How to be beautiful: Things are looking up

In the past decade, the phrase "to let one's hair down" finalised its divorce with reality. From TV newsreaders to our future queen, it seems there is no occasion formal enough to tempt us to draw our girlish locks from our faces.

For those keen to demarcate the work/ play divide in terms of their tresses, then, the only way is up. This does not mean crispy chignons or piled-up ringlets; today's styles are so insouciant that they casually shrug off the "up-do" label.

A soft, messy bun qualifies. As does its more austere, scraped-back counterpart. A humble ponytail becomes an up-do with a little judicious backcombing around the crown. The success of each depends on longevity – fiddling with stray tendrils all night is not a good look. And a semi-collapsed beehive will instantly transform you into a lush.

Coarsely textured hair with bags of volume guarantees staying power. Although artificially achievable, this means that those whose hair can look a little ropey down are winners in the up-do world. A refreshingly equitable arrangement.