Spring hair report: Hot knots

image: S. WHittle for Style Wylde

Call it the Black Swan effect, or maybe it's just a case of easy hair finally winning out over fussy do's, but Spring's freshest hair trend comes straight from the runways and has you ready for ballet class: top knots.

image: S. Whittle for Style WyldeSeen on the catwalk at countless Spring shows including Rosa Cha (left) and Adam (right), the top knot is one trend that is easy to execute and doesn't require a lot of expensive tools to create.

What you'll need:

 First and foremost, shoulder length or longer hair. This is one style that bobbed girls will have to pass on. 

A good brush.  Here at SW we love our Mason- Pearsons for their durability and the way they smooth locks without ever causing breakage, but less expensive and still very fragile-hair friendly versions can be bought at Sephora for less than $20.

"Snag-Free" elastics. Pony-tails may be an quick and easy style choice, but the elastics can cause major damage over time, so we always look for coated holders that are free of metal clasps, and bindings, such as these from Sephora Collection.

Bobbi pins. The longer and thicker your hair the more you'll need; we recommend securing knots in place with no fewer than 4 pins ( 2 per side) for maximum staying power.

How it's done:

Sit in a chair and lean backwards brushing your hair gently from the scalp to ends. Gather hair into a ponytail 3-4 inches from your hairline. Once the ponytail is secured with an elastic twist your hair around itself  into a snake-like coil. Secure the coil into a knot with the bobbi pins and you are ready to go. 

For day:

Imperfection is fresh and modern, any loose hairs or ends should be allowed to fly away for a relaxed look, overly slicked-down knots looks frumpy.

For night:

To create a smoother, sleeker, more formal look apply a straightening product and flat iron your hair before beginning the process to remove any curls or waves.