If you were to somehow unearth my Google search history circa anywhere from 2012 to 2018, I can safely bet "How to do a messy bun," was amongst my top hits. To this day, trying to achieve the style for a night out or even a day at the office proves to be, for me and many others, a frustrating and fruitless task. If TikTok tutorials aren't doing it for you, we consulted the experts for celebrity-level advice for achieving that effortlessly messy bun style.
Featured Experts
- Dimitris Giannetos is a celebrity hairstylist and Garnier Fructis ambassador
- Riawna Capri is a celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Nine Zero One Salon
- Paul Labrecque is a creative director, master stylist and colorist with Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa
The Best Styling Tips for Perfecting the Messy Bun
At its core, the "perfect messy bun," is an oxymoron. It's no surprise it's often as difficult to achieve as it is confusing to read. But, there are ways to make the look less tiresome. One such technique for creating the perfect messy bun is to start with a ponytail and use pins to create the bun. "The perfect messy bun is all about effortless structure—you want it to look undone but intentional," Giannetos begins. "Start with a bit of Garnier Fructis Hair Filler + Polypeptides Fullness Repair Thickening Spray ($10) to add grip, then loosely gather your hair into a ponytail, twist it around itself and secure [it] with pins. Gently pull a few pieces around your face to soften the look. A little imperfection makes it feel natural and cool, too."
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For Riawna, a two-fold elastic technique is preferred when it comes to snatching the perfect messy bun. "My favorite messy bun trick is to put your hair in a ponytail first and then grab another rubber band to create the bun," Riawna says. "From there, pull out a couple [of] pieces, twist them and bobby pin them in—I’d say about two to four bobby pins to really create the effortless yet purposeful texture." Riawna also recommends pulling out a few strands, like Giannetos, for that lived-in look. "Lock it in with R&Co Bleu Cult Classic Hairspray ($46) to maintain the look for the day," she says.
If you're looking for an even simpler way to create the style, Labrecque has you covered. At his salon, Labrecque creates custom hair pieces for clients' specific hair textures and colors, allowing them to simply pop the piece over their ponytail for an instant messy bun look (see below).
