How to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)

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If your curls are being unruly and you don't have time to style them, put them in a fast, easy and cute messy bun that you can wear anywhere. This article will show you two ways of making a messy bun perfect for curly hair.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Making a Simple Messy Bun

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  1. Once you start making your bun, it will be difficult to open boxes and drawers. Keep a bunch of bobby pins handy, and your hair tie around your wrist. Try to use a hair tie that matches your hair color. You can find them in black, dark brown, and light brown/beige.
    • If you have red hair, use either a dark brown or purple hair tie, depending on how colored/dark your hair is.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)
    Lean forward, like you are about to pick something up off the floor, so that your hair hangs straight down. This will make grabbing your hair easier, and ensure that all of those curly locks lay smooth.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)
    The hand that has the hair tie around it should by holding the hair; your other hand should be free.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)
    Grip the hair tie with your free hand, slide it over your wrist, and onto your hair.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)
    The ends should still caught under the hair tie, and the rest of your hair should be sticking out of it in a loop.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)
    Keep wrapping it until it is snug around your hair, and holding it securely. You'll end up with a fluffy fan on top of your head, and a bunch of loose ends sticking out from under the hair tie.
    • If you find that your hair is getting snagged, pull your hair all the way through the hair tie, and wrap the hair tie around it once (like making a pony tail). Then, pull your hair half-way through the hair tie, and let go.
  7. You can leave your bun as is, or you make it messier. To do this, gently pull on each side of the bun until you get the fluffiness you want. You can also move the loose ends around so that they face different directions.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)
    You can even leave a few sticking out for a messier look.
  9. Take a loose strand, and wrap it around the base of your bun a few times, then pin it in place with a bobby pin. If you can still see the hair tie, repeat this step with another loose strand.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Making a Twisted Messy Bun

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  1. Don't brush your curls because that will create frizz. If your hair is tangled, you can go through it gently with a wide toothed comb. It might also be a good idea to have both of your hair ties on your wrist, ready to go.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)
    If you want a smoother look, lean forward first, so that your hair hangs straight down, then gather it into the ponytail. This will ensure that your curly locks lay smooth.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)
    The easiest way to do is this to grab your hair with the hand that has the hair ties around it, then use your free hand to slide the ties off your wrist and onto your hair. Wrap the hair tie enough times so that it holds your hair securely.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)
    If you have a lot of layers, you might want to twist your hair into a loose rope first. Your bun will still look messy, but it will be easier to work with.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)
    Start by sliding the hair tie onto your bun, then wrapping it enough times so that it fits snugly. Try to get all of the loose ends of your hair under the hair tie.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Do a Messy Bun (for Curly Hair)
    Curly hair is great for creating the messy bun look, but it can get heavy. After a while, it will work with gravy and begin to sag. To keep this from happening, use bobby pins to clip the top, bottom, and sides of your bun to your head.
  7. With a wide tooth comb pull little strands of hair out of the bun. You can also just play with it until some hair falls out.
  8. This will keep it together for the day.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What methods do you recommend if I want fluffy and messy-looking hair?
    Shun Pittman
    Master Cosmetologist
    Shun Pittman is a Master Cosmetologist, Author, Owner, and Founder of Corps d’Elite Salon and Corps d’Elite Beauty. With over 25 years of international experience, she is dedicated to and specializes in providing luxury salon services to all hair types and textures and every skin tone and shade. Her services include hair conditioning treatments, cutting, coloring, styling, extensions, and makeup application. Shun has experience working with, coaching, training, and mentoring beauty professionals from multiple companies including L'Oréal, Wella, Matrix, Paul Mitchell, Redken, Big Sexy Hair, and Toni & Guy. She is also a host for national and local media outlets and her work has been featured in The Washingtonian, The Cheddar Network, and WJLA Good Morning Washington's Beauty and Fashion Police segments. Shun is the author of “50 Things Your Hairdresser Wants YOU to Know (and a few things we don’t...)".
    Shun Pittman
    Master Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    The foundation for any hairstyle is a great haircut. Starting off with a great haircut, no matter the length, is always going to make the hair look its best. What will help keep that messy look intact is a light to medium hold hairspray.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question
    I wanted to do a messy bun but it always seems to give me a headache. Why is that?
    Community Answer
    In my experience this can happen if you are pulling the hair too tight or placing the bun too high on your head.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 46
  • Question
    My hair is short and wavy, how do I do a messy bun?
    Rider K
    Community Answer
    Try just sticking it into a ponytail, and then grab sections of the hair, wrap them around your finger, and then pin the rolled hair. Then, if it is not messy enough for you, just pull strands of the rolled hair from the ponytail and make them puff out.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 17
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      Warnings

      • Be careful with the heat appliances - if you're blow drying your bangs don't put it too close to your hair as it will singe the hair.
        Thanks
        Helpful 17 Not Helpful 3
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      Things You'll Need

      Making a Simple Messy Bun

      • 1 hair tie
      • Bobby pins

      Making a Standard Bun

      • 2 hair ties (better if the ties are the color of your hair)
      • wide tooth comb
      • hairspray
      • ribbon(optional)
      • Bobby-pins

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      References

      1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GQvGQ4VEis

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To do a messy bun with curly hair, start by leaning forward and flipping your hair upside down. Then, grab your hair with both hands like you're going to make a ponytail, and slide a hair tie onto your hair. Next, pull your hair halfway through the hair tie so a loop of your hair is sticking out. Once you've done that, wrap the hair tie around your hair a couple more times at the base of the loop. Finally, tug on each side of the bun to make it fluffier and messier. To learn how to make a twisted messy bun, scroll down!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Dec 23, 2017

        "The twisted bun was easy, but the messy bun couldn't look good no matter how hard I tried."
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