These romantic styles don't require much time or squeaky-clean strands.
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This is the perfect style to rock if you're hanging out by the shore, since the salty air will give your strands great texture for braiding, says Gorman. If you're not near the beach, you can fake that texture by misting a sea-salt spray through damp strands (a good one: David Babaii for WildAid Bohemian Beach Spray) and letting hair air-dry. Then do a fishtail braid: Divide your hair in half, and hold the left side in your left hand and right side in your right hand. Pull a half-inch section of hair from the outside of the right side and add it to the inside of the left side. Repeat with a piece from the outside of the left side, adding it to the inside of the right side. Continue adding half-inch pieces down to your ends, and secure with an elastic. Position the braid over your shoulder, then tug out a few pieces around your face for a breezy effect (or just let the wind do its thing).
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You know how you twist your hair when you're bored on a lazy day? That's the key trick to this style, according to NYC stylist Leon Gorman, who created the looks seen here. Make a low side ponytail, leaving a few pieces loose around your face. Twist the length of your ponytail, and wrap it into a figure-eight shape — smoosh it up against your scalp, and tuck the ends into the loop. Insert a few hairpins or tiny barrettes to lock it all in place. Finish with a mist of lightweight hair spray that'll give you extra hold minus any stickiness. We like Paul Mitchell Worked Up, $14.95.
3 Over-the-Shoulder Curls
If you just dunked your head in water (from the ocean, the pool, or your tub), you can do this style in two seconds, no blow-drying necessary. Just work a non-oily wax (our pick: Sally Hershberger Genius Spray Wax) into damp strands to create hold, advises Gorman, and wrap medium-size sections into loose coils all around your head. Gather everything to one side, and let your strands air-dry on their own. Keep your hair in position by crisscrossing a few bobby pins at the nape of your neck. When you're ready to loosen up, shake out your coils into softer, more touchable waves.
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Embrace your inner slacker and opt for this style when you've just rolled out of bed. "If your hair's too clean, it will be slippery and won't have enough grip," explains Gorman. If you've just shampooed, rub some mousse into dry roots to get some gritty (in a good way) texture. Try Sexy Hair Organics Volumizing Mousse. Next, use a comb to tease strands around the crown to build volume. Make a side part, and sweep back the top half of your hair. Push the section up slightly to form a small bump before securing with bobby pins. Brush strands to smooth out weird pieces, but don't make it perfect. "It should look a little rough," says Gorman.
See more at: Cosmopolitan
