28 Bun Hairstyles for Women: Easy Updos, Braided & Sleek Buns

Hi, I’m Lena — a professional hairstylist with over a decade behind the salon chair. In this gallery I showcase 28 bun hairstyles for women, covering everything from undone messy buns and polished ballerina knots to intricate braided chignons and effortless topknots. These looks suit a wide range of hair lengths and textures: short-to-medium hair pairs well with low and twisted buns, while medium-to-long hair can carry voluminous, braided and donut styles. In the salon I focus on prep — a good cut, texture spray, and the right elastic make all the difference. Throughout the post I share practical styling tips: sectioning for cleaner shapes, using pins to distribute weight, adding a texturizing product for grip, and choosing the right hold hairspray for day-to-night wear. Whether you’re dressing for work, a wedding, or a weekend coffee run, these 28 images will give you clear inspiration and step-by-step ideas to recreate salon-worthy buns at home.

Textured Messy High Bun with Face‑Framing Tendrils

This relaxed, textured high bun with soft face‑framing tendrils suits medium to long lengths and works well on fine, medium or thick hair once texture is added. Best results come from naturally wavy or straight hair that’s been prepped for grip; very straight hair will need more texturizing and very curly hair may need smoothing on the face pieces. Salon technique: prep damp hair with a root‑lift mousse and sea‑salt spray, blow‑dry while rough‑drying for volume, then create loose waves through mid‑lengths with a 1–1.25 curling wand. Lightly backcomb the crown for lift, gather into a high pony, twist into a loose, messy bun and secure with elastic and bobby pins, pulling out pieces for softness. Tools: blow dryer, round brush, curling wand, rat‑tail comb, teasing brush, elastics and pins. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse, texturizing/sea‑salt spray or powder, smoothing serum for ends, flexible‑hold hairspray. Difficulty level: moderate (20–40 minutes). Maintenance tips: refresh with dry shampoo or texturizer, re‑pin loosened sections, touch up tendrils with a small iron, and sleep in a loose silk wrap to preserve shape.

Messy High Bun with Curtain Bangs — Textured Top Knot for Medium to Thick Hair

This modern messy high bun with soft face-framing pieces works best on medium to thick hair and suits straight to wavy textures (fine hair can be boosted with volumizing products or temporary extensions). For a salon-finished result, start on second-day hair or apply dry shampoo at the roots for grip. Lightly backcomb the crown for lift, gather hair into a high ponytail while leaving out curtain bangs and a few tendrils around the face. Twist the pony into a loose, slightly messy bun and secure with an elastic and bobby pins, then gently pull sections to soften the silhouette. Use a 1 curling iron to add a bend to face-framing pieces if needed. Tools: elastic, bobby pins, tail comb, 1 curling iron. Products: dry shampoo, texturizing or sea-salt spray, light-hold hairspray, heat protectant, and a smoothing serum for flyaways. Difficulty: easy–medium — achievable at home with basic technique. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo, retuck pins to restore shape, trim curtain bangs every 6–8 weeks, and sleep on a silk pillowcase to minimize frizz.

Textured Messy High Bun with Face‑Framing Pieces

Suitable hair types: best on medium to thick straight or wavy hair; fine hair can work with added texture, and curly hair can be smoothed for a sleeker look. From salon experience, start on second-day hair for grip. Styling technique: apply dry shampoo or texturizing spray at roots, rough-dry, then backcomb the crown slightly for lift. Gather hair into a high ponytail, secure with an elastic, twist loosely and pin into a messy bun, pulling out small sections to create volume and movement. Leave a few face‑framing pieces and shape them with a 1 curling iron or flat iron for soft bangs. Tools needed: elastic, bobby pins, tail comb, paddle brush, sectioning clips, optional hair donut, 1 curling iron. Products required: dry shampoo, texturizing powder/spray, heat protectant, light-hold hairspray, small smoothing serum for flyaways. Difficulty level: easy–medium — approachable for most at-home stylists. Maintenance tips: refresh with dry shampoo and re-pull pieces for shape, re-pin loose sections, lightly mist with hairspray to hold, sleep on a silk pillowcase, and trim face-framing pieces every 4–8 weeks.

