The time it takes to make an updo depends on how intricate the hairstyle is. A ponytail or messy bun can take less than three minutes, but a complicated formal updo could take longer. If you plan on wearing your hair up for a special event, you may want to practice doing your hair ahead of time. Doing a trial run with your hair helps you gauge how long it will take to get ready and if there are any styling challenges you need to anticipate.