When your hair looks good, you just feel better. Statistically speaking, 98% of women in America feel better about themselves when their hair looks good. In a perfect world, we'd all have a team of stylists on hand ready to create any and every hair look at the drop of a hat. 

But this is real life and not everyone has Beyonce’s glam squad at their disposal. So having a few easy hairstyles you can do yourself at home is an absolute must for battling bad hair days. We’re breaking down the 15 easiest hairstyles for every hair length and texture.

If you have short hair, use this low maintenance length to your advantage with the wet look hairstyle. Rub a curl cream in between your palms and smooth through your hair from front to back. Use a wide-tooth comb through your strands to keep them in place: either brush all of your hair backward, or choose a clean part line. Finish by smoothing out any comb lines with your fingers.

Braided hairstyles are one of the easiest ways to control an unruly head of hair. And you can absolutely rock a braid with short hair. Try a french braid across the front, from one temple to the other side. Secure the end with a hairpin near your ear on the other side. Spritz with a light brushable hairspray to hold your braid in place and hide flyaways. Not sure how to braid your own hair? No problem! Check out our previous post How to Braid Your Own Hair for tips and inspiration.

If you have short hair, but length on top, using a dry texturizing spray can be a real game-changer for adding volume. Spritz your strands liberally and rough them up with your fingers. If your hair is still looking limp, backcomb a few sections on top. Backcombing is a great way of achieving instant volume and lift.

How to Backcomb Your Hair

• Section the front of your hair off into strips of around 1-2 inches in width. Use slimmer sections for more volume or wider ones for a looser look.
• Hold each section taut and backcomb the underside down in three short strokes. Focus on the area closest to the root to create powerful volume. 
• Use the same three-short-strokes technique for each section of hair, and make sure each section is roughly the same width. This will keep your sections even. 
• Be firm but gentle; tearing through your hair will result in follicle damage, as well as risking the classic bird’s nest vibe that you’re trying to avoid.

A braided bun hairstyle is way easier to style than it looks. Just part your hair down the middle

and fishtail braid both sides of your hair. Once your braids are finished, place the ends together and twist them into a bun at the nape of your neck. Secure the bun at the base with a hair tie. Here’s an easy step by step guide to fishtailing your own hair.

How to do a Fishtail Braid

• Grab the section of hair you want to fishtail and split it in half, holding one section in each hand. 
• Grab a tiny subsection of hair from the outside of the ponytail in your right hand, cross it over top, and join it together with the section in your left hand. 
• Then, cross a small sliver of hair from the left section and add it to the right side. 
• Continue grabbing tiny sections of hair, crossing them over, and joining them to the other half until you've reached the bottom of your strands. 
• Secure the ends with a hair tie.

Wearing a headband can instantly make you look put together, and this hairstyle couldn’t be easier to master. Just brush through your dry hair and slip a headband over your strands back to your temples. Add a touch of medium hairspray. Leave the ends of your hair loose, or secure them with a hair tie or barrette in a low ponytail.

Just a few stray strands or flyaways to control? Try a temple twist hairstyle. Grab a section of hair around your temple, twist it around your fingers a few times, and secure it with a hairpin. Tousle the rest of your hair or twist it into a messy bun. Or take equal sections from both sides and secure them behind the crown of your head for a half-updo, keeping your hair up and out of your face.

This runway trend is so incredibly chic, you’ll be shocked at how easy it is to recreate. Just follow this step-by-step guide:

• Choose a really long scarf with a bright color or pattern and wrap it around your head like a headband, with the loose ends at the back of your head. 
• Tie the scarf at the nape of your neck. 
• Divide your hair into three sections. One small on the left, a bigger one in the middle, and another small one on the right. 
• Place the two ends of the scarf into the two outer sections. 
• Braid until you reach the ends and tie the scarf into a double knot.
  
  

Pull small sections of hair from each side of your head and cross them in the back. While holding your hair in place, take a bobby pin and slide it in horizontally over the crossed section. Then take another bobby pin and slide it upward at a diagonal angle to set the right side. Repeat this on the left to complete the triangle.

Looking to up the ante with your pony? Try this knotted version instead:

• Split your hair down the middle, into two even sections.
• Grab each section, one in each hand, and crisscross them, flipping the right over the left (you’ll need to switch hands) and pull each section taut.
• Slide your grip down and use your fingers to find the opening in your hair to loop one side through. Lift one tail up and thread it through the opening. Then pull each side tight to secure your knot.
• Transfer both tails into one hand, and tie off your pony with a hair tie just below the knot. 
• Grab a bobby pin and insert it down into the top of your knot. This will disguise any separation between the two sections, and keep your knotted ponytail secure.
• Grab a small piece of hair from the underside of your ponytail and wrap it around the hair tie. 
• When you can’t wrap it anymore, tuck the ends in and secure them with a bobby pin.

photo by: @kassalaholdsclaw

The halo braid is an easy hairstyle to pull off for fully-natural haired girls, transitioning beauties, and everyone in between. After a quick detangle, start your halo braid on one side of your head and continuously braid all the way around the head. Secure the end by tucking it underneath or inside the larger braid with a hairpin.

Try rocking your natural hair in a super easy sleek pony. Start by wetting your hair. Add a molding gel and then brush it up to your crown or back to the nape of your neck. Secure it with a gentle hair tie, smooth down your edges, and voila!

A good co-wash followed by a touch of post-shower product makes for an amazingly easy wash and go hairstyle. To co-wash, jump in the shower, and fully soak your natural hair with water. Then use a heaping amount of curls cleansing cream and massage it into your scalp. If your hair is especially dry, leave your conditioner in for a few extra minutes before rinsing thoroughly. If you have low water pressure, flip your head over to distribute the water easily. Step out of the shower, ring the excess moisture from your hair, run a relaxing moisturizing fluid through your strands, and go!

Curly-haired girls know this is THE ultimate quick and easy do it yourself hairstyle. Just pile your curls on top of your head and secure them with a gentle hair tie or scarf. This is by far the easiest of all the curly hairstyles, as well as the fastest. Just flip your head upside down, gather, secure, and you’re done.

This always chic and gorgeously romantic look can be pulled together in minutes. Gather all your hair to one side, french braid loosely and secure the ends. Add a touch of strong hold gel if your hair tends to be on the frizzy side.

The half knot hairstyle looks low-key cool on virtually every hair texture. Gather your hair above your ears into a high ponytail at the crown of your head. Don't worry about keeping it neat, the messier the better here. Twist the ponytail around itself and then coil it toward the base until you’re happy with your knot. Use a few bobby pins to secure it to your head and pin down any rogue pieces of hair. 

Having a few easy DIY hairstyles in your arsenal will save you from future bad hair days, so keep these hair looks handy. And for more at-home hair tips see our previous post featuring expert tips from Davines stylists.

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor