I’ve been seeing more braided buns in the chair next to mine lately. Not the fussy kind that take an hour, the ones that look like you spent ten minutes but somehow held through dinner and dancing. This summer, buns are doing more than just keeping hair off your neck.
Here are 20 Bun Hairstyles that actually work for different textures and lengths. From a five-minute messy bun to a braided updo that stays put, there’s something for fine hair that goes flat by 4pm and thick hair that needs taming. I’ve tested enough buns to know which ones collapse and which ones earn a spot in rotation.
Voluminous Braided Updo With Intricate Braids
The braided updo with curls here is not something you throw together in five minutes. This style genuinely flatters those with thick, wavy hair and enough length to wrap into a substantial bun. The intricate braided texture within the bun adds visual interest that a simple twist can’t match, and the dark blonde base with ash brown lowlights gives depth that makes the braids pop.
Ask your stylist for loose tendrils around the face and a voluminous crown. It holds well for a full day, but expect to refresh the tendrils with a curling iron the next morning. The volume at the crown keeps the whole thing from looking flat by evening, which is more than I can say for most updos.
High Bun With Braided Sections
Ever tried to build a high bun with braids that actually stays put? The braided elements are key: they add grip and structure, so the bun doesn’t slide down by noon. This is a great option for a wedding or a night out, where you want something polished but not stiff. The face-framing pieces soften the high bun and keep it from looking severe, and the darker roots give a lived-in feel that works with the braided texture. The wavy, thick hair here holds the shape without constant pinning, which is the real win.
Voluminous High Messy Bun
I’ll admit, I thought a voluminous messy bun was just a few twists and a lot of luck. The reality is that it takes some teasing and a good texturizing spray to get that airy volume. You can do this at home, but it’s easier if you have someone to help with the back. The messy part is intentional, but you still need to secure it well or it’ll fall apart by lunch. Pulling out a few face-framing pieces and waving them adds to the relaxed feel, and the dark brown colour keeps it low-maintenance.
Mid-Back Voluminous High Messy Bun
This is the voluminous messy bun for people with hair that actually has something to say. The mid-back length gives the bun real weight, and the medium brown base with highlights stops it from reading flat even after the volume drops an inch or two. It needs density and wave; fine, straggly hair will deflate before lunch. The face-framing pieces are the part that sells it, though they are also the part that flips into creases if you rush them with a curling iron. The texture is the whole point, and the texture is also what collapses by evening. I have left events with this bun looking majestic, and I have arrived with it already tired. Do not attempt this on day-three hair without a serious teasing session. The hold is real, but it is a commitment, not a coincidence.
Messy High Bun With Curtain Bangs
Ninety percent of messy bun with curtain bangs failures happen before the bun does. People twist the hair first, then remember the curtain bangs exist and shove them behind an ear. Wrong order. Curl the curtain bangs first, while they are still separate from the rest, then gather everything into a loose high bun and pull out a few tendrils around the ears. The collarbone length with layers is ideal here; longer hair makes the bun heavy and drags the bangs flat. Wavy texture grips the bun without a single pin, which is not true for anyone with straight hair. Fifteen minutes, start to finish, and that is mostly the curling. The bangs need a trim every six weeks, bare minimum, or they stop curtaining and start hovering.
Messy High Bun With Caramel Highlights
A solid dark brown bun reads as one block of colour. Add caramel highlights and suddenly the hair has dimension, depth, a reason to look twice. This is mid-back length, wavy, medium density, and the highlights catch light differently with every twist. The messy high bun itself is built fast: twist, pin, pull out a few tendrils. Those face-framing pieces are the whole point. They soften the bun and show off the caramel against the dark base. Styling takes about ten minutes, and the hold is decent for a day, but the tendrils will need a quick wand touch-up by evening. The dark brown messy bun with highlights is the upgrade a solid bun never knew it needed.
Compared to a single-tone bun, this one reads richer, more intentional. The caramel streaks mean you don’t need to over-style for volume. The texture does the work.
