How to Style Your Long Hair in a Cute, Faux Bob

It's not hard to style your long hair into a faux bob. Back in beauty school, my friends and I practiced this look on each other a number of times because it was so much fun to do. You just need a few hair products, a few tools, and a few minutes to try out this fun, trendy look. A faux bob is basically a fake bob. You take your long hair and pin the ends up underneath the rest of your hair. It looks like you have a bob without having to get your hair cut short. A faux bob is a great way to test out short hair if you're thinking of getting it cut. It's also a great way to 'change it up' for something new. Here's how you can style your long hair into a cute, faux bob.

First, gather your products and tools. You'll need some hair gel and hair spray. You'll also need some plain barrettes, hair elastics, bobbie pins, and a rat tail comb.

Blow dry. Apply a dollop of hair gel to damp hair. Part your hair to the side (or wherever you prefer) and begin to blow dry your hair, section by section. It works best if you start at the nape of your neck and clip up everything but a small section of hair. When that section is dry, let a little more hair down and blow dry. Keep going until your entire head of hair is dry.

Make small ponytails. Make about seven small ponytails. You'll want two on each side and three in the back. You may need to make more ponytails if your hair is extra thick. Position the hair elastic about two inches below where you want the bottom of your faux bob to sit. When you get very good at this hairstyle, you may be able to skip this step.

Barrette the ponytails in place. Take a ponytail, and flip it up so the tail is laying against the underneath side of your hair and pointing straight up. Curl the ends around your finger (and away from your head), making a small loop or curl. Slide a barrette through the loop and clip it to the hair above the elastic. Be careful that the barrette doesn't show through your hair. Repeat with the remaining ponytails, making sure that the bottoms are all even. Use bobbie pins to secure any loose pieces.

Smooth flyaways. Take a rat tail comb and gently move any out of place hairs around. You may need to separate some clumps of hair that stuck together while you were placing the barrettes. You may want to use the back side of the comb to flatten any flyaway hairs down.

Spray! Lightly spray your hair with your favorite hairspray. Don't hold the can too close to your head, or the hairspray will get too heavy and wet. If you have a second, metal can of hairspray, you can spray that can. Then roll the can down the hair shaft to iron away any last flyaway hairs.

You'll probably want to practice this look before you wear it to a big event. Just remember to hide any barrettes or pins. Don't let the ends of your small ponytails poke through your hair. Tuck one section of hair behind your ears and secure it with a big flowered barrette for extra support and a fun, flirty look.