I figured out a new do for people with thick hair, though probably someone else has used it. I dont have pictures, unfortunatly, but I will try to detail the instructions as much as possible.
Note: Your hair shouldnt be past the middle of your back and it should be at least shoulder length. You could try it with longer hair, I'm not sure if it'll work though.

1) tie your hair into a low ponytail with a ponytail holder.

2) put hair sticks behind the ponytail holder, criss-crossed, and the pointy edges upward.

3) twist your hair upward or out then bring it as close to your head as possible.

4) Get a big hair clasp and clasp the twisted hair in it securely.

BOOM! You're done. I've just tested this and it's holding pretty well. It's hardly moving at all, and as I said, my hair is as thick as 3 and a half women's. good luck!  ;D

I'm having trouble imagining what these steps produce.  What do the hairsticks do? Upside-down hairsticks would just slide out of my hair. And after that step, I'm lost. Does it leave a tail hanging?

Not if it's BEHIND, closer to your head. And your hiar should be thickish, they dont fall out of mine. And right now I'm holding it up without the ponytail holder, but I did it in a different order with this style (put twisted hair in clasp, then stick in hairsticks).

the third step is just twisting the hair, but stoping before it begins to turn into a regular bun.
I'm sorry I cant post pictures, but I dont have digi cam but I'm getting one soon.