7 Glam and Easy Updos for Your Summer Wedding

Feeling elegant while you're flop-sweating in a reception tent in the middle of July is tricky. These simple-to-create styles can fix that.

By Brie Schwartz, Redbook

Feeling elegant while you're flop-sweating in a reception tent in the middle of July is tricky. These simple-to-create styles can fix that.

The undone chignon

The key here is to forget about perfection. "A style like Eva Longoria's shouldn't look fussy. It should appear effortless and sexy," says celebrity stylist Sacha Quarles—which means less time in front of the mirror. Prep the look by using Velcro rollers and a sea salt spray to create a beachy texture, then pull hair into a low ponytail. Mist one section at a time with hairspray, wind hair up to the base of your ponytail, and use matte bobby pins in the same color as your hair to secure the twists.

Fancy ponytail 

To mimic Freida Pinto's ultimate no-fuss look, start by applying a smoothing balm like Kerastase Form Fatale ($32) and blow-dry hair with a paddle brush. From there, make a low pony, take a quarter-inch section of hair below the elastic, wrap it around the hair tie and bobby pin ends into your ponytail. Finish with a shine spray—we like TIGI Bed Head Headrush ($20)—and a firm-hold hairspray.

Whimsical braided bun

Side knot 

As Kate Beckinsale knows, a loose, messy knot is the perfect complement to a flowing dress—and it takes just five minutes to do. Start by curling your hair with a large-barreled curling iron to add a wavy texture, instructs Jenny Strebe, creator of the D.I.Y. site Confessions of a Hairstylist. Move the section in front of your right ear to the front of your face and twist left, then repeat on the other side, creating a half-up/half-down look. Secure your twists left-center with bobby pins. Then divide the rest of your hair into two sections and create a knot. Continue working knots down to the ends and secure with elastic. Loop the tail of your knotted pony into your secured twists to create a bun, and secure with bobby pins.

The rope-braid bun 

Kerry Washington's softer take on the conventional (read: boring) ballerina bun is a sophisticated, sweat-proof way to pull your hair up. To start, tie your hair into a high ponytail, then split it in half and twist the two sections around each other, says Strebe. When you reach the ends, secure with an elastic. Now create a bun by draping your hair around that elastic. Pin in place with bobby pins and finish with a firm-hold spray.

The hair-raiser 

Perfect for short hair, this will add drama and elegance in seconds—just look what it did for Scarlett Johansson! Start by working in a mousse or gel to add texture and lift, then blow-dry. Take small sections of hair throughout the entire crown of your head and curl tightly with a one-inch curling iron, then pin with pin-curl clips throughout your head. Release the clips after five minutes, brush hair away from your face with your fingers only—that's the key!—and make a low, messy bun secured with bobby pins.

Messy fishtail updo 

While Taylor Swift's 'do does take some work, the results are totally worth it. Start with dry hair, and if yours is fine, curl it first to add texture, says Strebe. Next, section out hair from the bottom of your crown to your ear and clip away. Split the remaining top section in half and clip the other half away, too. Take one side of the still-down sections, create a ponytail, and secure with an elastic. Working on the same section, start a fishtail braid and secure with another elastic. Next, snip the elastic away and repeat the fishtail technique for your two pinned-away sections. Loosen each fishtail braid, fold it in half, and secure in place with bobby pins. Then drape one side braid across the back of your updo, secure with bobby pins, and repeat with the remaining braid. Finish with a coat of medium-hold hairspray.