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Learn how to make a high bun hairstyle with this tutorial
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A top knot is a stylish hairstyle made by winding your hair in a bun on the top of your head. It's a very versatile look that can make you look sleek and sophisticated or messy chic. All you need to get started is a hair tie and a couple of bobby pins to keep it in place. We’ll tell you all the best ways to tie your hair into a top knot bun, plus how to use a hair donut to make the bun fuller and more voluminous.
Steps
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Pull your hair into a high ponytail. Comb back your hair away from your hairline, then take your hair and pull it into a high ponytail near the top of your head. Secure it tightly with a hair tie. Brush or comb the sides of your hair up if needed to make sure all the hair runs straight up into the ponytail. [1] X Research source- It may be easier to do a top knot bun on second or third-day hair rather than clean hair.
- If you have curly or textured hair, begin by blow-drying your hair straight. This way, you'll have a smooth, neat ponytail.
- If you have frizzy hair, add a small amount of gel or serum around your hairline before brushing the hair into a ponytail to ensure that your hairstyle is sleek.
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Divide your ponytail into two sections. Take the hair in your ponytail and divide it into two equal-sized sections. [2] X Research source Add a small amount of mousse or styling cream to each section with your fingers or a comb to make the hair extra smooth.
- If your hair is thin, keep your hair in one section. [3] X Research source
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Wrap the two sections around each other to create one whole ponytail. Take one section of hair in each hand and twist them together all the way down the ponytail to make them into one piece. [4] X Research source Twisting your hair like this can make your top knot even more smooth and prevent flyaways.
- Optionally, pull on each section of hair after you twist them together to create more volume. [5] X Research source
- If your hair is thin or fine, twist the one section. [6] X Research source
- If your hair is short, consider wrapping hair extensions around the base of your ponytail. Tilt your head to the side as you wrap. Wrap the end of the extension around the bottom of the base to keep it in place. [7] X Research source
- If necessary, secure your extension with a hair tie or rubber band.
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Wrap your hair around the hair tie. Take your twisted hair and wrap it in a clockwise direction around your hair tie. Tuck the end of the hair underneath the hair tie. [8] X Research source
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Pin the top knot in place. Once you finish wrapping, use several bobby pins the same color as your hair to pin the top knot in place, both at the top and bottom of the bun. Or use a hair clip to secure the bun. [9] X Research source
- Spray with hairspray to give the style extra hold.
- If you have textured or kinky, curly hair, style the front edges of your hair with an old toothbrush or comb dipped in gel. Brush the baby hairs into small swirls along your hairline. [10] X Research source
Visuals make hairstyling intuitive.
"The step-by-step images made this article super easy to follow, even for a visual learner like me. I usually struggle with styling my hair, but seeing each phase broken down this way helped me nail a polished top knot on the first try!"
- Glimmer G.
Achieve versatile looks for all hair types.
"As someone with short, curly hair, I loved that this guide included top knot options tailored to different hair lengths and textures. The instructions for a half-down top knot work perfectly to get that laidback style on my curls."
- julia S.
Build confidence in styling hair.
"With the detailed instructions and gifs demonstrating each step, I was able to create 4 elegant top knot looks with total confidence! As someone clueless about hair styling, having guidance this thorough empowered me to expand my skills."
- Nikol L.
Make hairstyling approachable.
"I never realized buns could be so simple. The clear photos made even a tomboy like me feel doing hair is totally approachable. I whipped up a chic top knot in minutes thanks to this easy-to-grasp walkthrough."
- Srishti S.
Did you know that wikiHow has collected over 365,000 reader stories since it started in 2005? We’d love to hear from you! Share your story here
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Comb your hair into a ponytail. Work with second or third-day hair or spray your hair with dry shampoo to give it some texture. Then comb your hair into a high ponytail near the top of your head, securing it with a hair tie. [11] X Research source- Optionally, pull out the hairs in front of your ears to frame the sides of your face.
- This style is especially good for those with curly or wavy hair since curly hair can give you a more voluminous look naturally.
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Tease your ponytail with a brush to make it more voluminous. Take about a quarter of your hair from the ponytail and hold it straight up above your head. Use a brush or comb to tease the hair, starting at the midpoint of the hair and combing down to the base of the ponytail. Repeat until you have lightly teased each section of hair. [12] X Research source
- If your hair is thinner, use the brush to tease the ponytail all at once.
- Backcombing your hair makes it more voluminous and textured so that your top knot is fuller.
