Of all the updos, the bun is a beauty classic, perhaps because there are so many possible twists on this ever-chic look. Super-stylist Anthony Nader talks us through how to style three incarnations, as spotted recently on the red carpet.
Katie Holmes
It’s a donut – but lighter and fluffier than last year’s batch. Call it the cronut. “This is the perfect look for quickly taking your hair from the office to out,” says Nader, who recommends using a medium-sized paddle brush to help position hair into a crown-high ponytail. “Use the same brush to lightly back-comb texture and volume into the ‘tail,” he continues. Next, pop in a hair donut. Just make sure not to wrap hair too tightly over the donut, says Nader. “Remember, you don’t want anything too structured. Sure, you need a few pins to keep the bun in place, but from the outside it needs to look soft. You can also pull a few bits and pieces out of the bun to mimic Katie’s look here, and to keep everything modern and fresh.” Finally, set it all in place with a mist of light-hold hairspray.
Jaime King
This twisted roll, atop a super-smooth surface of hair, is an edgy take on a ballerina bun. For the sleekest result, Nader advises starting out with damp hair. “Take a blob of straightening lotion and work it through hair,” he says. “Then rough-dry to about 80%, before clipping the hair into a top and bottom section. Blow-dry each one smooth using a large paddle brush with lots of bristles, which will give you more control. Once dry, hit the cool-shot button and direct hair back away from face, to sort out any cowlicks and ensure a flawless finish.” Nader next recommends taking a smaller paddle brush and using it to scoop hair up and back to where you want to position your bun. From here, tie a ponytail. “Now get a few drops of a lightweight serum,” continues Nader, “and glide it over the scalp, and through the ‘tail, from base to tip. All you now do is twist the ‘tail around itself, until it forms a knot, and wind the ends of the ‘tail around the base on the bun, securing everything here with fringe pins.”
Olga Kurylenko
This twirled braid is ideal for prettying up second- or third-day hair, notes Nader. “Start off by spraying in dry shampoo, as this will not only soak up some excess scalp oil, but also give hair extra texture,” he says. “Use your fingers to next scrape hair back to the centre of the back of your head – not worrying about any free-falling pieces as they will frame your face beautifully – and tie it up.” Nader advises using a bungee grip here over a regular elastic; “while the look is loose and carefree, it needs a sold foundation to keep it in place all day or night long,” he explains. “And bungee grips are the most secure way to keep a ponytail locked in.” Now, plait a soft ponytail, and tie the ends with a clear snag-free elastic. “Wind the braid around and around the base of the ‘tail, pinning it in with rippled bobby pins,” says Nader. “Again, don’t worry about any bits of hair that fall out – this will just make the look all the more romantic.”
Tell us, Primpers, which is your favourite bun?