Textured Top-Knot Bun with Soft Face-Framing Tendrils

This relaxed top-knot bun suits medium to long hair and works well on fine, straight, or slightly wavy textures — with simple adjustments for thicker or curlier hair. Start on second-day hair or refresh freshly washed strands with a volumizing mousse at the roots and a heat protectant. Blow-dry with a round brush for lift, then apply a texturizing spray or dry shampoo through the mid-lengths for grip. Gather hair into a high pony, twist loosely and coil into a messy bun; secure with an elastic and strategically placed bobby pins. Pull out a few face-framing tendrils and soften with a small-barrel curling iron if needed. Tools: paddle brush, tail comb, hair elastic, bobby pins, small curling iron, blow-dryer. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse, texturizing spray/dry shampoo, flexible-hold hairspray, lightweight smoothing serum. Difficulty: easy–intermediate — salon-friendly result with basic technique. Maintenance tips: refresh with dry shampoo and a few pins to reshape, avoid over-brushing, sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce frizz, and trim tendrils every 6–8 weeks to keep the face-framing pieces neat.

Textured Messy High Bun with Face‑Framing Wisps

This relaxed, textured high bun suits fine to medium hair and long layers; it also works on thicker hair when you remove weight with long layering. Start on second-day hair or add a volume-boosting mousse to damp hair, then rough-dry for natural lift. Create loose waves with a 1–1.25 inch curling iron or bend with a flat iron to add texture, then mist dry shampoo or texturizing spray at the roots. Gather hair into a high pony and twist loosely, wrapping into a loose, messy bun and securing with an elastic and 6–10 bobby pins—pull small sections free to soften the hairline and create face‑framing wisps. Tools: tail comb, blow dryer, curling/flat iron, elastic, bobby pins. Products: heat protectant, texturizing spray or powder, light-hold hairspray, and a small amount of serum for flyaways. Difficulty: easy–medium — achievable in 10–20 minutes with practice. Maintenance tips: refresh volume with dry shampoo and finger-tousle, re-pin loose pieces rather than re-tying, sleep on a silk pillowcase to preserve shape, and trim layers every 8–12 weeks to keep the wisps flattering.

Textured Loose Messy Bun with Face‑Framing Pieces

This soft, textured messy bun with loose face‑framing pieces suits straight to wavy hair and works well on medium‑fine through thick textures. For very fine hair, add clip‑in pieces or light teasing for volume; for very curly hair, smooth edges slightly before styling. Technique: rough‑dry hair with fingers to retain natural movement, apply texturizing product, backcomb lightly at the crown for lift, gather hair into a loose high or mid bun, twist and pin sections with bobby/U‑pins to create a relaxed, multi‑directional shape. Pull out a few face‑framing strands and loosen the bun for softness. Tools: blow dryer with nozzle, paddle or round brush (optional), tail comb, sectioning clips, hair tie, bobby and U‑pins, curling iron for refining pieces. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root lift, sea‑salt/texturizing spray, light‑hold hairspray, small amount of smoothing serum for flyaways, dry shampoo for grip. Difficulty: easy–moderate; 10–20 minutes once practiced. Maintenance: sleep on silk, refresh with dry shampoo and mist of texturizer, re‑pin loose sections as needed, and trim layers regularly to preserve the face‑framing shape.

Loose Textured Messy Bun with Face-Framing Pieces

Salon-ready loose textured messy bun ideal for medium to thick hair and shoulder-length to long lengths; fine hair will work when prepped with texture-boosting products or light extensions. To create: start on towel-dried hair—apply a heat protectant and volumizing mousse, then rough-dry while lifting at the roots. Add a sea-salt or texturizing spray and curl random mid-lengths with a 1–1.25-inch wand for natural movement. Lightly backcomb the crown for lift, gather hair into a high or mid top knot, twist loosely and secure with bobby pins, leaving a few face-framing strands out. Tug sections gently to loosen for softness and pull tiny tendrils around the nape and temples for an undone finish. Tools: blow dryer with nozzle or diffuser, 1–1.25 curling wand, tail comb, bobby pins, small elastic. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or spray, sea-salt/texturizing spray, lightweight hairspray, dry shampoo, and a small amount of smoothing serum for ends. Difficulty: easy–moderate — fast with practice. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo and re-pin as needed, sleep on a silk pillowcase or loose scarf, and trim face-framing layers every 6–8 weeks to maintain shape.

