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Introducing The New Way To Style A Messy Bun

Move over, top-knots! - by Arielle Tsoukatos
  • 28 Jun 2019
Introducing The New Way To Style A Messy Bun

Messy buns and topknot hairstyles have been having a major moment lately, and if we're honest, we hope this very wearable trend sticks around. After all, a topknot is our go-to hairstyle when we're running all of those errands we've been avoiding, working out, or running late to the office.

If you ever had doubts that your favourite up-do could be incredibly chic outside of the gym, the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, gave messy buns her royal tick of approval when she wore the effortless style on her wedding day. 

This season's incarnation of the top-knot is undone (unlike a sleek ballerina bun) worn slightly loose with face-framing tendrils.

You can blame hair guru Jen Atkin, who recently gave her clients, Kendall Jenner and Hailey Baldwin '90s tendrils on the red carpet, for bringing back the chin-grazing hair strands. While the messy bun might seem quite straightforward at first glance there a few tricks that you can use to achieve the perfect ‘undone done’ messy bun. The truth is that there is a skill to creating these seemingly unkempt, effortless hairstyles. 

How To Create The Perfect Messy Bun

If you want you can use a little bit of volumising root spray or a spritz of your preferred dry shampoo to texturise the hair

Next, create a high ponytail right on the top of your head, this doesn’t have to be too neat but try to get it right up to the crown of the head. Tip: If you have really long or thick hair and find it tricky to create a high pony, tip your head upside down to make sure you can get you pony high enough.

Once you have a high pony divide into two sections and use your fingers to twist the hair around into a bun securing with a hair tie.

You will now have a tight ballerina style twisted bun. We like making things look a little messier so this is the time to start pulling out a few strands around the face and loosening up the bun to add volume.

Using bobby pins you can play around the shape of your bun to add more dimension. Finish with a light hairspray to keep all the strands in place.

We've rounded up the most elegant messy buns with loose tendrils for all the inspiration you need to recreate the '90s style. Keep scrolling for our top picks...

Meghan Markle 

Meghan Markle's signature up-do is the loose chignon or ponytail. The secret to nailing the royal's elegant hairstyle is securing strands with bobby pins and securing your low bun at the nape of your neck with a spritz of high-shine hairspray to keep frizz at bay.

Meghan Markle Hair

Hailey Baldwin

A cool-girl look that puts the focus firmly on Hailey's stunning features. This messy top knot is perfect for second-day hair or anyone with thin hair.

Hailey Baldwin

Kendall Jenner

The supermodel's easy messy bun style requires minimal hairstyling and is perfect for special occasions. 

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley 

The British model's boho loose bun is created with textured strands for a contemporary edge. 

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

RELATED: This Is The Most Requested Hair Colour In Australia

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Arielle Tsoukatos
Arielle Tsoukatos
Arielle is a contributor to marie claire Australia. A few career highlights include; lunch with Kim Cattrall, interviewing Naomi Watts and swapping make-up tips with Margot Robbie on the red carpet. You can find her words on InStyle, marie claire and Women's Health.

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