SWEPT-UP TRESSES: UPDOS FOR SHORT HAIR
Shake up your styling routine with these five swept-up updos for short hair.
A short-hair updo isn’t just about getting your hair up and out of the way. Packed with glamour, a versatile pulled up style can breathe new life into your look.
Keep on top of short hair trends and make sure you have the updo styles to suit your length. Get ready to be swept away by gorgeous styling and embrace a whole new range of updos for short hair with this guide.
RETRO TWIST

Here’s how to get the retro twist for short hair:
1. Prep damp hair with foam
2. Prep damp hair with foam
3. Create a side parting on your desired side
4. Take a two to three-inch section of hair
5. Twist your hair up and backwards
6. Pull in more hair and continue to ends
7. Pin your twist in place
8. Pull the rest of your hair back
into a low bun
9. Secure the final look with hairspray
Take your style back a few eras with a timelessly cool retro twist. If you’re a lover of all things vintage, this is a must-try look. A staple updo for short hair, not only does it scream effortless cool, it’s a breeze to create at home.
step one: Prep you hair with ghd total volume foam before drying
With damp hair, massage ghd total volume foam from the roots to the ends.
step two: Blow-dry your hair
Dry your locks with the ghd air® hair dryer. As you dry, aim the air downwards and use the ghd ceramic vented radial brush size 1 to style.
step three: Create a side parting on your desired side
Make a side parting using the ghd tail comb.
step four: Take a two to three-inch section of hair
Start from your parting and take a two to three-inch section from along your hairline on the heavier side. For a bigger twist, add more depth by pulling more hair in.
step five: Twist your hair up and backwards
Take your section and twist it away from your face to start creating the style.
step six: Pull in more hair and continue to ends
Once you’ve started, pull more hair in from along your hairline, continuing the twist in the same direction as you go. Continue until the twist runs behind your ear.
step seven: Pin your twist in place
Use hair pins to secure the look in place just behind your ear.
step eight: Pull the rest of your hair into a low bun
Take your remaining hair and pull it all back into a low bun at the nape of your neck using a hair tie to hold it in place.
Tip: For a more relaxed look, go for a looser bun, pulling loose hairs out for an effortless looking finish.
step nine: Secure the final look with hairspray
Keep every hair in place by generously spraying the final look with ghd final fix hairspray and smoothing over the style with your hands.
FRENCH BRAID UPDO

Here’s how to get a French braid updo for short hair:
1. Prepare hair for styling with heat protect spray
2. Straighten your hair
3. Create a centre parting
4. Separate your hair into three sections
5. Bring an outside section over the centre
6. Repeat on the other side
7. Bring more hair into both outer sections
8. Continue braiding
9. Tie off your braid
Braids aren’t just for longer locks. Gorgeously woven hair is a must for short-hair updos. Intricate looking with a touch of bohemian cool, this style is great for everyday and a dream to dress up. Whichever way you wear it, you can be sure that this look ticks all the styling boxes.
step one: Prepare hair for styling with heat protect spray
Generously spray dry hair with ghd heat protect spray, making sure it is evenly dispersed throughout.
step two: Straighten your hair
Begin styling with the ghd platinum+ black styler. Take a two to three-inch section of hair and place the styler at the root. From there, glide to the ends of your hair for lasting straightness. Repeat throughout your hair.
step three: Create a centre parting
Use the ghd tail comb to create a centre parting.
step four: Separate your hair into three sections
Taking hair from your parting, make three one-inch sections.
step five: Bring an outside section over the centre
With one of your outer sections, move it over the centre section so it is now in the middle.
step six: Repeat on the other side
Now bring the other outer section over the new middle section.
step seven: Bring more hair into both outer sections
On both sides, pull another half-inch of hair into the outside sections.
step eight: Continue braiding
Repeat steps five to seven moving along your hairline, down to the nape of your neck and back up towards the start of your braid.
step nine: Tie off your braid
Use a hair tie to complete your braid. Conceal the ends within the rest of your hair, using pins to secure it in place.