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Smooth the top of the ponytail. After backcombing your hair, take the comb and lightly brush the very top layer of hair in the ponytail, leaving the teased hair in the center. Brush from the base of the ponytail down to the tips of the hair to create a smooth top layer. [13] X Research source
- Comb very gently with a brush rather than a comb, which can be easier to work with on backcombed hair.
- Smoothing this very top layer of the ponytail will keep the top knot looking smooth, even if the hair in the center of the top knot is full and textured.
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Wrap your hair in a bun around the base of the ponytail. Take the hair of your ponytail and loosely wrap it clockwise around the base of the ponytail. [14] X Research source When you reach the tips of your hair, tuck the hair underneath the hair tie.
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Pin the bun in place with bobby pins. After you twist your hair into the top knot, secure the style with several bobby pins. [15] X Research source Use your fingers to pull small sections of the bun out to give it more volume and then spray lightly with hairspray to give it a better hold.- Optionally, pull pieces of hair out from the sides of your head to create a naturally messy look.
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Put your hair in a high ponytail. Pull back your hair into a high ponytail. If it helps, you can brush your hair back so that your hair is smooth and bump-free. [16] X Research source- Master hairstylist Christine George recommends using a hair donut for an easy way to create a clean, professional-looking bun. She says, "All the girls in my salon use it." Your hair has to be medium-length, though, or “at least past your shoulders.”
- Remove all tangles from your hair with a brush before styling.
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Put a hair donut around the base of your ponytail. Poke your hair through a hair donut and pull it all the way to the base of your ponytail. [17] X Research source If you don't have a hair donut, you can also cut the toe off of a clean tube sock and roll it up into a donut shape. [18] X Research source
- If your hair is thin, hold your ponytail straight up in the air with one hand and backcomb it with the other, starting at the midsection and working down to the base.
- Backcombing your hair can give it more volume to completely cover the donut.
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Wrap your hair around the donut. Take your hair and start to wrap it clockwise around the hair donut to completely cover it. When you reach the tips of your hair, tuck the tips under the donut. If your hair is thick, wrap sections of your hair around and under the donut. Wrap clockwise and counterclockwise until all the hair forms a tight bun. [19] X Research source
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Pin the ends of your hair in place underneath the hair donut. Use several bobby pins to pin your hair around the hair donut and secure the tips in place. [20] X Research source Optionally, spritz the bun with hairspray to prevent flyaways and to give the style extra hold.
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Part your hair horizontally from the top of one ear to the other. To do this half-up top knot, pull the front of your hair back into a horizontal part that divides the top of your hair from the bottom. Use your fingers to part the hair at about ear level on both sides and pull the top layer of hair back towards the back of your head. [21] X Research source
- Since this is a laid-back look, you don't have to precisely part your hair on each side, as long as each side is roughly symmetrical.
- This look can work on short or long hair.
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Hold your hair in a ponytail. Take the top section of hair and gather it into a high ponytail on the top of your head. Hold it in a ponytail using one hand. [22] X Research source
- Optionally, apply a texturizing spray to the top separated chunk of your hair and work it in with your fingers to create a little extra volume. [23] X Research source
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Wrap your hair into a bun. Hold your hair in a ponytail with the fingers of one hand. Use the other hand to wind your hair clockwise around the base of the ponytail that you’re holding up with your fingers. [24] X Research source
- If you have short hair, make a small loop and hold it in place with your fingers instead of wrapping your hair around.
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Secure your bun with an elastic hair tie. After you have wrapped the hair around until you reach the tips, or have made a small loop if you have short hair, use a hair tie to secure the bun. If you want a fuller-looking top knot, pull the bun gently with your fingers to make it bigger. [25] X Research source
- If the hair tie shows, use bobby pins to pin the hair around the tie and get the bun in the shape that you want. [26] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I do the hair donut method without a hair donut?Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.You can use a sock instead. If you don't want to use a sock, after making a ponytail, twist your hair (the entire ponytail) into one big twist. Wrap the twist around in a circle, mimicking the shape of a bun or donut, and secure it with bobby pins.
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QuestionWhenever I do a high ponytail, it always ends up sagging down later in the day. What can I do to stop that from happening?Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.To prevent your hair from sagging, make the original ponytail tighter. This will keep your hair looking perky all day.
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QuestionWhat's the difference between a top knot bun and a regular bun?Community AnswerMainly where it sits on the head. The top knot sits on the top of the head, while a regular one is usually in the back center of your head.
