16 Half-Bun Hairstyles to Put Off Wash Day a Little Longer

No one will know you're on day five of dry shampoo.

By Ruby Buddemeyer
18 September, 2019
16 Half-Bun Hairstyles to Put Off Wash Day a Little Longer

On the days that I have legit no idea what to do with my dirty, third-day hair, I can't help but rely on the easiest hairstyle of all time: a half bun. Sure, it might sound kinda basic, but half-bun hairstyles are my little secret to looking somewhat put together while I'm putting off wash day a little longer. And I'm not alone, either, considering the massive amount of celebs who not only rely on them (lookin' at you, Kendall Jenner, Yara Shahidi, and Hailey Bieber), but have also turned half-buns into an actual hair trend.

So, basically, you officially have extra reasons to feel good about throwing your hair into a half-up knot for the fifth day in a row. It's fashion, people. But if you're not sure how to find the best half-bun hairstyle for your specific hair, or you just want some new inspo to change up your look, I rounded up the easiest half-bun tutorials of all time, below.


1. Best Half-Bun Hairstyle for Long Hair

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While, yes, half-bun hairstyles look super intuitive, there's actually a little bit of skill that goes into them. Instead of grabbing your hair and immediately twisting it into a bun, first separate the top half of your hair into a tight ponytail and secure it with an elastic. Pro tip: If you're after a little extra volume, gently tug your ponytail to add some height up top before you move on.

Then, tease the tail of your pony with a comb (this will make your bun look extra full), and twist your loose hair around the base. Set the bun in place with a few bobby pins and a quick spritz of hairspray, and you're all set. See? That took, like, an extra 20 seconds and the payoff was huge.


2. Best Half-Bun Hairstyle for Short Hair

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Alright, so that lob you just got on impulse might be a little more difficult to style in a bun, but it's definitely still doable. Begin your half-bun hairstyle by combing your hair into two parts right in line with your temples. Then, gather the top section of your hair (think: from your hairline to the crown of your head) into a high ponytail. After you secure your hair with an elastic band, pin small sections of the ponytail around the hair tie to cover it, creating a cute lil' baby bun.


3. Best Half-Bun Hairstyle for Fine Hair

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Don't worry: You don't need next-level volume to pull off a half-bun hairstyle (it's called movie magic, y'all). Start by curling your hair in small sections, holding the wand horizontally to create loose waves. Then, spritz a dry texture spray along your roots (I like Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray or Amika Undone Volume & Texture Spray) and backcomb the top half of your hair to create some height. Finish off by twisting your textured strands into the perfect half bun.


4. Best Half-Bun Hairstyle for Wavy Hair

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Got thick, wavy hair? This half-bun hairstyle tutorial was made for you. Just part your hair at your temples to section it off (keep in mind that parting your hair from ear to ear will leave you with an even larger bun), then twist the hair around itself to form a messy bun. Slip a hair tie over the bun to keep it in place, tucking and pinning the ends for a polished look.


5. Best Sleek Half-Bun Hairstyle for Curly Hair

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If you're after a sleek half-bun hairstyle for your curls, just part the top half of your hair at your temples and pull it into a tight ponytail. You'll want to twist your ponytail until it coils into a bun, wrapping it around the base of your elastic and securing it with bobby pins or an extra hair tie. Don't forget to blast your roots with a finishing spray before you head out the door.


6. Best Loose Half-Bun Hairstyle for Curly Hair

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After something ~intentionally~ loose and low-key? Recreate this half-bun hairstyle by using your thumbs to gather the upper section of your hair from ear to ear. Then, rake the hair to the crown of your head, loosely wrap it around itself, and secure it with a cute hair tie (I'm obsessed with Slip Large Slipsilk Scrunchies and Kitsch Blush Perfect Ponytail Hair Ties).


7. Best Half-Bun Hairstyle for Straight Hair

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Maintaining grip is key when you're doing a half-bun hairstyle on straight hair, so start off by sprinkling a texturising powder along your roots to prevent any slipping. Next, pull your hair into a ponytail, wrap your elastic twice, and then pull your pony only halfway through on the third time, leaving your ends out for an edgier look.


8. How to Part a Half-Bun Hairstyle

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Feeling a little bored with your usual half-bun hairstyle? Switch things up by subtly adjusting your part. For a messier vibe, part your hair at your temples and use a three-inch section from your hairline to your crown to create your bun (almost like a refined mohawk). If you're after a sleeker look, use your thumbs to part your hair at an angle, gathering all of your hair from ear to ear.


9. How to Position a Half-Bun Hairstyle

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Guess what? Something as easy as moving the position of your half-bun hairstyle totally changes your look. A half bun at the top of your head is a classic go-to for Friday nights, a half bun at the crown of your head is cute and casual for work, and a half bun at the nape of your neck is ultra-sophisticated.


10. How to Do a Half-Bun Hairstyle with Extensions

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If you're looking to go all out with your half-bun hairstyle, try styling it with hair extensions. After securing your hair in a bun, clip skinny strips of hair extensions all around the base of the elastic. Finish off by twisting the extensions around your bun and securing with pins. Hey, BTW, these are the best clip-in hair extensions if you're in the market.


11. How to Cover Bare Spots in Half-Bun Hairstyles

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I get it: It's annoying AF to finish off the perfect half-bun hairstyle and realise you have a few bare spots on your scalp. Instead of starting over, use a little eyeshadow (that matches your hair colour) and a fluffy brush to camouflage the area. Or, better yet, pick up a root-concealer spray and go to town.


12. How to Keep a Half-Bun Hairstyle in Place

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If the ends of your hair are straight, blunt, and keep popping out of your half-bun, try curling them first. If you want to keep the rest of your hair straight, that's totally fine, just lightly curl the ends of your ponytail so it spins into a bun with ease. This will keep those pesky little ends from unraveling.


13. How to Do a Messy Half-Bun Hairstyle

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When you want a messier finish, try starting off your half-bun hairstyle with a looped ponytail. Then, wrap your hair tie around your loop, releasing the elastic to secure the bun. Keep in mind that you really can't mess up a messy bun, so if it doesn't come out quite right the first time, just pull it, adjust it, and pin it until you find the shape you want.


14. How to Do a Braided Half-Bun Hairstyle

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There's nothing like a cute little braid to add a bit of excitement to your half-bun hairstyle. Gather your hair from ear to ear, securing the section with a ponytail, and tease your ends to get some extra volume. Then, separate your ponytail into two sections and begin fishtail braiding. Secure your braid with a clear elastic, wrap it around the base of your bun, and pin it into place.


15. How to Do a Twisted Half-Bun Hairstyle

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This knotted half-bun hairstyle is a genius way to fake thicker hair. After you've gathered your hair form ear to ear and secured it into a high ponytail, split the tail in half and loosely twist the ends. Finish off by wrapping the two sections in opposite directions around the base and pinning the ends into place.


16. How to Do a Low Half-Bun Hairstyle

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This half-bun hairstyle is so sleek, it's actually shocking how easy it is. Section the top of your hair and loosely smooth it straight back towards the middle of your head. Then, tightly twist the ends into a bun and secure it with a cute-ass hair pin.

Credit: Cosmopolitan
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