Sleek Twisted High Bun with Face-Framing Tendrils

This polished twisted high bun with soft face‑framing tendrils works best on medium‑to‑long hair and suits straight to wavy textures. Fine hair benefits from volumizing powder or a bun donut for lift; thicker hair holds shape with additional pins. Start on towel‑dried or day‑old hair: apply heat protectant if using hot tools, then smooth with a paddle brush. Create a high ponytail, twist or wrap the length into a loose looped bun, and secure with an elastic and strong bobby pins. Pull out two small face‑framing sections and soften with a flat iron or 1 curling iron for a subtle bend. Tools: brush, rat‑tail comb, elastic, bobby pins, optional bun donut, flat or curling iron. Products: lightweight smoothing serum, texturizing spray or dry shampoo for grip, flexible hold hairspray. Difficulty: easy–medium — 15–30 minutes depending on hair length. Maintenance: sleep on silk, refresh roots with dry shampoo, re‑pin areas that loosen, and avoid heavy oils at the scalp to prevent slippage. Schedule trims to control layers that escape the bun.

Textured High Bun Updo with Face‑Framing Tendrils

This polished textured high bun with soft face‑framing tendrils suits straight to wavy hair and can be adapted for fine, medium or thick textures. Fine hair benefits from a texturizing spray or light teasing at the crown for lift; thicker or curly hair may be smoothed or left with natural texture for a more relaxed finish. Technique: start on towel‑dried hair, apply heat protectant and a lightweight smoothing serum, then blow‑dry with a round brush for shine. Add texturizing spray at the roots for grip, gather hair into a high pony, twist and coil into a loose bun, securing with an elastic and bobby pins. Pull out thin face‑framing tendrils and refine their shape with a small flat iron or curling iron. Tools needed: paddle brush, tail comb, elastic, bobby pins, small flat or curling iron, blow dryer. Products required: heat protectant, light smoothing serum, texturizing spray, flexible‑hold hairspray, dry shampoo for second‑day grip. Difficulty: easy–medium. Maintenance tips: sleep on a silk pillow or wrap with a scarf, refresh volume with dry shampoo, resecure any loose pins, and trim tendrils every 6–8 weeks to keep the shape.

Textured Top Knot Bun with Face‑Framing Tendrils

Suitable for medium to thick hair and naturally wavy or curly textures — fine hair can work with added texturizing products or clip‑in extensions. Start on towel‑dried hair: apply a volumizing mousse at the roots and a sea‑salt/texturizing spray through the lengths, then rough‑dry while lifting the roots with your fingers or a diffuser. Gather hair into a high pony, twist loosely and wrap into a messy topknot; secure with an elastic and U‑pins, then pull out small sections for softness and volume. Leave 2–4 face‑framing strands and soften them with a 1

Textured Messy High Bun with Soft Face‑Framing Wisps

A salon-friendly textured messy high bun that flatters fine to medium hair as well as relaxed thick or naturally wavy textures. Start with second-day hair or prep freshly washed hair with a texturizing or sea-salt spray and a light mist of dry shampoo to create grip. Rough-dry or diffuse for volume, then lightly backcomb at the crown for lift. Gather hair into a high pony, leaving out a few face-framing pieces; twist the pony loosely and wrap into a messy bun, securing with an elastic and discreet bobby pins. Use a small curling iron (1–1.25 inch) to shape the front wisps and finish by tugging small sections from the bun for a soft, undone silhouette. Tools: blow dryer, round brush (optional), fine-tooth comb, elastic, bobby pins, curling iron. Products: texturizing/sea-salt spray, dry shampoo, heat protectant, light-hold flexible hairspray and a drop of smoothing serum for ends. Difficulty: easy–moderate. Maintenance tips: refresh with dry shampoo and texturizer between washes, re-pin loose pieces, sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce frizz, and trim face-framing layers every 6–10 weeks.

