Good buns/protective hairstyle guides for a beginner?

[ApprenticeWrit]

Exactly what the title says! Right now the fanciest hairstyle I've got in my repertoire is a basic three-strand braid, and I'd like to change that fact. I'm still figuring out my exact hair type, bit it's pretty straight and very fine. Video tutorials greatly appreciated, but hardly mandatory.

(Also, right now about all I've got in terms of hair toys are elastic hair ties, a pencil to use as a hair stick, and a trio of comb thingies that are kinda hard for me to describe in words, but I got them literal years ago from this lady (https://www.facebook.com/BrendasBoutique1/)at a craft show my grandmother took me to years ago. I believe she calls them accordion combs? Anyway, it would be greatly appreciated if you could stick to styles that use those instruments! <3 )

[hollygolightly]

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=145554

this is going to help you a lot

[Groovy Granny]

Welcome ~ the forum is loaded with inspiration ~ happy browsing :cheer:

You can start with a cinnamon bun and your braid (or just plain); wind the hair in a circle and weave the pencil through (pins and claws can also secure it).

Youtube has many tutorials as well; just do a search for any bun of interest.

Knowing your hair length can help members with suggestions for you also.

[CampFireTiger]

The hairstyle Thesaurus is great and useful to mention but may be kinda overwhelming.. it may seem complicated but the first proper bun I learned was the nautilus bun, my hair was like BSL before I learned anything other than a messy bun and french braids though. Something simpler would be a doughnut bun which should be fairly straightforward, just might take a little practice. Or if your hair is still shortish, double buns are very cute and there are plenty of Youtube tutorials, just don't listen to the ones who say you need to tease them a little to stay in place because that's completely untrue, bobby pins or u pins work just fine.

[lapushka]

A LWB is a nice bun to start with. It was the bun I learned to do first, as of hip I started to wear it.

I couldn't do a Nautilus until I hit FTL.



The hairstyle Thesaurus is great and useful to mention but may be kinda overwhelming.. it may seem complicated but the first proper bun I learned was the nautilus bun, my hair was like BSL before I learned anything other than a messy bun and french braids though. Something simpler would be a doughnut bun which should be fairly straightforward, just might take a little practice. Or if your hair is still shortish, double buns are very cute and there are plenty of Youtube tutorials, just don't listen to the ones who say you need to tease them a little to stay in place because that's completely untrue, bobby pins or u pins work just fine.

Can I ask? Did you go back short? :hmm: Because you're talking buns and I see your hair is 14 inches. :) Color me confused. :o

[ynne]

As a beginner myself, those hairstyles seem relatively easy: sock bun (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/94/6b/02/946b02f25538f3433cb9fb488f0e46e1.jpg) (on top of what you already have, you just need a sock (http://www.prettygossip.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/How-To-Make-a-Sock-Bun-2.jpg)!), already mentioned double buns, and if your hair is long enough, maybe gibson tuck (http://www.freckled-fox.com/2012/08/hair-tutorial-gibson-tuck.html). My hair doesn't hold in one yet, but there are just a few steps!
Also, if you decide to get 1 claw clip/some other similar but cheap hairtoy, perhaps a peacock twist (https://vimeo.com/164434416).

[bparnell75]

As a beginner myself, those hairstyles seem relatively easy: sock bun (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/94/6b/02/946b02f25538f3433cb9fb488f0e46e1.jpg) (on top of what you already have, you just need a sock (http://www.prettygossip.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/How-To-Make-a-Sock-Bun-2.jpg)!), already mentioned double buns, and if your hair is long enough, maybe gibson tuck (http://www.freckled-fox.com/2012/08/hair-tutorial-gibson-tuck.html). My hair doesn't hold in one yet, but there are just a few steps!
Also, if you decide to get 1 claw clip/some other similar but cheap hairtoy, perhaps a peacock twist (https://vimeo.com/164434416).

I agree with this advise. Also go to amazon and buy you a hair stick or two of the economic ones.

