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We don’t know about you, but we’re kind of over just straightening or curling our hair. Instead, we want to get more adventurous with updos that work with long, beautiful locks. Thanks to royals and celebrities, we found all the buns, braids, and other updo hairstyles we never knew we needed. Check out our favorite updos for long hair that work for any occasion. While you’re at it, checkout our list of gorgeous layered hairstyles for for longer hair.
Chris Jackson//Getty Images
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Table of Contents
Low Bun With Loose Pieces
Meghan Markle’s style has evolved over the years, but she continues to rock that low bun. And we love how she pulled a few pieces of hair out to frame her face.
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Unique Nicole//Getty Images
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Loose Braided Bun
A single braid for Tiffany Haddish’s bun adds a wow factor that’s needed for when you’re out on the town, but it’s not too much, making it also perfect for the office.
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Rosdiana Ciaravolo
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Double Bun
With all that extra hair, you need a place (or two) to put it. With a knot on top and below, you’ll keep your hair away from your face and look as elegant as ever.
RELATED: How to Style a Bun 13 Different Ways
Steve Granitz//Getty Images
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Classic Bun
Sandra Oh is showing us how to wear the perfect top knot updo hairstyle. It’s sleek but not too polished, and you can pull it off in a dress or sweats.
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Dan MacMedan
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Top Knot & Low Pony
Regina King did the most with her long hair. Here, you’ll see she used one part for a top knot and pulled the rest of it into a low ponytail. Stunning!
RELATED: 30 Best Natural Hairstyles to Rock Right Now
James Devaney//Getty Images
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The Perfect Top Knot
Nothing shows off your highlights quite like twisting and tying your hair into a tight top knot. Face-framing layers in the front and statement earrings give Jennifer Lopez a stunning look.
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Astrid Stawiarz
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Flower Crown
Match the growing spring flowers with a string of them from ear to ear. It’s an easy way to add drama to a more understated braided updo.
RELATED: 16 Best Wedding Hairstyles for Short and Long Hair
Mike Pont
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Messy Plaited Bun
Selenis Leyva piled her hair high into a semi-messy bun, and then she tied it all together with a braid wrapped around the base.
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Tara Ziemba
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Large Box Braids Bun
A style like Teyonah Parris’s box braid bun provides unstoppable volume. Plus, you can totally recreate this look yourself or on a friend for a special occasion.
RELATED: 12 Stunning Braided Hairstyle Ideas for Black Women
Amanda Edwards
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Braids All Over
One braid simply wasn’t enough for AJ Michalka. We love how she framed her face with a flat braided crow and then twisted the rest into a gorgeous bun.
RELATED: 15 Updos That Look Amazing on Fine Hair
Frazer Harrison
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Three French Braids
Three’s company, even when it comes to French braids. Susan Kelechi Watson’s SAG Awards hairstyle is the perfect combination of edgy and sophisticated.
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Daniele Venturelli
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Braid Crown
Every goddess deserves a crown, and no one knows that better than Kiki Layne. While you can totally wear this bohemian style as-is, a few hair accessories can elevated the look.
RELATED: 50 Easy and Beautiful Updo Hairstyles
Frazer Harrison
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Mid-Ponytail
Constance Wu’s 2019 Oscars hairstyle was so effortless, yet so glamourous. The perfect mid-ponytail is complete with a wavy bottom.
RELATED: 11 Ways to Take Your Ponytail to the Next Level
Frazer Harrison
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Glittery Oversized Buns
Add sparkle to your updo with a dash of glitter, just like Kylie Bunbury did for a 2018 movie premiere. We’re also loving the intricate detail of her buns, which were created by wrapping two strands of her hair into that unique spiral.
RELATED: How to Style a Bun 13 Different Ways
Frazer Harrison
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Pompadour
With all that extra hair, you can easily add some volume to your updo. Here, Melissa McCarthy shows how to create dimension in the front of your hairstyle with a teased pompadour.
RELATED: 16 Best Wedding Hairstyles for Short and Long Hair
Steve Granitz
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Windswept Low Bun
When you want your outfit to do all the talking, consider copying Gemma Chan’s subtle bun hairstyle from the 2019 Oscars. A little messy, a lot of fun.
RELATED: How to Style a Bun 13 Different Ways
Frazer Harrison
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Bow Accents
Straight on, you probably can’t see why Ashley Graham’s updo at the Oscars was so unique. But from the side, you’ll notice the near-countless bows she attached to her sleek ballet bun.
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Maxy Mumby/Indigo
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Bouquet of Buns
Kate Middleton mirrored the delicate floral detailing on her dress with her updo. With a variety of buns, the overall effect is effortlessly chic.
RELATED: How to Style a Bun 13 Different Ways
Daniele Venturelli
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Swirled Chignon
Lady Gaga’s Oscars hairstyle reminded us of soft serve (in the best way possible). The swirls of platinum hair were so perfect, we’re likely going to need a few tries to recreate this bun.
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Frazer Harrison
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Double Fishtail
Emily Blunt is the queen of braided hairstyles. So, we weren’t too surprised when she showed up to the 2019 Golden Globes in a flawless fishtail updo.
