Can we revisit messy buns?

What's your take on them? Damaging? Not? A bunch of hair sticks out. Does it get damaged just from being flicked against your neck as you turn your head and go about your day?

What I'm thinking about is something along the lines of, say, this:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/Melsie/Miscellaneous/HairDec12005.jpg

Oh my GAWRD but does that look damaging. Holy hanna.

And yet, two seconds later, when I take it down, it looks like this...not really so damaged, right? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/Melsie/Miscellaneous/SD530170.jpg

Hey, that pic looks sort of cool. Go camera flash. I feel a new siggie pic coming on.

So...any thoughts?

I doubt they're very damaging. But I personally dislike them. I grew out layers so that I wouldn't have distracting little wisps against my face when I worked out or just worked. And...well...they're messy. I like orderly things. :lol:

I wouldnt think they are damaging unless they are tight. I do the same
thing as your pic with my hair for just hangin around the house. :)

I don't see how messy buns can be any different than other type of buns. It's just that a messy bun will leave your hair in "disorder" while a proper bun or a braid creates smooth waves and illusion of healthy hair, because it looks more "in order". But your hair doesn't look damaged to me, not even after a messy bun.

There is such a wide range of "messy" bun or updo styles; some with ends tucked and some with ends out.

I prefer the look of a messy bun for me but would have to say I wear more tidy buns/twists. When I do go messy, my ends are usually tucked. I haven't detected any damage.

There is such a wide range of "messy" bun or updo styles; some with ends tucked and some with ends out.

I prefer the look of a messy bun for me but would have to say I wear more tidy buns/twists. When I do go messy, my ends are usually tucked. I haven't detected any damage.

That sounds cool. Can you tell me how you do a messy bun with the ends tucked?

Is that what a messy bun is? I've always thought of those as "half-ponytails". I hate them. My hair always gets so tangled trying to get out of them.

If that isn't the case for you, though, I don't see why they would be particularly damaging. Probably not as protective as full, neat updos, but not nearly as damaging as wearing it down, either.

Well, all right then. Would this qualify as a messy bun?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/Melsie/Miscellaneous/SD530175.jpg

I have a ponytail holder in it. You can see it in the picture. It's black. I couldn't get hold of all my slippery hair this way otherwise. (It's easier when I scrunchee it.) It's just a really loose cinnamon bun, but it's bobby pinned--another thing I basically never do. I had to scrounge to find the pins. There are five of them in the hair.

What do you all think? I've been trying to do hairstyles for two years and seriously can only do the cinnabon with a scrunchee which makes it very small/tight, and a ponytail. I am REALLY frustrated. I can't see having long hair if I can't enjoy it and I feel like I'm the only one who is totally incapable of coming up with these gorgeous hairstyles.

Those damage my hair mainly due to tangling about everything in sight while pulling itself free... I do see a lot of people wearing them... I guess I usually wonder why they don't just wear a bun... but that's probably because I can't manage the 'messy' look.

Well, all right then. Would this qualify as a messy bun?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/Melsie/Miscellaneous/SD530175.jpg

I have a ponytail holder in it. You can see it in the picture. It's black. I couldn't get hold of all my slippery hair this way otherwise. (It's easier when I scrunchee it.) It's just a really loose cinnamon bun, but it's bobby pinned--another thing I basically never do. I had to scrounge to find the pins. There are five of them in the hair.

What do you all think? I've been trying to do hairstyles for two years and seriously can only do the cinnabon with a scrunchee which makes it very small/tight, and a ponytail. I am REALLY frustrated. I can't see having long hair if I can't enjoy it and I feel like I'm the only one who is totally incapable of coming up with these gorgeous hairstyles.

Hey, whoa, the bun looks cool and suits you. I would think that would classify as a messy bun, even without the wispy bits. personally, though, I HATE them. They tangle you hair really badly, and getting it out without tangling your hair and pulling it out is really hard.

But I like that bun GlennaGirl. :flowers: Who says you're bad at it? :hugs:

Aw, thanks, ladies. I just get super-frustrated sometimes...I am ALL thumbs. Every hairstyle is hard for me to do. But I'll keep practicing...and I was actually pretty pleased with that last bun. It gives the look of a lot more hair, too. And the bobby pins don't feel damaging.

Aw, thanks, ladies. I just get super-frustrated sometimes...I am ALL thumbs. Every hairstyle is hard for me to do. But I'll keep practicing...and I was actually pretty pleased with that last bun. It gives the look of a lot more hair, too. And the bobby pins don't feel damaging.
See? There you go. :) Have you tried plating your hair first, then putting that in a bun? That looks nice. Or you could tie your hair into a low ponytail, plat the length, then without putting a tie on the bottom, bring them under the pony tail and gently tuck then in the ponytail holder. That also looks nice. :)

That messy bun looks like the way my hair is kept up all the time. I don't do anything else than messy buns. I hate all kinds of pins that get in my hair when I try to take it down. I like to take my hair down, put it up and take it down again many times during the day. The only options for doing that are big clips and basic ponytail holders, because there wouldn't be any idea to do a better, more secure bun again and again.

