Top Knots: The Best Bun Hairstyles to Try

Buns don’t get any more unconventional than the messy bun. Its trademark imperfectly perfect finish gives this style a relaxed feel. With the right technique, this knot is easy to do, even in mid-length hair.

How to do it: First, apply texture spray to hair before you create your messy bun. This gives the hair more grip making it easier to style. Secure hair in a ponytail on top of your head, and lightly tease the hair on the underside of the pony. Twist your ponytail counterclockwise and spiral it around your hair tie. Secure the ends with hairpins, loosen a few strands out of your knot, fix with hairspray – and your casual bun hairstyle is ready. This looks particularly stylish as a high bun. Often seen on bloggers, you may have heard this look referred to as a blogger bun or hipster bun.

Ideal for: Sundays on the couch, showering and removing make-up or a relaxed girls evening. It also makes a casual contrast to elegant outfits, as seen on the Chanel catwalk this season.

The trendy top knot or high bun is perfect for younger women. The styling secret of this bun is obvious: it sits right on top of the head. This means you’ll need hair that’s at least a little past shoulder length, so you don’t lose too many strands to bobby pinning on the way to the top!

How to do it: Spritz shine spray through hair lengths, toss your hair up over your head, gather it into a high ponytail a couple of inches back from your hairline. Twist this around on itself into a knot and secure with a hair tie, tucking the ends in. Loosen up your roots a little when you’re done for an even more stylish look.

Tip: Try a sleek version of the look, which is both minimalist and elegant. To get the look, use a brush when gathering your hair on top of your head, and smooth styling wax over hair from your hairline to the base of your top knot.

The half bun: The bun of the hipsters. This look is characterized by a mix of free-flowing hair and a mini-bun. This bun style works for bobs as well as it does on long locks, making it a real all-rounder.

How to do it: For better grip, apply a texturizing spray before styling. Gather the upper half of your hair into a ponytail on top of your head. You can create your bun in one of two ways: 1. Pull the lengths of your ponytail through the hair tie until you almost reach the ends, or 2. Twist your ponytail into a bun. It’s up to you! Either way: Both methods create a cool look.

Strictly combed back, not a flyaway baby hair in sight: That’s what the ballerina bun is all about. But it’s not just for dancers – this hairstyle imparts grace and elegance to every woman who wears it.

How to do it: To give your ballerina bun XXL volume – a must to really achieve an elegant look – use a bun donut or cushion. For both long and shorter hair, start with a medium-high ponytail. For hair that’s down to your shoulders, guide the hair donut down to the base of your ponytail and spread the hair out evenly to cover it, tucking the ends underneath it. Secure ends with a hair tie and bobby pins. For longer hair, thread the hair donut just over the end of your ponytail and secure the ends to the donut. Then wind the donut down to the base of your ponytail, wrapping your hair evenly around it. The result with both methods: A beautiful, voluminous bun! Say farewell to flyaway baby hairs with a little styling cream, and you’re done!

Two stylish knots on top of the head define this popular festival look. Change it up by creating half buns and leaving half your hair down.

How to do it: Create a center part and create two ponytails, one on either side of it. Use volume powder to add texture – just sprinkle some powder into the lengths. Then twist your two ponytails into knots and secure with hairpins. For the half bun version, only gather up hair from your hairline to your crown when creating your ponytails, leaving the rest of the hair loose around your shoulders. You can use a flat iron or curling iron to style light waves through your lengths.
Styling tip: Colorful hair ends make space buns even spacier. If you want to go one step further, add glitter! Distribute a little hair gel at your roots and either side of your center part, then sprinkle with loose glitter powder.

In the past, those fine, protruding baby hairs along our hairline were something we’d go to great lengths to get rid of. But since Fashion Week in Milan, no more! The so-called baby hair bun combines a tightly twisted bun with playful baby hair.

How to do it: For an extra dose of shine and care, distribute some hair oil through your hair prior to styling. Using a brush, gather hair on top of the head into a tight, high ponytail. Twist this into a bun and secure with bobby pins. Allow those fine baby hairs on your forehead and at your temples to remain naturally flyaway. You can also use a stick comb to pull out a few more strands of hair from your top knot and wrap these around a curling iron. This strict bun, in combination with fine romantic ringlets, is reminiscent of Victorian updos.