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Steve Granitz
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Ponytail With Curtain Bangs
Sometimes, the best and easiest way to get your hair out of your face is to throw it into a ponytail. Halle Berry knows exactly how to do it: straighten your pony and pull out your bangs for an ultra-flattering result.
RELATED: 11 Ways to Take Your Ponytail to the Next Level
Steve Granitz
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Braided Bun With Side Bang
Sofia Carson’s side bangs make this average braided bun look incredible special. It’s super sleek and a great choice for those growing out their bangs.
RELATED: How to Style a Bun 13 Different Ways
Frazer Harrison
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Low Bun With a Bow
It was refreshing to see Nicole Kidman’s structured dress complemented by a more casual bun. The loose piece in the front and oversized bow in the back only added to how great she looked at the Golden Globes.
RELATED: 32 Best Blonde Hair Color Ideas for 2019
Instagram/@sarahpotempa
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Dutch Fishtail
Celebrity stylist Sarah Potempa shared this for Throwback Thursday, but it’ll never go out of style. Reese Witherspoon‘s hair is an incredibly flawless updo that uses the fishtail braiding method and ultimately ends in a low bun.
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Axelle/Bauer-Griffin
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Wavy High Ponytail
Update your go-to pony and make waves throughout, just like Jessie James Decker did at the 2019 ACM Awards.
RELATED: 11 Ways to Take Your Ponytail to the Next Level
Instagram/@sarahpotempa
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Peekaboo Braided Bun
All of the details were in the back when Potempa created this style for Margot Robbie. “Create a vertical section all the way up,” she shared on Instagram. “To make a dutch braid, pass the strands under (not over) to have the braid pop more. Complete the braid all the way to the ends. Then use [The Wrap Up] to add volume and wrap the braid over.”
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Tony Barson
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Sleek High Bun
If you want your dress to make a statement, keep your hair slicked-back and exceptionally regal, just like Kate Bosworth.
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Araya Diaz
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Low Bun With a Twist
Lea Michele’s elegant updo didn’t come with too much hassle. All she did was make a side part, throw it into a low bun, and left one piece to hang in front.
RELATED: How to Style a Bun 13 Different Ways
Dimitrios Kambouris//Getty Images
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Double French Braided Buns
If you’re as obsessed with braids as we are, take a note from Amanda Seyfried and create two French braids. Then, complete your look by looping them into low buns.
RELATED: How to Style a Bun 13 Different Ways
Noam Galai
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Ultra High Pony
Issa Rae knows how to rock an updo, and this dramatic ponytail is the perfect example of one. For an added touch, see how she wrapped a piece of hair around the base for a more seamless finish.
RELATED: 11 Ways to Take Your Ponytail to the Next Level
Christopher Polk
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Bubble Ponytail
This style is definitely having a comeback. While we’re used to seeing several “bubbles,” Gina Rodriguez shows us how to achieve a unique style with just one extra hairband.
RELATED: 11 Ways to Take Your Ponytail to the Next Level
Christian Vierig
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Bobby Pin Design
Gone are the days of hiding those bobby pins to secure your updo. Check out how Jaime Xie got this design using a handful of gold barrettes to make her top knot pop.
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Dia Dipasupil
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Side Bun With Waves
Julia Roberts never disappoints us on the red carpet, and we were especially impressed with her bun, which fell to one side, while her loose hair took to the other.
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David Livingston
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Classic Dutch Braid
Regina King has such amazing hairstyles that we had to feature another one of her looks: the Dutch braid. Take this photo as proof that when you wrap a large braid over your head, you get instant glam.
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Pascal Le Segretain
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Mini French Braided Bun
Take a small section of hair and create a tiny French braid until you reach the crown of your head, just like Flora Coquerel did at the Cannes Film Festival. This braid-to-bun combo is as statement-making as her dramatic earrings.
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Alberto E. Rodriguez
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Curly Low Pony
If you have a head of curls like Taraji P. Henson and not much time, grab a hair tie and some gel. Her side-parted ponytail is super polished, but her natural curls really elevate her look.
RELATED: 30 Best Natural Hairstyles to Rock Right Now
Steve Granitz
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Double Crown Braid
What’s better than one crown braid? Two crown braids! The space between the two braids aids a level of height to the front and back.
RELATED: 50 Easy and Beautiful Updo Hairstyles
Max Mumby/Indigo
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Gathered Low Bun
She might be a duchess, but Kate Middleton is the queen of updos. What’s so special about this style is that she kept her look polished with barely-there netting. You can copy it — no red fascinator required.
RELATED: 20 Ways to Add Highlights to Your Hair Color
Stephane Cardinale – Corbis
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Multiple Braids
Marie-Philomene Nga’s hairstyle is truly a piece of art. The stunning braids and the way they are layered make this a special occasions look for sure. Perfect for your wedding or a big night out.
RELATED: 50 Easy and Beautiful Updo Hairstyles
J. Merritt
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Messy Mohawk
Always a hair inspiration, Carrie Underwood really went for it with this stunning mohawk-esque updo.
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