If you’re looking for quick hairstyles that still look stylish and effortless, low messy buns are always a great option. They’re simple to create, work well with both medium and long hair, and look especially cute when paired with baseball caps or trendy hats.
Here you’ll learn four easy ways to create a low messy bun that looks relaxed, textured, and perfectly imperfect.
Table of Contents
1. The Tucked Low Messy Bun
The first style is a simple bun created by starting with a ponytail. Gather your hair as if you’re going to tie it into a low ponytail, then loop the hair through the hair tie to form a small bun.
Instead of leaving the ends out, take the remaining hair and tuck it fully into the hair tie. Once everything is tucked in, gently pull sections of the bun outward to loosen it. This creates that soft, messy texture.
Secure any loose areas with a few bobby pins, especially near the top of the bun so it stays in place. Finally, pull a little hair at the crown of your head to add volume and give the style a relaxed finish.
2. The Twisted Wrap Messy Bun
The second bun starts similarly to the first one. Begin by creating a small bun with your hair, leaving some hair hanging out.
Take the loose hair and twist it toward your face. Once twisted, wrap it around the base of the bun. When you reach the end, tuck the remaining hair into the hair tie.
To achieve a messier look, gently stretch and fluff the bun. You can also rotate the bun slightly with your hand to create a more relaxed and tousled shape. Pull a few pieces at the crown again to add texture. This style often holds well even without bobby pins, though you can add some if needed.
3. The Classic Twist Bun
This third style is probably the easiest and most common messy bun.
Simply gather all your hair and twist it around itself until it forms a bun shape. Secure it with a hair tie wrapped around the bun.
Once it’s secure, gently pull pieces of hair outward to loosen the bun and make it look fuller. Again, pulling slightly at the top of your head helps add volume and gives the style that effortless messy finish.
4. The Twisted Section Low Bun
The fourth bun adds a little more detail while still staying easy to create.
Start by tying your hair into a low ponytail. Divide the ponytail into two equal sections. Take one section and split it again into two strands, then twist those strands around each other to create a simple rope twist.
Wrap this twist around the base of the ponytail to form part of the bun and secure it with bobby pins.
Repeat the same process with the second section of hair. Twist the strands together, wrap them around the bun, and pin them in place.
Once both twists are wrapped around the base, gently pull the twists apart to create more volume and texture. This technique, sometimes called “pancaking,” helps the bun look fuller and more relaxed. Add a few extra bobby pins if needed to make sure everything stays secure.
Final Thoughts
Low messy buns are perfect for busy days when you want something quick but still stylish. Each of these four styles takes only a few minutes to create and can easily be adjusted to look more relaxed or more polished depending on how much you loosen the hair.
If your hair has layers, you may notice some pieces sticking out, but that actually adds to the messy bun look. Embrace the texture and let the style stay soft and natural.
