Any good, fairly easy hairstyles for long, thick, and wavy hair?

My hair is very thick and goes down below my shoulder blades and has a LOT of layers. It is pretty wavy and never stays when I use a curling/straitening iron or other hair products like mousse and gel. I usually put it up in a pony-tail and when I wear it down it gets in my face and my neck gets really hot and (this sounds weird) it sort of makes me feel claustrophobic. Well, like I don’t have fresh air. Anyway, I want some pretty, but easy hairstyles that don’t take that long to do and don’t have any hair products involved( except for hairspray). I’ve tried braids, but they take long. I don’t want shorter hair, I just want some quick and easy hairstyles for school or maybe Church.
Any ideas???