Sectioned + Braided Buns Thread

[Crumpet]

I recently learned that my bunning was causing breakage. I thought I was a 'good' bunner since I vary the type of bun, instrument, and location from low to medium to high on my head. Its not enough.

Sectioned buns and french/dutch braided buns will help control the breakage issue that will otherwise occur along the middle of your hair canopy. This thread is a starter for myself and anyone else wanting to learn more of these buns.

Here are ones I've been using (only braided so far):

French Braided Nautalis: French braid hair and then make a nautalis bun, secure with hair stick.

Name Unknown: French braid hair. Stick a hair stick down the length of the braid against scalp. Wrap the tail around the ends of the hair stick. Secure ends with a second hair stick horizontal to the first one.

[meteor]

Great thread, Crumpet! :D I love sectioned and/or braided buns!
Those 2 buns are awesome! ;)
Also, the Jamie Leigh (pinless bun), the Masara (French antenna braid), Elling Woman Bun,... there are lots of good ones out there! ;)

For sectioning, I think these approaches can be pretty useful:
- half-ups to buns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZvXrEOfJ4w
- braided beehive (2 or more braids - each going on top of the other bunned braid): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEdMa1HvQmA
- hair-taping (2 coronet braids, taped together): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlwnlfDYzk8
- Amish braids (2 braids woven into pockets, forming an updo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PYjubahR6g
- faux hawk (3 or more buns stacked on top of each other in a Mohawk-ish way): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHsFIslbwkM
- bun + coronet(s): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQXu9enBrK0 (Regency updo), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOHj74Kk7DU (Renaissance updo)
- double/triple/multiple buns side by side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgXwdARH_oM
- etc...

[Ava Ruu]

I'm marking this bacause too many of my unsectioned buns end up feeling heavy or pulling. So far the only way I can do a sectioned bun is to part along the earline, braid both sections and then make a cinnabun with one and wrap the other one around it. Sometimes I bun the two braids together like for a vortex bun.

[meteor]

I wanted to add that Torrinpaige (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZvXrEOfJ4w)does a lot of well-sectioned updos. :)

Also, I just found this YouTuber (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5GWmWZ4VWXIF6iev8AlBQw) who has done quite a few braided/sectioned buns.
I think this French-braids-to-Chinese-bun style is very balanced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbyTiFmgz5g
And this Game of Thrones hairstyle is probably one of the most well-sectioned updos I've ever seen! (I had to simplify it for myself, since I can only English-braid)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_9P-qpoJT8

[Arctic]

I started to wonder, if one would theoretically ONLY wear french/dutch braided and sectioned buns, what kind of damage would they make in comparison to the damage they are said to prevent?

[meteor]

I started to wonder, if one would theoretically ONLY wear french/dutch braided and sectioned buns, what kind of damage would they make in comparison to the damage they are said to prevent?

I'm curious about that, too. With sectioned/braided stuff, one might see a bit more potential issues from manipulation or tangling maybe? :hmm: Those styles aren't as quick as a simple LWB or a nautilus, for example.

[Upside Down]

Subscribing. Not so much for damage control, but rather for fun bun ideas ;)

[StellaKatherine]

I notice that my hair easily tangles in a french braid... as taking it off never a smoth event for me, this is why I french braid rarely anymore at the lenght I am right now. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but it feels like that the more I manipulate my hair the more hair get "cut" ....

[CremeTron]

This is the thread I was waiting for but I didn't know it! I think my fine hair would do well in these kinds of buns.

I plan to begin protective styling in Jan 2016.

[CremeTron]

Buns definitely pull at my crown, nape and sides and I need to constantly adjust. That is why I like pigtails but as I do not wear them for work, I will be coming here for lots of inspiration!

Thanks for all the links and ideas, Meteor.

[Waverly]

I'm in! I saw your thread Crumpet about your visit to the George Michael salon and the scary bun damage! I am beyond useless at buns and braids and will be pilfering all good ideas from this thread ;)

[meteor]

Buns definitely pull at my crown, nape and sides and I need to constantly adjust. That is why I like pigtails but as I do not wear them for work, I will be coming here for lots of inspiration!

Thanks for all the links and ideas, Meteor.

