How to Do a Low Bun

Co-authored by Christine George

Last Updated: November 16, 2024

If you don’t know what to do with your hair, or you’re feeling rushed to get out the door, a low bun can be styled in a few minutes and can be dressed up or down to suit your look no matter what your day holds. It’s so quick and easy, you’ll want to create the look over and over again. There are also some more complicated low buns you can attempt if you’re wanting a fancier look. Try a braided low bun for a formal event or a fun night out, or perfect the 'undone' look of a cute messy low bun without it looking too disheveled.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating a Simple Low Bun

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1
Start with dry hair. Wash and dry your hair as you normally would. If you have long hair or can feel any tangles then give it a quick brush. A mixed bristle brush works well—the nylon bristles will get bumps out while the boar bristles will smooth the surface of your hair for a shinier finish.^{[1]
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- If you have short hair and need some extra volume or texture, add a small amount of dry shampoo.
- If you have curly locks, don't brush your curls or you may create frizz.
Pull your hair into a tidy ponytail at the base of your neck and secure it loosely with a hair tie. It's a good idea to have a hair tie or two around your wrist ready to go.

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3
Divide the ponytail into two sections. Twist the sections around themselves until you have one long twisted strand.^{[2]
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- It doesn’t matter if you twist clockwise or anti-clockwise, just do whatever feels comfortable.
4
Wrap the twisted hair into a bun. Form a bun by wrapping the twisted hair around your hair tie and tucking it into the base of your ponytail. Secure the bun in place with bobby pins if you need. Insert the bobby pins by placing the opening towards your scalp, pushing down and sliding into the knot.^{[3]
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- You can also add ribbons, colorful clips, or flowers for decoration.
5
Finish it off with some hairspray. Whether your low bun is messy or sleek and sophisticated, always finish your look off with a spritz of hairspray to tame any flyaways.^{[4]
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- For a softer look, you can leave some flyaway strands free, dangling out of the bun or around your face.
- Use a hand-held mirror to check your bun is balanced and that you have achieved the look you were going for.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating a Braided Low Bun

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Unless you have curls, brush your hair until it's smooth, then gather it up into a ponytail at the base of your neck. You can either secure the ponytail loosely with a hair tie or just hold it in your hands while you get ready to braid.
2
Braid your ponytail. Divide the ponytail into three strands. Cross the right strand over the centre strand. Move the centre strand over so it is now the right strand. Cross the left strand over the centre strand and move the centre strand over so it becomes the left strand. Repeat this pattern until you have braided the ponytail from the hair tie down to the tips. Finally, secure the bottom with another hair tie.^{[5]
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- You can attempt a French braided low bun if you're feeling adventurous.^{[6]
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Take the braid and circle it around the base of your ponytail to form a low bun. Hold the bun with one hand and use the other hand to stretch another hair tie around the bun until it feels tight and secure.
4
Complete your bun with finishing touches. Tuck any loose ends underneath your bun, and secure it with bobby pins.^{[7]
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- Try mixing things up by parting your hair in different ways, or moving the low bun off to one side.^{[8]
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- Apply a little hairspray and you're ready to go!

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Creating a Low Messy Bun

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1
Tie your hair up in a loose ponytail. A low messy bun can look fun and casual, and can also help to create a more voluminous look—particularly if your hair is short. Start by pulling your hair up loosely into a low pony tail and tugging at the roots to get a messy look.
- Add texture spray or back comb your hair a little to add extra volume if you need to.
- Don’t use a comb or worry about your strands being perfectly slicked back—some bumps are ok; in fact, they'll add to the messy look.^{[9]
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Holding your hair close to the tips, twist your hair around the base of your ponytail. You can divide the ponytail into two sections first if you like, and twist the sections around each other—just go with what feels most natural to you.
Wrap your twisted ponytail around your hair tie at the base of your neck, making sure you leave the tail out at the end. Secure the bun in place with a second hair tie and bobby pins.
4
Leave loose pieces of hair free. To really nail the messy look, you can leave a few sections of hair out of the ponytail and pull these back individually, securing them with bobby pins.
- Remember to leave a few loose strands out and style them around your face, and you're done!
- One of the best things about messy buns is they work well on dirty hair, but you can still pull off the look with clean hair too—just work in a little bit of dry shampoo to add some texture and grip.^{[10]
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Tips

There are also foam bun makers you can purchase at beauty supply stores that make styling your hair in a bun super easy. You just put your hair in a ponytail, insert the foam piece, and twist to style your hair in a bun.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}

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