CURLY UPDO
Here’s how to create a curly updo for short hair:
1. Prep hair with curl hold product
2. In small sections, create tight curls
3. Curl all of your hair
4. Pull your hair to the back of your head
5. Create the desired shape
6. Pin it in place
Create volume, texture and enviable style with a curly short-hair updo. Get ready to embrace gorgeous curls and swept up glamour when you recreate this look on your own cropped locks.
step one: Prep hair with curl hold product
Work ghd curl hold spray through your dry hair, being sure to cover it all, from root to tip.
step two: Create tight curls in small sections
Take a one to two-inch section and wrap your hair around the barrel of the ghd curve® creative curl wand. Hold for five to eight seconds for lasting curls.
step three: Curl all of you hair
Repeat step two throughout your hair to create a full head of tight, bouncing curls.
step four: Pull your hair to the back of your head
Bring your newly curled hair to the back of your head. Avoid pulling it too much to help maintain the curls.
step five: Create the desired shape
Once you have your hair at the back of your head, twist it inwards and tuck the ends under your twist to conceal any loose strands.
step six: Pin it in place
Once you have your hair in the desired place, use hair pins to secure the look and finish with a mist of ghd final fix hairspray.
SLEEK UPDO
Here’s how to create a sleek updo for short hair:
1. Prep damp locks with straightening product
2. Blow-dry hair
3. Straighten your hair
4. Pull your straight hair towards the nape of your neck
5. Twist into an elegant knotted style
6. Pin your look in place
7. Add some shine
Shorter hair lends itself perfectly to create an enviably luxe updo. Chic, shimmering hair will always turn up the glamour in your hair, so add this sleek style to your look book and get ready to turn heads.
step one: Prep damp locks with product
Work ghd straight and tame cream into your damp hair and evenly disperse throughout.
step two: Blow-dry hair
Use the ghd aura® professional hair dryer to blow-dry your hair until it is completely dry.
step three: Straighten your hair
With a two to three-inch section, place your ghd platinum+ styler at the root. Glide the styler from here to the ends. Repeat throughout your hair.
step four: Pull your straight hair towards the nape of your neck
Once your hair is straight, bring it to the nape of your neck. Use the ghd paddle brush to keep it kink free and smooth as you pull it back.
step five: Twist into an elegant knotted style
At this point begin to twist your hair into a smooth, rope-like shape and let it twist around itself to create a knotted effect for a sleek, simple look.
step six: Pin your look in place
Use your hair pins to secure your look in place. Tuck any pins or ends of your hair under the knot to achieve a flawless finish.
step seven: Add some shine
Finally, complete the look with a spritz of ghd final shine spray.
PINNED UP WAVES
Here’s how to create pinned up waves:
1. Prep hair with curl spray
2. Begin to curl in small sections
3. Create waves in different directions
4. Run your hands through your curls
5. Pull your hair back and pin in place
6. Conceal your pins within your hair
Create gorgeous movement in your style for an immediate styling win, with pinned back waves. Super cool kinks and waves take on a sophisticated new look with this pinned up look. Totally gorgeous and a breeze to style – you can create this glamorous short-hair updo quickly and easily.
step one: Prep hair with ghd curl hold spray
With dry hair, spray your locks generously with ghd curl hold spray, being sure to disperse the product from root to tip.
step two: Begin to curl in small sections
Take a two to three-inch section and use your ghd curve® classic curl tong to begin curling. Hold for five to eight seconds for defined, long-lasting twirls.
step three: Create waves in different directions
Work your way around your head, curling all of your hair. As you go, be sure to alternate the direction of styling to create texture and movement in your look.
step four: Run your hands through your curls
Break up the curls and create flowing waves by running your fingers through your hair.
step five: Pull your hair back and pin in place
Once you have gorgeous waves, pull your hair to the back of your head and begin to secure it in place with hair pins. Be careful not to pull your hair too tight to maintain the structure of the waves.
step six: Conceal your pins within your hair
As you secure your look in place, push your pins under your hair so they are concealed within the style.
Up your styling game and introduce these five updos for short hair into your look book. With the help of this guide, you’ll have everything you need to create statement swept up styles for any occasion. So take your ghd styling kit and get to work on updating your updo.
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