Textured High Messy Bun with Face‑Framing Tendrils — Updo for Medium to Long Hair

This relaxed high messy bun with soft face‑framing tendrils is a versatile updo suited to medium‑to‑long hair and most textures. Best results come on medium to thick hair; fine hair works when prepped with texture spray or light teasing. Technique: work with dry, second‑day hair, apply heat protectant and add loose waves with a 1 curling wand or use a blow‑dryer and round brush for volume. Use a texturizing spray or dry shampoo at the roots, gather hair into a high pony, twist into a loose bun and secure with an elastic and several bobby pins, leaving a few front pieces out for softness. Tools: paddle brush, tail comb, 1 curling wand (optional), elastic, bobby pins, hair donut (optional). Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root lift, texturizing/salt spray, light pomade for flyaways, flexible‑hold hairspray. Difficulty: easy–moderate; expect 10–20 minutes with practice. Maintenance tips: sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely re‑tie at night, refresh volume with dry shampoo or salt spray, retuck loose pieces with pins, avoid heavy oils that weigh hair down, and shampoo after 2–3 days to restore hold.

Loose Textured Topknot Bun with Face‑Framing Tendrils

This relaxed topknot is ideal for fine to medium hair and works well on thicker hair after light thinning or texturizing. It suits shoulder‑length to long lengths and flatters round or oval faces by softening the hairline with loose tendrils. Technique: start on second‑day hair or use dry shampoo for grip. Lightly backcomb the crown for lift, gather hair into a high pony, twist into a loose bun and secure with an elastic and strategically placed bobby pins. Pull out small sections around the face and use a curling iron to soften them into natural tendrils. Tools needed: paddle or boar‑bristle brush, tail comb, elastic, bobby pins, 1

Textured Messy High Bun with Face‑Framing Tendrils — Soft, Everyday Updo

This relaxed, textured high bun with soft face‑framing tendrils suits straight to wavy hair in fine to medium thickness; longer lengths or layered cuts with face‑framing pieces give the best shape. Start on second‑day hair for grip: apply a light dry shampoo or texture spray at roots, lift hair into a high pony and secure with an elastic, then twist and loosely wrap into a bun, tucking ends and anchoring with bobby pins. Tease lightly at the crown for volume and pull out a few thin tendrils around the face for softness. Tools: elastic, bobby pins, tail comb or teasing brush, optional 1

Loose Textured High Bun with Wispy Face‑Framing Layers

This relaxed high bun works well on fine to medium hair and on thicker hair when slightly thinned out or pre-textured. Best on straight to wavy textures, it’s ideal for second-day hair but can be built on freshly washed hair with styling products. Technique: apply a volumizing mousse or root lift to towel-dried hair, blow-dry with fingers or a round brush for lift, then mist with sea salt or texturizing spray. Section off soft face‑framing layers, gather the rest into a high pony, twist loosely and wrap into a messy bun, securing with an elastic and strategically placed bobby pins. Pull small sections free to soften and create movement; optionally curl the face pieces for added shape. Tools needed: blow dryer, tail comb, elastic, bobby pins, curling wand (optional). Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or dry shampoo, texturizing/salt spray, light-hold hairspray and a smoothing serum for flyaways. Difficulty: easy–medium (requires basic pinning). Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo, tighten pins or re-twist the bun nightly if needed, sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce frizz, and trim face pieces every 6–8 weeks to keep the shape.

