Winter is on the horizon, and with it comes the threat of blustering winds and cold air. The elements of the season may be ideal for giving you a natural flush, but they can also wreak havoc on your hair. Interestingly enough, TikTok has a solution and hairstyle hack that can be beneficial during this time of year. Enter the treatment bun. Designed to nourish, condition, repair and give you a super sleek look at the same time, the trend is making a comeback for winter. On the days when your hair is on its last leg and begging for a wash, a treatment bun can be a good option to give it some much-needed TLC. But before you start slathering your strands in hair masks and oils, there are a few things you need to know. Ahead, we tapped three experts for what you should consider first and how to make the treatment bun trend work for your hair.
Featured experts
- Gregory Patterson is a celebrity hairstylist and expert for Sally Beauty
- Sarah Potempa is a celebrity hairstylist and the CEO/Co-founder of The Beachwaver Co
- Gretchen Friese is a Bosley MD Trichologist
What is a treatment bun
If you think treatment buns fall into the slicked-back styles recently trending, you’re not completely wrong. “A treatment bun is a styling hack that allows you to treat and condition your hair while sporting a sleek hairstyle,” says celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa. The idea is simple and involves saturating your hair in nourishing products before twisting them into a bun. Celebrity hairstylist Gregory Patterson explains that the look doubles as a pre-wash treatment and typically includes a mix of oils, creams and hydrating ingredients. “Styling your hair in a bun helps hold the products in place, ensuring they penetrate deep to provide extra TLC before you wash it,” he says. In that vein, trichologist Gretchen Friese notes that treatment buns can also be beneficial for your scalp, allowing ingredients to absorb over time.
What hair types do treatment buns work for?
Not every hair type thrives with heavy ingredients and rich products, but the experts note that treatment buns can work for everyone. “Anyone can benefit from a treatment bun style as long as you’re using the right products for your hair type,” says Friese. The style is customizable and works best when the ingredients suit your texture. “For example, someone with fine or thin hair may need a strengthening product with ingredients that stimulate hair growth,” says Friese. On the flip side, she notes that thicker textures benefit most from moisturizing and protein-packed products.
The consistency of the products can also impact the efficacy of your treatment bun. “If you are going to slick back your hair using treatments, they should be ultra-hydrating, soothing and able to sit on the hair for a few hours,” says Potempa.
Are there any disadvantages to the treatment bun?
According to the experts, there aren’t many cons to using treatment buns—however, there are a few things to consider before trying the trend. “Treatment buns are a style in their own right, but you should avoid putting hair in any sort of updo when it’s wet or damp. In this state, an updo can cause breakage and essentially diminish the restoring effects,” says Potempa. Another key element to consider when sporting a treatment bun: hair porosity. Patterson notes that selecting the right products, along with knowing how to layer those products, is important for how effective your treatment bun will be. “Depending on porosity, you may need to incorporate leave-in conditioning sprays or mist your hair with water to help the ingredients soak into your hair. If not, the products will simply sit on the surface, negating the treatment element of the style,” he says.
Treatment bun products to try