[CampFireTiger]

From around 15 to 18 years old I grew my hair out so there are a lot of things I've tried and some things I have researched about hair, I just didn't put many things to practice very well and didn't have the dedication to keep it healthy. I started out with it a bit past BSL so it was tailbone-ish length when I chopped it to my chin because I got tired of the damage and had some other things I was dealing with at the time. I'm 20 now and after keeping it fairly short I'm growing it out again, hoping to find a way to keep it from breaking off and splitting since it is very fine and prone to it. I could have sworn I got my hair in a nautilus around waist length, but maybe I'm getting my buns confused haha.

[meteor]

ApprenticeWrit, you mention that you use the 3-strand braid a lot. Well, that's a really good base, and I think the easiest bun could be simply pinning that braid up, no? You could do a simple knot or cinnabun with that braid. Ellingwoman braided bun is also easy and holds very well. If the hair is long enough, you could try a braided LWB.
I'm probably biased, since all the buns I do are based on braids, but I really do find them easier and more protective. Frankly, once hair is corralled by a braid, it's so much easier to manipulate without too much tangling, since it's already immobilized by the braid.
If the hair is too thick or too short, you could split it into sections and do frame bun (half-up bun with the remaining hair split into a 2 or more sections, twisted/braided and wrapped around the main bun) or do 2 or multiple buns stacked on top of each other or side by side. Horseshoe braids, Heidi/Milkmaid braids and woven crown braid are good updo options with great hold, too.

[CampFireTiger]

A LWB is a nice bun to start with. It was the bun I learned to do first, as of hip I started to wear it.

I couldn't do a Nautilus until I hit FTL.




Can I ask? Did you go back short? :hmm: Because you're talking buns and I see your hair is 14 inches. :) Color me confused. :o

Sorry, I'm not sure if I need to "reply with quote" for you to see my reply or not, plus I just noticed how to do so, but my reply is in the thread :)

[sofetch]

A nice big claw clip is an easy way to have no snags during the day.

[lapushka]

From around 15 to 18 years old I grew my hair out so there are a lot of things I've tried and some things I have researched about hair, I just didn't put many things to practice very well and didn't have the dedication to keep it healthy. I started out with it a bit past BSL so it was tailbone-ish length when I chopped it to my chin because I got tired of the damage and had some other things I was dealing with at the time. I'm 20 now and after keeping it fairly short I'm growing it out again, hoping to find a way to keep it from breaking off and splitting since it is very fine and prone to it. I could have sworn I got my hair in a nautilus around waist length, but maybe I'm getting my buns confused haha.

Oh that's nice to know. I didn't remember reading this anywhere. Thank you for telling us about this. :flower:
Thanks for indulging me! :thumbsup:

[ApprenticeWrit]

Wow, wasn't expecting so many people to pipe in to help! Thank you, I seriously appreciate it! Now, let's see if I can reply to everyone properly...



Youtube has many tutorials as well; just do a search for any bun of interest.

Knowing your hair length can help members with suggestions for you also.

My brain must be short-circuiting, because I somehow totally forgot that youtube has tutorials on it. :doh: I'll have to see what I can find when I've got a bit more time on my hands. As for my hair length- I'm overdue for a good trim to keep things healthy, but right now if it isn't mid-back length it's darn close to it. Too bad it's so fine it's not giving me a ton of volume to go with the length.


The hairstyle Thesaurus is great and useful to mention but may be kinda overwhelming.. it may seem complicated but the first proper bun I learned was the nautilus bun, my hair was like BSL before I learned anything other than a messy bun and french braids though. Something simpler would be a doughnut bun which should be fairly straightforward, just might take a little practice. Or if your hair is still shortish, double buns are very cute and there are plenty of Youtube tutorials, just don't listen to the ones who say you need to tease them a little to stay in place because that's completely untrue, bobby pins or u pins work just fine.

Yeah, the thesaurus is a bit overwhelming to look through- and then a bit underwhelming once you hone in to stuff, actually. I somehow thought that most of the different hairstyles would have tutorials linked? And thanks for the rec for the nautilus bun- I tried my hand at it and I think it went okay for my first time (or three :p)!


A LWB is a nice bun to start with. It was the bun I learned to do first, as of hip I started to wear it.