The ponytail holder is something that does create some amount of damage for me. That's why I now try to use the clip more, it's also very quick and easy to put back after switching hair down and up for a million times. But, I have layers so I can't even achieve really anything else than somewhat messy updos.

I like the messy bun you showed, GlennaGirl. Looks very good on you, and isn't even too messy - some of mine define the word "messy" to the letter!

That messy bun looks like the way my hair is kept up all the time. I don't do anything else than messy buns. I hate all kinds of pins that get in my hair when I try to take it down. I like to take my hair down, put it up and take it down again many times during the day. The only options for doing that are big clips and basic ponytail holders, because there wouldn't be any idea to do a better, more secure bun again and again.

The ponytail holder is something that does create some amount of damage for me. That's why I now try to use the clip more, it's also very quick and easy to put back after switching hair down and up for a million times. But, I have layers so I can't even achieve really anything else than somewhat messy updos.

I like the messy bun you showed, GlennaGirl. Looks very good on you, and isn't even too messy - some of mine define the word "messy" to the letter!

Heey, I read your journal yesterday. You like Orchids. Lol.

But yeah, it's not the bun itself that's the problem, it's taking it out. Major ouchies. >.>

Mind if I ask what kind of ponytail holder you're using? I used to have lots of ouchies when I was using the regular kind with the metal attaching-part. I find the metal free kinds that just have a bit of glue are much less painful, and they come thicker so they don't damage my hair nearly as much. Thicker seems less painful too. Only problem with them is that they don't seem to last as long before stretching out permanently.

I just twist my hair into a not so neat bun all the time and it has definitely gotten easier with more length. I think it depends on your hair type for how long it needs to be before the wispys stop being everywhere, I've just now gotten there for me but then my hair has a serious mind of its own sometimes. Oh, and I'm right there with you on the "How the heck?!" of some of these updos. I'm still in the braid, bun, and pony stage.

GlennaGirl, That "messy bun" type thing as about all I did when my hair was your length. Now I can't keep it up as well with just a scrunchie because I've got too many foldovers to try to corral. I think if you have it secured and you aren't having to re-fix or repair it every 5 minutes hat you probably aren't damaging your hair (Your hair looks gorgeous!) Currently I just use a big ol' bear claw to keep it all contained somewhat while I'm at work. At home I just do braids - I don't wear them out of the house often because I'm not that good at them.
Don't be discouraged about not being able to do all of those "fancy" updos that some of the ladies here seem to be able to do in their sleep. I'm still trying to get my uncooperative hair to work with me to create a presentable figure 8 bun - argh!

Darya

Mind if I ask what kind of ponytail holder you're using? I used to have lots of ouchies when I was using the regular kind with the metal attaching-part. I find the metal free kinds that just have a bit of glue are much less painful, and they come thicker so they don't damage my hair nearly as much. Thicker seems less painful too. Only problem with them is that they don't seem to last as long before stretching out permanently.


Yeah, I know. I had the same problem. >_< I too have those glue ones, and while they're good, and don't snap apart at the gluy bit, it really doesn't take much foce and use to stretch them out to uslessness. >_>

That's why, I invest in silky scrunchies. They aren't hard to make at home either. You just have to know how to use a sowing machine. ^^

Messy buns are my go-to style for getting my hair the heck off my face!

Usually I pull the hair through the hair tie one time completely, then leave it pulled half-through the second time, and tuck the ends under the elastic when I'm done. Sometimes it looks good, other times it looks like a mess o' hair on the back of my head. I haven't really found it to be all that damaging, so long as you're using metal-free elastics.

Another variation: twist and coil up the hair like a regular cinnamon bun, then use the elastic so it twists around the base once, then crosses over the span of the bun (think like the no smoking red circle with a line through it, if that makes any sense whatsoever). It doesn't hold as well, but it's probably less tangle-prone than the half-pull through and tuck dealie.

GlennaGirl, you're saying you've got problems doing any hair styles, what tools and toys do you have? I can get a rock-solid bun or figure 8 with a two prong fork, but bobby pin-only styles dont' do a very good job of holding all of my hair unless I use eleventy-billion of them.

When I was first learning how to do hairstyles on myself, I found it was often helpful to do them on only a half-up worth of my hair, it helped me get a better idea of where I needed to put a pin in, and how to catch scalp hair. That and if you do a half-up with a pretty barrette, it can look very dressy with absolute MINIMAL effort.

