My long hair!!!!!!!!!

> I have middle length, straight, brown hair. And I am> having a major problem finding a formal up-do hair> style that i can use for my long thick hair. I was> hoping you guy's could help me out. Thank you.A bun might work, although it's not very formal. You could try turning your head upside-down, French braiding from your neck up to the top of the back of your head, and coiling the hair into a bun - that might look a little dressier.If you like your hair dressed lower, but still dressy, you could try a sort of chignon-like thing - make a flip-through ponytail (like the end result of those topsy-tail things they used to sell on tv - make a medium-high ponytail, separate the hair *above* the elastic, lean forward and flip the rest of the hair towards the top of your head and through the space you made, then stand up again). Then separate the hair into three sections (or however many you decide you like) and braid each section. The braids will now be hanging down your back below the flipped ponytail. Life them up so that they sort of loop over it and tuck the ends into the space you flipped the ponytail through. Hold them there with a fancy barrette, clip, or comb of some sort.Those are the ideas that immediately come to mind. I've done them both on my own hair (waist-length, relatively thick overall though fine in texture), although mine is getting a little long for the second. You might also look through the gallery section of this site for inspiration.Good luck!Laura Janelswanson@sunflower.bio.indiana.edu