This hairstyle starts way before the bun actually happens. Instead of just pulling the hair back and hoping for the best, the stylist builds a strong foundation with curls.
She explains that the goal is a “tousled natural look,” so everything is designed to avoid anything too stiff or overly polished.
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Prepping The Hair For Long-Lasting Texture
The first step is all about prep. She uses a heat protectant spray that also acts as a styling support product, helping the curls hold their shape longer. This is important because the entire bun depends on having grip and texture—silky, freshly straightened hair would slip right out and fall flat.
Once the product is evenly distributed, she moves in with a 1.25-inch curling iron. The curls aren’t meant to be perfect ringlets. Instead, she intentionally varies the section sizes—smaller sections near the top for more detail and larger sections near the bottom for softness and volume.
A key detail here is that all curls are directed away from the face. This helps open up the features and keeps the overall style looking light and lifted rather than heavy.
Turning Curls Into Soft, Airy Volume
After curling everything, she doesn’t just leave it as-is. She runs her fingers through the curls to break them up. This step is what transforms structured curls into that soft, airy texture that makes the bun look “lived-in” instead of formal.
At this point, the hair has volume, movement, and separation—all essential for a textured updo that doesn’t look stiff or overly styled.
Creating The Foundation: Two Stacked Ponytails
Instead of going straight into a bun, she builds the structure using two ponytails stacked vertically.
- The first ponytail sits high on the head, around crown level.
- The second ponytail is placed just below it.
She also intentionally leaves some hair out on the sides and near the face. This is a big part of the final look—it keeps everything soft and prevents the bun from looking too tight or severe.
The sectioning is done very loosely and organically, without harsh part lines. The idea is to mimic natural hair movement rather than a perfectly engineered shape.
Softening Everything Before Styling The Bun
Before forming the bun, she goes back in to slightly deconstruct the crown area. This means gently loosening the hair at the top to add volume and avoid that “pulled tight” effect.
She also smooths the first ponytail and applies a medium-hold spray to control frizz and flyaways without making the hair crunchy. The goal is still softness, just with a bit of control.
Building The First Bun
Now the fun part starts.
The first ponytail is twisted loosely and wrapped into a bun right at the crown. It’s not a tight ballet bun—it’s intentionally messy and airy. She secures it with bobby pins, focusing on anchoring it to the scalp so it stays in place while still looking relaxed.
Placement is important here. She mentions positioning it so the bun is visible from the front, which helps balance the shape and makes the style look intentional from all angles.
Layering In The Second Ponytail
Next, she works with the second ponytail. This section is also twisted, but instead of sitting separately, it’s wrapped around the first bun to build volume and fullness.
She strategically directs the hair so it covers gaps and supports the shape of the bun. The ends are pinned upward, which helps create height and structure instead of letting everything droop downward.
This is where the bun starts to look fuller and more dimensional rather than flat or one-note.
The “Messy But Intentional” Finishing Touches
One of the most important parts of the entire style is how she finishes it.
Instead of leaving clean, uniform ends, she breaks up the remaining pieces and disperses them so they look light and wispy. This prevents heavy sections from making the bun feel bulky.
She also splits some of the longer pieces, crosses them, and pins them in different directions. This adds depth and makes the bun look more complex without actually being difficult to do.
Finally, she goes back in one last time to gently pull at the crown for volume and adjust the face-framing pieces so they sit naturally.
Final Vibe Of The Hairstyle
What you end up with is a textured bun that feels relaxed but still elegant. It’s the kind of style that works for:
- Weddings or formal events
- Dinners or date nights
- Or even just when you want your hair up but still cute
The best part is that it doesn’t rely on perfection. In fact, the “messier” and more lived-in it looks, the better it works.