You are very welcome, CremeTron! I feel that pulling from buns, too! I'm pretty sure that sectioning is a good answer to that: after all, 2 buns always feel more comfortable than 1 bun, sectioning makes the whole mane lighter. :D


I notice that my hair easily tangles in a french braid... as taking it off never a smoth event for me, this is why I french braid rarely anymore at the lenght I am right now. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but it feels like that the more I manipulate my hair the more hair get "cut" ....
I agree! :agree: I have the same problem.
At this length my hair is way too grabby and tangle-prone for this degree of manipulation and I'm not a skilled braider anyway.
So instead of French braids, I use these 2 tricks:
1) Luana braids (essentially a small/accent English braid going into a bigger English braid) - https://rapunzelsresource.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/luana-braids/ - this technique is used for Amish braided bun (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PYjubahR6g) and Ellingwoman braided bun (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL2jGJvMBI4).
2) Faux French braid - (Torrinpaige) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kOyGD_KOoA

[LauraLongLocks]

Subscribing. Thanks for creating this thread, Crumpet.

[-Fern]

I started to wonder, if one would theoretically ONLY wear french/dutch braided and sectioned buns, what kind of damage would they make in comparison to the damage they are said to prevent?

The biggest problem with Dutch braiding, for me, is that as I tighten the braided sections, there is friction between the sections... and I've noticed that that does cause breakage. I have lots of cable-thick, kinked coarse hairs mixed in with medium-texture hair, so those tend to grab onto each other quite easily... or if the medium hairs get caught between the coarse hairs, Snap! So I have been trying to braid more loosely. French braiding seems to do this less, since the sections are being laid over one another rather than pulled around and under, but I am still trying to be more careful and braid a little more loosely than before.

[Neecola]

Sign me up! I really need to start adding sectioned/braided buns into the rotation.

[Crumpet]

Thanks for the inspiration ladies (no gents yet, right? I think they have some sneaky bun ideas...join us gentlemen!)!

I did a really cool sectioned bun today -- the Crumpet Bun?

(1) Part hair far on one side
(2) Do a two-strand braid until behind the ear
(3) Make a partial bun so that a small Ficcare (or whatever) will hold it
(4) Incorporate the tail of the mini-bun into the rest of the hair for a nautalis (or whatever) bun
(5) Secure bigger bun with Ficcare (fork, or whatever)

I got a LOT of compliments on this bun today and it took only about 45 seconds longer than just doing a nautalis.

I've been enjoying these sectioned buns a lot as they are actually more flattering and they are so much easier on my scalp, much less my hair!

[rags]

Crumpet, I'm trying and failing to envision this bun.....Hmm. However, since a small Ficcare holds ALL my hair, it probably wouldn't work for me anyway. :p

When I can start braiding again I hope to do some more folded braids and bunned Dutch braids. I'm thinking this may well explain the breakage right in the middle of the back of my head even though I vary placing, type of bun and hair toys.

[tokugawa.miyako]

I agree with everyone else, this is a great thread idea. I love braided buns because my hair tends to slither out of a lot of regular buns. I wore a braided disk bun last week with one hairstick and it didn't budge. I just created to english braid pigtails on the back of my head and wrapped them just as I would have a regular disk bun. Once I put the stick in, it wasn't going anywhere; I didn't even need a bobby pin. ;)

[meteor]

(1) Part hair far on one side
(2) Do a two-strand braid until behind the ear
(3) Make a partial bun so that a small Ficcare (or whatever) will hold it
(4) Incorporate the tail of the mini-bun into the rest of the hair for a nautalis (or whatever) bun
(5) Secure bigger bun with Ficcare (fork, or whatever)

Sounds so lovely! :applause But I'm with rags: I just can't envision it... Could you please possibly post a pic or a diagram or dumb it down for us, pretty please? :pray:
I can't figure out a few things:
1) Do you actually end up with 2 buns stacked right next to each other (the latter bun made with the tail of the former?) or is it a sectioned bun (the second part wrapped around the first)?
2) What's a partial bun? Is it a half-up bun? Or is it like a mini-bun with hair making only the first loop but leaving the remainder (tail) loose?

