hair, apply heat protectant and a small amount of volumizing mousse through roots to mid-lengths. Blow‑dry with a round brush, lifting at the roots for volume or use a diffuser for natural waves. Section hair and wrap a 1–1.25 curling iron barrel around mid‑lengths, curling away from the face and leaving the ends slightly loose for soft movement. Alternate directions on lower sections for natural texture. Cool, then finger‑comb curls to break them up. Tools needed: hairdryer, 2–1.25 round brush, 1–1.25 curling iron or wand, sectioning clips, wide‑tooth comb. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root lift, flexible-hold hairspray, lightweight smoothing serum or oil, optional sea‑salt/texturizing spray. Difficulty level: intermediate — basic blowout and curling skills recommended. Maintenance: trim every 8–12 weeks, deep‑condition weekly, refresh second‑day waves with dry shampoo and texturizing spray, sleep on a silk pillowcase or loose braid to preserve shape.
Braided Crown Romantic Updo with Wispy Bangs — Textured Tousled Style
This romantic braided crown with a tousled low updo and wispy bangs works best on straight to wavy, medium to thick hair. Fine hair can still achieve the look with light extensions or root‑lifting products; very curly hair should be smoothed slightly beforehand. Begin with a heat protectant and volumizing mousse on damp hair, then blow‑dry with a round brush for body. Create loose waves with a 1–1.25 inch curling wand, brush gently, then French/Dutch braid along the hairline across the crown. Secure the braid with a small elastic, twist the remaining length into a low messy bun, and pin the braid over it. Pull soft face‑framing tendrils and loosen the braid for a relaxed finish. Tools: blow dryer, round brush, curling wand, tail comb, sectioning clips, small elastics, bobby pins. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root spray, salt/texturizing spray, flexible hairspray, and a light serum for ends. Difficulty: intermediate — basic braiding and pinning skills. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo or texturizer, retuck pins as needed, sleep on silk, and avoid heavy conditioners at the roots to preserve lift.
Voluminous Textured Side Braid — Loose Romantic Dutch/Fishtail
Ideal for medium-to-long hair, this romantic, textured side braid works best on medium and thick hair; fine hair can achieve the same look with volumizing powder or light clip-in extensions, and naturally curly hair can be softened or embraced for added texture. Technique: start on dry, prepped hair — apply a texturizing spray and heat protectant, then lightly curl sections with a 1–1.25 wand for grip. Create a deep side part, pick up a Dutch/French section at the crown and work diagonally toward the opposite shoulder, keeping sections loose. Secure with an elastic, then “pancake” the braid by gently pulling at each section to widen and soften. Pull small face-framing tendrils for a lived-in finish and hide the elastic with a wrapped strand or bobby pins. Tools needed: tail comb, sectioning clips, curling wand, elastics, bobby pins. Products required: dry shampoo/texture spray, volumizing powder (optional), heat protectant, light-hold hairspray, smoothing serum or shine spray. Difficulty: intermediate — requires basic braiding and pancaking skill; allow 20–35 minutes. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo, re-pancake with fingers, re-pin loose pieces, and sleep on silk to preserve shape.
Twisted Half-Up with Loose Curls for Long Wavy Hair
This twisted half-up with loose curls works best on long to medium-long hair and suits naturally wavy, curly, or straight hair that’s been pre-textured. Start by applying heat protectant and a lightweight mousse, then blow-dry for smoothness or air-dry for more natural texture. Use a 1 curling wand to create loose, away-from-face curls through the mid-lengths and ends. Take two front sections, twist each away from the face and secure at the back with U-pins or bobby pins; gently pancake the twists to widen them and lift the crown for soft volume. Leave remaining hair tousled for a romantic finish. Tools: 1 curling wand, tail comb, paddle brush, sectioning clips, bobby pins/U-pins and a small elastic. Products: heat protectant, root-lifting mousse or volumizer, texturizing spray, flexible-hold hairspray and a dab of shine serum on ends. Difficulty: easy–moderate; allow 20–35 minutes depending on length/thickness. Maintenance: sleep on silk, refresh roots with dry shampoo, reactivate waves with a light spritz of water or texturizer, and re-pin twists as needed between washes.
Long Layered Cut with Side‑Swept Fringe — Sleek Blowout for Medium to Thick Hair
This long layered cut with a side‑swept fringe creates polished movement and face‑framing softness. It suits straight to slightly wavy hair and works best on medium to thick textures; fine hair can wear this style with added root lift and thinner layers, while very curly hair will require smoothing or blowout techniques. To style: start on towel‑dried hair with a lightweight leave‑in thermal protectant. Apply a root‑lifting mousse for fine hair or a smoothing cream for thicker hair. Section hair and blow‑dry with a medium‑large round brush and concentrator nozzle, lifting at the roots for volume and rolling the ends inward to create the soft curve. Use a one‑inch flat iron only on the top layers to refine the fringe and tame flyaways. Tools: hairdryer with nozzle, 2–2.5
As a stylist I always encourage clients to choose looks that complement their lifestyle and hair health. Start with the right foundation: a gentle shampoo, a hydrating conditioner, and a lightweight styling product that matches your hair’s needs. Use a heat protectant when curling or straightening, and rely on texturizing spray or dry shampoo to add grip for braids and updos. When practicing these seven styles, work slowly through the images—small adjustments to tension or placement can make a huge difference. For fine hair, tease lightly at the roots or use a volumizing powder; for thick hair, work in smaller sections and secure with strong pins. Maintain healthy ends with regular trims and treat hair to a deep-conditioning mask weekly if you use heat often. If you want personalized tweaks or a demo, book an in-salon consult—Id love to help you adapt any of these easy looks to your unique hair. —Lena