Take-down updos

[Um Enis]

What are the updo's that people with type 1/2a hair have had the most success looking good with no fussing from updo's? I have a mix of f/m/c type 1 hair. Its all one length and just doesn't look good when I take it down from updo's. If I braid it, the braid waves look good until the ends (you know what I mean) and bun waves just don't work either. And when I mean no fussing, I mean maximum a quick2 second finger toussle

Do I need to haves layers to make a take-down from updo look good? I hate to cut layers, but this would be worth it.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Arctic]

How long is your hair and how thick? I'm at APL with medium thickness, I have some styles I wear in my blog. :)

By the way, I have noticed, the more moisturized my hair is and the better shape the ends are, the better my hair looks when I take down a braid.

[Islandgrrl]

My hair is BSL and I have some of the same issues. I have some layers still, though, so maybe my issues aren't the same.

Braids are hideous when taken down - the braid waves are nice enough, but then the ends look stupid. I have much better luck with bun waves, although since my hair is thick the waves are really big.

I agree with Arctic. The more moisturized my hair is, the better the waves look. I usually use a leave-in conditioner (just a little) because it helps with the frizzies and I almost always damp bun - even if I just wet the ends before I put it up. Makes a huge difference.

I discovered that if I want really cool waves, I should make mini-buns and vary the direction of the twist. Sometimes I make 6 or 7 little buns. The resulting waves are nothing short of awesome.

[eadwine]

Nautilus buns. Because you are wrapping all the hair that is left around the base, including the very tips, they get included in whatever waving the updo causes.

[Ohio Sky]

I don't know how well it would work if you don't have at least a little taper in your braid, but I saw a member mention this technique and it's worked well for me:
When you braid, braid as far down as you can and then take the ends and wrap them back up around the braid.
I use a clip to hold it because elastics make my ends look funny. :shrug: This technique gets rid of the straight area at the end of the braid, and the weird area from the elastic, and you can tuck it up in a braided bun or something very effectively.
It looks a little too kinky/weird when I first take it down, but it settles into very nice curls/waves. :)

[Anje]

Untwisted buns have a nicer taken-down look for me. That includes minimally twisted nautilus buns and orchid wraps/lazy buns, in my experience. They both avoid the "bun kink" that I get from cinnamon buns.

[Katahdin]

Well, I've found the Chinese bun leaves my hair free of waves and weird kinks.

I agree with Anje, any kind of bun that doesn't involve twisting generally won't leave kinks or waves.

[GlennaGirl]

Untwisted buns have a nicer taken-down look for me. That includes minimally twisted nautilus buns and orchid wraps/lazy buns, in my experience. They both avoid the "bun kink" that I get from cinnamon buns.

I'm only an a, but...me too! I find more loosely wrapped buns give a much more natural wave.

[Um Enis]

I'm trying a very poorly made nautilus bun today. We'll see.

I love Izzie's idea about varied directions mini-buns, but I can't figure out how to make them look attractive. And they have to :)