12 Lazy-Girl Hairstyles That’ll Look Like You Put In Effort

By Taylor Smith & Powered By L’Oreal Professional Products Division

There are days when I wake up and think to myself: “Nope, not today.” I embrace the laziness, wait until the last minute possible, and then roll out of bed. At this point, however, I'm a pro at making sure that my mane doesn’t suffer at the hands of my unwillingness to get up. Whether I throw it up in a ponytail or a half updo, my strands are always ready to take on the day.

My mornings may look a little different than this at the moment, but staying inside every day is the ultimate lazy girl dream. It gives us plenty of time to practice some of our favorite laid-back hairstyles!

If you’re having one of those days where you’re really just not feeling it, read below for 12 effortless lazy-girl hairstyles to try now. Whether you're practicing self-care or picking out your do’ for when you can finally go out again, we have the inspiration you need.

The Best Lazy Hairstyles To Try Now

Top Knot

Searching for a chic yet easy look? A classic top knot has got you covered. You can create this go-to hairstyle in different ways: messy and undone or classy and sophisticated. It’s easy to throw your hair into a top knot when you’re in a rush or feeling a bit “blah.”

Photo credit: @kellymccormickhair.

Barrettes

With just a snap (or two), barrettes can add a fun element to any lazy-girl look! Your mane will stay in place, and you can style them whichever way you desire, whether it's half-up, stacked, or both.

Messy Bun

Who doesn’t love a good messy bun? Sometimes styling the perfectly imperfect messy bun doesn’t seem as effortless as it looks, but we promise it can be done in four easy steps. Gather your hair into a high ponytail. Take your hair tie and wrap it around the base of the ponytail. Pull your hair halfway through the hair tie as you usually would, to create a ponytail. Wrap the loose strands from the ponytail around the hair tie to form a bun. Feel free to use bobby pins to secure the loose pieces of hair or pull out a few strands to loosen for a more voluminous, teased look.

Air Dry

Heat styling hair can sometimes be too much—that’s why we love air drying! Some girls may fear the results, but with our guide to air drying hair, you’ll be a pro! It requires the smallest amount of effort and allows you to embrace your natural texture. We can’t get enough of Pureology’s Hydrate Air Dry Cream. This heat and hassle-free styler controls, enhances body, and perfects texture while keeping hair soft and hydrated. The unique air-dry formula speeds up drying time and leaves a no-product feel.

Knotted Headband

Hair accessories help us look like we tried with our hair when in reality, we didn’t—especially knotted headbands. They can turn your bad hair day into a good one instantly. You can even wear one with an updo or waves.

Dutch Braid Pigtails

Dutch braid pigtails are perfect to wear on a day when you're just not having it. Pro tip: Pancake your Dutch braids to add fullness and the illusion of thickness to your stands. When you take the braids out, you're guaranteed manageable waves that require minimal effort into the next day.

High Ponytail

The perfect high ponytail might seem tedious when you’re trying to style it without any bumps, but the truth is, it doesn’t have to be that way! A high ponytail can hide lousy hair days. To give your ends a bit of added texture in a ponytail, we recommend Redken’s Powder Grip 03 Mattifying Hair Volume Powder. It’s a mattifying, root volumizing & texturizing hair powder that provides texture and volume for long-lasting updos.

Scarf Wrapped Half-Up Bun

Adding a hair scarf to your hairstyle always adds a fun and flirty element to your look. All you have to do is craft a half-up bun and then secure and knot the scarf around the base of the bun. This effortless style looks like you put in more work than you did.

Loose Braid

A simple, loose braid is a staple hairstyle. A standard three-strand braid allows you to keep your hair back and create perfect waves as Dutch braids would.

Half-Up Ponytail

Whether you’re going out or staying in, a half-up ponytail is perfect. This fun, versatile look is simple to achieve and makes second-day hair look stunning. To accomplish a half-up ponytail, gather your hair from the crown of your head and secure it by wrapping it into a ponytail. You have the option to dress it up with accessories if you choose. If your second-day hair is feeling greasy, dry shampoo can help fix that. We recommend Redken’s Dry Shampoo Powder 02. This non-aerosol dry shampoo powder absorbs oil and provides light, clean volume.