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Tips
- A top knot bun and a man bun are almost the same hairstyle. The main difference is that some man buns have shaved or clipped hair at the sides, while top knot buns usually do not. [27] X Research sourceThanks
- If you want a chic, messy look, keep the tips of your hair poking out of your top knot.Thanks
- It's easier to do top knots on second or third-day hair rather than clean hair, which tends to be more slippery.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/6tXYTXxVcOY?t=61
- ↑ https://youtu.be/z49Utz_FV78?t=52
- ↑ https://youtu.be/AQcoTsmUmSU?t=151
- ↑ https://youtu.be/z49Utz_FV78?t=69
- ↑ https://youtu.be/z49Utz_FV78?t=86
- ↑ https://youtu.be/AQcoTsmUmSU?t=151
- ↑ https://youtu.be/BygPq4T_qmY?t=212
- ↑ https://youtu.be/z49Utz_FV78?t=97
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Hwpu7BQMWmQ?t=314
- ↑ https://youtu.be/o-Nff2LebOY?t=44
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vz4jCLebBik?t=48
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vz4jCLebBik?t=146
- ↑ https://youtu.be/9kdt814VDUg?t=149
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vz4jCLebBik?t=161
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vz4jCLebBik?t=178
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06D5j_h5eYs
- ↑ https://youtu.be/oxeGrDZRB58?t=47
- ↑ https://youtu.be/eOJfiev6eHw?t=86
- ↑ https://youtu.be/eOJfiev6eHw?t=139
- ↑ https://youtu.be/eOJfiev6eHw?t=184
- ↑ https://youtu.be/x2U0Eb8N9ZU?t=83
- ↑ https://youtu.be/2Z5QGQRR9_o?t=29
- ↑ https://youtu.be/2Z5QGQRR9_o?t=29
- ↑ https://youtu.be/2Z5QGQRR9_o?t=41
- ↑ https://youtu.be/2Z5QGQRR9_o?t=45
- ↑ https://youtu.be/2Z5QGQRR9_o?t=55
- ↑ https://www.vox.com/2015/9/22/9370895/man-buns
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To make a neat and tidy top knot bun, comb your hair back from your forehead and pull it into a high ponytail, close to the top of your head. Secure the ponytail in place with an elastic hairband. Next, divide the hair into two equal sections. To make them smoother and easier to work with, work a little mousse or styling cream through each of the sections. Grab the sections in both hands and twist them around each other, passing one over the other until the entire length of your ponytail makes one long, twisted section. Take the twisted hair and wrap it clockwise around the elastic at the base of your ponytail. Tuck the end of the hair under the topknot, then pin the knot in place with several bobby pins that match your hair color. Spritz the bun with hairspray to give it extra hold and prevent fly-aways. If you want a messier, more voluminous topknot, back-comb your ponytail before you wrap it. Put your hair into a ponytail like you would for a regular topknot, then divide it into four sections. Grab each section one at a time and hold it straight up, then gently work a comb backwards down the length of the hair to tease it up. When you’re done, use a brush to gently smooth the very top layer of the ponytail, which will make your backcombed hair easier to work with. Take your ponytail and wrap it clockwise around the elastic hairband, then tuck the end of the ponytail under the elastic. Pin your messy bun in place with several bobby pins that match your hair. You can also create a fuller-looking topknot using a hair doughnut. Slide the doughnut over the base of your ponytail, then backcomb your hair like you would for a messy topknot. Wrap your hair clockwise around the doughnut, making sure to cover the doughnut completely. Tuck the end of the ponytail under the doughnut and pin it in place with bobby pins. Spray on some hairspray to help keep your topknot in place. If you want to learn more from our Cosmetologist co-author, like how to use a hair donut to help shape your bun, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "With the detailed instructions and gifs demonstrating each step, I was able to create 4 elegant top knot looks with total confidence! As someone clueless about hair styling, having guidance this thorough empowered me to expand my skills." ..." more
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"With the detailed instructions and gifs demonstrating each step, I was able to create 4 elegant top knot looks with total confidence! As someone clueless about hair styling, having guidance this thorough empowered me to expand my skills."
..."
more
"The step-by-step images made this article super easy to follow, even for a visual learner like me. I usually struggle with styling my hair, but seeing each phase broken down this way helped me nail a polished top knot on the first try!"
..."
more
"As someone with short, curly hair, I loved that this guide included top knot options tailored to different hair lengths and textures. The instructions for a half-down top knot work perfectly to get that laidback style on my curls."
..."
more
"I never realized buns could be so simple. The clear photos made even a tomboy like me feel doing hair is totally approachable. I whipped up a chic top knot in minutes thanks to this easy-to-grasp walkthrough."
..."
more
"Very helpful, and the pictures help me understand what to do. "
