11 Beginner Easy Updos for Fine Hair (2025)

As someone with low-density fine hair, I often feel left out of the fun. From the C-Cut to the Gibson hairstyle and curtain bob, all I can do is look forlornly at those with enough hair to pull it off. This conundrum set me off on a quest for beginner easy updos for fine hair. I don’t have a lot of hair, and I’m also not incredibly dexterous with styling tools. But I want to look put together, too! So, I tapped six hairstylists and asked them to recommend simple updos that I could execute with my, shall we say, limited resources. Below are 11 that I think I could confidently pull off—and hopefully you can, too.

Meet the Experts

1. Messy Bun

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We’ve all tried this style at some point, and per Friese, it’s one of the easiest beginner updos for fine hair, that adds an illusion of volume. Speaking from experience, I’d keep this low (follow the jawline rule) and tease your hair with some texture spray to give it volume and grit for any pins you might be using.

2. Claw Clip Updo

Feeling superbly lazy? (Or maybe you’re just not particularly dexterous.) Claw clip to the rescue. Shelton says: “Claw clips are a great way to add versatility to your hair and make it look fuller and thicker.” I have the best success with claw clips when, again, I’ve applied texture spray. Depending on how thin your hair is, it may also be helpful to gather it into a low ponytail first, so the clip has something firmer to hold onto.

3. Chignon

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If you ask the French, claw clips are superseded by the French hair pin. They’re just what you need to execute the ultra-chic (but terribly simple) chignon. Friese recommends securing yours at the base of your neck, then loosening some of hair on your head to add volume. (Again, I’d also go for texture spray and hairspray here, and bonus points if you pull out a few face-framing pieces.)

4. Bob

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The bob isn’t an updo, but because of the length it’s basically one in my book. Perfect if you’re looking for a cop-out to styling, as Reid tells me, “A bob will allow for the maximum use of weight with low density, fine textures. The shape does not require a lot of length and can be customized with layers or texture to create the illusion of dimension.” I wore a bob for ten years, and a quick two-minute upside-down blow dry makes it good to go. As Reid says, the styling iterations are endless. Italian Bob. Micro Bob. Hydro Bob. Curtain Bob. Need I go on?

When styling, Alvarez says a side part is your friend to add instant lift. Prep your hair with some mousse, then blow dry. She notes: “The key to this style is keeping volume at the roots and a bend on the ends so be sure to allow the hair to slightly cool on the brush before releasing.”

5. Clavicut

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One last shorter haircut cheat sheet for you: The Clavicut. “This cut should have a blunt perimeter with little to no layers and a fringe or soft face frame,” Reid says. “Finer low-density textures are often already layered and this combination will allow for a longer length with a blunt line at the perimeter which gives the illusion of density and thickness.” I like to go in with a curling iron to add some waves and finish with texture spray and hairspray.

6. Soft Textured Waves

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“A little wave instantly makes fine hair look fuller,” Brook says. “Use a 3/4 or 1-inch curling iron, alternating directions for a more natural effect.” After curling my hair, I always apply texture spray throughout, then like to put hairspray on a brush and run it through my hair to loosen the curls into said waves. Then, I put it in a ponytail or half-up-half-down.

7. Braided Bun

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This is a two-for-one easy updo for fine hair. Do the braided bun first, and, as Friese advised with the chignon, pull out the hair on your head a bit to create volume. The next day, you can take out the braid and have soft waves. (Revive your bedhead with dry shampoo.)

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Shelton recommends a low ponytail bun, which is just as effortless to create as it looks. Prime your hair with texture spray so the bobby pins have something to grip, and then pull out a few face-framing pieces. Feeling fancy? Give them a little wave with a curling iron.

9. Half-Up, Half-Down Twist

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“Messy, romantic, lived-in hairstyles are still popular and trendy, and give you the freedom without having to have a perfectly cuffed hairstyle every day,” Shelton says. Brook adds that this is a great technique for keeping volume in the crown of your head. To style, she says, “Lightly tease the top section before twisting and pinning it back. A texturizing spray or dry shampoo will help give it a fuller, more lifted look.”

10. Voluminous Ponytail

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This is probably the simplest trick in the book. The secret: using a ponytail holder to give you a volume bump. “Create one ponytail at the crown [of your head], then secure another underneath it,” Brook explains. “This adds the illusion of more volume while keeping it lightweight.” If you want to add extra lift, you can add texture spray on your roots and midlengths and/or curl the strands.

For an iteration, Alvarez recommends a messy high ponytail. “Lightly create volume at your roots by backcombing,” she says. “Secure tightly, pulling [out] a few face framing pieces. Flip your head upside down and spray your ponytail with hairspray to lock in the volume.”

11. Tousled Beach Waves

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Weary of heat styling? Dean’s favorite trick is to prep clean, wet hair with texture spray and styling cream. Scrunch into your hair, then air dry. (You can use a diffuser if you’re feeling adventurous.)

Additional Experts