The Perfect Messy Bun Tutorial

You know what our favorite kind of hairstyle is? One that can be worn by virtually all hair types, textures, and lengths, and one that doesn’t require a lot of time or skill to execute. That’s where the messy bun comes in. Whether you’re running late to the gym with dirty hair or looking for a cute way to quickly pull up your locks, the messy bun has come to the rescue countless times. But don’t let the name fool you — it may be “messy,” but this hairstyle needs a few key steps (and products) to look its best. Read on to see this simple three-step routine for a messy bun, as well as our favorite hair care products to help keep the look locked in.

As long as your hair is long enough to pull into a high ponytail, you’re ready for a messy bun tutorial. Let’s start styling.

Start by gathering all of your hair on top of your head in a high ponytail and secure with an elastic hair tie. You can use a brush to help smooth it out, but don’t worry too much about getting it slicked back. A messy bun looks best when it's a little loose and effortless-looking.

Once your ponytail is secure, twist it into one long coil — then start at the base of your head and wrap the knot around itself to form the bun.

Finish by securing the messy bun with either another hair tie, hair scarf, or a few bobby pins. Spray a light,brushable hairspray to help smooth away any excess flyaways, and you’re ready to go!

Having fine, thin hair doesn’t have to mean missing out on different hairstyles — you can still achieve a perfect messy bun, you just need to make sure you’re working with the right hair care products. Here are some of our top-recommended products to both form a solid hair foundation, as well as the perfect finishing touch.

Adding a texturizing product to your hair is a great way to add some extra fullness, movement and body. Before attempting your messy bun tutorial, sprinkle texturizing powder onto your roots and rub in to evenly distribute. You can also use a dry texturizer for more piecey, defined texture and hold.

If you’re worried your messy bun will look too lifeless and limp, try adding a boost of body and volume with a volumizing shampoo and thickening conditioner.

While we love the look of a loose, effortless messy bun, sometimes you want to make sure excessive flyaways are under control. After your messy bun is secured, spray on a lightweight hairspray — this will also add some bounce and movement to any spray pieces.

Want to add extra body to your hair and boost up your messy bun? Spritz on a volumizing hair mist. Aside from volumizing the hair and adding support to the base of your roots, it also leaves your locks soft and shiny.

One downside of having fine or thin hair is that it’s more apparent when your hair is oily — and excessive oil can also mean your hair is weighed down. Since this might mean a limp-looking messy bun, try using dry shampoo to absorb excess oil. Another plus of dry shampoo is that by absorbing excess oil your hair is left looking more volumized, airy, and bodified.

Hair extensions are also a great way to add on to the fullness of your hair, especially if it’s naturally fine and thin. But always go to the hair professionals when it comes to big changes like this! Work with your stylist to see what they suggest will work best with your hair type and styling frequency.

Having too much hair can also deter you from attempting a messy bun — or at least fear broken elastics and flyways. Here are our top tips to celebrate your luscious locks and get a perfect messy bun with thick hair.

If you’re struggling to get all of your hair up into a bun, or are dealing with scalp pain from the weight of having your hair pulled up, try a half-up, half-down variation of a messy bun instead. Start by sectioning your hair in two, and only pull the top up into a high ponytail. Then follow the rest of the tutorial — this will give you the look of a messy bun, just with less weight and potential strain on your hair.

For those blessed with thick hair, you’re probably well-versed in the need to sometimes use extra hair accessories to keep your looks in check. Finish your messy bun tutorial with bobby pins along the edge, or an extra elastic to make sure everything stays in place. 

A simple way to make the messy bun look extra carefree? Pulling out extra wispy strands. Those with thicker hair are lucky enough to have hair to spare, so pull out some face-framing pieces after your bun is in place. 

While thick, healthy hair is a definite plus, sometimes the texture can make it difficult to pull your hair up. Consider using products for frizzy hair to help smooth your hair out, or even try a blow-out before attempting the messy bun tutorial. Just remember: you should always use a heat protectant any time you’re using hot tools on your hair!  

We love the versatility and ease of a messy bun; a classic look that can be dressed up for a night out, or just as a quick fix on your way to a gym session. The key to keeping your hair looking its best (and your bun securely in place) is following this simple three-step tutorial and stocking your shelves with the right sustainable hair care products, like Davines. We hope you’re inspired to try something new, and be sure to share any additional hair and styling tips in the comments below.

by Lauren Hannel, staff contributor