I Love Paris.  I therefore love Laduree macarons, all things Louis Vuitton, toy dogs, and chic messy buns.  As far as the Parisian bun goes, I am also ever the fan of dirty hair how-tos.  Yes, I’m that lazy (and Parisienne, of course).

The details:

Step #1: Make your hair dirty. “I wash my hair only once a week,” admits C (hair stylist extraordinaire). “When your hair is too clean, it won’t stay put.” After showering, she massages in either Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion or a homemade spray, made with one part sea salt, three parts water and a few spritzes of leave-in conditioner. “It makes my hair piece-y enough to work with,” she says.

(During the week, C. uses dry shampoo to keep her hair from getting greasy. Rene Furterer Naturia is her favorite. “And it smells like roses!” she says.)

Step #2: Next, pull together your hair and hold it straight up (“like Lucky Troll Doll,” she laughs).

Step #3: Then twist your hair down to a few inches above the crown.

Step #4: Wrap your hair around itself until it forms a loose bun, right on top of your head.

Step #5: Pin the bun in place with bobby pins. “Anywhere from four to eight, depending on how thick your hair is,” C. says. “You want it loose but secure.”

Step #6: Finally, pull loose strands of hair from the nape of your neck and around your face to make it look like you’ve worn the bun all day (or even slept in it!) And there you have it: That certain je ne sais quoi.