Chignon versus bun

[Elenna]

Why is a chignon (sophisticated) versus a bun (not so sophisticated).

It's not semantics there really is a difference between these two hair styles. What is your take on this?

Elenna

[birthmarkie]

Looking at the various chignon styles on the internet, it seems to me to be just a French word for "bun" because there isn't just one "chignon" or "bun" style. I do not think buns are unsophisticated, so I'm not sure what you mean. I venture to guess that there are messy chignons, just like there are messy buns...

[florenonite]

I see chignons as beinga type of bun, worn at the nape of the neck, and very smooth with no pins or hair sticking out, whilst buns can be higher up and messier.

[FrannyG]

Yes, a chignon is generally a bun, but is worn low on the head, often referred to as a nape bun.

[Islandgrrl]

I wiki'd chignon and this is what I found:

A chignon, pronounced "sheen-yon,” is a popular type of bun style. The word “chignon” comes from the French phrase “chignon du cou,” which means nape of the neck. Chignons are generally achieved by pinning the hair into a knot at the nape of the neck, but there are many different variations of the style. They are frequently worn for special occasions, like weddings and formal dances, but the basic chignon is also worn for everyday casual wear.

So it appears that a chignon is a bun, but a bun is not necessarily a chignon.

[Shell]

Ah, but if you look at videos on YouTube about buns, French ones will come up called "chignons" and describe all kinds of buns (high and low). Seems, that though technically there may be a difference, in common usage they seem fairly interchangeable.

My suspicion, as an historian, is that a particular French bun/chignon style became popular in England or America, and was called a chignon, after the original style from France. It was probably a low or nape bun, maybe the one that became popular during the Civil War, and thereafter denoted in English a smooth, sophisticated nape bun.

Just musing on historical trivia--everyone needs a hobby.

[Elenna]

Birthmarkie – I’m not sure what I mean either.

Florenonite – you are getting warm. It’s still a bun but elegant.

Frannyg – getting warmer, another good definition.

Islandgrrl – it seems to be a bun that directly rests on the neck instead of being confined to the head. So it’s another variation of the bun but worn somewhat differently. It makes me wonder if this bun is seen on ballerinas.

Elenna

[birthmarkie]

Birthmarkie – I’m not sure what I mean either.

Elenna

LOL! I see now that chignons are to be worn low at the nape - maybe not showing your neck is considered more "modest" and hence more "sophisticated"

[Elenna]

Shell – well, call anything by a French name and get instant chic.

Elenna

[manyhorsesmane]

Now I'm confused
I have been wearing a "chignon 5-prong fork", wearing it like a French Twist (Fr. roll?) that sits at back of head rather flat...... I was told by the Manuf. they call them Chignon forks, likewise the wavy pins are called "Chignon pins"...are we just a bunch of screwy Americans? LOL