double bun

Photo: Carmelo Donato

Make It a Double
Give your bun a boost with this super-sophisticated stacked chignon.

For this look, you'll need hair doughnuts in two sizes. We like Mia Beauty Small Bun Ease ($4) and Large Bun Ease ($6).

1. Saturate damp hair with volumizing spray. Quintero recommends Serge Normant Meta Lush Volumizer ($23).

2. Blow-dry hair straight, adding curve at the ends with a small round brush. Then mist all over with lightweight hairspray—try Pantene Pro-V Airspray Flexible Hold Hairspray ($7).

3. Brush hair into a pony whose top aligns with the tops of your ears. Secure with a bungee elastic (for thick hair) or a coated elastic (for thin hair).

4. Separate the top third of your pony and flip it up so it lies flat against the back of your head. Keep the hair in place with two bobby pins an inch above the pony's base (they'll help secure the top bun).

5. Spritz the lower part of your pony with texturizing spray, like Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray ($26), then tease it. Smooth the top and underside with a boar- and nylon-bristle brush, such as Harry Josh Pro Tools Premium Oval Brush ($50).

6. Cut the large hair doughnut in half. Place the half doughnut under the end of the lower part of your pony and roll it up until you reach the base.

7. Secure the bun with four hairpins, one at the top and bottom of each side. Gently tug the hair at the sides of the bun to ensure the doughnut is hidden.

8. Repeat steps 5 to 7 on the top part of the pony using the smaller hair doughnut. Then mist all over with lightweight hairspray.
twist bun

Photo: Carmelo Donato

Unexpected Twist
Put a fresh spin on the topknot with a simple trick.

1. Start smooth: If hair is fine, warm up a pea-size amount of lightweight hair oil (like Moroccanoil Treatment Light, $44) in your palms and apply it from midlength to ends. For thick hair, rub a quarter-size dollop of smoothing cream (such as Garnier Whole Blends Smoothing Leave‑In Conditioner, $7) between your hands and work it through from roots to ends.

2. Blow-dry hair straight and sleek.

3. Tilt your head forward and down to make it easier to gather your hair into a high pony. "You want it above the crown of your head. Otherwise, the bun won't be high enough,” says Quintero. Secure tightly with a coated or bungee elastic in a shade that matches your haircolor.

4. Tame flyaways by misting a makeup brush or a toothbrush with hairspray and smoothing down areas around the hairline and nape. If you have fine hair, thicken your pony by spritzing it with a texturizing spray.

5. Hold your pony straight up by the end and twist it tightly. Once you've twisted the entire length, keep going to force the twisted pony down into a knot at the base.

6. Secure the topknot with bobby pins.
loose bun

Photo: Carmelo Donato

On the Loose
A slightly undone ballerina bun: Isn't it romantic?

1. Spritz damp hair with a volumizing spray from roots to ends.

2. Add texture to straight hair by wrapping half-inch pieces around a small-barrel curling iron (Remington T Studio Thermaluxe Curling Wand, $35). (If your hair doesn't hold curls well, try smaller sections.) For wavy hair, twist random half-inch pieces around a large-barrel curling iron to enhance your natural texture.

3. Gather hair into a low pony just above the neck and secure with a coated or bungee elastic. "Don't worry about flyaways or loose strands,” Quintero says. "That adds to the disheveled glamour.”

4. Wrap the ponytail around its base and secure it with hairpins between the bun and the hair at the back of the head.

5. Loosen pieces from the bun and the hair around your face for a soft, wispy look.

6. Mist all over with hairspray (try Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil UV Protective Dry Oil Finishing Spray, $34).