Messy is the new sexy!

Women are starting to go for a more carefree and natural look, whether for a formal event or just a casual day out. With the right accessories and know-how, you can create a unique hairstyle to match your personality that’s easy and flattering.

A tousled up-do is one of my favorite hairstyles, especially if you have thick and unruly hair because you will get that natural volume while keeping that big mane under control. Just a few bobby pins and a hair tie will help you achieve this look. To add volume and interest you can use rollers or a large barrel curling iron before pinning it up. A layered haircut works best for a messy up-do if you want to have a few loose strands and flyways, and the bigger, the better! Volume, volume, volume. Tease it, twist it, curl it, and then spray it.

A messy, loose braided hairstyle is also becoming popular, especially the fishtail braid off to one side with lots of volume in the crown. A bohemian style braid is the perfect natural and easy-to-do braid for women with long, thick, and wavy hair.

Getting The Look

Wearing your hair down can be a little trickier to get that perfectly tousled style, depending on your hair type and thickness. For those of you ladies with thin hair, dry your hair upside down to get more volume. It isn’t necessary to dry it all the way either. Afterwards, tease the roots, and take a few select strands with your curling iron or rollers and give them a slight curl on the ends. Use a little bit of hairspray to keeps those curled strands in place.

For those of us with gobs and gobs of thick hair, you can blow dry your hair strait down and then use a comb to tease the crown if you choose to do so. With your thicker hair you can use a larger barreled curling iron or rollers to get the perfect amount of natural looking curl. Use plenty of products to tame any frizz. My personal favorite is It’s a 10, Miracle Leave In Product.

The great thing about a messy hairstyle is that it takes less time, and obviously doesn’t have to be perfect! You can experiment with your hair and have a new tousled style for every day of the week.

I got really inspired after making this post and decided to do my own messy up-do! So easy. After blow drying I used a 1 1/2 inch curling iron and quickly put some curls into large sections of my hair, teased the crown area, and then just used a single hair band to pull it back:

How To Create A Messy Side Swept Up-do: