24 Easy Hairstyles for Long Hair to Get Out the Door Fast

Long hair is beautiful, but on a busy morning it can feel like a lot to deal with. The good news is that the length is actually your friend here, since it gives you plenty to twist, braid, and gather into styles that look done in five minutes or less. Whether you are heading to work, school, or a casual day out, these looks need barely any tools and work on most textures. Think low buns, sleek ponytails, quick braids, and no-heat waves that let you skip the hot tools. Here are the easy long-hair styles below to keep in your back pocket.

Jump to:

Low Messy Bun

The rescue style for rushed mornings, gathered loosely at the nape with pieces left out on purpose. It looks relaxed and pretty rather than done, and it takes barely a minute.

The undone texture is the whole charm, and long hair has plenty to gather so it never looks skimpy.

Twist the hair up loosely, wrap it into a low bun, and pin it. Pull a few pieces out around the face and a little dry shampoo first adds grip.

Sleek Slicked Bun

A smooth, tight bun with a glossy finish, the clean pulled-together look trending for its polish. Brush everything back, apply gel or mousse, and twist it into a tight bun.

The smooth base and glossy finish are what make this feel expensive, ideal for a hot day or last-minute glam.

Smooth a lightweight balm or serum through the hair first, then pull it back tight. A soft brush and a little gel keep the flyaways and edges neatly under control.

High Bun

The hair gathered up high on the crown into a full bun. On long hair it makes a real statement and keeps everything off your neck.

Piling all that length up high is what gives this its clean, lifted shape, and long hair has the volume to make it full.

Gather the hair high, twist it into a bun, and pin all around. Wrap a strand around the base to finish, or leave a few pieces loose to soften it.

Top Knot

A knot gathered high on the head, quick and cute for any day. It works beautifully on long hair since there is plenty to wrap into the knot.

Twisting the length up into a knot keeps your face clear while giving a fun, casual shape at the crown.

Gather the hair up high, twist it into a knot, and secure it with a tie or pins. Pull a few pieces loose at the front for a relaxed, softer finish.

Half-Up Bun

The top section twisted into a bun with the rest of the long hair flowing loose below. It keeps hair off your face while showing off the length.

Gathering just the top gives lift at the crown while the long lengths stay down, the balance so many people want.

Twist the top section into a small bun and secure it. Leave the long length loose below and pull a couple of pieces out at the front to frame the face.

Half-Up Claw Clip

The top section twisted up and clamped with a claw clip, one of the fastest long-hair styles going. The clip does all of the work in just a few seconds.

Clipping just the top keeps the hair off your face while the long lengths flow loose, and it is gentle on your hair too.

Twist the top section back and clamp the clip slightly off-center. Let a few ends spill out of the top for a relaxed, undone, easy finish.

High Ponytail

The hair gathered up high into a ponytail, more than a simple tie-back with a bit of added volume. On long hair the tail swings with real drama.

Tying it high lifts the whole look and shows off the length, and teasing the crown first gives it extra body.

Brush the hair up smooth, secure it high, and wrap a strand around the base to hide the elastic. Tease the crown a little for volume, or keep it sleek and clean.

Sleek Low Ponytail

A smooth, low ponytail gathered at the nape with a glossy finish. It is polished, grown-up, and genuinely quick to pull together in the morning.

Keeping it low and smooth is what makes it look refined rather than casual, which makes it a clean everyday choice or a solid office option.

Smooth the hair back with a little serum, gather it low, and wrap a strand around the elastic to hide it. A soft brush keeps it sleek.

Bubble Ponytail

A ponytail sectioned with small elastics down its length to create rounded bubbles. On long hair you get several full bubbles for a playful, eye-catching shape.

The evenly spaced sections add fun texture without any braiding skill at all, and the extra length gives you plenty of room for more bubbles.

Tie a ponytail, add small elastics evenly down the length, and gently puff each section out. Add a bow at the top for a bit of extra cuteness.

Braided Ponytail

A ponytail with a braid running into it or the whole tail itself braided. The braid adds real texture and detail to an otherwise simple style.

Working a braid into the pony is what lifts it above a plain one, and long hair gives you a longer, fuller braid to really show off.

Braid a section before gathering it up, or plait the whole tail itself. Leave a few face-framing pieces loose at the front to soften it.

Classic Braid

The simple three-strand braid, the easiest long-hair style there is by far. It keeps all that length neat and out of the way in just a couple of minutes.

The plain three-strand braid takes no real skill at all, and gently pulling it apart afterward makes the whole thing look fuller.

Split the hair into three and cross the outer sections over the middle, down to the ends. Tug the braid wider once you finish for a relaxed look.

Side Braid

A loose braid worn over one shoulder, playful yet still polished. Brush the hair to one side, braid it loosely, and let it drape down over the shoulder.

Bringing the braid to one side gives it a soft, romantic feel while showing off all the length draped over your shoulder.

Brush the hair over one shoulder, start a loose braid near the ear, and secure the end. Pull it apart gently for a fuller, softer, more relaxed finish.

Fishtail Braid

An intricate-looking fishtail braid, ideal for medium to thick long hair. It looks complex but is surprisingly easy once you get into the rhythm of it.

The woven pattern gives real texture and bohemian flair, and long, thick hair really shows off all the intricate detail beautifully.

Split the hair in two and cross a small strand from each outer edge over to the other side, alternating all the way down. Tug it wider once you finish.

French Braid

A braid worked from the crown down, adding hair as you go so it sits close to the head. It keeps long hair neat and looks polished.

Adding hair as you braid is what keeps it tight and tidy, so it holds all day and shows off the length at the ends.

Start at the crown, braid down while adding sections from each side as you go, and secure the tail. A little hairspray locks the whole thing in.

Dutch Braid

Like a French braid but braided under instead, so it sits raised off the head. On long hair the raised braid stands out and looks really striking.

Braiding under rather than over is what lifts the braid up off the head, giving a bolder, more three-dimensional look than a French braid does.

Braid down while crossing the strands under and adding hair as you go. Let the tail hang or wrap it into a bun at the bottom.

Waterfall Braid

A braid worked across the head that drops strands as it goes, so the length cascades below it like a waterfall. It is a pretty and romantic look.

Dropping sections of the long hair as you braid across is what creates the waterfall effect, keeping all the length flowing loose below.

Braid across the head, dropping the lower strand each time and picking up a new one as you go. Secure it behind the ear and leave the rest loose.

Braided Half-Up

The top section braided and gathered up while the rest of the long hair hangs loose below. It adds a bit of detail without committing to a full updo.

Braiding the gathered section is what lifts this above a plain half-up, giving a pretty, considered, put-together finish.

Braid a section at the crown or the sides first, then gather the top and secure it. Leave the long length loose below and add a small bow if you like.

Twisted Half-Up

Two sections from each side twisted back and joined at the crown, with the long length left loose below. The twists add a little prettiness to a simple look.

Twisting rather than just clipping is what makes this feel a bit more done, while still only taking a minute or two.

Twist a section from each side back toward the crown and secure them together at the back. Pull the twists slightly looser for a fuller, softer shape.

Half-Up With a Ribbon

A simple half-up finished with a ribbon tied in a soft bow at the back. The ribbon adds a soft, feminine, pretty-on-purpose touch to the whole thing.

Adding a ribbon is what dresses this up, so it looks styled rather than just thrown up, and it suits long, flowing hair.

Gather the top, secure it, and tie a ribbon in a soft bow over the elastic. Leave the long length loose in soft waves below to finish it off.

No-Heat Waves

Soft, natural waves made without any hot tools at all, the perfect no-heat solution for texture. Braid damp hair overnight or use salt spray on dry hair.

Braiding the hair overnight or setting it with salt spray is what gives the wave, so you wake up with soft, natural texture.

Braid damp hair before bed and unravel it in the morning, or scrunch salt spray through dry hair. Run your fingers through to loosen and soften the waves.

Salt-Spray Beachy Waves

Loose, tousled beachy waves through the whole length using sea salt spray. On long hair the loose waves have plenty of room to move and fall softly.

The salt spray gives that undone, back-from-the-beach texture with no heat at all and almost no real effort on your part.

Scrunch sea salt spray through damp or dry hair and let it air dry, or just scrunch and go. Skip the comb entirely and tousle it with your fingers instead.

Low Twisted Bun

The hair twisted into a rope and coiled into a low bun at the nape, natural yet elegant. It works best with a bit of texture, so day-old hair helps.

Twisting before you coil is what gives the bun its shape and keeps it from slipping loose through the day.

Twist the length into a rope, coil it low at the nape, and pin it. A light spray sets it, and a few loose pieces at the front soften it nicely.

Milkmaid Braid

Two braids wrapped up and over the head like a crown, keeping the long length off your neck. It is romantic and suits warm days.

Wrapping the braids over the top is what gives this its pretty, milkmaid shape, and long hair has the length to reach across.

Braid two sections, cross them up and over the top of your head, and pin the ends underneath. Leave a few soft pieces loose at the front to soften it.

Curly Long Hair Worn Half-Up

Long natural curls with the top gathered up and the rest left loose and full below. It shows off the length of the curls while keeping them off your face.

Pulling just the top up keeps the volume and length of the curls on show while lifting the front.

Gather the top curls and clip or tie them back, then leave the long length loose. A curl cream worked in first keeps the loose curls soft and defined.