Which of these buns fits depends mostly on your hair’s length and thickness, since short hair rarely has enough length to wrap and thick hair has weight that pulls a bun down.
Pick the top knot if you want one elastic and no pins, the twisty bun if the style has to last all day, the low bun for a calm shape at the nape, or the half-up version to leave the spiral curls down.
1. Bun with Teased Curls
Teasing is what gives this bun its height and its soft, airy outline. Tight, defined curls hold volume well, so a light backcomb at the crown before you gather the hair is plenty.
Pull a few tendrils loose afterward. I like leaving them at the front and nape, since they keep the volume from looking stiff.
Tease the underneath layers and leave the surface smooth, so the top covers the teasing. Backcombing deep into the curl pattern makes tangles that are miserable to brush out later.
2. High Bun
Ringlets pinned high on the head read as polished without much effort, which is why this version works for dinners, weddings and office days alike.
Gather the hair at the crown, twist it loosely around the base, and pin it in place.
Keep the ringlets intact rather than brushing them smooth. Brushing breaks up the curl clumps, and the curl pattern is the whole look.
A high bun also lifts hair off the neck, which helps on warm days.
3. Low Bun
Sitting at the nape, a low bun is the calmest style of the bunch. It suits dark curly hair well because the curls stack into a rounded shape without needing much teasing or shaping.
Gather the hair low, wrap it once or twice, and pin it. Wearing it a bit loose looks better than cinching it tight, and it is kinder to your curl pattern.
I would choose this one for long days when you want the style to stay put.
4. Top Knot
Short on time?
A top knot is the fastest bun here. Flip your head over, gather everything at the crown, and wrap it around itself into a loose knot.
Curly hair makes this easy, because the texture grips itself and often holds with one elastic and no pins. Leaving the curls fluffy at the knot gives it a casual, modern shape.
A top knot sits high and very visible on your head, which makes it read sporty more than dressy.
5. Twisty Bun
Twisting sections before you pin them is what separates this bun from a plain gathered one. Split the hair into two or three parts, twist each one, then coil them together and pin at the base.
Loose curls left out around the twist soften the structure. I would pull them out gently after pinning rather than before, so they do not get caught.
Twists add some hold, so this is a good choice when you want a bun that survives a full day.
6. Half-Up Bun with Cascading Curls
Half the hair goes up and half stays down, which suits anyone who wants a bun without losing the length of their curls.
Gather the top section at the crown, secure it, and let the spiral curls fall loose down the back.
Rough-dry texture helps here, since the bun looks best a little textured. Use a few pins to keep the crown section from drooping as the day goes on.
It does mean fewer hours of hair-off-the-neck comfort than a full updo, so I save it for evenings out.
7. Curly Bun with Cascading Tendrils
Loose ringlets left hanging around a pinned bun give a curly updo its softest finish.
Gather the hair at the back, pin the bun, then pull out a few curls at the temples and nape so they spiral down on their own.
Pull out only a few. Too many and the bun loses its shape, and 3 or 4 on each side is enough to frame the face.
I would do this one for events where you want pinned hair that still looks relaxed.
8. Curly Bun with Hair Accessory
A metallic clip or hairpiece does the decorating, so the bun itself can stay simple. Pin a high, full bun first, then set the accessory against the base or the side where it has curls to grip.
Curly texture holds a clip well, but slide it in after the bun is secure, never before. Otherwise it has to carry the weight of the hair.
A silver leaf shape reads dressy against dark curls. I would pick one accessory and skip other jewelry in the hair, so the bun stays the focus.
Tips for Maintaining Curly Bun Hairstyles
Curl-enhancing products earn their price only if they add moisture and definition without weighing the curls down. If the bun looks flat by midday, the product is probably too heavy, so try a smaller amount before switching brands.
Heat is the quickest way to frizz. Air-drying gives the best curl definition; if the morning is tight, a diffuser on low heat and low speed gets you most of the way there.
Once a week, I’d put a deep conditioner on for 10–20 minutes, since moisturized curls spring back instead of turning dry and limp.
Split ends catch on the wrap of a bun and rough up the curl pattern, so a trim every 8–12 weeks pays for itself.
On days when the hair is down, braids or twists protect it from breakage. Those are protective styles, and they give your ends a rest from pins and elastics.
Curly Bun Hairstyles for Different Occasions
Match the bun to the setting, and the choice gets easy. A sleek low bun is the safest pick for a formal event.
A messy bun suits casual plans, and it hides the fact that you ran out the door. For work, a polished high bun reads put together.
Don’t braid too tightly. A tight braid can damage curls and turn stiff, which makes it hard to wrap.
Bobby pins that match your hair color blend in and vanish into the bun.
Curly Bun Hairstyles for Different Hair Types
Hair length and thickness decide how the bun is built.
Short hair rarely has enough length to wrap, so clip-in extensions give you the volume and the reach. Match them to your curl pattern, or the join will show.
Thick hair is the opposite problem: weight pulls the bun down. A strong-hold product plus a few extra pins will keep this one from sliding.
Natural curls already have the volume, so a loose, low, twisty bun works with them rather than against them. If you can’t tell which fits you, try both, since each is easy to do at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to style your hair with a bun?
Pick your height first, crown for a high bun or nape for a low one, then pull the curls together, wrap them around the base once or twice, and pin.
Skip the brush at this stage: the curl clumps are what make this look, so leave the ringlets as they dried.
Which is better, braid or bun?
It depends on the job.
A bun lifts curls off the neck and can look polished enough for work or formal events, while braids or twists suit days when the hair is down and you want to protect it from breakage.
Braids shouldn’t be too tight, since that can damage curls and make them stiff.
What is a fancy bun called?
A fancy bun is usually called an updo. For a formal event with curly hair, I’d go with a sleek low bun every time, since it’s the most dependable choice.
A high bun with ringlets left intact also reads polished, and a silver clip or hairpiece set against the base makes it dressier.
How to do cute space buns with curly hair?
Two small buns call for the same basics as a single one: gather each section, wrap it around its base, and pin it.
Curly hair grips itself, so each space bun holds better when you wrap it around its base and pin it in place.
Leave the curls fluffy at each knot for a casual shape, and pull out a few tendrils at the front for softness.