Ash Blonde Messy High Bun
Ever notice how an ash blonde bun looks cool and soft on day one, then shifts toward yellow by day three? The ash blonde bun with highlights is a commitment. The colour is cool-toned, mid-back length, wavy and thick, and the messy high bun styling softens the whole thing. Those face-framing pieces are essential: they break up the ash and keep it from reading flat. This is a spring-through-early-fall look, best for casual events where you want polished but not stiff.
Here is the wear reality. The bun itself holds well for a full day if you start with day-old hair and a texturizing spray. But the ash tone demands a toner refresh every six to eight weeks. By week five, the highlights start pulling warm. The loose waves around the face will drop by hour six, so plan a quick re-curl if you need them for evening. It is not a set-and-forget colour, but the payoff is that soft, cool dimension that a warm blonde cannot give you.
Voluminous Dark Brown Bun
This dark brown updo is for thick, wavy hair and a round or oval face. The volume comes from the texture, not from backcombing. Mid-back length, dark brown, with wispy tendrils pulled out to soften the edges. The hold is strong because thick hair grips pins better than fine hair does. But here is the honest downside: if your hair is thin or straight, this bun will look sad and flat within an hour. You can try it with a texturizing spray and a lot of teasing, but it is a stretch. This is a salon-leaning style for the initial cut and layers. The at-home styling is doable, but you need the right layers to get that wispy tendril effect. Without them, you just have a messy ball of hair.
Mid-Back Neat Dark Brown Bun
I used to think neat buns were for ballet recitals only. Then I tried a neat bun with tendrils and realized the technique is everything. This is mid-back length, wavy and thick, dark brown. The key is a smooth base: brush the hair back, secure at the crown, then wrap the length into a tight coil and pin it flat. No bumps, no loose strands except the face-framing tendrils you deliberately leave out. Those tendrils are what keep this from reading severe. They are side-swept, soft, and break the clean line of the bun. Styling takes ten to fifteen minutes, and the hold is excellent for a full day. Wear and upkeep are minimal: a light-hold spray on the tendrils, and a quick brush-out at night. The neat bun with tendrils works best for medium to thick hair; fine hair will need a texturizing spray to keep the coil from slipping.
Loose Dark Brown Messy Bun
You are five minutes late and your hair is still damp. Grab it, twist loosely, coil into a bun at the crown, secure with one elastic and two pins. Pull out a few pieces around the face. Done. That is the loose messy bun. Mid-back length, wavy and thick, dark brown. The texture does the work: wavy hair holds the undone appearance naturally. Straight hair will need a spritz of texture spray. The bun will loosen throughout the day, which is part of the look. No mirror required.
No Bangs Messy Ash Blonde Bun
Ever notice how a messy bun looks better on someone with no bangs? The ash blonde messy bun here proves it: the colour adds depth, the textured waves give it something to hold onto, and collarbone length is ideal for a twist-and-pin situation. I have done this in five minutes flat, no mirror needed. Thick, wavy hair means the bun stays put without a dozen pins. The middle part keeps the front clean, and no bangs means nothing to tuck or regret. The ash tone reads cool against warm skin. You can rough it up or smooth it down, depending on the occasion. This is a DIY style, through and through. The hold is strong enough for a full day, even a light workout.
Low Messy Bun With Soft Texture
The low messy bun flatters nearly every face shape because the low placement softens the jawline. On mid-back, wavy strands, it sits like a cloud. Loose strands around the neck keep it from looking severe. The dark brown colour reads rich.
It holds for a few hours but will need a re-pin by evening. Best for casual days or second-day hair. The downside? If your hair is very fine, the bun can look skimpy.
Low Soft Bun With Romantic Tendrils
The soft bun with tendrils is the opposite of a sleek bun: it is meant to look like you were doing something else and your hair ended up this way. The romantic texture comes from loose waves that are curled before pinning, not after. On thick, wavy hair, the bun stays pillowy. The subtle highlights in the dark brown catch light and keep it from going flat. The tendrils are curled with a wand before the bun is assembled, which gives them a defined wave that lasts.
