How to make the Perfect Knotted Updo?

Virgin hair

Adir Abergel has styled the hair of nearly every A-lister for awards shows. His calling card: updos that are sexy, messy, and cool. Here, he creates a knotted hairstyle in three easy steps.

3 steps for the Perfect Knotted Updo

1. Create textures. (Yes, two of them.) “The duality of a sharp architectural knot and softness everywhere else is what makes them so beautiful,” says Abergel. He starts with a smooth blowout, uses pomade to sculpt the knot and smooth down the sides, and sprays a texturizer everywhere else.

2. Think about where to place your knot. On short human hair weave, a slick low knot gives length; on thick Brazilian hair, like Rooney Mara’s (above), a half-up look removes bulk; and on fine human hair, a topknot can be teased before it’s twisted to give the illusion of fullness.

3. Go for sculptural. Once you’ve nailed down the placement, gather your hair into a ponytail and secure with an elastic. Split the tail into two sections and give them a tug so that the sides tighten and the top stays soft. Then twist your ponytail until it coils on itself and secure it with two pins. There's your knotted updo.