- There’s a mix of hair tips here covering different hair types, styles and effort (and skill) levels.
- Most can be made with things you already have at home — very little specialist kit is required
- If you only learn one, make it the super quick ponytail hack
- Heat-free styling and smarter drying techniques can make a real difference in defining curls and frizz.
TikTok’s algorithm is very good at making a 30-second clip look like a hair reveal and my ego repeatedly tells me that I can create styles when my clumsy fingers and thin hair say otherwise.
In an effort to break this cycle and stop myself from settling for a messy bun every morning, I’ve spent the last month testing the most viral TikTok hair hacks.
The results have been mixed: some have been life-changing; others have tested my patience — and below is my list of tips that cover different hair types, styles, efforts, and skills.
Most of them also use items you probably already have at home and if I can manage them, I think anyone can!
The Super-Quick Ponytail Hack
A low ponytail is probably the first look most people master when learning how to do their hair. It’s a simple classic but it can get boring after a while.
If your hair is fine, the low pony may end up looking flat, or if you have shoulder-length hair, you may end up looking like one of the founding fathers…
This hair hack, from Ava Scudillo, has been viewed over 9.5 million times and only takes a few minutes.
- Place the top half of your hair loosely in a clip (any clip will do)
- Part the remaining hair in two and pull each side over your shoulders.
- Let go of cut hair
- Twist and wrap both shoulder sections around the back of your head and pull forward again.
- Reclip the top half
- Bring the sections back and secure them with a hair elastic.
- Let the cut hair fall into place
This is suitable for slightly longer hair, simply because you need to be able to keep the sections separate, but it worked well on my mid-length hair and you don’t need dexterous fingers. If you know how to use a clip and a hair tie, you can master this trick! Plus, it’s meant to look chic and undone, so no precision is needed.
The High Volume Mid-Up Hair Hack
A slightly trickier hair tip than Ava Scudillo’s, but this style from influencer Audrey Victoria — once mastered — looks much more professional than the skill level suggests.
It’s also great for enhancing an everyday mid-up hairstyle or adding volume to a ponytail if you have fine hair.
- Tie up half of your hair and let half hang down.
- Loosen the clip slightly and create a small space just above where the ponytail sits.
- Pull the base of the ponytail through this gap to create a twist
- Create another smaller half ponytail just below the original.
- Now pull this second ponytail through the original gap created with the first.
The trickiest part is the little twist at the base of the first ponytail, but anyone who grew up in the ’90s knows this technique and it only takes a few practice attempts.
To make this even easier, I recommend practicing twisting on a single ponytail first before adding the second. Just so you can get an idea of what your fingers should feel like.
Like the quick ponytail hack, the result is meant to look undone and borderline messy, so it’s another forgiving style.
The short hair clip hack
Claw clips are one of the easiest hair tools to use and can transform an ordinary ponytail into a stylish hairstyle in seconds.
However, this only really works if you have enough hair to flow and fall over the sides of the clip. If your hair is thin or short, it doesn’t have the same effect.
That’s why this Katy McBride hairstyle is so awesome. It gives the illusion of much more hair and is almost as quick as the original method.
- Create a Messy Half Ponytail/Bun
- Create another ponytail at the bottom of your hair
- Pull the bottom ponytail up and secure it under the messy bun with the claw clip.
If you want to make this look even more dramatic, remove sections of hair from the messy bun or loosen the whole thing to give it more volume.
The hair behind the ears hack
It’s okay to keep your hair down until the strands get into your eyes or tickle your face.
Placing it behind your ears is one solution, but it either doesn’t stay in place or you end up with an ear-shaped crease when it inevitably falls forward. Securing with bobby pins is another, but being able to see the pins can often ruin the overall vibe.
TikToker Melise Krem has the perfect hair hack that solves this problem.
- Separate two strands on the front of your face, on each side of your part
- Secure both with tiny hair ties, ideally the same color as your hair.
