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How to Do a Sleek Low Bun That Stays Put

“If your bun looks messy, the bun isn't the problem; the ponytail underneath is. Fix the base and the twist takes ten seconds.”Her take

What you need

Keep it simple. Every item here has one job.

Start with hair that's dry or very nearly dry. Second-day hair often holds better than freshly washed, and very slippery clean hair can be roughed up slightly with a little texture spray at the roots of the ponytail only.

• A fine-tooth comb for the part and a boar-bristle-style or smoothing brush for the surface.
• A smoothing cream, balm or gel. Cream for a soft finish, gel for a glassy, wet-look finish.
• Two snag-free elastics matched to your hair colour.
• Bobby pins and a few U-shaped hair pins; U-pins hold a bun with less pulling.
• A light flexible hairspray and, optionally, a clean toothbrush or edge brush for flyaways.

Step 1: Make the part and smooth the base

Decide on a centre part or a deep side part before you do anything else, and draw it with the tail of a comb from the hairline straight back. A wobbly part is the first thing people notice in a sleek style.

Work a small amount of smoothing product through the lengths and over the surface of the hair, starting with less than you think. On damp hair, blow-dry it back with a brush for the smoothest finish. On dry hair, emulsify the product between your palms and press it over the top layer.

Step 2: Secure the ponytail tightly

This is where the style is won or lost. Brush all the hair back to the nape of the neck, keeping the brush flat against the head so you don't create bumps. Tilt your chin slightly down; it keeps the hair at the nape from sagging.

Hold the hair with one hand right where you want the bun and secure it with an elastic, wrapping until it's firm and doesn't slide when you tug the tail gently. Check the back with a hand mirror. If there's a bump, take it out and redo it; it's faster than trying to hide it later.

Step 3: Twist, wrap and pin

Now the easy part. A bun built on a firm base needs fewer pins and lasts longer.

• Twist the ponytail tightly in one direction until it starts to coil on itself.
• Wrap the twist around the base elastic, tucking the ends underneath as you go.
• Secure with a second elastic over the bun, or with U-pins pushed in from the outside edge toward the centre and angled under the base elastic.
• Add bobby pins only where the bun lifts away from the head.
• Smooth the surface with a brush, mist hairspray onto the brush or your palm, and press down any flyaways along the part and hairline.

The gentler version that doesn't pull at the hairline

A sleek bun doesn't have to be a tight one. Repeated, strong pulling at the hairline can stress it over time, so if you wear this style often, give your edges a break. If you notice thinning or soreness along the hairline, see a dermatologist.

The gentle version keeps the smooth finish without the strain. Use more smoothing product and less tension: the product does the polishing, so the elastic doesn't have to.

• Place the bun low at the nape, where there's less pull on the front of the hairline.
• Brush the front back loosely rather than scraping it flat; let the product and a final press with your palm create the sleekness.
• Use a soft spiral elastic or a fabric-covered one instead of a thin, tight band.
• Secure the bun with U-pins rather than a second elastic.
• Take it down gently at night and don't sleep in it.

Fixes for common problems

Bumps on top: you brushed with the head tilted back or lifted the brush. Redo the base with your chin slightly down and the brush flat.

Bun keeps loosening: the base elastic isn't tight enough or the hair is too slippery. Re-secure the ponytail, and add a little texture spray to the lengths before twisting.

Short layers poking out: smooth a little extra balm over the twist and pin those pieces flat into the bun. Very fine hair: twist it around a small bun maker or a hair donut matched to your hair colour to add size without backcombing. Greasy look: you used too much product; next time use half and add more only along the part.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Clean part, a little product, a firm ponytail at the nape; then twist, wrap and pin. Wear it often? Go gentler on the hairline.

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