I'll have to find a good video tutorial for that one, but it sounds interesting! And by hip, I presume you mean that your hair was all the way down to your hip when that bun became one of your go-tos?


As a beginner myself, those hairstyles seem relatively easy: sock bun (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/94/6b/02/946b02f25538f3433cb9fb488f0e46e1.jpg) (on top of what you already have, you just need a sock (http://www.prettygossip.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/How-To-Make-a-Sock-Bun-2.jpg)!), already mentioned double buns, and if your hair is long enough, maybe gibson tuck (http://www.freckled-fox.com/2012/08/hair-tutorial-gibson-tuck.html). My hair doesn't hold in one yet, but there are just a few steps!
Also, if you decide to get 1 claw clip/some other similar but cheap hairtoy, perhaps a peacock twist (https://vimeo.com/164434416).

I think I've actually tried the gibson tuck before, or at least a version of it! Unfortunately, my hair just seems to be a bit too fine for those... or, unfortunately, anything that could potentially show anything underneath. I'd probably need one of those specialty hair rats for a hairstyle like a sock bun, and I'd honestly rather spend that money elsewhere. The peacock twist, though- I think I've already got something on hand that'd let me do that one! Thank you for the link to the vid!


Also go to amazon and buy you a hair stick or two of the economic ones.

Not a bad plan, actually, but I haven't the faintest clue what kind of hairstick would work with my hair. I'm getting the impression from elsewhere on site that I'm probably going to want wood for the sticking power with hair as fine and slippy as mine?


ApprenticeWrit, you mention that you use the 3-strand braid a lot. Well, that's a really good base, and I think the easiest bun could be simply pinning that braid up, no? You could do a simple knot or cinnabun with that braid. Ellingwoman braided bun is also easy and holds very well. If the hair is long enough, you could try a braided LWB.
I'm probably biased, since all the buns I do are based on braids, but I really do find them easier and more protective. Frankly, once hair is corralled by a braid, it's so much easier to manipulate without too much tangling, since it's already immobilized by the braid.
If the hair is too thick or too short, you could split it into sections and do frame bun (half-up bun with the remaining hair split into a 2 or more sections, twisted/braided and wrapped around the main bun) or do 2 or multiple buns stacked on top of each other or side by side. Horseshoe braids, Heidi/Milkmaid braids and woven crown braid are good updo options with great hold, too.

I've seen the Ellingwoman braided bun around before! I think it was a post of someone wearing it that brought me to this site in the first place, I think. It's absolutely on my list of things to try. As are heidi braids, actually. They all look so neat- I've just got to find the time/energy to practice them.


A nice big claw clip is an easy way to have no snags during the day.

I've seen those around. Never been quite sure how they'd play with my hair- as far as I can tell, most of the people I've seen wearing them have far thicker hair than I do. Some of 'em can get rather pretty, though, so I'm usually indecisive when I see one I like the looks of.


That was. a Bit long. Worth it, hopefully!

[ynne]

I've seen those around. Never been quite sure how they'd play with my hair- as far as I can tell, most of the people I've seen wearing them have far thicker hair than I do. Some of 'em can get rather pretty, though, so I'm usually indecisive when I see one I like the looks of.

Re: claw clips, I would consider getting some big enough to hold all of your hair, perhaps in one colour to be more versatile. If you like it, you can always get different sizes, colours and shapes. c: But as far as non-thick hair goes, it probably just means you can get away with using a smaller one! If you feel like your hair type might limit your choices, there is a thread for fine-haired people (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=17115) where you might find many more tips. :)

[sallytz]

I'm just starting to do stick buns myself, and I found this video to be very helpful:


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

The nautilus, the figure 8, the lazy wrap bun, and the disc bun are my current repertoire as a beginner. :)

[Begemot]

What gorgeous hair sticks she has! ^^ :crush:

[milosmomma]

What gorgeous hair sticks she has! ^^ :crush:

I think they're from here. https://www.etsy.com/shop/AKCWoodworking?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=695637807 I have 2 swords from him, they're so fun but big so they don't come out to play often. It looks like she has the pirate cutlass and wizard staff :)

[SimplySmile]

I would say a cinnabun would be the easiest bun to start with. I either put a scrunchie around mine or use a claw clip to secure it.

