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3 Perfectly Effortless Styles for Medium Length Hair Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
I recently cut about six inches off my hair — a liberating experience which I highly recommend — and ever since, I’ve been at a loss as to how to style it. With medium length hair, shorter pieces escape from chignons, braids are a challenge, and even a simple ponytail can look a bit…off (mine always flips out to one side). But despite the setbacks, rocking a shoulder-length style doesn’t have to mean wearing it the same way every day. To add some new looks to my repertoire, I headed to NYC’s Mizu salon, where stylist Lena An walked me through three effortlessly chic ‘dos that are totally easy to replicate on not-quite-long, not-quite-short locks.
Shot on location at Mizu New York, 505 Park Avenue, New York City. 212-688-6498; mizuforhair.com.
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Before Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Before starting any of these styles, you'll want to make sure your hair is wavy, whether that means curling it with an iron or working with your natural texture. "When hair is wavy, it creates fullness and covers up imperfections and mistakes," An says.
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What You'll Need Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
You'll also want to have the right tools on hand: strong bobby pins, small hair elastics and a teasing comb. A good texturizing spray will help give slippery hair more grip. An recommends Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($42) or Bumble and bumble Thickening Hair Spray ($28). A finishing hairspray is also helpful to hold the finished style in place.
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The Half-Up Knot Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
With not-so-long hair, a half-up style can stick out awkwardly if you secure it with a clip or an elastic. This double-knotted style keeps hair in place and looks chic from the back.
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The Half-Up Knot: Step 1 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Tease hair at the crown for a bit of lift. I normally skip this step, but from now on I won't. I'm convinced teasing makes all the difference between a "meh" hairstyle and one that looks like a hairdresser did it. It's less about creating "big hair" than it is about giving the style essential shape and structure.
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The Half-Up Knot: Step 2 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Gather hair on both sides of your temples. Going a little higher up on the head tends to be more flattering than pulling hair back tightly right above the ears. (P.S. Are you dying over Lena's magnetic bobby pin bracelet? Here's a similar one you can buy.)
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The Half-Up Knot: Step 3 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Tie the two sections into a simple knot at the back of the head.
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The Half-Up Knot: Step 4 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Now tie them in a double knot and secure with pins. (A double knot looks cooler and more knot-like than a single one.)
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The Half-Up Knot: Step 5 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Loosen some pieces to create a flattering shape. A comb with long, skinny teeth is the perfect tool for this, but you can also use your fingers.
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The Half-Up Knot: Step 6 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
You know those annoying short pieces that always fall out of your hairstyle? Here's how An takes care of them: Twist the tendril and stick a bobby pin on the end...
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The Half-Up Knot: Step 6 (continued) Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
...then hide it under the hair.
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The Half-Up Knot: Final Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
The finished look works as well for a weekday as it does for all those summer weddings you've been invited to.
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The Flipped Ponytail Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
The less length your hair has, the more likely your ponytail is to stick straight out or look stubby — not always the look you're going for. This simple flipped style turns that problem on its head.
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The Flipped Ponytail: Step 1 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Tease your hair at the crown (just like in the first style) and gather hair into a low ponytail. Secure with an elastic.
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The Flipped Ponytail: Step 2 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Make a hole in the hair above the elastic and pull the end of your ponytail through the top of the hole.
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The Flipped Ponytail: Step 3 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Secure any shorter pieces that have come loose.
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The Flipped Ponytail: Final Look Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
It's that easy, folks. A quick flip makes a ponytail look 10 times more pulled together.
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The Triple Chignon Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Since cutting off my hair, I've had to adjust my technique for making a bun — now it's not long enough to coil a ponytail into a knot. This technique works much better.
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The Triple Chignon: Step 1 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Start by teasing your hair at the crown if you haven't already. Then use clips to section off hair into three parts.
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The Triple Chignon: Step 2 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Using elastics, secure hair into three ponytails. Twist hair on one side to add a rolled detail if you like.
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The Triple Chignon: Step 3 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Tease each ponytail slightly to add volume.
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The Triple Chignon: Step 4 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Twist and coil the middle ponytail into a bun. Secure with pins.
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The Triple Chignon: Step 5 Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Repeat on the other two ponytails.
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The Triple Chignon: Final Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
The great thing about this style is that you can make it as polished or messy as you want.
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