Tie the Knot

Move over, messy bun. it’s the top knot’s time to shine.

A-list celebrities apparently got the memo. Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Kardashian, Katie Holmes and many other stars have been spotted on the red carpet sporting top knots. And you should be wearing one too— if you have shoulder-length hair or longer—because it’s a universally flattering ’do.

By adding volume at the crown, a top knot visually “lifts” the face, drawing the eye up and creating the illusion of more pronounced cheekbones. A top knot can be sleek and slicked back like Kim’s, relaxed and tousled like Katie’s or somewhere in between like Jennifer’s.

They all start the same way—gather your hair into a high ponytail and secure with an elastic. Then twist the hair until it starts to coil around itself or divide the ponytail into two sections, twist them together and wrap the rope braid around the elastic. Pin the knot into place with a few bobby pins and you’re ready for a day at the office or a night on the town.