3 Easy, Polished Updos

"Editors are so busy, yet they often have to be camera ready," says Noelle Chen of DopDop Salon in Manhattan, who sat down with the editors of ELLE.com to help us create five minute updos we could do ourselves.

"Krista's [Soriano, ELLE.com Articles Editor] style is more low-key so I wanted to do something that didn't distract from that," says Chen. "This braided brooch is easy-to-do yet glamorous and can be worn casual or dressy." Chen started by grabbing a small section of Soriano's hair, just behind her bangs and dividing it up into three strands.

She then french braided Soriano's hair. Make sure to pull away from the scalp once you've braided a few inches down.

Secure the braid with a clear band, leaving an inch or two out at the end.

"This style is easy because you don't have to be too precise to have it look good," assures Chen. Here, she looped the braid up towards the top of Soriano's head, leaving a few inches loose at the end.

Chen then looped the remaining portion of the braid back into the original loop, creating a brooch like coil.

Chen used large bobby pins to secure the braid.

Use a flexible hold hairspray to set the style.

"My default style used to be a loose braid," says Soriano, "but with shorter hair, those days are over. I like that this 'do allows me to still wear my go-to braid."

"My hair is so dirty," says Fashion News Editor, Lauren Levinson. "I wanted a style that would distract from how greasy it is but still look pretty." Chen started by creating a deep part in Levinson's wavy hair.

She then loosely gathered a small section at the top of Levinson's head and divided it up into two pieces.

"Tie a loose knot with the two strands," instructs Chen, "being sure to loop the front section over the top."

Chen continued to tie loose knots in Levinson's hair, being sure to grab the loose ends from the previous knot into the chain.

She continued knotting all the way around Levinson's head, hugging the nape of her neck until she reached the opposite side from where she started.

Chen knotted the strands into a loose side strand and secured it with a clear band.

Taking the end of the strand, Chen then looped it back and wrapped it into a loose bun at the nape of Levinson's head.

She secured with large bobby pins. "If you have any loose strands anywhere, just tuck and pin them into the knotted chain," says Chen.

"You don't have to be too careful with this style," Chen says, "the messier the better."

"I have a habit of touching my hair," says Levinson. "I like that this updo keeps it off my shoulders and out of my face in a chic way."

"Topknots are everywhere, but they can be really boring," says Chen. "For Taylor [Barringer, ELLE.com beauty editor], I wanted to do something classic but edgy." She started by giving Barringer a high ponytail. "The higher the better."