Looking for chic and easy low bun hairstyles? Whether you’re styling your hair for a special event, for work, or just for a casual weekend at home, we’ve got you covered!
There’s a reason why low bun hairstyles never leave the train of trends throughout the years. They’re chic, stylish, and feminine – despite the hair being kept up.
Thanks to the women of Ancient Greece, the originally named “Greek knot” was invented. The women of ancient Greece wore low buns with jewelry to signify wealth and power. That’s why it’s not surprising to find low buns in girl boss styles, formal events, and weddings. Low bun hairstyles have main character energy built with them.
Today we’re sharing our favorite low bun hairstyles for every single occasion! Scroll throw and see what appeals to you.
Quick Tip: Don’t have enough hair to make your low bun hairstyles work? Try using “up” extensions – see our favorites here.
Low Bun Hairstyles For the Bride
If you’re a bride with a satin-made dress made with minimal to no embellishments, this neat low bun is perfect. The pearls stuck to the bun and the back makes a sleek accent to the whole look. Her two-toned hair also added to the charm of this hairstyle. The unevenly shaped pearls, especially the chunky ones, will certainly make good back view photos!
Another variation of the neat low bun is the wet hair look with styled baby hairs/edges. This style can be seen in celebrities like Zendaya, Kylie Jenner, and even classic icons like Josephine Baker, who apparently started this trend. If you can’t get rid of your baby hairs, there’s no need to hide them! Styling your edges can add variation and accent to your minimalist dress or complement a heavily embellished dress.
This is one of the hairstyles that look effortless but is far from actually being effortless. To achieve this look, the hair must be teased, hair sprayed, curled, and pinned. Curling is not a must, but this adds extra volume to your hair, especially if it is naturally fine/thin.
For a bride-ready look, you will need a sparkling hair accessory like this. If you’re doing your hair for your wedding, practicing it a couple of times before the big day can help you learn which strands to leave down and how to manage them.
Beach wedding? No problem! The simplest yet beautiful way to style your hair for a beach wedding is to add a gigantic fresh bloom to your hair. Light tease, subtle waves, and a clean, braided bun and you’re good to go.
This looks best with subtly embellished wedding dresses and simple beach-themed dresses made with linen fabric. Freshwater pearl earrings make a good complimenting accessory as well.
If you want a low bun that’s simple but out-of-the-ordinary, this hairstyle is for you. Just a heads up – this hairstyle requires thick and super straight hair. Feel free to straighten your hair and add extensions as you wish.
If that’s something impossible for you to do, you can do a messy variation of this low bun style. Leave a couple of strands down, tease your hair a little, and make uneven waves. You can leave the pearl accent as is.
A tousled French braid is one of my favorites on this list because the braids naturally create volume even without having to tease the hair.
Braiding the hair like this requires skill and practice, but in time, you’ll get the hang of it. Working on them loosely and leaving bumps without making it look like a bird’s nest is the goal! If you need more volume, you can add a texturizing spray.
A large bun like this is composed of layered braids and a variety of twists. Having your hair curled beforehand can give it the volume it needs to be puffed like this.
I would say this hairstyle is neither too neat nor too messy, which makes it a good neutral style for women who like to keep it safe. One or two strands down can add a playful accent to the look.
Believe it or not, this is one of the easiest hairstyles that you can make! This is not exactly a low bun, but a semi-bun made with two twisted sections on either side of the hair. These sections are then crossed over a low ponytail, which looks like the ‘tail’ of this hairstyle. Ideally, you would want to curl your hair for this look to make it bouncy.
Low Bun Hairstyles For the Girl Boss
A silk bun is a great style for people who like to keep their hair intact and neat without looking too straightforward. Aside from this hairstyle’s practical use, the silk also makes a pretty accent piece.
I would wear this to work, to run errands, or to a cafe. If you love collecting scarves, this genre of low buns is for you!
Another chic variation of silk buns is the bandanna style, as shown in the picture above. Instead of covering the bun alone, the silk bandanna covers the whole head while leaving a few baby hairs in the front.
I love this variation because it reminds me of the ’50s! If you have more time to spare, you can tease and style your bangs to bring more volume to the front.
Getting ready for an interview? A neatly styled low bun like this is all you need to complete your look. What you need to achieve this twisty art is hairspray, a couple of pins, and a hair tie.