Thank you so much for sharing that updo with us, Crumpet! :flowers:


I agree with everyone else, this is a great thread idea. I love braided buns because my hair tends to slither out of a lot of regular buns. I wore a braided disk bun last week with one hairstick and it didn't budge. I just created to english braid pigtails on the back of my head and wrapped them just as I would have a regular disk bun. Once I put the stick in, it wasn't going anywhere; I didn't even need a bobby pin. ;)

Sounds wonderful! :D I'm going to have to try it! :D (I'm just like you: hair slides out of anything but braids really help with grip.)
How do you begin your English braid pigtails? Do you use elastics? If so: do you use one and then create 2 braids out of one ponytail, or do you use 2 pony-braids with elastics? If you don't use elastics, then how do you bring 2 side-braids together in the back into one "palm-hold" for the disc bun? :hmm:

[swords & roses]

I'm following this thread! Great ideas!

[Crumpet]

I'll try to take a picture soon -- I just had minor surgery yesterday so I'm a bit tired/loopy but will see what I can do in a few days.

You'll end up with 1.5 buns. The mini bun is kind of a half up, but on the side of the head, the tail of that bun is incorporated into the final, bigger bun, which is centered at the base of the hairline.

I've found that two-strand braids are great for taking away half of the hair. Its easy to play with a side half-up and then a bun for the rest of the hair, which is centered. You'll still protect your hair and its so pretty. Two-strand braids are also so easy and fast!

[meteor]

^ Thank you so very much, Crumpet! :flowers:

So sorry to hear about the surgery! :grouphug: But I hope it went very well! Wishing you a happy and easy recovery! :flowers:

[-Fern]

Bumping this thread, and adding the Elling Woman Bun (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=122623), since it hasn't been mentioned yet. :)

Here is my (vastly) simplified EWB:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16382&d=1426387707

I tweaked it by doing a French braid for a few sections, then an English braid for a few inches, then French braiding the rest and bunning the braid tail through the loop created under the English braid portion. It was super comfortable! I may have snagged a few hairs when I pulled it through the loop, though.

[meteor]

Awesome results, -Fern! :thud:

And I do a simplified version, too: just a small English braid (not even braided to the end) going into a bigger English braid.


I may have snagged a few hairs when I pulled it through the loop, though.

Oh if anybody knows how to do Ellingwoman braided bun or Amish braided bun without sacrificing a few hairs as the braids are pulled through the loops, please teach us your ways! :pray:

Very curious to try Crumpet's and tokugawa.miyako's sectioned updos too, but I'm not sure I've figured out how exactly to do them yet... :hmm:

[Arctic]

Would topsy tail tool help to pass the braid through/under without breaking hairs?

[meteor]

^ Maybe! :D Great idea, Arctic! I've never tried a topsy-tail, so I can't know.

[Arctic]

Your hair is ofcourse much longer and thicker than mine, but I've been able to use it very successfully is similar situations. It has this aerodynamic (hairodynamic?) shape so it goes though the hair easily.

[CurlyCap]

I've been pondering sectioned buns because I just don't know how to make them work on my hair. For a couple of months now, the only comfortable bun I can wear is one piled on top of my head. But I have big hair, so it's a bit bizarre looking.

Most sectioned buns I see are based on braids of some sort, and my hair won't tolerate daily braiding.

I've tried buns based on twists or rolls...so sectioned cinnabuns or lazywraps, but they just don't look appealing or professional. I'm very much in a rut. I feel like the "not put together lady with long hair".

HELP! :p

[meteor]

I've been pondering sectioned buns because I just don't know how to make them work on my hair. For a couple of months now, the only comfortable bun I can wear is one piled on top of my head. But I have big hair, so it's a bit bizarre looking.

Most sectioned buns I see are based on braids of some sort, and my hair won't tolerate daily braiding.

I've tried buns based on twists or rolls...so sectioned cinnabuns or lazywraps, but they just don't look appealing or professional. I'm very much in a rut. I feel like the "not put together lady with long hair".

