Half-Up, Half-Down
Looks harder than it is.
Follow it step by step in the free app.
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- Steps
- 6
- Level
- Easy
- Hair type
- Every hair type
- Ages
- Young children to pre-teens
- Hair length
- Hair that touches her shoulders, or longer
You'll need wide-tooth comb, detangling brush, snag-free hair elastic, soft-bristle brush, detangler spray. For curly and coily hair, also leave-in conditioner, fine-mist water bottle.
The top half of the hair gathered and clipped at the very top of her head; the bottom half left loose.
Her job
She chooses what goes on top: a clip or an elastic.
See the steps in 37 seconds
The steps
Where the method changes for curly and coily hair, the step says so underneath. In the app, choose Curly or Coily under “her hair today” and you only see the steps for her hair.
Step 1 of 6
Detangle all the hair
Comb it all through before you split anything.
Before you move on
The brush runs freely everywhere.
Technique: Detangling without tears
Curly and coily hair
Detangle it damp
Mist her hair until it's damp, not dripping, and smooth a little leave-in through with your fingers. Work in sections, ends first, fingers then the wide-tooth comb.
Before you move on: Your fingers slide through each section, root to tip.
Technique: Detangling curly and coily hair
Step 2 of 6
Find the dividing line
Part the hair. Put your finger on the top of her right ear. Run the comb straight across the top of her head to her left ear.
Before you move on
A clear parting line running from ear to ear.
Technique: Making a parting
Step 3 of 6
Gather the top section
Gather the top half. Collect all the hair above that line with both hands. Use your fingers to press the remaining bottom half straight down to keep it out of the way.
Before you move on
All top hair is separated into one clean bundle.
Step 4 of 6
Smooth the sides
Smooth the sides. Use a soft brush to sweep the hair above her forehead and ears neatly back toward your gathering hand.
Before you move on
The top and sides are pulled flat and bump-free.
Curly and coily hair
Smooth the sides
Smooth the sides. Use your fingertips, not a brush, to sweep the hair above her forehead and ears neatly back toward your gathering hand.
Before you move on: The top and sides are smooth, with the curl pattern still intact.
Step 5 of 6
Secure at the very top of her head
Secure the ponytail. Hold the smoothed bundle firmly and loop an elastic around it at least three times. Position it high up on the back of her head.
Before you move on
The elastic sits snug and does not slide down.
Curly and coily hair
Secure at the very top of her head
Secure the ponytail. Hold the smoothed bundle firmly and loop an elastic around it at least three times, without dragging the parting line tight to get it there.
Before you move on: The elastic sits snug and does not slide down, with the parting line soft, not strained.
Step 6 of 6
Final polish
Let the bottom half of her hair hang loose underneath, and smooth it down with your hand from behind her ears.
Before you move on
The join between the tied hair and loose hair looks clean and sharp
If it goes wrong
What usually happens: The top section looks thin because the dividing line was set too low.
The fix: Undo the elastic and reset the dividing line. The tops of the ears are a reliable fixed marker. Go back to them and draw the line from there.
More in Fix It: It won't stay in: falls out within an hour · It doesn't look right · Her hair is too short for the style I picked
Common questions
How long does Half-Up, Half-Down take?
About 4 minutes once you know it, in 6 steps. The first few times take longer; the steps tell you what to check before you move on, so you are never guessing.
Does Half-Up, Half-Down work on curly or coily hair?
Yes. Half-Up, Half-Down suits every hair type. Where the method changes for curly and coily hair, the step above gives that version: detangle it damp, work in sections and keep the hairline soft. In the app, choosing Curly or Coily shows only the steps for her hair.
What do I need for Half-Up, Half-Down?
Wide-tooth comb, detangling brush, snag-free hair elastic, soft-bristle brush and detangler spray. For curly and coily hair, add leave-in conditioner and fine-mist water bottle. Each one is on the Kit page with what it is for and what to avoid.
What usually goes wrong with Half-Up, Half-Down?
The top section looks thin because the dividing line was set too low. Undo the elastic and reset the dividing line. The tops of the ears are a reliable fixed marker. Go back to them and draw the line from there.
What if Half-Up, Half-Down won't stay in?
Fine or smooth hair doesn't grip a single elastic. Wrap it one more time than feels right. It should be firm. Then take a second elastic and wrap it 3cm below the first. Two anchor points hold far better than one through a school day, especially on fine hair. Fix It has the full set of checks for a style that falls out.
Do this in the app
The page tells you how. The app does four things a page cannot:
- Her hair, not hair in general. Choose Straight, Wavy, Thick, Curly or Coily under "her hair today" and the steps and pictures change to the method for her hair.
- A check before every step. Each step ends with what it should look and feel like, so you know it is right before you move on.
- Fix It, mid-style. When something is not right, "Something's not right" opens the fix for it without leaving the step.
- The diary. Add a photo and a note when you finish, and see what you have done and what to try next.
Free, with six everyday styles and all eight techniques. No account, no ads, no tracking.
