I know what you’re thinking: c’mon, where’s the challenge? But seriously, making messy pigtails look messy in a pretty way takes a little longer than you’d expect. Never fear: with a little bit of prep work you’ll be ready in no time.

Get the look:

Start with a day-old blowout, and use a jumbo curling iron to make loose waves all over (this will add texture to the tails). Tease your roots at the crown, then make a side part, now divide your hair in half vertically from the back and pull a section on either side just below your ear. Secure each tail with an elastic. Here’s where it can start to look kooky if you don’t do it right, so be careful. Pull the tail tight to create a small bump in the hair just above the elastic, then gently tease the pigtails and add texture with a finishing spray.