According to celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager, the best practice is to use either a flatiron or curling iron to boost texture before each messy bun, or use either tool at the end of your style to add polished bends and waves around the face and at the nape of the neck. “These pieces are what make the bun feel unique, so don’t be afraid to let them drop out and be seen,” she says. “I love T3’s Lucea ID ($249; amazon.com), and Curl ID ($249; amazon.com) hot tools, which allow you to set your heat settings based on your hair texture, length, and color treatments, reducing your risk of heat damage.” Looking for the right messy bun for you? We asked hairstylists how to create a myriad of different messy bun hairstyles for every hair length and occasion. Pull your hair up into a high ponytail and secure it with a hooked elastic. “There’s no need to brush your hair into a tight ponytail; just leave it haphazard and bumpy in all the right places,” she says. “You can also pull down loose hair around your face and use the T3 Curl ID to add polished waves.” Set the barrel to the midshaft of the piece you want to define and twist while pulling the iron down. “This gives you a haphazard wave that’s perfect but polished.” Tap down unwanted frizz with a pomade or wax for hold, and grab the length of your ponytail and split into two sections. “Twist the two sections around each other, then wrap the twisted lengths around the base of the ponytail and secure with hairpins,” Brager explains. “Pull apart your bun to make it big or keep it on the tighter side. Use a little extra texture spray or light-hold hairspray to finish the style!” For this look, Rago suggests gently loosening thicker parts of the bun to accomplish the messy-undone look. “To help tame unwanted frizz, take one of your large makeup brushes and spray a flexible hold hair spray on the tip of the brush—use your makeup brush to brush the fly-away hairs around the bun without destroying the bun.” To create this look with a low knot, simply part your hair in the middle or side, if preferred, halfway back to where your ear would meet the top of your head. “Sweep the hair to the nape of the neck using the same steps as the top knot and fasten with pins,” says Rago. “If you want to accessorize this messy bun with a pop of color or texture, take a silk hair scarf, like UO Silky Neck Scarf ($16, urbanoutfitters.com) in some light spring colors and fasten it around the head for a chic, cute finish. You can also use a dark leather wrap for a night out.” The ends are left out to be swept around the base of the loop. “Now grab your bobby pins and start haphazardly tucking pieces away around that base,” says Brager. “Repeat these steps on your second bun by securing as much hair as you can to the back of the head or at the nape of the neck.” Remember not to be too careful—you want to keep it messy. Add a little texture spray to finish. Now snake the ponytails around each other like a figure eight, and secure hair to the base of each ponytail. “Add extra texture by pulling the buns apart gently,” says Brager. “Spray with a light hold hair spray to finish.” Take the ponytail and wrap it into a loose bun fastening it with some bobby pins. “To help lock the bobby pins more effectively, turn the rigid part of the pin towards the head, not opening all the way but just leaving enough for the hair to be scooped back,” she says. “With the short strands that you left in the front, style the bangs or strands with some hair spray or product to keep the appearance of the bun soft and gently framing your face shape.”
