Tips for Making Hair Buns Fancy
Adapting Updos for Special Occasions – Prom, Weddings, Balls
Aug 18, 2009
Never let it be said that buns are for old ladies or librarians! Even simple buns such as cinnabuns, flipped buns and sock buns can look chic, romantic and elegant with a few modifications.
Using Braids to Accent Hair Buns
Lace braids (headband braids) are currently trendy and add texture to a hairstyle. If sweeping all your hair back into a bun looks too severe and stark, soften the look with a narrow or wide lace braid and then wrap the braided length around the base of your bun.
Add an accent braid. A small amount of hair braided into the bun, pinned criss-cross fashion over the top or simply wound around the base of the bun adds a special occasion touch. Experiment with different types of braids – rope braids make particularly effective accent braids.
Some buns work well with braided hair rather than a ponytail. This will not work for sock buns, but flipped buns and cinnabuns can both be successfully performed with braided hair. For flipped buns, braid the hair loosely close to the scalp to avoid disturbing the upswept look.
Hair Accessories for Fancy Updos
Wearing flowers in your hair is romantic and feminine: it can also be a good way to wear a (small!) corsage while leaving your wrists free. A plain bun looks much fancier with a large flower tucked in the side: alternatively, stud the bun with tiny flowers.
Tie a long ribbon around the base of your ponytail before creating the bun, with both ends hanging down to the ends of your hair. The ribbon will peep out of the bun.
Hair accessories can change a look from casual to sophisticated. A Ficcare hair clip looks glamorous placed over a bun; a wooden hair fork or pair of jewelled hairsticks give slightly different effects. If your buns aren’t quite as sleek as you’d like, cover them with a fancy snood to hide any imperfections.
Change Your Regular Hairstyle for a Fancy Updo
If you wear buns low on your nape for everyday, try making a high bun on your crown for special occasions, or vice versa. The flipped bun in particular gives several very different looks depending on whether it is worn high, medium or low and flipped up or down.
Volume can transform a bun from “stern librarian” to a soft updo. Some buns such as the big sock bun lend themselves to volume; another way to make a voluminous bun is to curl and lightly brush out your hair before bunning it. This gives a soft, wavy look with a textured bun – use a light-hold hairspray to keep the volume.
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