How to create a High Bun

A high bun is a stylish hairstyle achieved by wrapping the hair into a round, elevated bun at the top of your head. This look is highly adaptable, transforming from a sleek and polished bun to a messy, chic style. Begin by gathering your hair into a high ponytail, then wrap the ponytail around the base and secure it with an elastic. For a fuller, more voluminous look, you can also use a donut-shaped hair bun tool to help shape the bun.

Gather all your hair into a high ponytail. Brush your hair from your forehead to the back of your head, then gather and lift the hair into a high ponytail near the top of your head, securing it tightly with an elastic band.

• It's easier to create a high bun on hair that's been washed a day or two earlier rather than fresh, clean hair.
• If you have curly or styled hair, begin by blow-drying it straight. This will ensure your ponytail is smooth and tidy.
• If your hair is frizzy or curly, apply a small amount of gel or serum before brushing it into a ponytail. This will give your ponytail a shiny, sleek finish.

Divide the ponytail into two sections. Hold the ponytail and split it into two equal parts. Add some mousse or styling gel to each section of hair to make it smoother and more manageable.

Braid the two sections together. Hold each section in one hand and braid them together from top to bottom to combine the two parts into one. This braiding method helps create a smoother bun and prevents stray hairs from sticking out.

• This technique works best with long hair.

Wrap the braided hair around the ponytail base. Take the twisted section and wrap it around the ponytail base in a clockwise direction.

Secure the bun with bobby pins. Once the wrapping is complete, use a few bobby pins to secure the bun in place, both at the top and bottom of the bun.

• Use hairspray to hold the style firmly in place.

Brush and tie the hair into a ponytail. Style your hair a few days after washing, or use dry shampoo to add volume. Brush your hair into a high ponytail near the crown and secure it with an elastic band.

• This style is especially great for those with curly or wavy hair, as the natural curls help create a fuller, voluminous bun.

Tease the hair. Take about a quarter of the ponytail and pull it upward. Use a comb to tease the hair, starting from the middle and brushing down toward the ponytail base. Repeat the process for the rest of the hair until the entire ponytail has a light tease.

• Teasing your hair adds thickness and volume, making your bun appear fuller.

Smooth the outer part of the ponytail. After teasing, gently comb the outside of the ponytail. Start at the base of the ponytail and brush down to the ends.

• Use a round brush instead of a regular one to make it easier to smooth out teased hair.
• Brushing the surface of the ponytail keeps your bun looking sleek, even though the middle of the bun remains thick and voluminous.

Wrap the hair into a bun around the ponytail base. Take the ponytail and wrap it around the base of the ponytail in a clockwise direction. Once you reach the ends, tuck the hair underneath the elastic band.

Secure the bun with bobby pins. After twisting the hair into a bun, use several bobby pins to secure it. Gently pull at the bun with your fingers if you want it to appear more voluminous, then spray some hairspray to set the style in place for a longer-lasting effect.

Secure the hair into a high ponytail. Brush and gather your hair into a high ponytail. If it works for you, comb the hair back for a smooth, tangle-free look.

• Use a comb to remove any tangles before styling.
• If your hair doesn’t hold well, blow-dry it first to create a sleek ponytail.

Place the donut-shaped hair donut at the ponytail base. Slide the donut-shaped hair ring onto your ponytail and pull it down to the base. If you don’t have a hair donut, you can use a clean sock: cut off the toe, roll it up into a circle, and slide it over your hair until it reaches the ponytail base.

• Donut-shaped hair rings can be found at accessory stores.

Tease the hair. Hold the ponytail up with one hand, and with the other, use a comb to tease the hair, starting from the middle and working down to the ponytail base.

• Teasing adds volume to the hair, helping it fully cover the donut-shaped hair ring.

Wrap the hair around the donut-shaped hair donut. Take the teased hair and wrap it around the donut in a clockwise direction, completely covering it. Once all the hair is wrapped, tuck the ends underneath the donut to secure it in place.

Secure the bun. Use a few bobby pins to tightly secure the hair wrapped around the donut-shaped hair ring and keep the bun in place. Apply hairspray to prevent flyaways and ensure the bun stays intact.

Section the hair horizontally. To create a half-up high bun, divide your hair horizontally into two sections: one top section and one bottom section. Start from the ear level on one side and split it across to the other side.

• Since this is a natural style, don’t worry too much about perfect symmetry, just make sure it looks balanced.
• This style works well on both short and long hair.

Tie the hair into a ponytail. Gather the top section of hair and form a high ponytail at the crown of your head. Hold the ponytail in place with one hand.

Wrap the hair into a bun. Hold the ponytail with one hand and use the other hand to wrap the hair around the ponytail base in a clockwise direction.

• If you have short hair, simply fold the hair in half to create a small loop and hold it in place instead of wrapping it.

Secure your hair with a hair tie. Once you've wrapped your ponytail to the ends or made a small loop for shorter hair, use a hair tie to hold the bun in place. If you'd like a fuller look, gently tug on the bun to make it appear larger.

• The high bun style is easier to achieve with hair that has been washed two or three days ago, as clean hair tends to be smoother and more manageable.
• If you prefer a messy, stylish bun, let the ends of your hair stick out of the bun for a more relaxed look.
• Use dry shampoo the night before you style your hair into a bun.

• Hair tie
• Mousse or curling hair gel
• Comb
• Donut-shaped hair bun tool
• Hair setting spray