Lately, I have been completely obsessed with this easy "braid." I think it's because I recently cut more layers into my hair, so when I do a real braid, it doesn't last very long. That is where this technique comes in handy. Since you use a few small elastics, your hair stays in place— layers or no layers.

And it's chic enough for a last-minute party style, and simple enough for an early preschool morning … or whenever, really.

1. Part your hair to the side (you can totally do a middle part for this, but I like the fullness near my face when it is parted to the side). You can also tease your hair to give it some oomph.

2. Now make a low side pony with a small elastic.

3. Take another elastic and tie it a couple inches down from the first.

4. Split your hair in two parts between the elastics and flip it inside out.

5. It should look a little something like that!

6. Do the same thing one more time: Place another elastic a couple inches from the last, split the hair, and flip it inside out.

7. Now you should have two little inside-out "braids." If you have longer hair, you can keep doing this all the way down until you have several beautiful sections.

8. At this point, I like to gently pull apart the hair to make it look fuller, and camouflage the elastics so it looks more like a uniform braid.

The end will look like this. I mean, how simple is that? I can't get enough of it!