How to do a messy voluminous bun?

[Silverstoat]

I can do the messy bun bit at the back but the sides always end up in a 'Croydon facelift' that makes my huge forehead look even bigger ☹️

There's often a hairpiece or a doughnut involved and your own hair loosely pinned around that.

The key to this look is blowing your hair so it’s messy to begin with. Mine is naturally a bit wild so I blow it scrunched and then a bit of hairspray then drag it into a bun and pull it out so it’s larger. It doesn’t work if my hair is styled straight. I guess if yours is naturally straight then you could achieve this by blowing with mousse and more hair spray!

This.

If you can already do the bit at the back then you need layers cut in at the front and a few strand underside. Take this pic to a hairdresser.

This is more a variation of an 'updo' rather than a typical messy bun. It would be hard to achieve this yourself. On the brunette haired lady, you can see sections of hair that have carefully been pinned and tucked under the bun.

Talk us through how you do it. Use a thin bobble to secure your ponytail once you have the required looseness, then do your bun. Try a parting, and a lower bun, if you want to detract from a larger forehead.

No doughnuts please, they're horrendous. Though the bun part isn't your problem.

I agree with @ItsRainingTacos79 that the photos look more like an updo than a messy bun.

You can use a sock with the toe cut off if you don't have one of those net hair donuts. I imagine it might give a slouchier finish but not sure. Look up sock bun on YouTube.

I put my hair in a ponytail, then split the ponytail in 2. I twist each half then wind it around the base and pin in place. It gives a lovely messy look.

It's the part around my face I can't get right. If the bun slides down my head during the day, I can pick it up and hold it in place and then it looks fantastic! Because there's lots of volume around my face. I just can't figure out how to recreate it so it stays in place.

Try a couple of hidden hairpins to keep it in place, after you've done your bun. Proper hairpins, with space between, not closed bobbypins.

after you’ve got your hair in a ponytail, run your fingers through (imagine a scalp massage) and zhush it a bit. It loosens it at the front a bit which will give you the texture that you want. Try back combing gently too once you’ve got the hang of it.