I feel weird posting a how-to on this quick double-braided ponytail because it is so very simple. But then I felt like those are the exact how-to’s that need to be out there: fast and easy solutions to busy lives. And when someone on the street seemed 40% impressed with it I decided perhaps I should share. This hairstyle solves many of my common hair issues: it’s quick, it keeps hair away from chubby hands with a penchant for pulling, and resembles a semi put-together woman who may or may not live in Alaska.

The fur-lined parka may give that last one away.

Regardless!

Step One: Start with hair down and the ends (at least) curled. This is great for second or third day hair. Or fourth. On the fifth day, though, just go for the top knot.

Step Two: Dive your hair into a top and bottom section. Put the bottom section in a tiny pony tail. Take a small chunk of hair from the middle of the top section, pouf it up, and pin it to the top of the pony tail.

Step Three: Take half of the top section and start a braid near the temple area. You can do any type of braid, but to make this as fast as possible I just did a regular braid. No fishtail, no French action…super basic! As you braid, pull toward the center of your head and pin with bobby pins at the end.

Step Four: Start a braid at the opposite temple and bring towards the other side. When pinning, try to pin under the other braid, so the beginning of each braid camouflages the end of the other braid.

Step Five: Hair spray. Done!