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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.)

Tie the two sections into a simple knot at the back of the head.

Now tie them in a double knot and secure with pins. (A double knot looks cooler and more knot-like than a single one.)

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.

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...

...then hide it under the hair.

The finished look works as well for a weekday as it does for all those summer weddings you've been invited to.

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.

Tease your hair at the crown (just like in the first style) and gather hair into a low ponytail. Secure with an elastic.

Make a hole in the hair above the elastic and pull the end of your ponytail through the top of the hole. 

Secure any shorter pieces that have come loose.

It's that easy, folks. A quick flip makes a ponytail look 10 times more pulled together.

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.

Start by teasing your hair at the crown if you haven't already. Then use clips to section off hair into three parts.

Using elastics, secure hair into three ponytails. Twist hair on one side to add a rolled detail if you like.

Tease each ponytail slightly to add volume.

Twist and coil the middle ponytail into a bun. Secure with pins.

Repeat on the other two ponytails.

The great thing about this style is that you can make it as polished or messy as you want.