I've been wondering the exact same thing. I see other little girls at DD's school whose hair is tied back immaculately. I've formulated some theories - I reckon at least part of it is skill/practice. I've never had long hair myself so I'm probably already about 20 years behind LOL. I suspect some of it is the type of comb/brush you use to pull the hair back. And my other suspicion is that there's a secret club of mummies who trade secrets like some kind of secret-immaculate-hair product, like leave in conditioner or a quick wizz of hairspray or something that the uninitiated among us will never. ever. know.