HELP! :p

Hmm, I have straight-ish hair, so I'm having trouble figuring out what to do... I sure hope curlies will jump in to help out! :D
If your hair doesn't tolerate braiding, I'd definitely look into buns based on mild twisting - I think twisting action smooths out and tightens the overall look a lot. So something like figure-8/infinity bun combined with a cinnabun maybe, or a couple elongated twists stacked on top of each other maybe? :hmm:

Also, this YouTuber (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56D69AED8AA2782A) covers different bun ideas that might be of some help in this and some of her other videos:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJd3F20PGbw

[-Fern]

Hmm, I have straight-ish hair, so I'm having trouble figuring out what to do... I sure hope curlies will jump in to help out! :D
If your hair doesn't tolerate braiding, I'd definitely look into buns based on mild twisting - I think twisting action smooths out and tightens the overall look a lot. So something like figure-8/infinity bun combined with a cinnabun maybe, or a couple elongated twists stacked on top of each other maybe? :hmm:

Also, this YouTuber (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56D69AED8AA2782A) covers different bun ideas that might be of some help in this and some of her other videos:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJd3F20PGbw

Her HAIR! :thud:

^^Best quality post I can make while reeling at how gorgeous!

[meteor]

^ Yes, she's one of my hair idols! :crush: Completely unattainable texture for someone like me though.
She also has a pretty good hair-care video.

[Calypso]

I love sectioned and braided buns, I can't actually do non-braided buns as my hair just escapes pretty much instantly, so these are all great. :D I often braid the hair from the crown like a half-up, bun that, then braid the rest and wrap it round, it's really comfortable. Today I'm wearing two dutch braids into a chinese bun, which is also really comfortable. I love the Elling Woman bun, too, but I'm another one who can't seem to do it without snagging a few hairs!

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Oh, her hair is so gorgeous! Lovely the way her wurls give her such lovely volume for buns.

[Neecola]

Thanks for sharing that, meteor! Her hair is stunning!

[Remi]

Yes, meteor, thank you. It really is stunning!

[-Fern]

This isn't what I set out to do, but boy howdy am I happy with it (and glad I got some spin pins to infuse it with anti-grav black magic).

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16556&d=1427808674

Double french braid, bunned.

(There's always gotta be that one gray hair that sticks out and says HIIIII GUYS, right? I love my grays, but I'm always tempted just to pluck them when they do this.)

[Five of Five]

Very beautiful and elegant as always, Fern!


This isn't what I set out to do, but boy howdy am I happy with it (and glad I got some spin pins to infuse it with anti-grav black magic).



Double french braid, bunned.

(There's always gotta be that one gray hair that sticks out and says HIIIII GUYS, right? I love my grays, but I'm always tempted just to pluck them when they do this.)

[meteor]

Fern, your updo is beyond gorgeous!! :thud:
I bet it's also great at distributing all that hair weight! :thumbsup:

[Crumpet]

Fern -- I do a hairdo a bit like that. Yours looks particularly amazing. Its great for distributing weight and it holds so well. Thanks for posting!

I bought some small clips so I can do half-ups that then lead into a bun. The half-ups help to take the weight off of the hairs that are holding the bun and can be positioned at the center and either side of my head, even if the full bun is centered. The side half-up followed by a centered bun looks quite elegant actually and much less severe than my standard, slicked-back bun. I never liked that look on me anyway!

[meteor]

Fern -- I do a hairdo a bit like that. Yours looks particularly amazing. Its great for distributing weight and it holds so well. Thanks for posting!

I bought some small clips so I can do half-ups that then lead into a bun. The half-ups help to take the weight off of the hairs that are holding the bun and can be positioned at the center and either side of my head, even if the full bun is centered. The side half-up followed by a centered bun looks quite elegant actually and much less severe than my standard, slicked-back bun. I never liked that look on me anyway!

^ Sounds amazing, Crumpet! :applause How do you do the side half-up? :) I'm having trouble imagining the positioning and the half-up bunning involved...

[-Fern]

Thanks, everyone! :bounce:



I bought some small clips so I can do half-ups that then lead into a bun. The half-ups help to take the weight off of the hairs that are holding the bun and can be positioned at the center and either side of my head, even if the full bun is centered. The side half-up followed by a centered bun looks quite elegant actually and much less severe than my standard, slicked-back bun. I never liked that look on me anyway!

I'm also having trouble picturing what you mean... but it does sound lovely! Do you mean something like this (http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/27th+Annual+PaleyFest+Presents+Glee+B_GUR7nl6fyl.j pg), with everything swept up into a bun?

[Upside Down]

Wow, Fern, I have bun and thickness envy!

