Actually Erica: LOTD: Half Up Top Knot

Hey guys! Today I wanted to share something a little different with you....a hair of the day! I normally talk about makeup and fashion, but I enjoyed this hair look so much that I wanted to share it with you.

This is what I call the half up top-knot. Because basically, it's just that - the top half of your hair pulled up on top of your head in a top knot, with the bottom half of your hair down in kind of messy, loose waves.

I had spent the day out and about doing some shopping with family, and this hairdo was great. No fuss - you don't have to worry if your hair is flat or lost it's volume, everything just kind of stays looking pretty good.

Just in case you are interested my MOTD:

Covergirl Ready, Set Gorgeous Foundation

NYX Contour Palette

MAC Peaches Blush

WNW Fergie Shimmer Palette in Hollywood Boulevard

MAC Cinderella Eyeshadow Palette

MAC High Tea Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Lipgloss in Bare Sparkle

Anastasia Brow Wiz

MAC Teddy Eyeliner

Maybelline The Rocket Mascara

Coola Makeup Setting Spray with SPF 30

Where so much of your hair is pulled up, you don't have a lot of it in your face aggravating you. I am all about hairstyles that keep my hair up and out of my face!

If you decide to recreate this look you could totally customize the knot to what you like. Myself, I have always loved bigger/messier knots, so that's exactly what I did. If your hair is short or if you just don't have a lot of hair, you could totally use extensions or hair pieces to thicken things up. You could also use one of those donut thingys or a Hot Bun to enhance your knot. I don't own any extensions, but I have a small hair piece that has a ponytail holder on the end of it, and I did add that to my top knot for extra volume.

To do mine I started out with clean hair that I had washed the night before and let air dry overnight. When I washed it I put mousse in it for body and hold. When I woke up in the morning my hair was reallyyyyyyy big and full. As some of you may know, I have an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and I have horrible bouts of fallout with my hair. I am on an upswing, and my hair is super-duper long and thick right now. Such a blessing! One thing you will NEVER hear me complain about anymore is my hair. When you have seen it falling out by the handful and there is nothing you can do, you learn to appreciate what you have!

(The hairspray, mousse, hair piece, and curling wand I used)

So anyways, after I woke up with the big/poofy hair, I pulled the top section of my hair into a high ponytail and secured it with an elastic. I sprayed my hair with some volumizing hairspray and teased it a little. I added the small hair piece around my ponytail, and then I just loosely wrapped my hair into a bun/top knot and bobby pinned it. I pinned it really well, as I wanted it to be super sturdy. I probably used 10 bobby pins, lol. Then I just adjusted it a little until I liked how it looked, then I gave it a good spray of hairspray. The whole half up top knot look is very boho to me, so I wanted the rest of my hair to be kind of wild and messy. Letting my naturally wavy hair air dry overnight was perfect. I left all of my curls and wild baby hairs, and used a curling wand to curl the length of my hair. That's it!