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How to create a slick updo

My training with various hairstylists and trainers, has let me in on a good few secrets, or ‘tips of the trade’, as they call it. I hope you will find some of these useful.

Photographs and Text: Weddings By Nicolette

Before creating any hairstyle, it is always best to consider the condition of the hair.  For instance, styling freshly-washed hair is very tricky to work with, as the hair is very soft, making it difficult to grasp when styling, as well as increasing the likelihood of the hairstyle not holding or ‘dropping’ as we call it.  Best is to wash your hair the night before you need to style your hair for a special occasion or especially for your wedding day.

Preparing the hair is also important.  A light misting of a heat-protection spray is recommended before flat-ironing your hair.  Do not overload your hair with product, as it could make your hair look oily after flat-ironing.  I love the heat protection spray from GHD, available at good hair salons.

Possibly the best invention to tame fly-away hair, is the use of hairspray.  Nothing beats a spritz of the best-selling hair product on the market.  My personal favourite (and millions of other people too, including top hairstylists), is Elnett by L’Oreal.  I love it because it holds the style, looks completely natural, and brushes out perfectly at the end of the day, without flaking and leaving the hair feeling ‘crispy’.  The ‘crispy-feeling’ is often also a result of over-spraying.  With the Elnett hairspray, you can spray the hair lightly before styling, as it helps the hair to flow in the direction you are styling it.

After all the preparation work, we can now begin to create a simple slick updo! 

This is actually a very easy hairstyle to create!  The hairstyle in the images provided, was created using these simple steps below.


  • Step 1: Section your hair by leaving out a piece for a side path (if you wish to have one), or simply brush all the hair back into a ponytail.  Remember to consider the height of the ponytail, as this will be the height of your finished hairstyle.

  • Step 2: Take a small piece of hair from your ponytail and wrap it around the elastic band, to cover the colour of the band.  Secure with a bobby pin/grip by sliding the pin horizontally into the ponytail.

  • Step 3: Divide your ponytail into 3 or 4 sections and tease each section, to ensure you get volume.  When done, gently comb all the teased sections into one, but only lightly comb the top of the hair, otherwise you will brush out the volume (and your comb may get stuck in the bird’s nest you just created!).  Let go of your ponytail.

  • Step 4: If you have a side path, comb it neatly and pin it down the side of the hair, only using the minimum amount of hair pins you need, as they will be visible.  Use hairspray to secure the side path and tame fly-away hairs.  (PS: a middle-path is not a good option for this look).  Secure the ends of the side path by wrapping it around the pony tail if the hair is very long.

  • Step 5: Take your teased pony tail and flip it forward and over the elastic band, securing it with pins above the elastic band.  When you let the ponytail go, you will see that you have now ‘raised’ the height of the volume. 

  • Step 6: Gently gather the ends of the ponytail, and tuck them in underneath.  Use pins to secure, whilst bearing the shape of the bun you are creating, in mind.  You should also pin the sides of the bun, so no short pieces come loose.  Spritz the entire style with hairspray.  You can also finish with a gloss finishing spray, but do not be heavy-handed with it, as it can make the hair look oily.

As a ‘cheat’, you can use a hairpiece clipped onto your existing ponytail, which will give you added volume and length to work with.  Just be sure to find the matching hair colour and secure the hairpiece so that it does not fall out!  

And there you have it, a ‘slick updo’ with a teased bun on the back.  This look was very popular with brides I worked with overseas, especially brunettes, as the hairstyle is quite strong and severe, suiting someone with stronger features.  Blondes can certainly wear this look as well, but it creates a totally different feel, and personally, I prefer an interpretation of this look for blondes, creating much more volume on the bun, or using curls instead, as this photographs beautifully.

Until next time, happy-hairstyling!

Nicolette
Weddings By Nicolette

© Weddings By Nicolette

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