I used to do a messy bun like on this picture all the time. It's held up with one of those big soft elastics (no metal part).
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a221/LiesjeV/messybun.jpg
Once I discovered long hair care boards though, I stopped doing this style so I don't have any better photos of it. I stopped because I do think they are maybe a little bit damaging... well, my hair did not look good every time I took it down from the bun. Frizz, kinks, some knots too... But, on the other hand, I don't think I have too much long term damage.

What I call messy buns are those made from loosely* twisted hair. That way, more of my layered ends are free to pop out, and it's also more likely that the whole thing will unravel at some point.

To secure a messy bun I use a single hairstick, a double-pronged fork, or sometimes just tuck the ends inside and it holds for a while. I actually have never used, nor do I own, bobby pins. :silly:


* That probably means that they are less damaging than tight, neat twists!

ETA: Glenna Girl, your hair has a gorgeous shine, and your updo looks tidy and sophisticated. :flowers: What are you complaining about? :silly:

Oh, these are such excellent responses and tips. Thank you. I do use "ouchless" elastics or scrunchees. I don't use any holders that have metal parts on them.

I have hairsticks, but they seem so long to me. They almost look silly. I've actually been trying to scope out some shorter sticks. I'd love to be able to do a style where the bottom (tip) of the stick doesn't show...like it's buried inside the bun...does that make sense? I really can't do that with the long ones...the sticky-outie part goes up so high off the back of my head. :lol: I've been considering trying a hair fork. Or maybe Amish hair pins.

I can't do what I concider to be a messy bun, I have tried and tried but they don't look that messy to me. I do not like the half pony tail pull through though, they make my hair tangly.

I would like to know how to do the bun style in LusciousG's siggy. I love the look of it and wish I could see a back view of it. Directions would be great.

Glenna, I love your cinnabun. I think it looks classy. I really prefer buns that are not too tight or too neat, and can't see why they should be damaging. You do a great job of it!

I didn't do anything but a bun when I was at your length. Even now, the only things I ever do are buns or F8 buns, and sometimes a half-up.

I have long hair sticks for F8 buns, but like you, I prefer shorter ones for regular buns. I don't like the stick-ends sticking out either :)

I'm not too good at braiding the back of my own hair, but I have learned it with practice. I just tried it every day or two until I could do it. I'm still working on it. Actually, I think your length would be much easier for braiding than mine.

And by the way, your hair is looking great! Gorgeous color! So shiny and so long!

LusciousG, I agree! Instructions and more pics of your elegant 'do would be appreciated!

I wear my hair in a mess all the time! ;o)

Really, the thing about the protective nature of a bun isn't only in having the ends "tucked," but in the fact you are not brushing, combing, fingering, tossing back, wind-blown, messed and snarling hair hanging down loose all day.

This is what protects your hair more than anything else - the fact that when "up," in a bun, twist, other out-of-the-way styles, you are not subjecting your hair to the daily stress of the real world.

You'd have to have a "half-up" bun if the ends were out so far as to be whacking you on the side of the head! Even if the ends are visible, they are being held still, not messed with, and this protects them.

Wear your messy bun and be proud! ;o)

Hey Glennagirl, when my hair was your length (it's not much more than that now) I was really limited in bunning. Even an inch made a big difference. How about a twist up in a jaw clip until you get a little more length? I wear a jaw clip every day at home.

I think your cinnamon bun looks great too! How about a chinese bun? Your hair should be long enough to do that.

I never knew what a messy bun was. I do them only to secure my hair when oiling under a heat cap, or for SMTs (also under a heat cap). That's the only way I can wear them because my hair is so slick then that I can get the scrunchie out. Otherwise, it's a tangly mess to get that thing out.

Also, you should be able to find some shorter hair sticks. I know exactly what you mean. I think most of mine are too long, but I'm hoping I'll grow into them! Also, when my hair is short and I want to bun, I use one or two little plastic hair pin thingies that I got from Sally, in addition to the hairstick. Just to keep the ends in. They were cheap and work great. I don't know what they are called. They are much easier to work with and easier on my hair than bobby pins, which I don't care for AT ALL.

I think a french braid would look beautiful in your hair. That's another Go To style I have, and it is surprisingly easier than it looks. I also like to do a tucked French Braid if I want to protect the ends.

Anyway, just keep practicing. I never did an updo before a few months ago, and I am getting better at it all the time!

Wow...the general concensus seems to be that every couple of inches offers new possibilities. That gives me a lot of hope and something to look forward to, hair-wise!

I'm going to look up the Chinese bun and see how it's done. I've always glanced at it and thought it took ninety inches of hair or something. Just goes to show ya...you gotta ask! :lol:

I wear that same messy bun around the house most days, lol. My hair seems ok with it.