Turn Bobs into Updo

As always, updos are very much in fashion. Elegant up swept hair is great for parties, prom, weddings and for the office. Bob hair cuts are also very much in style.  How do you have the benefit of both fashionable hairstyles – the bob and the updo? It takes some imagination, styling techniques and the use of styling products,  and a little practice, but an updo is easily in your future. 

This bob is one length with long front that drapes over one eye. 

• Shampoo and condition with body building products. Updos require lots of body to work with.
• Apply firm hold mousse or styling gel and blow your hair dry with a large round brush. If your hair does not curl easily, set it with large hot rollers.
• To style, back-brush all of the hair from the crown to the back. Spray the teasing lightly with hair spray.
• If there is enough hair at the nape, fold it over and pin it flat with bobby pins.
• Start at the middle back area and gently smooth the teased hair down and tuck the ends under at the nape area or just above the bobby pins.
• Alternately, you can smooth it into a vertical roll and slide bobby pins through it to hold it.
• Part the front so that it sweeps to the side, and smooth the crown area back.
• Use hair spray to hold your bob updo in place

Tips

• To maintain maximum control of your hair, use an ample amount of styling mousse or styling gel.
• When smoothing, use a very light touch so that you conceal the back-brushing but leave the fullness.
• Not all of the ends will be long enough to pin in place. That is why styling product and hair spray is used for control.

This updo is great if you usually wear your bob with bangs. Comb them off your face for a sophisticated transition.

• Prepare your hair for this bob updo as instructed above.
• Lightly back-brush all of your hair and spray it with hair spray.
• Use your fingers to comb your hair straight back from the front. This style is not combed smooth. Ridges are left in for texture.
• Depending on the length of your bob, either form the back into a roll and secure with bobby pins or smooth it down and to the center.
• The nape area (only about one inch from the bottom) of this bob is left down and allowed to flip out slightly.

Alternative finish:
If the hair in the crown area of your bob is long, you may be able to form loose curls in the back. Pin them in with bobby pins and let a few tendrils 
hang down to blend in with the shorter nape area.