28 Easy Bun Hairstyles You Can Create Yourself (2024)

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Reviewed by

Hairstylist

Fact checked by

• Clariss Rubenstein is a celebrity hairstylist and member of the R+Co Collective.
• Leo Izquierdo is a hairstylist and the cofounder of IGK Haircare.

Slicked-Back Topknot

A decidedly sophisticated take on the topknot, this high bun is pure class.

• "Try doing the base ponytail for your topknot in two sections," Rubenstein says. "Create a high ponytail with the top section of your hair (from the ears up), then add the bottom section. This will make your topknot more secure."
• Use pomade to smooth the flyaways around the face and to ensure little hairs don’t fall out around the nape.
• "Brush through the ponytail, twist into a bun or knot and secure with French hairpins," she says. "If you can’t find textured French hairpins, use a bit of texture spray on regular ones."

Big Bun

This look is perfect for a girls' night out. But keep in mind: when you’re going for this much fullness, you’ll want second-day dirty hair and a little help from your trusty dry shampoo.

• Start by pulling your hair into a ponytail with a healthy dose of holding or hydrating mousse.
• Then, build the look by looping small or medium-sized sections of your hair into a bun and pinning them into place.

Super-Smooth Sock Bun

Need an inspired (and easy) 'do for a black-tie affair? Look no further.

• First things first: you need an extra-large sock bun or bun form to achieve this look.
• Brush your hair into a sky-high, super-smooth ponytail. Insert your ponytail through the center of your bun form and roll it down.
• Smooth the hair over the donut and secure with elastic around the entire bun.
• Leave one section out. Twist that section around the bun's base to cover the elastic, and pin it into place.

Upside-Down Topknot

This is an easy yet still pulled-together look that translates from the office to a weekend farmers' market run.

• Pull your hair into a low ponytail.
• Tease the top section of your ponytail until you’ve made a little ball of volume.
• Flip the ponytail’s smoother bottom section over the teased area, haphazardly wrapping the ends around the ponytail base, and pin in place.
• Muss it all up with your fingers and enjoy the finished look.

Messy Bun

A casual messy bun is cute and easy to replicate.

• First, add texture to your hair with a texturizing hair spray for body and grit.
• Then flip your head over, gather your hair into a high ponytail, and tie your strands in a bun, pulling out as many pieces as you please—the messier, the better.

Topknot With Bangs

Those with bangs can still get in on the fun—the bangs add a little something extra to the standard look.

• Start with dry hair.
• "You can spray IGK First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo for more grip and texture," says Izquierdo.
• "Brush your strands into a ponytail that lands at the highest part of the back of your head. After you have all of your hair up, simply twist it around and fasten with a clear elastic."

Tucked-In Chignon

As ideal for a Monday meeting as it is for a Friday-night wedding.

• Brush your hair, and then gather it into a ponytail at the nape of your neck.
• Wrap the ponytail into a bun, and tuck the tail underneath the chignon (kind of like you’re making a knot).
• Pull a few small pieces of hair out of the bun to achieve that model-off-duty vibe.
• Tackle any obvious flyaways with a spritz of hairspray, and you’re out the door.

Braided Bun

The best part about this look (other than how chic it is), is that it works even better on hair that hasn't been washed in a couple of days.

• Loosely tie your hair in a low ponytail, lifting a few sections here and there around the crown of your head to soften the look.
• Create ½-inch braids from the ponytail. Secure each one with a clear elastic, leaving about an inch-long tail on each.
• Wind the braids into a bun and pin them in place.

Loosely-Tied Loop

Boho chic at its finest, the loosely-tied bun is a great daytime style.

• Start with clean, straight hair. Smooth hair glossover the ends of your hair, or spritz it with shine spray, and pull it into a loose ponytail at the nape of your neck.
• Flip the ponytail up once, letting an inch or so hang out at the top.
• Pull a piece or two out of the loop and tie it off.
• Take a small section of hair from the back and wrap it around the elastic.

Loose, Twisted Chignon

This look is about as sophisticated as it gets.

• Run some shine serum through your hair from root to tip, and then slick your shiny locks back into a low ponytail. Separate the ponytail into two sections.
• Wrap the first one into a bun, and then do the same with the second section, wrapping it around the first bun.
• Secure with bobby pins underneath the chignon. For a look like Nicole Kidman's, remove a few strands and curl with a wide-barrel curling iron to create face-framing tendrils.

Undone Side Bun

Another easy but still chic look that manages to remain sophisticated, even if a few errant hairs come out of place.

• Pick a side for your part, and then sweep your strands over just behind the opposite ear.
• Gather your hair into a relaxed ponytail in your hands. Once you’re satisfied with the placement, twist the ponytail into a bun.
• Pin the sides all the way around, and lock it in place with a generous coat of hairspray.

Messy Topknot

The sophisticated chignon gets a dose of cool in this classic look.

• Create a ponytail by positioning it high atop your head.
• Take the end of the ponytail and wrap it loosely around the base, pinning into place and teasing as you go.
• Leave a few pieces out to frame the face for a more lived-in look.

Half-Bun

The half-bun is a youthful style that's perfect for everything from a trip to the gym to a night out with the girls.

• Separate the top section of your hair. Smooth it back, creating a ponytail at the top of your head.
• Twist the hair into a bun and pin it in place with bobby pins.
• Rough up the sides that are down and you're good to go.

