Fact: My favorite look to rock in the summer when it’s hot as heck outside is a messy bun. I wore it all weekend long during the heat wave—it’s the perfect way for me to get my hair off my neck and still look super cute. Another fact: It literally took me forever to learn how to do a messy bun and still make it look undone, you know what I mean? Seriously, though, why are the easiest hair looks the hardest to nail? I mean, how do the girls on Instagram do it?
Anyway, because I know I’m not on this struggle bus alone, I did all the research for you (you’re welcome). So no matter how long (or short) your hair is or what type of texture you have, you, too, can learn how to do a messy bun. Keep reading to pick up the tips and tricks to get the perfect messy bun for your hair type.
How to Do a Messy Bun With Thick Hair
When you have a LOT of hair, it can be super stressful to figure out how to fit it all in a bun without your elastic snapping. Vlogger Blanca Cruz has the perfect hack—use three thick hair elastics.
First, you’re going to put your hair in a ponytail (don’t use a brush because you don’t want it to look too perfect). Then, grab another elastic and pretend like you’re doing another ponytail, but instead, you’re going to flip your hair over and use the second hair tie to secure the ends on top of your head. Add the third hair tie to secure your bun, and voilà! A perfect messy bun. Spritz on some hairspray after to keep your look in place.
How to Do a Messy Bun With Long Hair
Before vlogger Rapunzel Rey even starts the messy-bun process, she adds a pump of hair oil to her ends to make sure they’re moisturized. Because no one wants their ends to look fried, even if they are in a bun. This tutorial also ensures all your hair will actually fit into a messy bun, since, well, that’s the whole point. All it takes is a high ponytail, a flip, a loop, and a twist to get the look. I know, it sounds like I just described a rollercoaster ride , but for real, this tutorial is super easy and, like, the ultimate goal—it’ll get you the messy bun of your dreams.
How to Do a Messy Bun With Natural Hair
Thought you couldn’t rock a messy bun with your natural curls? Think again. Vlogger Isimeme Edeko shows us how it’s done. First things first: Start off with some leave-in conditioner to make sure your hair is soft and hydrated. But the key here is to make sure that instead of using a regular hair tie, you’re using a thin headband—it’ll secure all your hair. Overall, this messy bun is the perfect style if you’re transitioning to your natural hair or just want to switch up your day-to-day look.
How to Do a Messy Bun With Short Hair
Yes, you can put your hair up in a messy bun even if it’s short, I promise. All you need to do is add in texture to give your hair more body to fill out the bun. Next, spray your hair with dry shampoo, just like vlogger Katie Mulcahy does in this video. It will give your hair a bit of grit and hold. Then, throw it up into a high pony and backcomb your hair (i.e., comb your hair in the opposite direction than you normally would). Then scrunch it up, secure your hair into a bun, and boom—a full, perfectly imperfect messy bun.
How to Do a Messy Bun With Fine Hair
The key to getting a messy bun with fine hair is volume, volume, oh, and more volume. Spray a texturizing spray or salt spray onto dry hair to give your hair some texture. And after you put your hair up in a ponytail, pull it out a bit before you put it up in a messy bun. Cue extra volume.
And there you go! Watch the videos and get ready to live your best bun life.