5 Small Hair Updates That Make A Big Impact

"A loop is a nice change from a basic ponytail. It's not too formal or structured, and it looks great with a backless dress," says New York City hairstylist Jennifer Yepez, who created the looks for this story. For a sleek look, do a blowout then apply a hair serum from mid-shaft to the ends for extra polish and shine. Pull your hair back and start to make a regular ponytail, but don't pull the tail all the way through. Grab a piece of hair from the loop, wrap it around your elastic band and secure it with a pin.

What makes D.I.Y. blowouts so tricky is all the hand-mirror-eye coordination required when working with a round brush. An easier approach? Just use your fingers. "Brushless blow dries give an interesting appearance to the hair because the natural texture comes through—it has more depth," says Kevin Mancuso, Global Creative Director for Nexxus New York Salon Care. Spritz damp hair with a heat protector then use your hands to create tension as you blow dry all over. If you want more body, apply a root-lifter before you start straightening . When you finish, "It'll look like 'wow, her hair just does that,' says Mancuso.

On a busy morning, it's easy to fall back on a quick ponytail, but a braided bun is fresher—and just as easy. Prep your hair with a thickener then pull hair up into a high ponytail. Make a braid and secure the end with a small elastic. Gently loosen up the braid, wrap it around and pin.

Adding an oversized clip to your hair is not only on-trend (the look was all over the spring runways), it takes all of 30 seconds to do— perfect for when you're running from your desk to dinner.

A simple black ribbon instantly elevates any hair-off-the-face look. For this style, apply a body-booster for fullness and grip before you pull your hair up. Rub some oil or a serum onto your ends for smoothness then tie on your ribbon. Voila!