Messy bun no longer working - updo advice for old bag?

[knitknack]

I’ve clearly just reached some kind of tipping point whereby putting my hair up in a bun of any description has gone from ‘cute and a bit boho’ to a legitimate gasp of horror from both son and I on FaceTime call today (am 50, up until now had been perfectly happy with it all, sigh). This is the vibe now…

…has anyone got any advice for days when I just can’t be faffed with having hair swinging everywhere?

A Gibson tuck is a good alternative and really easy once you get the hang of it. Just keep a few bits loose round your face so it’s not to schoolmarmish.

This sort of thing

Yes I have mine in a bun the whole time. Rethinking now as a lot people are saying I look like a police woman.

I never wear my hair down.

I wear my hair down because my hair started looking awful in a bun and I am only 44. I like the Gibson tuck and never knew what it was called to youtube it.

I think this might well be why older women often cut their hair short as you can get a look not dissimilar to an updo from the front.

Backcomb it to give it a bit of a lift, have some loose strands to frame the face. Use a hair donut if it’s looking flat because your hair has thinned out?

This is lovely, but it looks difficult, and faffy if you have frizz.

OP I just LOVE your self portrait! 😂

Less than a minute

Thanks Blond

I genuinely can't see how she did that but I haven't got hair that thick.

It takes a little playing around with. I don’t pull my hair through when I put it in a ponytail. I do have quite thick hair but my friend has really thin hair that won’t stay up at all and did her hair like that for my wedding, with a pretty clip above the tuck and it lasted all day/night.

Thanks @Blondbombsite, I'm going to give that a go!

Ha ha! I appear to be channelling my inner grandma. Unfortunately it’s practical for work, so I just go overboard on cute clips/grips/scrunchies etc from Claire’s accessories. Style it out as being young at heart and team with outlandish earrings. No one notices the colour of your hair..

I'm having this exact problem, not helped by the fact that most of my grey is around my hairline. When it's down it's very dark but when it's up I look like Mrs Claus.

I feel like it needs to be messy with a bit of volume, otherwise it looks too severe or too dressy. It's not easy to strike the right balance. And I hate hair wafting in my face so it has to be largely pinned or tied back. Anything chignonish looks just as elderly as a high bun on me.

For now I've been wearing it in a fancy ponytail. I part it horizontally over the ears, backcomb, root powder etc and pin the top half back in a twist, leaving it a bit messy around the crown, then scoop it all back in an elastic, leaving a section out to twist around the elastic and pin.

Thanks folks, it’s good to hear I’m not alone and I’ve got some ideas to play with now 😊 I’m off to buy some root powder….

Gibson tuck or (hear me out) chopsticks.

A messy bun pinned with chopsticks looks like an intentional and artistic choice as opposed to a last resort.

I use chopsticks and wooden hair sticks in a messy bun. Start the pony tail element of the bun high on the scalp - breaks the outline of your head and so looks a lot less austere. There's lots of wooden hairsticks on Etsy - go for the thinner ones as the thicker ones pull the scalp.

I also wrap a wired hair wrap around the bun

What's root powder please?

I clip mine back in a butterfly clip and off I go. Takes 30 seconds, works with clean or dirty hair, great for everyday, work, going out. I just had some length taken off mine, but still works with longer hair.

www.facebook.com/reel/1217407975529639/

I've been doing this recently and it looks much better on me than my previous messy bun.

closeronline.co.uk/shopping/beauty/best-hair-volume-powder/

I don't agree that it's the same as dry shampoo as it says in that article, the kind of root powder I'm talking about is a completely unique product, it adds grip and volume. It's great for hair that's soft, slippery, flat, limp.

I use the V05 one because you can buy it everywhere but I don't love the smell so if I find different brands I give them a try.

Yes what happens overnight !!!!

A messy bun used to be cute and tinkerbell like now it just makes me look like the trunchbull from Matilda