When it comes to effortless hairstyles, is there anything better than a bun? Whether it’s a messy bun, high bun, sleek up-do or slickback, the hairstyle has endured over the decades for its versatility and easy style. They can be dressed up for elegant events or kept messy for an everyday, ‘Oh, I just threw this look together’ type of vibe.
Most recently, slicked back buns have been trending, thanks to the rise in ‘clean girl’ aesthetics, and the fact that they look good with just about any ‘fit, from your weekend Pilates class get-up to a sleek formal evening style. But other buns have had their moment in the limelight, too — notably Pamela Anderson’s perfectly tousled ’90s bun that featured perfectly placed tendrils of curls trailing down to the frame the face.
To find out how to nail the perfect high bun look, we speak to Jake Unger, stylist at Larry King Marylebone. Here are his expert tips below:
- Work with clean hair; however, day two hair can also be great for adding some grit and volume.
- Prep with Larry King My Nanna’s Mousse to help give it a little bit of shine, but also some hold.
- Blowdry your hair, blowing it back off of your face.
- Pull out any bits you might want to fall around the front hairline. This can be really nice to do on one of your face, to give a cool parting.
- Divide the hair into two, so that you gather the back area behind the ear to the top of the head. Comb it all into a ponytail where you want the bun to start, securing it with an elastic.
- Then put your centre parting in, drop out the piece that you’ve kept out (if you want to), then drag everything back into that original ponytail.
- A nice method is to twist the hair once it’s in the ponytail and wrap it around itself, fix this with an elastic or some pins. The best pins are Japanese pins from a place called Session Kit. They have little grooves in them so that the hair doesn’t fall out. Really worth investing in!
- Finish off the hair with the Larry King Flyaway Kit, to go around all the edges. Put a bit on the back of your hand and use the brush to tame your hair, then fix with some hairspray.