The technique is knowing how much hairspray to apply. Too much can make your hair look stiff, but too little can allow little hairs to appear all over the place. Finish off with statement earrings to add character to your overall fit.
No curls, no problem. This low bun style proves that straight hair can flaunt a messy bun as wavy heads can.
All you need is a small clam to keep your twist up and a couple of pins to keep it intact. I personally like to recommend a gold clam instead of a plastic clam to make it look upscale. But if you prefer plastic clams, I suggest getting them in pastels and neutral colors.
This hair bun may require skill, but it’s worth it and is actually quite impressive to look at. All you need is to make a ponytail, twist it as you normally would, and keep it intact with a giant hairpin as such.
This giant hairpin is definitely a must-have! If that isn’t available to you, you can use chopsticks or hair sticks that can similarly stand out of your hair.
Putting your hair up in a low clam bun is a great way to flaunt your under-highlights! If I had this hairstyle, I’d keep my hair all the time!
And, as I’ve mentioned earlier, you can opt for a gold clam if you want an upscale version of a low clam bun. But for casual days, a plastic clam can get on with any outfit. I personally love wearing them with Korean-style outfits!
If a low clam bun is not enough for you, a couple of braids and random twists can add texture and depth to your hair. Or you can simply add a faux braided headband that matches or contrasts with your original hair color.
A matching braid can easily blend in, but a contrasting color can make it look like a nice little highlight. Add a couple of earrings and you’re ready to go.
Here’s another bun for the straight-haired lassies. I love how seamless, sleek, and chic this looks – especially with her neutral outfit.
There are no hair ties, pins, or clips to be seen. It’s neat, without looking like a straightforward ballerina bun. It’s a boring bun with character! I would make this low bun with minimal and smart-casual fits.
A braided messy bun may be ‘too formalistic’ for some outfits. To make it look casual, try to incorporate a silk bandanna by twisting or braiding it with your hair.
Alternatively, you can opt for solid-colored silk to make it pop out. If you don’t have access to silk, you can get chunky silk ribbons instead. Aside from the affordability of this alternative, you can get them in more colors in just one trip!
There’s nothing wrong with a neat ballerina bun if you know how to style it! If you like the classic look of a ballerina bun but don’t want how flat it looks on you, all you need is a little tease. Adding volume to the back of your head makes your hair look fuller and your face smaller. Finish off with a silk ribbon.
Ideally, I would put on an excessively long silk ribbon to “connect” it with my outfit.
Low Bun Hairstyles For the Prom Queen
Prom is all about cherishing youth and dressing your best. So if possible, try to avoid anything that’s too neat or any hairstyles that can make you look mature. If you want a simple look, the best you can do is something like this: a semi-messy ‘babka’ bun. I call it a ‘babka bun’ because the twist reminds me of the way you braid babka dough.
If your head is naturally small and petite, I recommend making a fuller low bun with braids and twists that do not look separate from the head. You do this by creating three sections, making a ponytail with the section in the middle, twisting the remaining sections on each sides and crossing these sections over each other.
You can find a special how-to for this particular bun at the end of the article.
This might be the sleekest and messiest bun on the list! But here’s the thing: the messier the bun is, the more thought you have to put into making it – especially if you’re doing your hair for a special event, like prom night.
To make it look natural, you need a bit of texturizing spray. Minimize the use of hairspray to avoid making it look stiff.
Here’s another simple bun that’s perfect to wear with heavily embellished dresses and gowns. This also works with mermaid or hourglass dresses as it compliments and elongates one’s facial features.
When you wear a hairstyle as simple as this, the best way to maximize it is by adding bold, statement earrings. This takes the blank space on either side of your face and gives your facial appearance a striking character.
Love messy low bun hairstyles? This hairstyle is a variation of the simple ‘babka bun’, only with more volume, curls, and twists. The secret to softening a look like this is by pinching some of your top hairs and leaving some of the strands down.
This look is similar to the previous example, and a how-to for this type of hairstyle can be found at the bottom of the article. It’s one of the best low bun hairstyles for long hair because you need enough strands to make this work.
An elegant alternative to the ‘babka’ bun is this beautiful and elegant French twist. This can be done by holding your hair into a ponytail and twisting the ponytail using two fingers from the opposite hand.
Secure it with three to five heavy-duty French pins to make sure it doesn’t come off. You can also do this technique with a gold clam if that suits!