- Loosen each tie slightly and create a small space just above where the ponytail is.
- Pull the base of the ponytail through these gaps to create a twist
- Tighten each tail so the clip rests behind your ear
- Bring the rest of your hair forward
The beauty of this hack is that it works for almost any hair length, unless you have a pixie cut or similar of course.
Another tip is to use a flat iron or curling iron to remove the tiny hair elastics. Instead of removing the clip (and part of your hair with it), place a hot hair tool near the clip and the heat will cause it to break. In most cases, you don’t even need to touch it and can then simply throw away the broken tie.
Easy No-Heat Curls – That Are Actually Easy
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve tried to master the no-heat curl trend, which involves wrapping your hair overnight so you wake up with ready-made curls.
I’ve also purchased various heatless curl kits, but I either can’t wrap my hair neatly enough or it’s impossible to sleep with all the clips and twists. Especially because I sleep on my side.
But thanks to this TikTok from Alexandra Haraldsson, I think I finally made it. All you need is a few pairs of clean socks.
- Section your hair into sections – the number and size will depend on how many curls you want and how many socks you have.
- Place the toe portion of the sock at your roots and clip it into place.
- Wrap a section of hair around the sock: the tighter the wrap, the tighter the curls.
- Once you’ve reached the end of the sock, flip it over so it’s resting on the loop you just created. The elastic top of the sock should hold it in place, or you can secure it further with a bobby pin.
- Repeat for the rest of your head and go to sleep
- In the morning, take off the socks and voilà!
If you use cotton socks, your hair may be slightly frizzy when you unroll them.
I solved this problem by putting a few drops of hair oil in my hands and running my fingers through each curl. Avoid using a brush as this can make frizz worse (in my experience.)
If your hair is still slightly damp, use a diffuser or hair dryer on the lowest speed.
The Ultimate Fake French Braid
I don’t have the skills, patience, or hair type that makes French braids look so effortless and beautiful, but even I can handle this fake French braid hair hack from Logan Rae Hill.
Instead of trying to play with three strands, you start this braid with two in the front of your face, then twist all the way back until you reach the end.
- Separate two sections of hair in front of your face
- Twist one on top of the other
- Add more hair to the first strand and wrap it over the second
- Add more hair to the second strand and wrap it over the first
- Continue until you get to the nape of your neck and run out of extra hair to add to the highlights.
- At this point, twist each strand once on itself, then wrap the twisted strand over the other.
- Repeat until you reach the ends of your hair and secure with a hair elastic.
This looks (and feels) much trickier than it is. The key is to make sure the twists at the start are tight and as flat as possible, but you can be more carefree and loose as you move back.
You can also go back and loosen each strand once the hair is tied up, if it’s too flat or you want more volume.
The hardest part is trying to keep the strands of equal thickness, but even then it can add to the overall look, so it’s not something you need to worry about.
Plopping for the ultimate curls
If you have curly or wavy hair, you’ve probably heard of the term plopping. Even if you haven’t actually tried it.
Rather than roughly towel drying your hair and potentially eliminating the natural curl or adding frizz, plopping involves flipping wet hair forward onto a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt and wrapping it.
The idea being that gentler drying reduces frizz while keeping your curls defined.
As Kiana Davis demonstrates in the TikTok above, it’s also relatively easy to do.
- Place your napkin or t-shirt on a table
- Lean forward and “lay” your hair on top
- Wrap the base of the t-shirt or towel around your forehead
- Gently gather your hair inside the rest of the towel/t-shirt and wrap it loosely around your head.
- Once dry or damp, remove the towel/t-shirt
It helps add as much hold as possible to hair before laying it down, in the form of gels or mousses, to maximize definition, lock in moisture to reduce frizz, and hold curls in place once you remove the towel.
You can apply for half an hour, or overnight, depending on your plans and if, when you remove the towel, your curls are still damp you can diffuse with a hairdryer, or let it air dry.
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