10 No-Style Hair Ideas That Look Amazing

(Image credit: Getty Images)

By Chelsea Peng published 14 February 17

Unlike the elusive bobby pin (you've either got a whole pack or you can't even find one, amirite?), the elastic never lets you down. But real talk: Even though you've always got one at the ready, do you *ever* use it for anything other than a messy bun/pony? Add a few more looks to your repertoire from the ones ahead, and never crawl on the floor desperately searching for a tiny piece of bent metal again.

1/5

The Low-Slung Loop

Most of us would arrange it so the loop rests at the nape of the neck, but there's a certain charm to falling-out styles, as seen at Derek Lam. Just make sure your outfit is more apéritif than après-gym—high-low, and all that.

2/5

The Vertical Bow

Another loop...with a twist, har har. At Ryan Roche Fall 2017, stylist James Pecis bricoleur-ed a Topsy Tail, but with some care and practice, you could invert your pony without a special tool, then fold the tail onto itself, sticking the ends through the elastic to make a north-south bow.

3/5

The Conjoined Twists

At Prabal Gurung, hair on each side of the head was twisted, then brought together at the back. Run your hair back to front over the crown for flyways, which, no, are *romantic,* not embarrassing.

4/5

The Conjoined Braids

Yup, mega pretty wedding hair that only requires one elastic. (If you replaced the pins here with a clear band, that is.)

5/5

The Wet Knot

Trying this on actual wet hair not advised (stretching, breakage, etc.), but on product-dampened tresses à la Skylar Grey at the Grammys? Yes, please. Apply your conditioning treatment of choice, comb through for even distribution/those cool tooth tracks, then make a loop with the ends on top. Fold those over and tuck in for a ripply effect.

Chelsea Peng

I'm Chelsea Peng, the assistant editor at MarieClaire.com. On my tombstone, I would like a GIF of me that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, I'm into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard I have to go lie down.