Where a bun sits on your head decides how it reads: a Messy Bun pulled together with your fingers and one hair tie looks casual, while a Braided High Curly Bun, with the braids climbing up from the nape of your neck, looks dressed up.
Pick by the occasion first, then by how much time you want to spend, since the list runs from a Low Bun that takes a minute at the nape to a Braided Low Curly Bun that needs real patience.
Curls make every version easier because the texture grips itself, so a slipped section gets tucked back in instead of pulled tight.
1. Messy Bun
Loose is the whole idea here, so a messy bun asks for less precision than any other style on this list.
Gather the curls up high with your fingers instead of a brush, secure them with one hair tie, and leave the pieces around the face alone.
Curly hair holds this shape well because the texture grips itself. If a section slips, tuck it back in and don’t pull the whole bun tighter.
A white tee and gold jewelry keep it looking casual but put together.
2. High Bun
A bun set at the crown reads as polished without much fuss, and curls give it more volume than straight hair ever manages.
Small braids that frame the face add a deliberate touch, so the style looks planned rather than thrown together.
Pull the hair up to the crown, secure it, then braid the face-framing sections and leave them loose. A blouse with a clean neckline suits it, since the bun already adds interest.
Choose this one when you want to look dressed up.
3. Low Bun
Sitting at the nape, a low bun is the calmest option here, and textured curls make it look full instead of flat.
At the nape of the neck, scoop your curls into one section, twist it into a coil, and pin or tie it down.
Blonde curls show their shape clearly in this position, but any curl color works. Skip a slick finish and let the texture show.
Pair it with a sleeveless top or open neckline, where the bun is easy to see from behind.
4. Top Knot
Few buns sit as high as a top knot, which makes it the one to pick when you want hair completely off your neck and shoulders.
Pull all your curls up to the crown, twist them once, then wind the ends around the base and secure them.
Curls give the knot a rounded, full shape that smooth hair needs help to get. Long earrings and a patterned dress, as above, balance it nicely because nothing competes with them.
I prefer it slightly off-center and a little loose.
5. Braided Low Curly Bun
A thin braid running through the center gives a low curly bun some structure without making it formal. Braid one narrow section, then gather the rest of the curls and secure them low at the back.
Pull a few curls loose near the face so the front looks soft instead of scraped back. Those tendrils soften the face and keep the braid from looking severe.
Use a small clear or hair-colored elastic at the braid’s end so it blends in with dark hair. This works well with side-profile views, where the braid is most visible.
6. Braided High Curly Bun
Braids that climb from the nape up to a high bun turn the back of the head into the focus. Start with small braids at the neckline, carry them upward, and gather everything into the bun at the crown.
Highlights make the pattern easier to see, since light and dark strands separate the braids from the curls. Keep a few loose curls out so the shape stays soft.
The braiding sits at the back, so a plain top in a solid color, like a simple black shirt, lets the hair do the talking.
7. Floral Accessorized Curly Bun
A pink flower and a silver headpiece turn a low curly bun into something you could wear to a wedding.
The curls form a soft, full shape at the nape, and the accessories sit against brown hair where they stand out.
Make the bun first and add the pieces last. Pin the flower beside the bun, then slide the headpiece in above it so the two don’t crowd each other.
A lace dress in the same pink as the flower keeps the look matched.
For a softer, more romantic mood, pin a single white flower at the base of the bun and keep any metal pieces silver, since the cool tone keeps the look crisp instead of sweet.
Tips for Maintaining Curly Buns
Curl-enhancing products earn their place when they add moisture and definition without weighing the hair down. If a bun looks flat by midday, a heavy product is usually the cause, so switch to a lighter formula rather than adding more.
Heat is the quickest way to frizz curls that you want to keep tidy in a bun. Air-dry when you can, and use a diffuser on the days you can’t wait.
Once a week, I’d set aside time for a deep conditioner, since moisturized curls clump and spring back better, and a bun made from them keeps its shape with ends that look soft instead of frizzy.
Regular trims remove split ends before they travel up the strand and make a bun look ragged.
On days you’re not wearing a bun, a braid or twist protects the length and cuts down on breakage, so the hair is healthier when you pin it up again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the healthiest way to dry curly hair?
Heat is what roughens the cuticle fastest, so let your curls dry on their own whenever the schedule allows; a bun made from frizzy curls never looks tidy.
On days you can’t wait, use a diffuser instead of bare high heat. Once a week, a deep conditioning mask keeps the strands moisturized, and well-hydrated curls clump together and bounce back into shape much more reliably.
What are some good hairstyles for curly hair?
Curly texture is a built-in advantage for buns: the coils catch on each other so the shape stays put, and the natural volume makes it look full without any backcombing.
A messy bun is the easiest, a high bun looks the most polished, and a low bun at the nape is the calmest.
Adding a braid or a few loose curls near the face makes any of them look softer and more finished.
What methods do you recommend if I want fluffy and messy-looking hair?
For a fluffy, undone bun, rake your fingers through your curls to gather them high, skip the brush, and use a single tie; the strands framing your face should stay exactly where they fall.
A tight pull flattens curls and invites breakage at the tie, so keep the bun relaxed; when one section slides out, I tuck only that piece back in instead of redoing the whole thing.