Wavy and Loose Bun

For a loose, perfectly messy topknot, don't be afraid to turn to stellar products.

• Starting on naturally wavy hair (or hair that's been curled with a wide-barrel curling iron), pull hair into a high ponytail, twisting and pinning into a bun with pins.
• Once the hair is up, muss with your fingertips and finish the look with hair spray.
  

Tail-Out Bun

This sleek updo has the added funky factor of a tiny tail, created by leaving the end out and unpinned.

• Follow all the steps of a traditional topknot, putting the hair into a ponytail before wrapping the end around the base, leaving a little bit of the tail out, suggests Izquierdo.
• You can keep the tail out by first wrapping most of the ponytail around the bun before securing with bobby pins.
• "Spray some IGK Please Hold Flexible Finishing Spray to seal the deal," he adds.

Low, Middle-Part Bun

If you're looking for bun inspo, look no further than Sofia Richie Grainge. She has mastered many variations on the look, even rocking one for her gorgeous wedding in the South of France. To achieve this chic, low, middle-part bun:

• Separate the triangle section at the front of your hair and secure it with a clip.
• Then, using hairspray, slick the rest of your hair into a tight, low ponytail.
• Next, separate the hair from the front triangle into an even middle part and add that hair into the ponytail, securing with an elastic.
• Wrap the ends around the elastic, securing with bobby pins.

Spine-Braided Bun

This bun has an eye-catching hidden detail in the back—a braid! To achieve this look:

• Flip your hair over and gather a section at the back. Begin braiding it, adding in little bits of hair until you've completely braided the section.
• Secure the braided section with a hair elastic.
• Pull the remaining hair into a high ponytail, including the braid at the back.
• At any point, feel free to use some hairspray to secure any flyaways or frizz.
• Lastly, wrap the ends of the ponytail around the base, securing with bobby pins.

Double Buns

Know what's better than one bun? Two buns! This adorable homage to the famous Princess-Leia do, aptly named space buns, can be done as casually or ornately as the mood strikes. To start, keep it simple:

• Use a comb to part your hair evenly down the center, making sure you have equal amounts of hair for each bun.
• Decide where on your head you want the buns, and put each section into a tight, slicked ponytail, keeping them even.
• Next, wrap the ends around the base of the ponytail, securing the ends with bobby pins.
• Accessorize with pins, gems, pearls, or just leave them plain.

Criss-Cross Braided Bun

This simple low bun ups the ante by adding two braids. To begin:

• Put your hair in a semi-low ponytail, leaving out two sections in the front on either side of your face.
• Next, wrap the ends of the ponytail around the elastic, securing the ends with bobby pins.
• Then, braid each of the two sections you left out at the front. You can pull them into thin, tight braids, or leave them looser and fluffier, depending on the look you're going for.
• Lastly, take one braid and pull it diagonally across the bun and wrapping it around. Secure the end into the bun with a bobby pin, then repeat with the braid on the other side.

Braided Topknot

While it may look complex, a fishtail braided topknot is easier to achieve than you think.

• Follow all the steps of a traditional topknot, braiding the ponytail down to the ends.
• Wrap the ponytail into a knot and secure with an elastic and hair pins.

Natural Voluminous High Bun

If you have natural hair, you're already a step ahead with this style.

• Follow all the steps of a classic high bun but ensure all of your bang hair is left down so it frames the face (if you have bangs, that is).
• Keep curls hydrated with a leave-in conditioner like R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner.
  

Messy Midi Bun

Nothing says model off-duty like the messy midi bun.

• Pull hair into a mid-ponytail and twist until a knot has formed. The messier the better.
  

Low Bun with Face-framing Pieces

How do you make an undone bun even more so? With face-framing pieces, of course.

• Run some smoothing serum through your hair from root to tip, and gather your hair into a loose ponytail.
• Twist the ponytail into a loose, messy bun, pinning strands into place. Be careful not to pin too tightly, but enough that the hair is secure.
• To make this look even more romantic, pull out wider face-framing pieces after you have created your bun. It will look less intentional than separating strands before you styled.
  

Curly Bun

Mutli-textured hair is both fun and interesting, like this slicked back and curly bun combo.

• Follow all the steps of a classic high bun but do not pull hair all the way through, ensuring that some curls are left out of the bun.
• Use a smoothing serum and run your fingers through each ringlet so they do not come together and stay separated.

Accessorized High Bun

The easiest way to enhance any hairstyle is to add an accessory.

• Pull hair into a high ponytail, and twist, wrap, or use the sock bun method to achieve a bun. Pin into place.
• Accessorize with a headband and you're good to go.

Sicked Back Low Bun

Sleek hairstyles are perfect for elegant evenings, or when you need to ensure that not a single hair falls out of place.

• Brush your hair, and then gather it into a ponytail at the nape of your neck.
• Wrap the ponytail into a bun, and tuck the tail underneath.
• Once the hair is pulled back, add hairspray and brush very lightly through to control any frizz. For a more polished result, incorporate a shine serum or gloss.

Vertical Trio Bun

Short hair don't care. A trio of buns is a super fun style and a go-to when you want hair off your face.

• Start by gathering hair into three separate sections at the top, middle, and bottom of your head.
• Create three separate ponytails and wrap, twist, or knot each one until a bun has formed and secure with an elastic.
• To keep any stray hairs at bay, use a smoothing serum and light-hold hairspray.