To ask how do people wear their hair up in a ponytail or bun without looking like Miss Trunchbull??

[TheScreen]

To ask how do people wear their hair up in a ponytail or bun without looking like Miss Trunchbull??

Just that really. It's too hot to have my long thick hair down, but anytime I wear it up I cannot help feeling I look like Miss Trunchbull. Does anyone have any advice?

I think it’s to do with your face shape. I have a fringe, but really hate myself with my hair pulled up into a pony, I look really severe. If it’s hot and I go out anywhere I tend to put it in little plaits so it’s still framing my face at the side. Probably looks like I’m attempting to be a quirky teenager but 🤷‍♀️

I don’t think ponytails look good on many people once they’re too old for school uniform tbh.
It’s more a functional look than stylish one.

I always wear my hair back 🤣 I have a big chin. I care not 🤣

I make the top front of it look a little ruffled/softer - so put everything in a bun then put the flat of my palm on the top of my head and slide it forward a bit. Look in the mirror while doing it and just stop sliding it when that area of hair is a bit looser and you can sort of set it to lie to the side a bit.

Also loosen some tendrils just in front of the ears or at the base of the neck.

It makes the whole look softer rather than scraped back but still keeps your hair tidy/out of your face.

This. The older I get, the less a big standard pony tail suits me.

I’ve even taken to plaiting it for the gym (which is mostly when I want it off my neck).

There are loads of different ways to wear hair up when it's hot.
Have a look on YouTube for messy bun, low bun or quick updos tutorials.

I have my hair in a messy bun a lot and use these big scrunchies to hold it in place to give it a soft look
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitsch-Satin-Hair-Bobbles-Women/dp/B09G3H12TC/ref=asc_df_B09G3H12TC?mcid=47faa91eefdd30bdb56fd0cace106e4c&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697280657429&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12695712180023309098&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006515&hvtargid=pla-1464101159174&hvocijid=12695712180023309098-B09G3H12TC-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1&th=1

I’m 55 and rock a tight, slicked back pony. The trick for me is to part in the centre and then slick back the top sides so they frame my face and make sure the bits above my ears are pulled back in line with my cheekbones. And then make sure the pony is sitting in the right place - trial and error. ETA I make sure the crown has a little bit of height or shape to it too.

I do have the following on my side: good cheekbones, long next and a well proportioned brow.

Thank you for giving me a name and strategies for this! The bane of my life!

I genuinely don't think this is a risk unless you make a habit of throwing children round by their pigtails.

This, too, is where I've been going wrong... 🤦‍♀️😁

Yes, and the heavier jowl many of us acquire as we age. Conspires to make us look Trunchbullesque!

I never heard of Miss T... I don't have a fat face & I have buckets of hair, so I can't look like that.

Yes this too! 😭

I just accept the Miss Trunchbull vibe.

Face shape. I have a wide square face so look like Trunchbull. Friends with oval or slim heart-shaped faces look fine.

I wear my hair in a plait or a messy bun just about every day (whatever the weather) and this has never occurred to me!

I have a fringe and a few layers and I don't pull things back too tight and just keep it loose and then redo it off and on if it gets too messy. It just takes seconds to redo. I don't brush it so it's too smooth and neat either.

If you don't like a tight pony tail, try adding volume to your roots. Dry your hair with your head upside down, or use dry shampoo or tease it a bit. It softens the whole look. A claw clip has a similar effect.

I’m from S London - we call it a Croydon Facelift!

We call it a "Glesga face-lift" in South Scotland 😆

Liverpool face-lift....

Streatham Facelift!

It really helps if you have thick hair. Oh, to have a full head of ”art teacher” hair which can be piled up oh so casually. My fine hair laughs in the face of clips, pins or indeed any attempt at chic chignons. Pulling it back just results in really flat hair and too much face.

AKA junkie bun

Most days my hair gets put in a low (nape of the back) bun with a silk/satin scrunchie as I can’t be faffed to blow dry/ style it after washing - having to shampoo it virtually daily thanks to night sweats…..yay peri-fucking-menopause! 🙄

Sadly I’m not blessed with thick hair which always makes any up do look better, but thankfully I’m not yet suffering from any thinning. I usually go with a centre part to the crown and then the rest brushed back, but can also do an all the way centre part or fully brushed back, although this isn’t my preference as my stubborn baby hairs (that also happen to be grey and wiry) are determined to stuck out at a 90 degree angle from my forehead, regardless of any attempt to tame them with hairspray, styling cream, wax sticks etc.

I believe there are some products that are great for volume, adding texture etc but I have to be very careful with what I use as product can very quickly turn my hair greasy. As someone who has only ever had one updo I’ve properly loved (luckily the one on my wedding day!) I wish you luck figuring this out.

Miss Truncballs bun is reeeeally scraped back- don’t do this! I put mine higher on my head so you can see the hair, and pull out some tendrils to give it some life. Back comb first as well to avoid that scraped look!

If you scrap it back really tightly it can look quite harsh. If you can't soften it without it falling down or looking messy try this:

Split you hair into thirds . Put the back 2 thirds into a tight pony, keeping the third closest to your face loose. Once you've done that, sweep the last third around the existing pony but keep the hair looser. Like the picture.

I was always scared of looking like Jacie Mcqueen (the character, not the actor herself) so got a fringe. Doesn't help in the heat!