Once upon a time, while doomscrolling through X (or Twitter, at the time), I found a tweet that said to look put together, you should always ensure your hair is fully styled. The statement has haunted me since, as I'm the queen of quick, easy hairstyles that require little to no effort.
I have long, unpredictable, curly hair that is prone to dryness and frizz. So, while I could spend hours using hot tools or dozens of hair products and styling creams, I prefer to grab a headband, hair tie, or clip to style and pull together my hair in under five minutes. As a busy editor running between appointments, shows, and the office, I—along with other Marie Claire editors—often find myself resorting to the same tried-and-true quick hairstyles day after day.
Let it be known that quick doesn't mean unkempt. Ahead, the Marie Claire team shares go-to easy hairstyles that have us looking chic in seconds.
A Half Up, Half Down Ponytail
A half up, half down style cools Ulubay off while showing off length, but it also boosts her confidence.
"This hairstyle is not just my office staple, but it also became my go-to during a night out with friends," confesses Marie Claire's beauty writer Gabrielle Ulubay. "I was wearing my hair loose and overheating in the poorly ventilated bar. My friend watched me tie my hair up and let it back down repeatedly before finally suggesting, Why don't you tie it half-up? This simple yet effective hairstyle not only cooled me off while showing off my length, but it also boosted my confidence. On days when I have a lot of time or want to look more polished, I carefully pull half my hair up using a rat tail comb and slick down the half-pony with gel. However, when I'm on the go, I simply separate the top half of my hair with my fingers and tie it up with a silk scrunchie. Pro tip: The higher on your head you put the half pony, the less noticeable any bumps will be! This hairstyle is all about practicality and versatility, empowering you to look your best in any situation."
An Unfussy Bun
Tonelli argues that this style looks better when not looking into a mirror while creating it.
"This is my five-second, fail-safe, unfussy favorite," Marie Claire's associate director of social media Lucia Tonelli says of this mini updo. "All you need is a hair tie and some barrettes for baby hairs (or a little pop of color) if you're feeling fancy. Part your hair down the middle, grab two front-framing pieces of hair, drape them forward, then run your fingers through the rest of the hair and tie it up into a bun, giving it a little tug to tighten and heighten it. I typically do this hairstyle without a mirror and argue that the style turns out better when you’re not looking!"
A Claw Clip
LeSavage prefers wearing her hair down instead of wearing it up.
"I strongly prefer wearing my hair down to wearing it up," says senior editor Halie LeSavage. "But on some mornings, it's just not giving enough volume or shine to look professional. That's when I'll pull my hair into a half-up, half-down with a claw clip. In one step, it instantly feels more polished—at this point, I can even do it half-asleep. All I have to do is pull my bangs out to the front and brush two top sections on either side of my part into a ponytail, leaving the bottom half of my hair down. Then I secure the upper section at the back of my head with my clip."
A Retro Headband
Childs wears thick black headbands to keep her hair away from her face.
"I am lazy with my hair," admits style editor Emma Childs. "I've always known this to be true, and instead of trying to push myself out of my comfort zone, I fully embrace meeting myself at my lazy level. When I can't be bothered to do anything or perhaps am in between washes, I spray on some dry shampoo, slip on my beloved and basic stretchy headband, and call it a day."
Air Dried With a Middle Part
Holzman prefers to air dry her hair and not use any styling products.
"My hair is naturally wavy/curly, and I like to lean into it, especially as the weather warms up and I can ditch the tools," style director Sara Holzman explains. "My go-to hairstyle is really simple. I let my hair air dry, don't use any product (although I probably should!), and go with a middle part. Depending on the weather, I let it do its thing—it gets extra curly and frizzy in the rain, but I embrace its wild, slightly unkempt look."
Knotless Braids
Delaney happily spends five hours getting knotless braids on the weekend if it only takes five minutes to style her hair during the week.
"Ah, behold, my tresses! Five hours well-spent at my favorite Harlem African braiding shop, crafting small/medium bohemian knotless braids for the brown skin baddies," social media associate Ashlyn Delaney says of her chic protective style. "A little tugging, a few butt aches, but oh, the sweet reward: Two months of carefree mornings without the thought of, Ugh, I have to do my hair still."
She explains how this style became her go-to: "Let's rewind to my high school days when my hair was my enemy—until sophomore year when I discovered the magic of protective styling. Sure, I'm parked in that chair, trading part of my day for an easier morning routine, but then I get to wake up, take off my bonnet, dab on some mousse and gel, and bam—I’m out the door! My five-hour investment turns into a breezy five-minute morning."
Slicked Back Ponytail
Tappan relies on a quick ponytail when she has limited styling time.
"You simply can't go wrong with a slicked-back ponytail," says fashion editor Lauren Tappan. "I tend to rely on this style if I'm rushing to prepare before work in the morning because barely any styling is involved. To get the look, part your hair down the middle, slick your strands back using a leave-in conditioner, gel, or pomade, and smooth out your roots with a trusty boar bristle brush. To spice things up, add a colorful scrunchie for a finishing touch!"
A Simple Braid
Marzovilla loosely braids her hair for an undone-in-a-cool-way vibe.
“I’ve been wearing my hair in braids since I was a little kid at summer camp," says commerce editor Julia Marzovilla. "What was once a set of two ultra-tight French braids has now evolved into something a little more relaxed—a looser, single option. I love it because it keeps my hair out of my face but lets my shorter layers hang down for an elevated, undone-in-a-cool-way vibe. To create the style, I split my hair down the back into three sections and braid it as normal before fastening it with whatever hair tie I have. If I feel really fancy, I’ll secure it with a bow.”