[StellaStellitsa]

Am I the only one who no matter how many videos I watch I still cannot understand how to properly make a bun nor how to properly enter the hair stick, and in my case the pencil, into the hair?

[meteor]

Am I the only one who no matter how many videos I watch I still cannot understand how to properly make a bun nor how to properly enter the hair stick, and in my case the pencil, into the hair?

^ Each bun is different. :) Which one are you currently struggling with, StellaStellitsa? For pinning with a pencil, just grab some bun hair of the side of the bun with a pencil, direct the stick outside of the bun at first, until you grab some hair outside of the bun, then change directions, grab some scalp hair as you are pinning the bun to it (you can even use some tiny zigzag motion as the stick is moving through scalp hair, though it might be too tight)... the basic motion is kind of like stitching clothes with a needle.
Here is a very clear demonstration by torrinpaige - from 15:25 till 15:50:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMggAckTm0 (from 15:25 till 15:50)

[SwanFeathers]

I couldnt get a cinnabun to stick until at least BSL, so I want to add the Disk Bun to the list because it works at shoeter lengths.

[lapushka]

I'll have to find a good video tutorial for that one, but it sounds interesting! And by hip, I presume you mean that your hair was all the way down to your hip when that bun became one of your go-tos?

Yep. My hair was hip length. I first tried at waist, but that was a bit too tight still.

[StellaStellitsa]

Thank you, now I understand it a little better. I finally did a bun that does not end up destroyed immediately, though it still isn't very stable, at least it does not fall. Though, I still cannot do it properly I think. Now that I understand it a little better I hope I'll learn to do it better slowly by myself.

[StellaStellitsa]

^ Each bun is different. :) Which one are you currently struggling with, StellaStellitsa? For pinning with a pencil, just grab some bun hair of the side of the bun with a pencil, direct the stick outside of the bun at first, until you grab some hair outside of the bun, then change directions, grab some scalp hair as you are pinning the bun to it (you can even use some tiny zigzag motion as the stick is moving through scalp hair, though it might be too tight)... the basic motion is kind of like stitching clothes with a needle.
Here is a very clear demonstration by torrinpaige - from 15:25 till 15:50:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMggAckTm0 (from 15:25 till 15:50)

I currently try the cinnabun. My previous answer was going to you, but, I forgot to quote and also forgot to write which bun I try.

[StellaStellitsa]

^ Each bun is different. :) Which one are you currently struggling with, StellaStellitsa? For pinning with a pencil, just grab some bun hair of the side of the bun with a pencil, direct the stick outside of the bun at first, until you grab some hair outside of the bun, then change directions, grab some scalp hair as you are pinning the bun to it (you can even use some tiny zigzag motion as the stick is moving through scalp hair, though it might be too tight)... the basic motion is kind of like stitching clothes with a needle.
Here is a very clear demonstration by torrinpaige - from 15:25 till 15:50:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMggAckTm0 (from 15:25 till 15:50)

Wrong. It isn't the cinnabun. It is the first bun shown in the video posted by sallytz. Or better put, a deformed version of it.

[StellaStellitsa]

I also just tried the cinnabun. It became more stable than the previous bun, but I hurt my scalp's skin with my pencil because I needed force to put the pencil into the hair.

[elfynity]

Hey everyone, just wanted to ask question on this thread - I noticed my hair has breakage (or is it just shorter hairs?) at the length where I usually do my bun. Do any of you know if it is possible for certain buns to cause breakage?

[lapushka]

Hey everyone, just wanted to ask question on this thread - I noticed my hair has breakage (or is it just shorter hairs?) at the length where I usually do my bun. Do any of you know if it is possible for certain buns to cause breakage?

I have done my LWB since hip, through to classic length, same spot every day, 6 days out of 7. Now I'm doing a Nautilus since classic all through to FTL. My buns are always loose enough, that I can put a finger in between scalp and bun easily without it pulling.

Up to this day, I don't have breakage, no.

But it all greatly depends on how you bun!