26 Genius Ways to Wear an Updo If You Have a Bob

The intricacies of Stenberg's hairstyle combined with their honey blonde threaded through make it an incredibly beautiful updo. Vernon François created the 1920s-inspired look by knotting cornrows into a low bun, making sure to leave out enough braids at the front to mould into fingerwaves.

Charlize Theron showed us how to do an updo without having to tie up all your hair. Hairstylist Adir Abergel combed a side part into her bob, leaving most of her hair swept over and hanging down to one side. On the other side, however, is where things got interesting. Abergel created tiny plaits that ran from the part to the nape of her neck, which were then not only secured into a small ponytail, but also decorated with a metal barrette placed right at the back of her head.

If sleek and smooth isn't your thing, fear not, because Jennifer Lawrence proved that bobs can get in on the messy bun action, too. Instead of creating a topknot, keep lots of threads of hair loose at the front, (curl them to achieve the wave effect), then twirl the remaining hair into a low bun, pulling at individual strands to give it a messy finished look.

Got an important occasion that requires a little more of a fancy updo? Cara Delevingne has your inspiration covered. Her updo for the London screening of Carnival Row in 2019 was perfectly brushed up into a high bun and twisted together to create a topknot. What's really clever about Delevingne's look is that the accessory at the back acts as a clip for all of the loose pieces of hair that might not be long enough to fit into the bun. A smoothing product like Windle Shine & Smoothing Oil (£24), coupled with a stronghold hairspray, will also help keep all of the wispy pieces of hair in place.

On first glance Kristen Stewart's hair looks braided, but it's actually long pieces of black hair elastic woven through sections of gelled-back hair. If you want to try an updo that isn't as intricate as plaits but still has the same effect, give this looping style a go. Keep the rest of the hair hanging loose and piece-y to achieve the same style as Stewart.

If you have a slightly longer bob, why not try a mid-point bun? Hairstylist Jenny Cho smoothed Boynton's hair up into a bun right at the crown of the head, leaving a short centre part and two face-framing strands of hair hanging down to make the overall style feel more relaxed and less proper. If your hair feels a little too short, you can braid the back of the hair (or rope in a friend to help) from the base of the neck up to the bun to keep all of the little hairs in place — with the help of lots of hairspray, too.

Julianne Hough, as we know, is the queen of the short updo, and this latest look is no exception. It also saves you time as you only need to curl one side of your head. Create a messy side part over to one side, and then slick the narrow side back behind the ear with gel, pinning it down at the nape of the neck. Curl the rest of the hair with a wand and fluff it up with texturising spray for volume.

If you don't quite have enough hair for a ponytail, try this instead. Pull the longest strands from an asymmetric bob back to the nap of the neck, cross them over each other, and pin. Fan out the shorter hair underneath so it flicks around the ears.

You may need to enlist the help of a friend for this look, but if you can manage it, french plaits will keep even a short, choppy bob in order. Start with a centre parting and braid close to the scalp following a line about an inch above the hairline right down to the neck. Repeat on both sides, and pin the ends as neatly as you can.

Never underestimate the power of a good half-up, half-down look. On shorter hair, it's more playful and less bridal. Emilia Clarke kept it modern with body at the crown and some soft tendrils around the ears.

This modern bun shows how Rosamund Pike kept her sleek, straight bob looking supersharp: she had an undercut. The shorter hairs at the neck remove bulk at the back and also make it easier to create a bun like this without flyaways. If you have very thick hair, consider this cut to keep your look sharp whether you wear it up or down!

If you don't want to wear your hair completely up, set it on big hot rollers and then pin one side carefully behind one ear. It'll give an Old Hollywood look that works perfectly for a big event, and you hair only needs to be chin length for this to work.

Here's your day three hairstyle. If your strands have got to that point where they could really do with a wash but your natural oils have created some cool bends and waves, try this look to make the most of that. Dry shampoo or salt spray are the key here; spritz all the hair liberally but concentrate on the ends. Then slick it back off the face using a stretchy hairband (or three), flattening the front sections, and go wild with what's left. Technically, this isn't really an updo as all the hair at the back is loose; it's just been backcombed and teased into shape so it falls into the crown however you prefer. You can use straighteners to add a bend if you need more texture.

Demi Lovato's wet-look style is a cool way to make a bob look completely different. Dampen the hair, add plenty of mousse (don't rely just on water or gel, they'll both dry!), and sweep the whole lot back . . . all signs of parting. The secret is then to add lots and lots of shine spray on top to give it that just-out-of-the-pool sheen.

By creating an unusual parting, Margot Robbie changed up the look of her bob completely. The central section is sharply parted in line with each eyebrow and combed back as if it'll be pinned in a half-up style (see Rose Byrne, next). But instead of hair clips, spray and gel do the job of holding the hair in place. You get volume and interest, without the need for fussy accessories.

Rose Byrne's look is the easiest way to change up a short style and get your hair out of your face. If you have a tendency to tuck your hair behind your ears, try this look instead and save making those strands limp and greasy. Simply create a triangle shape of hair from either side of the forehead and back onto the top of the head, backcomb it very gently at the roots, then pin or secure with a clip at the back of the head. Don't clip it too close to the face or you'll end up with an '80s pompadour!

The tiniest and most intricate of plaits can completely change a short cut like Shailene Woodley's. For this look, put the hair in a centre parting, then begin a reverse french (dutch) plait by taking the hair under, rather than over, with each braid. Start with only a tiny bit of hair and gradually pull in more from above and below, working backwards to above the ear. Secure in place and fluff up by gently pulling at each section. The other side of the hair is then spritzed with texturising spray and swept back off the face.

Shorter cuts with layers are often too short to pull back into a sleek french twist, but this funky minitwist style is easy. Spray the hair with dry shampoo for grip and body, then pull your hair back in two-inch sections starting at the top, twisting, knotting, and pinning at random toward the crown and down toward the nape. Use hair spray or a dab of pomade to flatten down any flyaways at the sides.

Taylor Swift's Brit Awards 'do may look complicated, but actually it's one of the easiest of the lot. Her hair is simply tucked under at one side and pinned behind the ear. Think of it less as an "up" do and more as a "folded" do. All you need is enough hair at the neck to fold under.

As soon as your hair gets long enough to pull into a tiny ponytail, a messy bun like Gemma Arterton's becomes an option. Simply sweep the hair back into a ponytail with lots of hair spray, coil it as best you can (letting the short hairs pop out as much as you like) and pin at the nape of the neck with plenty of grips.

Emma Stone's long bob coiled into the perfect french pleat in Cannes, but the side view shows just how many grips were needed to pin the shorter sections. This look takes practice, and you'll need your top layers to be long enough to pull back to the crown. Split the hair in two, twist the bottom section tight against the head toward one ear, and pin. Then gently comb and guide the top section into a sideways coil (in the same direction as the bottom hair) using those longer pieces to cover the messy ends of the underneath. Sound impossible? This one may be best left to a hairstylist!