Braided Space Buns
Can we talk about how coily hair makes braided space buns look intentional? The texture grips the braid in a way straight hair cannot, so the buns stay defined without slipping. On mid-back, thick coily hair, each bun has presence. The dark brown colour reads as a solid base, letting the braid pattern take center stage.
The technique starts with two pigtails braided from root to end: Dutch braids work best for visibility. Each braid is then coiled into a bun and pinned at the base. The middle part keeps the symmetry. The hold is secure enough for a full day of movement, though you might need a few pins if your hair is heavy. The buns can sit high on the crown or lower near the nape, depending on the look you want.
Layers Braided Dark Brown Bun
A braided bun is one of the most reliable styles for thick, straight hair. The braided detail adds texture where there is none, and the visible braid wraps around the base like a ribbon. On mid-back hair, the bun sits at a flattering height. The dark brown colour keeps it polished. Upkeep: a trim every eight weeks to keep the ends blunt, and a deep condition weekly to maintain shine. The downside? If your hair is layered, shorter pieces may escape the braid and require extra pinning.
Half-Up Half-Down Messy Bun
I get the appeal of a full bun, but the half up half down bun wins for me. It keeps the collarbone length down while showing off the blonde balayage and wavy texture. Layers and a middle part, with a messy bun on top. This is a spring or early fall style, when you want hair off your face but not all the way. You can DIY it in 15 minutes with some practice, but the messy texture takes a light hand. A salon-leaning skill, but doable.
Long Voluminous Ash Blonde High Bun
Picture this: a high bun that actually has height and volume. Ash blonde with subtle highlights, long layers, wavy medium density. The bun sits high on the crown, with loose strands falling around the ears and neck.
This look costs time. You need to tease the crown for that height, apply a texturizing spray, and pin each section into place. The loose strands aren’t accidental—they need to be curled with a wand. The hold lasts through dinner, but expect to adjust by the second hour. The ash blonde requires a toner every six weeks to keep the cool tone from turning brassy. A salon-leaning style, but the upkeep is manageable with a purple shampoo and regular trims.
Platinum Blonde Messy Bun
What is it about platinum blonde that makes you want to commit to the upkeep? This messy bun is mid-back length, wavy thick texture, with darker roots showing. The colour is platinum blonde, which means regular toning. The bun itself is voluminous, with pieces pulled out for texture. The honest downside: the roots will show in three weeks, and the platinum needs a toner every four weeks. This is a winter look, when you want brightness against dark coats. The voluminous texture hides the grow-out for a week, but then you’re booking the salon. The bun holds with pins, but the colour is the real commitment.
Medium Brown With Caramel Highlights Textured High Messy Bun
The difference between a messy bun and a textured bun is intention. This one has caramel highlights woven through medium brown, mid-back length, thick wavy texture. The bun is built with twisted sections, not just a pulled-through ponytail.
Each twist is pinned separately to create volume and dimension. The caramel highlights catch the light and add depth. The layers help the twists stay in place, and the middle part keeps it balanced. This is a salon-level style—it takes 20 minutes and a mirror. The hold is secure, but the texture comes from the twists, not from teasing. The highlights are placed to show through the twists, which is why you need a stylist who understands placement.
Sleek Black Low Bun
I’ll admit, I’ve tried to get this sleek low bun at home and ended up with bumps. The key is a smoothing serum and a fine-tooth comb. Black hair, straight thick texture, mid-back length, middle part. The bun is coiled tightly and pinned close to the head. The polished finish comes from zero flyaways. This is a salon-level skill for the perfect smoothness, but you can DIY with practice. The hold lasts all day with strong-hold hairspray. Contrast with messy buns: this one says you mean business.
Final Thoughts
After writing all 20 of these, I noticed something: the best buns aren’t about perfection. They’re about texture, grip, and knowing when to let a piece fall. The braided space buns surprised me most, they held better than I expected on a humid day.
I’m booking the voluminous braided updo next. It’s the one I keep coming back to.