Crumpet what kind of clips? I would also love to see what you mean with side hald up, it spunds interesting!

[ashke50]

I'm conflicted on sectioned buns. People with thicker and heavier hair than me do say that it is a better way to distribute the weight, and more comfortable, but so far I tend to find that it is less comfortable for me. I don't know if that's a lack of skill - it seems easier to get the tension wrong when only working with part of your hair, or if it is less effective for thinner hair to section it for buns. What I've found so far is that if I section my hair, make a bun, and then wrap the remaining hair, the bun ends up putting more weight on the parts of my hair in the primary bun, as it has the full weight of the wrapped hair as well, but that part isn't load bearing. As I said, this could just be that I haven't got the hang of it yet.

I do like the fact that by sectioning I can use smaller hair toys again - my medium flexi8s have gained a whole new lease of life.

I also haven't got the knack of making neat sectioned buns! Still, I was quite pleased with how this sectioned equilibrium bun turned out, even if it wasn't what I'd intended.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/ashke50/2015-03-13%2014.18.22_zpsk00wcypp.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/ashke50/media/2015-03-13%2014.18.22_zpsk00wcypp.jpg.html)

[meteor]

^ashke50, what a gorgeous sectioned bun! :applause

About sectioning and added weight, pulling... I think it can happen, for sure. I would, first and foremost, analyze the way you section hair, position it and pin it - maybe there are ways of making it lighter by using different accessories/sectioning differently?

For me, personally, not all sectioning techniques work. And it's possible that with longer hair it gets much harder to section without adding bulky weight. :hmm:
I'd experiment with different ways... If hair wrapped around half-up bun adds extra weight, how about just bunning the remaining hair under the first half-up bun: 2 buns stacked on top of each other or side by side? Or trying new positioning for buns? Or combining a bun with a coronet braid or two?

And if traditional sectioning doesn't work at all, well, there are other ways... Personally, I consider even a disk bun or Ellingwoman or Chinese (braided) bun or the Madora or the Jamie Leigh to be a bit of a sectioned bun... :hmm: Even things like figure-8/infinity and spidermom's bun (double-loop LWB) can distribute weight very well for some people. :)

[KittyBird]

That's why I had to stop doing sectioned buns, ashke50, they just weren't that comfortable. I loved them in the beginning, but after a while I started getting scalp pain and headaches from them. It was like you described, like all the weight of the hair was supported by the primary bun. :shrug:
Your sectioned equilibrium bun looks fabulous though, and the flexi-8 is so pretty in your hair. :thud:

[-Fern]

Ashke50, that Flexi looks so striking with the equilibrium bun! And your hair is so beautifully shiny. :D

[cat11]

Ive been bunning my hair everyday for a year now. Occasionally I do twin braids instead, or even rarer a single braid. Mostly around the house lounging. But mostly LWB and disc bun, because my hair doesn't stay in a lot of different buns. Ive begun to branch out, alot, but most are still twist styles. And always on the crown of my head (i find nape buns uncomfortable, middle buns seem to pull, top buns "sit" on my head nicely.... I guess I could work on the slightly lower down buns. But the point is I think I'm noticing that damage right in the bun area :/ This thread is a big help, for that, and giving me more options!! Great thread idea.

But its also another painful reminded that I need to learn french or dutch braiding desperately.... (I said I'd practice every day til I figured it out... but Im too tired...)

[LadyLong]

This isn't what I set out to do, but boy howdy am I happy with it (and glad I got some spin pins to infuse it with anti-grav black magic).

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16556&d=1427808674

Double french braid, bunned.

(There's always gotta be that one gray hair that sticks out and says HIIIII GUYS, right? I love my grays, but I'm always tempted just to pluck them when they do this.) Very sophisticated and charming look. Hope you keep this one on a regular basis!

[LadyLong]

CAT!!, I never seize from admiring hair buns. Yours looks beautiful and so impressed that you are able to do this style continually for a year. Whenever I am at the "mall" and come across someone wearing a hair bun, I begin to fantasize and wonder if such a person is a ballerina and a charming person such as my daughter was growing up. I just love it.

[LadyLong]

Ashke, the hair ornament on your bun brings out its total magnificence. Wished mine looked that beautiful :)