All you need is a few twists and some texture powder for a voluminous look! What I love about this hairdo is the way the twists look like braids.
To achieve this look, do your first ponytail (resting on the rest of your hair) and thread the ponytail backward to hide the tie. Then, do a couple more twists on each side of the head and join them with the threaded ponytail using a pin. Split the remaining strands into three sections, make a bun of the middle section, and twist the remaining two. Use these two twists to cross the bun and hide any visible signs of pins or ties.
Low Bun Hairstyles For the Beach Babe
Beaches are all about braids, and more braids! Technically, you can’t do vulnerable low buns at the beach because the wind can easily take them down. Incorporating braids into your hairdo (like this) can hold your hair pretty even longer.
If you’re looking for low bun hairstyles for long hair, I definitely recommend this look – you certainly need enough hair to make it work.
Two buns make a playful pair! This two-bun hairdo adds a youthful glow to your beach look without much fuss, no matter the activity. Plus, it doesn’t have to be neat or even. If you’re looking for fun and quirky low bun hairstyles for long hair, add this look to your list!
If you’re staying by the beach to read a book or see the day go by with mimosa on hand, a messy low bun updo like this is perfect. This is one of my favorite low bun hairstyles for long hair!
A great way to add character to a simple and ordinary low bun is by adding random braid bands like this. This looks especially stunning on dual-toned hair tones!
This hair may look intimidating, but it is actually composed of simple twists here and there. Practically, you wouldn’t want to use pins to hold this hairstyle at the beach. A sturdy, seamless hair tie will do.
If you’re doing a photoshoot at the beach, this hairdo is perfect for you! It’s similar to bridal updos, but is more casual and laid back. This is one of the prettiest casual low bun hairstyles for long hair!
How To: Elevated Messy Hair Bun
The messy bun is the most carefree, effortless, and apparently, the most popular bun on the list. But don’t be fooled, the messy, tousled hair bun is not as spontaneous and effortless as you think – and rarely do some people get it right on the first try.
That doesn’t mean you can’t do it, either. The elevated messy hair bun may not be easy, but it can be learned.
There are two ways to evaluate the “quality’” of your bun.
- Your bun should not look like a ballerina’s neat bun
- Your bun must have structured, albeit the tousled look
Preparation
What you need:
- Texture Spray
- Messy Bun Extension (optional)
- Soft Hairspray
- Curling Iron (optional)
Before we head on to the actual bun, there are some things you have to get ready. The foundation of the bun relies on the stability and the resiliency of your hair. Whatever you’re prepping your hair for, keeping it in place is crucial – so you don’t have to keep retouching every time the wind blows in your face.
Start by spraying texture spray on your hair. You’d want to put on just enough to spice up your hair’s volume and protect your hair from the iron’s heat. After that, you can apply your messy bun extension for more volume. This is particularly helpful for people who have fine and thin hair. Then, add a soft hairspray to hold the style. Regular hairspray is alright, but be cautious not to put too much so it doesn’t lose its bounce and flow.
Curling your hair is optional, but is definitely a plus. It adds texture and volume to the overall hairstyle. If that’s your thing, go ahead and curl your hair. Avoiding the heat? You can do overnight waves instead. This works by using non-heat materials and/or fabric that naturally add waves to your hair when applied overnight.
Tip: The smaller the curls, the more ‘formal’ your look becomes.
The Bun
Step 1: Create a ‘Messy’ Ponytail
To create a ponytail specially made for a messy low bun, make a ponytail and leave two thin sections of hair in the front. The ponytail should be thick enough to be tied and twisted. It’s important not to do this too tightly so it doesn’t look like a ballerina’s bun.
Step 2: Make the First Twist
Now with the two sections left on either side of your face, twist them and pin them on opposite sides over the ponytail. The twisted sections should cross each other and hide the ponytail you made. Optionally, you can leave a few strands in the front.
Step 3: Make Two More Twists
You might think the next step is to create a bun with the ponytail you just made. But here’s the hack: you don’t. Before twisting your ponytail and finishing off, split the ponytail into two sections and separately twist them. When you’re done, combine them in one twist and finish off your bun.
Step 4: Add Accessories (optional)
Accessories are optional, but they elevate your bun even more! Pearl pins, butterfly clips, silk scarves, and flowers are just some of the prettiest accessories you can put on your messy low bun.
