How to Make a Braided Bun

Co-authored by Ndeye Anta Niang

Last Updated: October 21, 2023 Approved

Buns are a great way to pull your hair out of your face. However simply buns can be, you can always incorporate a braid to add a bit of flair to your hair. There are many ways to make a braided bun, and most of them only take minutes to assemble!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Making The Fold Through Braided Bun

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1
Tie your hair in a ponytail. Your hair doesn’t need to be brushed and smoothed out for this braided bun. Tie your hair in a loose ponytail at the nape of your neck.^{[1]
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Research source}Texturize your ponytail by pinching your hair at your crown to get some added volume.
- Brushing and smoothing your hair before you put it into the ponytail will give your bun a sleek look.
- For a high bun, tie a loose ponytail at the crown of your head.
2
Braid your ponytail. Braid your ponytail in a classic three-strand braid. Braid your hair all the way down to the bottom of your hair.^{[2]
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- It’s okay if some pieces of hair pop out while you continue the braid.
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3
Make a hole in your hair. Use your fingers to create a hole in the area of your hair above the ponytail holder. Reach your thumb and pointer finger up and underneath your ponytail holder so they poke up vertically through the hole you just created.^{[3]
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- Keep your fingers poking through; they are going to grab onto your braid.
4
Fold your hair through the hole. Lift your braid up with your free hand and bring it to your two fingers poking out through the hole. Hold onto the braid with your two fingers and pull the braid down through the hole.^{[4]
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- The sides of your hair should be twisted since the braid was pulled through the hole.
5
Fold your braid though again. Fold your braid once more through the hole. This time, don’t pull your braid all the way down through the hole. Flip the braid to pull the bulkiest part to the hole, and let the bottom portion of the braid (the tail) fold over on itself within the hole.^{[5]
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- The idea is to have the bulkiest part of the braid be the majority of the braid seen in the bun.
6
Secure the braid. Hold your braid with one hand and use your other hand to insert bobby pins into the sides of your bun. Once the braid is secured into place, use your fingers to pull the braided pieces apart a little bit to make the bun look fluffier and to add texture.^{[6]
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- It’s okay if the bun looks a little messy and not too perfect.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making The Braided Top Knot

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1
Put your hair in a ponytail. Pull all of your hair back and tie it up in a high ponytail.^{[7]
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Research source} You don’t need to brush your hair before putting your hair into the ponytail. This will help create a more relaxed, tousled look.
- Since you’re making a top knot bun, the ponytail needs to be tied up high on your head.
2
Tease your ponytail. Separate your ponytail into two sections. Back comb and tease both sections of your hair, focusing on the hair closest to the base of the ponytail.^{[8]
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- To get the best results always tease your hair before putting it into a ponytail.
- You'll get best results if you use a teasing brush or rat tail comb to tease your hair.
- This will help your braids look bigger and fuller.
Separate each section into three strands. Braid each section in a classic three-strand braid.^{[9]
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Research source} Secure each braid at the bottom with a small elastic hair tie.
4
Add some texture to the braids. This step is optional, but you can add texturizing powder or dry shampoo to your braids and pull apart the braid plaits.^{[10]
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Research source} Gently pulling the braid plaits apart will create wider, bigger braids.
- If you don’t have any texturizing powder or dry shampoo, you can simply pull at your braids, loosening and widening the braids.
5
Wrap your braids. With one braided section, wrap it around the base of your ponytail until it gets back to the back of your head.^{[11]
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Research source} Use a bobby pin to secure that first wrapped braid. Wrap the other braided section going in the opposite direction, until it reaches the back of your head. Try to position this braid underneath the first wrapped around braid.
- If you hair is longer, and your braided sections wrap around further than to the back of your head, simply secure the end of the braid wherever it happens to end.
6
Secure your braids. Use hair spray and bobby pins to secure down any stray hairs and pieces falling out of the braids.^{[12]
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- It always helps blend things together if you use bobby pins that are similar to your hair color.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Making The Pulled Braided Bun

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1
Tease your hair. Grab a section of hair at your crown (about a 1-2 inch section), nearer to your forehead. Lightly back comb and tease this section of hair, then flip it over to the front of your face. Grab a small section of hair behind the first section (again, about a 1-2 inch section), and repeat the teasing and back combing. Flip this back combed section of hair over the first section.
- Tease and back comb 3-5 sections of hair for some nice volume at the crown of your head. Flip all of your hair back say it lays naturally.
2
Braid your hair. Separate your hair into three sections, and loosely braid your hair in a classic three-strand braid. Don’t secure the entire braid with an elastic ponytail holder. Instead, only secure two out of the three strands.
- It’s okay if some pieces of hair fall out of the braids. This braid is more of a relaxed look.
Hold onto the one strand of hair that you didn’t secure into the elastic ponytail holder. Push the other two, secured strands up until they are bunched at the base of the braid.
Wrap the loose strand around the bunched up braided strands and secure the bun with bobby pins. You can insert bobby pins on all sides of the bun to make sure it stays in place.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making The Three Braid Bun

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1
Back comb your crown. Take a small section of hair near the crown of your head (a 1-2 inch section of hair), and back comb it, pushing the hair down with your comb.^{[13]
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Research source} Flip the back combed section of hair over to the front of you face. Take the section of hair behind the first section of hair you just back combed, and back comb that section.
- Tease and back comb about 3-4 sections of hair. Then flip all of your hair back so it lays naturally.
Separate your hair into three vertical sections: one for the right side, one for the left side, and one in the middle of your hair.^{[14]
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Research source} Tie each section near the nape of your neck with a ponytail holder.
Loosely braid each section of hair in a classic three-strand braid.^{[15]
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Research source} Secure each braid at the end of the hair with a small, elastic hair tie.
4
Twist and secure each braid. Hold one braided section at the bottom near the hair tie, and use your other hand to twist the middle portion of the braid. The twisting motion is similar to the motion you would do if you were going to knot the braid on itself.^{[16]
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Research source} Secure the twisted braid with some bobby pins.
- Continue to twist and secure the other two braided sections of hair, so they line up near each other once secured into place.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do I make a bun with my box braids?

Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.

Ndeye Anta Niang

Hair Stylist & Master Braider

Expert Answer

You would need to part your hair in half and create a central part from one ear to the other, particularly considering the weight of the box braids. If they're lightweight, you can simply gather them in your hands and secure them in the middle with a scrunchie or elastic band as a foundation. Next, take the loose hair on the left and twirl it in a circular motion around the top of the hair, forming a small circle that can be transformed into a bun. Alternatively, you could utilize one of those sponge-like scrunchies typically used for regular hair. Once the hair is allowed to fall naturally, roll it under the sponge bun accessory. You can twirl it around, similar to the motion of a snail or a spiral, securing it in a circular pattern. Finally, tuck in any loose ends for a polished look.

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Question

I'm really bad at styling my hair, but why is it so hard to do hair behind me?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

If putting your hair into a ponytail is hard for you, try placing a mirror in front of you and a mirror behind you so that you can see both sides of your hair at 1 time. This will allow you to see the back of your hair while you style your bun.

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Question

My hair is broken off at the nape of my neck. How can I do a top knot?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Even with broken off hair, you can create a braided top knot. You can choose either a tousled or sleek bun. To create a sleek look where your ends won't stick out, apply hairspray or gel to your hair as you smooth it into a high ponytail.

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Tips

Where ever your ponytail is in the beginning is where your bun's going to be. So if you want a high bun do a high ponytail. If you want a low bun do a low ponytail.

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If you are going for a classy, clean look, create a tight braid.

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You can braid your bangs into the bun or leave them out of the bun.

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