Knotty and Nice: 7 easy hairstyle tutorials

This post is for Livia Rachelle, and for any of the rest of you girls who wonder about new and interesting ways to do your hair, or the way I do mine. More often than not, people will look at the way I do my hair and sigh and say:

"I could never get my hair to do that!"

And ladies, I'm a firm believer in the fact that such groanings and moanings are a lie. You can do what I do with my hair, because face it: I'm a busy girl with little time and never-enough-hairpins who can't stand to use hairspray or straighten or curl her hair. Which means that the rest of you can do exactly what I do with my hair--and more. 

My #1 secret to gorgeous hairstyles?

The Knot. 

I use either of two knots:

The one-strand knot: (i.e. loop it around your fingers and pull the end through)

The two-strand knot. (i.e. like the start of tying your shoe-laces.)

I don't have exceptionally long hair. It's about to the middle of my back or a little higher.

I would say my hair is completely average: average texture, thickness, length, and all. So keep the faith up! 

In the rest of this post I'm showing you 7 different hairstyles built entirely off of either of those two simple knots. All you will need are some bobby pins and occasionally a hair-band.

Okay! Let's start!

#1: The Knotted Pony-Tail.

I brought both sides of my hair back and tied a two-strand double-knot. Like what you do when you're tying your shoes extra tight. Then I fastened the bottom with a pony-tail holder and voila! It's finished. Very cute, and a great way to take up length in your hair during the summer!

#2: Half-Up Knot

I took one strand from either side of my head and tied a two-strand knot, then pinned it against my head, leaving the rest of my hair down. This is a really pretty, really simple style.

#3: Sweet Vintage Knot

I did this one very quickly and without enough hairpins so the bottom is slumping. But as you can see I did the exact same thing as the half-up knot, I just used all my hair and tucked the ends beneath the bun as I pinned. :)

#4: The College-Knot

For this perky, preppy style just gather your hair into a really high ponytail on the  crown of your head with a hair-band. Take the hair and twist it into a long rope, then tie the rope in that one-strand knot, tucking the ends under the rest and pinning in place! 

#5: Double-Knots

Divide your hair in half, and tie each half into a single-strand knot. Pin the knot in place, and the let the ends stay down. This is a very cute style I just invented today, and rather like. ^.^ It makes me feel sporty, which is about the rarest feeling for this girl to have.

 #6: Romantic Knots

For those of you who love Downton Abbey, listen up, because this is a style that could easily go for a Downton-esque outfit. This seemingly complicated (and rather formless style, since I was in a rush) is made up entirely of one-strand knots. Literally that's all you do. Tie a bunch of knots all over your head and coil the ends around, and pin them in place so they don't die and flop and unravel. Just knots. I think I made about six. Easy as ABC.

#7: Low-Slung Knot

This is just a single strand knot incorporating all my hair. I gathered the hair into a my hand, twisted it, tied it, and tucked the ends before pinning. I like this. It's casual, cozy, and cute all at once. :)

Simplicity.

So, girls, these seven styles are just a couple of the ideas I came up with in the half-hour or so I spent messing with my hair this afternoon to formulate this post. The Knot is one of the most versatile hair-styling techniques, as it can be styled tight and preppy or loose and romantic. 

Try these, or styles of your own, and let me know how they work out for you!