Four Easy Buns for Long Hair
Quick Updos – How to Make a Cinnabun, Flipped Bun and Two Sock Buns
Aug 17, 2009
Whether you're after a classic cinnamon bun, a ballerina's sock bun or a classy flipped bun,
How to Make a Cinnamon Bun (Cinnabun)
The cinnabun or plain bun is one of the simplest updos possible for long hair. Cinnamon buns hold well on the head, whether worn at the crown or the nape, and can be varied with hair accessories to achieve a casual or elegant look. The name “cinnamon bun” refers to the swirly snail-shell or Chelsea-bun shape of the bun.
- To make a cinnamon bun, brush your hair back into a ponytail – some people find it helpful to secure the ponytail with a hair elastic.
- Holding your hair at the base of the ponytail (close to your head), twist the hair firmly in one direction. It is not important whether you twist clockwise or counterclockwise – most people will find one direction feels more natural. As you twist, the hair will form a kink. Hold this kink against your head with the other hand and keep twisting your hair, moving your hand further down the length as the hair shortens and twists. Your hair will continue to kink around into a circle or spiral.
- Hold this twisted hair against your head, coaxing it if necessary into a spiral shape. After a certain point you will need to twist the hair less, and can simply wrap it loosely twisted around the partly-formed bun.
- When you reach the end of your length, tuck the ends of your hair under the bun. Secure the cinnabun with hair-friendly hair toys such as a hairstick, Amish pins or a beak clip.
How to Make a Flipped Buncounter
This versatile bun can be flipped up or down and worn high or low on the head.
- To make a flipped bun, first create a cinnabun. Instead of tucking the ends under the bun, twist them tightly and hold them against the centre of the bun.
- Then twist the whole bun in the opposite direction which you twisted your hair – this will loosen the bun. Twist the bun 180 degree or so, then flip the bun up or down so the centre of the bun with the ends is now pressed against your head.
- Use bobby pins or Amish pins to secure, and decorate the bun with hair accessories as desired.
If the flipped bun is worn high and flipped downwards, you may find your front hair pulls up sharply from the hairline and looks somewhat strange. Add a clip or barrette parallel to the hairline, close to the bun, and the problem disappears.
How to Make a Sock Bun
Sock buns are the doughnut-shaped buns often worn by ballerinas. Their advantages include adding volume to hair, producing a very sleek and smooth bun, and holding secure during vigorous exercise. To make them, an old sock or purchased foam doughnut is required – the latter can be bought from beauty supply stores. To prepare the sock, snip off the toe and roll the sock up tightly from toe to cuff into a doughnut shape.
There are two kinds of sock bun – one which involves wrapping the hair only once around the sock, and one which involves winding the length of the hair around the sock repeatedly.
The Quick Sock Bun Method
- To make the first kind of sock bun, first brush your hair into a ponytail, securing with a hair elastic if you prefer for extra stability.
- Slip the sock or foam doughnut over the base of the ponytail, against the head. Bending your head forward, splay the ponytail out so that the hair covers the sock, radiating out from the centre. When the sock is completely invisible, slip a hair elastic around the doughnut tightly enough to secure the hair. You will now have a doughnut-shaped bun and some loose hair hanging down.
- This extra hair can be left loose for a half-up, wound around the base of the bun and pinned, or braided and then wound around and pinned.
If you don’t like the look of the excess hair or prefer a fuller bun, try the big sock bun method.
The Big Sock Bun Method
- This method produces very full buns, useful for people with fine or thin hair who wish to add volume. To make a big sock bun, make your ponytail and then slip the sock or foam doughnut over the ponytail, but close to the ends rather than the head.
- Use your hands to smooth the ends of your hair over the sock, covering it as completely as possible; then carefully roll the sock up inwards. It will travel up the length of the ponytail, winding the hair around itself in the process.
- Use your hands to shape and adjust the hair as necessary – for a tighter, smaller result keep the hair fairly tautly wound. When the sock reaches your scalp, secure with bobby pins if necessary – some women find this bun will hold without any pins at all.
This sock bun requires some practice, but produces beautifully “boofy” updos in a hurry once the technique is mastered.
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