Long hair can look fantastic when it is left flowing down your back … but if you are at a wedding all day and evening, at work or outside in a breeze, it can be a nightmare. Luckily, with all that hair, there are lots of ideas on how to style it up and away from your neck (think pin up starts of the 1940s and 50s for inspiration). This article looks at just a few pin up hairstyles for long hair to get your started.
1. The braided bun
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Combine three classic styles – a pony tail, plait/braid and a bun – all in one chic up do. Long hair can be kept away from your face and neck and look neat and tidy. Simply brush back your hair into a ponytail at the middle, center of your head, and secure with a hair tie. Braid the ponytail all the way down to the bottom and secure this with another hair tie.
Simply wrap the braid around the top knot and secure with plenty of grips or a large hair bobble. With long hair, the weight of the bun can be quite heavy and this is why it is important to secure it carefully to avoid it falling out during the day or evening.
This has been a top hair style since the pin up girl days of the first half of the 1900s. They knew exactly how to efficiently put their long hair up and tied back while looking stylish at the same time.
It looks professional and fun, and if the saying ‘out of sight, out of mind’ is true – then this hairstyle will leave you free to enjoy your day without having to worry about your long hair blowing out of place or getting knotty (except the knot you styled yourself, of course!)
2. Top knot
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A variation on the braided bun, which is usually in the middle (center) of the back of your head or even worn lower down against the nape of the neck, the top knot starts in a very high ponytail. Simply brush up your hair into a high ponytail and wrap the hair around it loosely, securing with pins.
While this style doesn’t suit everybody (and can look a little top heavy), it can be a great way to get all that hair out of the way but still look fashionable. If you choose not to wrap the hair in a bun, simply wear it as a loose high ponytail and maybe finish with a pretty ribbon bow or fancy hair tie or clip.
3. French braid
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A French braid (or hair divided into two French braids) is basically the same as a normal braid or plait but secured to the head. When you divide your pony tail or sectioned hair into three pieces and start twisting them over each other, simply scrape some hair from the sides into the braid each time.
It can be a little tricky at first, but there are some great video tutorials online. This look has been a classic for years. It can look formal and professional, or hippy and boho, depending on how neat you tie it and what you wear it with. The best part is, once it’s been secured like this for a few hours, you can untie it for some effortless wavy hair (minus the heat appliances).
If you are at a wedding or presentation, you could wear the hair in a French braid for the day or ceremony and down for the evening or party. It’s the perfect combination hairstyle for long hair.
4. The quiff
Get all that long hair away from your face with a quiff (or poof). Basically, the front section of your hair will be in a bouffant (similar to the wartime era or the 50s hair styles). Long hair means extra weight and volume.
Simply grab around three inches of hair from your crown to the front of your hair line and push up to create volume and pin in place. With the remaining hair, take a section from each side and twist around and clip back. The section remaining can be left down and curled or secured in a side ponytail.
The quiff helps make this elegant and timeless hairstyle have a modern twist and looks great with party make up (think heavy eyeliner and dark eye shadows).
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Some styles never get old, and the timeless classics last the length of time for a reason. In the war time, most women had very long hair but tended to style it up on a regular basis. It was rare that they kept long hair loose.
For this reason, they are the best hair-spiration (think the pin-up models with tight curls and lots of hair grips securing the hair neatly). Those hairstyles are copied time and time again, and many celebrities wear the looks at red carpet events to add old-style glamour to their appearance.
The best part of having long hair is being able to experiment with hair styles that can be achieved without needing to change them so that your hair ‘fits’ or without needing to add any hair extensions. If you have the length, you can have some fun with styling and seeing what suits you best.
It might be a good idea to enlist the help of a friend when you start, who can help you with the back of your head and the bits you can’t see or reach. While long hair looks fantastic flowing down and care free, it can look equally attractive pinned up and styled effectively.
Have you got long hair? What’s your best pin up hairstyle? Who do you look to for inspiration on long hair pin up styles? Share your ideas with our readers who can try them out themselves!