5 Post-Shower 'Dos That Are Stunning

When we see the darlings of the red carpet strut their perfectly-coiffed stuff for the cameras, we assume it took a team of highly-trained professionals several hours to tease and tame their tresses into submission. But, more often than we realize, intricate-looking hairstyles are a cinch to replicate.

If you've ever resorted to a sad ponytail on those days you just don't have time, you're in good company. But if you want to look like you're trying, or feel like you're walking a red carpet (even if it's just the office hallway), there's a few simple 'dos that you should give a shot.

So, next time you start to get updo envy, try one of these chic styles you can do right out of the shower. Fair warning: The time you save with these how-to's might be taken up fielding "Who's your stylist?" questions all day. (Who are we kidding? It's totally worth it.)

The Romantic Wraparound Braid

Styling time: ~10 minutes

With wet or dry hair, make a deep side part. On the side with most of your hair, start a traditional, loose three-piece braid near the top of your head, guide it around the side, and to the back of your head. Braid to the ends and secure with an elastic.

Tuck the ends of the braid under the braid in the back. Use bobby pins to secure if necessary. Gently tug the sides of your braid if you want to loosen it more. For a messier, more casual look, leave the ends of the braid out, like Ashley Greene, above.

The Mod Chignon

Styling time: ~15 minutes

On damp hair, apply mousse or sculpting gel for hold. Gather the top half of your hair and backcomb it with a rat-tail comb. Smooth the sides (but not too much), and secure the top half of your hair with an elastic, leaving a couple of sections of hair out on each side. Gather the bottom section of your hair into a low ponytail. Join the twist from the top ponytail into the low ponytail.

Twist combined hair into a low bun and secure with bobby pins. Loosely twist the tendrils you left out of the top section and pin them near the base of the bun. Leaving things a bit messy is okay here. Spray lightly with hairspray (and shine spray if you want) to finish.

The Headband Roll

Styling time: ~5 minutes

A headband is an easy way to dress up any hairstyle, but this one in particular uses the headband in its construction. For this one, you'll want hair to be mostly dry. Place the headband over your hair, wherever you want it to lay.

Starting on one side of the head, tuck hair into the headband, all the way around. Roll your hair into itself until the roll is the size you want it. Voila. Doesn't get any easier than that.

The Fishtail Braid Ponytail

Styling time: ~10 minutes

Gather your hair into a ponytail in the middle of the head. Tease hair at the nape first, if you want extra volume. Then, divide the hair in your ponytail into two sections. Grab a quarter inch piece from the outside of one section, bring it to the middle, and add it to the opposite section.

Repeat the same motion on the other side. Keep doing this until you reach the ends. Add a second elastic at the base of the braid to secure. Finish with hairspray to tame flyaways for a more sleek look, or rough up the braid a bit for more casual texture. Add statement earrings for bonus points.

The Waterfall Braid

Styling time: ~10 minutes

This is one of the prettiest styles of braids, and few people try it. But, it's incredibly simple. With wet or dry hair, take two pieces of hair near one of your temples and cross the section of hair along your hairline over the other section, so it's going away from your face. Take a new section from the top of your head, and let it fall on top of the section you're holding away from your face. Take the bottom section and pull it over the middle section (the one you just let fall).

Then, take another piece from the top of your head and let it fall through those two pieces (the same two you were holding before). Repeat these steps until your waterfall braid is the length you want it. To create the full-head braid shown above, taper your waterfall braid off with a regular three-piece braid towards the back of the head, secure with an elastic, and pin it below your hair. Then, do the same on the other side.

Images: jacky_pink08/flickr