My Effortless Engagement Party Updo That's Perfect for Events (And Shockingly Simple)
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve ventured outside with an updo.
It’s not for lack of trying; believe me, she’s tried. But between my fine, sparse strands and the Olympic workout required, I usually wave the white flag by step two.
RIP to my non-existent biceps.
Recently, though, my hair has entered its “I’m growing it, can you tell?” era. Suddenly, there’s a bit more to play with.
So when my engagement party rolled around and I found a top with a back that screamed “Show me off,” I decided to give the elusive updo another shot.
Enter: my colleague and bestie, Ally (read: that girl all over Adore’s social feeds).
Recently, she sported the sweetest updo at a friend’s wedding and couldn’t stop raving about how simple it was to recreate.
“It’s easy,” she insisted mid-dance-floor twirl, bubbles in hand. “I just copied this TikTok video.”
But here’s the thing about Ally: she makes most things a competition and insists she will win every time. (And to be fair, she usually does… so annoying).
So when she said “Easy,” I was suspicious, but special occasions and a statement back called, so I decided to give it a try.
What You’ll Need.
Besides how effortlessly chic this look is, my favourite part is that it barely requires any products or tools to put together; just a few essentials, most of which you should already have in your kit.
I’ve included the specific products I used for my look below, including the ones I used in my hair prep routine, but feel free to sub out any of them for choices of your own.
My fine hair’s number one priority is volume, especially for a look like this. So I specifically reached for products that would give me that va-va-voom.
Essentials:
- 2-3 hair ties
- A bunch of bobby pins
- Curling wand/tong
- Hairbrush (preferably boar bristle)
Follow along below to watch me create my updo in real time.
Products I used:
Optional extras include: a delicious beverage to keep morale up; I opted for an iced oat latte with caramel syrup because hydration is key, obviously.
Oh, and a healthy dose of optimism and perseverance–practice makes perfect!
The 5-Step Updo Routine.
Step 1: Prep Your Hair.
Good hair starts with good prep. For volume and hold, fine hair needs grip.
If you’re working with freshly washed hair like I was, start in the shower. I gave mine a solid cleanse with Virtue’s Flourish Shampoo and Conditioner and followed up with a spritz of Davines OI Milk for softness and heat protection.
If your hair is already dry (day one or two works great), add texture and volume with a spray or mousse.
ColorWOW’s Volumizer is my go-to.
Step 2: Section the Front.
Using a comb (or your fingers), separate the front section of your hair—this will frame your face later. Clip or tie it up to keep it out of the way.
Pull the rest of your hair back into a high ponytail, using a boar bristle brush to smooth down flyaways for that sleek finish.
The evo Tyler Boar Bristle Teasing Brush is great for this!
Step 3: Pull Upwards & Tie.
Here comes the slightly tricky bit (can you tell by my cute concentration face?)
You’re going to take your ponytail, pull it upward, and scrunch it into a loose bun—kind of like you’re the claw in one of those arcade machines.
Don’t worry about perfection—the messier, the better. Gather any stray pieces and secure the bun loosely with a hair tie.
It’ll look a little chaotic at this point. Trust the process.
Step 4: Bobby Pin, Repeat.
This is where the magic happens.
Grab your bobby pins and go to town on that bun. Pin stray pieces in place, twist sections to create shape, and tug at others to get that perfectly undone look.
There’s no right or wrong here—play around until it looks artfully messy.
Release the front section you clipped earlier, split it in half, and pin the back half into the bun. Use your boar bristle brush to smooth it into place.
Step 5: Curl & Finish.
The final touches are key.
Use your curling wand to add soft curls to the front framing pieces (and any loose sections). Don’t panic if they look too ‘done’ at first; they’ll drop naturally into a relaxed, lived-in wave.
Finish with a light mist of texture spray or hairspray to keep your updo secure but not stiff.
I personally love the Davines MORE INSIDE Dry Texturizer 250g
Pro tip: For flyaways, an unused toothbrush with a spritz of sea salt spray works like a charm (a Jo Fleming classic).
I also like to pack my pocket pal R+Co Dart Pomade Stick in my handbag to tame those pesky flyaways on the go.
Watch the TikTok Video That Made This Easy.
If my explanations feel a little abstract, I feel you. Watch the original TikTok that inspired both Ally and me to retry the updo.
@abbybaffoe Replying to @linda.bernardez20 Too good- Save this one to try ☺️😌😚 #updotutorial #updo #updohairstyle #weddinghair #weddingupdo #weddinghairinspo #hairtutorial #hairideas #hairinspo #weddingseason ♬ Chill Vibes - Tollan Kim
Final Verdict: Is It Worth the Arm Workout?
I’ll be honest: It took me a couple of tries to nail this look. But as a serial perfectionist, I’ve learned the secret to this updo (and most beauty routines) is to let go and trust the process.
The result? An effortlessly chic hairstyle that stayed in place from 11am to 11pm—no biceps required.
And judging by my partner’s double take and my friends’ compliments, it was well worth the effort.
Who knew a TikTok-inspired bun could make us feel this put together?
Looking for more event-ready looks? Here are a few we prepared earlier...
