Q&A for How to Make a Military Bun

It will still work. The hairnet is only there to give some support and prevent strands of hair from coming loose.

Just put a hair elastic around it. Bobby or hair pins are a must-have for neatness though.

More bobby pins, hairspray, and gel will do the trick. Another alternative is to cut the hair to a bob or shorter and pin the front hairs back.

A military bun is really neat and tight, and a regular bun is neat but sometimes it is not as tight. It depends on who is making the bun and for what occasion.

You most likely won't need gel or hairspray to make it, but you'll probably need the brush if you want it to be neat.

It depends on how short your hair is. If your hair is above shoulder length, it won't work.

If you have very puffy hair, you should use a lot of gel. Also, depending on your unit/country/officer, you might be allowed to have 60 days to let it grow until it's long enough to make a proper bun. Put water on your hair, to brush it until it's very neat, put gel on that damp hair and do the bun.

Use a spray bottle to dampen your hair. If you don't have the net, try using small bobby pins and hairspray.

Use a material that matches your hair color.

Use a hairspray, gel or a serum that tames your hair. You can also use a heating products.

If you have very sensitive skin, maybe, otherwise you're probably doing it too tight.

Use these instructions, ignoring the hairnet stage; you just may need to use more bobby pins.

No, not really. The military bun is used to make sure long hair isn’t in the way during exercises/ tasks and to make sure you look uniform whilst doing so. So a parting is just personal preference; instructors/officers won’t really care as long as your hair is out of the way.

No, most branches/areas require you to make the bun with no hair part, and have it all smoothed back with no flyaways. Some people are stricter than others but you don't want to do anything to upset the powers that be.

You need gel, pins and spray. You hair will never be up to reg without it. You may want to grow out your bangs before joining.

No, braids are not allowed for female hair in the Armed Forces. Instead you will have to do up your hair in a bun.

Yes, you will be issued hairnets at basic training to help your hair maintain the standards.

Yes, it will still work. As long as you have the proper length below shoulder length, you'll still be able to form a military bun.

Yes but you would have to use a lot of gel since your hair is very curly.

A military bun will only work if your hair is at shoulder length or longer. It won’t work if your hair is shorter than shoulder length.