Textured High Messy Bun with Soft Face‑Framing Pieces

This polished-but-relaxed high messy bun is ideal for straight to wavy mid-length or long hair and works well on fine to medium-thick textures when boosted with product. Begin on towel-dried hair: apply a heat protectant and a small amount of lightweight mousse or texturizing spray at the roots, then blow-dry with a round brush for smoothness or air-dry for a more lived-in finish. Create a high ponytail, twist the length loosely into a bun and secure with an elastic and strategically placed bobby pins, leaving a few front strands out. Use a 19–25 mm curling iron to add a soft bend to the face‑framing pieces, and gently loosen the bun with your fingers for volume and texture. Tools: vent brush, tail comb, elastic, bobby pins, curling iron, section clips. Products: heat protectant, dry shampoo or texturizing spray, light-hold hairspray, and a drop of shine serum for flyaways. Difficulty: easy–medium — quick to execute but needs practice for balance. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo, retuck pins as needed, sleep on a silk pillowcase or use a loose satin scarf, and trim tendrils every 6–8 weeks to keep shape.

Textured Messy Top Knot Bun with Face-Framing Pieces

Perfect for medium to long hair, this textured messy top knot with soft face‑framing pieces suits fine, straight, wavy and relaxed curly textures. For fine hair, add texturizing products and light backcombing to create grip; for thick or very curly hair, smooth the crown slightly or embrace natural volume to keep the knot lightweight. Styling technique: prep with dry shampoo or sea‑salt spray at roots and lengths, rough‑dry, then gather hair into a high ponytail. Twist and wrap loosely into a bun, secure with an elastic and bobby pins, and pull out a few thin front pieces. Loosen around the crown and pull small sections for an undone finish. Tools needed: brush or comb, elastic, bobby pins, blow dryer, 1 curling iron (optional) and tail comb. Products required: dry shampoo, texturizing or sea‑salt spray, light styling cream or serum for flyaways, flexible‑hold hairspray and heat protectant. Difficulty: easy–moderate (3–5/10) — quick to achieve with practice. Maintenance tips: refresh roots with dry shampoo, re‑pin loose areas, retouch face‑frames with a curling iron as needed, sleep on a silk pillowcase, and use weekly hydrating masks for color‑treated or bleached hair.

Textured Messy Bun with Curtain Bangs

Soft textured messy bun with curtain bangs is a versatile updo suited to shoulder-length to long hair of fine to thick density, and works especially well on straight to wavy textures. To create it, leave 2–3 inch face-framing curtain bangs, gather the remaining hair to the crown, lightly backcomb at the roots for lift, twist into a loose bun and secure with an elastic and bobby pins; pull small sections out to soften and create wispy tendrils. For a salon-finish shape, loosely curl the bangs or define them with a flat iron. Tools: elastic, bobby pins, tail comb, small round brush, 1 curling iron or flat iron, blow-dryer with nozzle. Products: lightweight texturizing or sea-salt spray, dry shampoo or root-lifting powder, heat protectant, light-hold hairspray and a tiny smoothing serum for flyaways. Difficulty: Easy–medium — quick for stylists and achievable at home in 10–20 minutes once practiced. Maintenance: refresh volume with dry shampoo, re-secure loosened pins, touch up bangs daily with a quick iron pass, trim bangs every 6–8 weeks and sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce frizz.

Textured High Messy Bun with Face‑Framing Tendrils

This salon-finished textured high messy bun with soft face‑framing tendrils is a versatile updo for shoulder‑length to long hair. It works well on fine, medium and thick textures — fine hair benefits from texturizing powder or root-lift spray for grip and volume, while coarse or frizzy hair responds to a smoothing serum before styling. Technique: start on dry hair, spray a texturizer through mid-lengths and ends, lightly backcomb the crown for lift and gather hair into a high ponytail. For fullness, pull the ponytail through a bun donut or twist and wrap sections around the base, securing with strong bobby pins and an elastic. Leave a couple of thin front pieces out and soften them with a quick curl if desired. Tools: paddle or boar-bristle brush, tail comb, elastic, bobby pins, optional bun donut, curling iron and blow-dryer. Products: texturizing spray/powder, light-hold hairspray, anti-frizz serum and dry shampoo for refreshes. Difficulty: easy–intermediate (10–20 minutes). Maintenance: refresh shape with dry shampoo and extra pins, sleep on silk, and avoid heavy oils at the roots to keep lift and longevity.