Promises, promises.

Remember when I promised a tutorial for managing your hair in that awkward in-between stage?  Well, I would never break a promise to you, my devoted readers.  So here goes:

This is the look that inspired me.  It was published in NY Mag's Look Book (another place I fantasize about appearing one day...) and I tried and tried to replicate it, but I could never get the volume quite right.  It took me a few years to learn that the secret is a good old fashioned teasing. 

So, in the spirit of recently published messy bun tutorials a la Cup of Jo and Cupcakes and Cashmere, here's my version of the messy bun.

Don't be fooled by the apathetic look on my face.  I'm screaming for help on the inside.

The road to happiness is paved with a bottle of hairspray, a boar bristle brush, a hair band and bobby pins (pretend I'm holding those too.)  See, I'm smiling already.

Step 1: Pull hair into a tight and high pony.

Step 2: Channel the 80's and get to teasing.

Step 3: Spray the hell out of that teased mess. Yes ladies... bigger is indeed better.  (Take it from someone who knows.)

Step 4: Loop hair around and start pinning.

 Step 5: Keep wrapping hair and pinning.  There is no such thing as "too many bobby pins."

Step 6: Spray, a lot.

Although the finished product is not as good as I generally like it to be, this is about the time that my reluctant photographer had had about enough.  So, these final shots aren't great.  We were late for brunch and as he took the last shot he asked "you're not wearing your hair out like that, are you?"  Thanks honey, glad you like it.