Inspiration

Man bun hairstyles

Want to know whether the man-bun hairstyle suits you? Find out in this guide.


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To bun or not to bun

In recent years, the man bun has become a lot more famous. It’s strange that women and men have different thoughts about this hairstyle.

Unlike the “safe” hairstyles we often see, like the buzz cut, slick back, pompadour, and other classic men’s hairstyles, the man bun breaks all the rules and makes a strong statement.

The style can be neat and tight or a bit loose and messy, depending on personal preference. It offers both a fashionable and functional way to manage long hair.

→ Read more: The man bun is mentioned in the men’s hairstyles trends of this year.

The man bun is a popular haircut that has a lot of different names and looks. Do you think you should get a man bun? How do you make the best man bun if you let your hair grow long enough?

We put together this article to answer these questions. If you want to rock a man bun hairstyle, this guide is for you.

How to style a man bun

This look is pretty easy to make. All you have to do is gather all the hair you want in a bun and put a band around it.

First, use your fingers or a hair brush to pull your hair back. Next, pull your hair back behind your head.

Then, hold your hair back with one hand and put an elastic hair tie on the back of your head with the other.

Pull your hair through the band, then twist the elastic into a loop and pull your hair through again to make your hair tighter. Repeat this step until you can’t loop the elastic any more, which is probably about three times.

As the last step, gather your hair at the bottom and fold it over to where the first band was tied.

You should now have a bun on the back of your head where your hair was. Then get a second hair tie and tie the bun the same way you did with the first one.

In the end, your bun should be at the same level as the first elastic. But depending on where you group your hair, you can change how high the bun is.

This can be at the back of your neck or higher up on your head.

As a finishing touch, you can make the bun bigger by pulling it out a bit with your fingers.

  1. Gathering
  2. Elastic loops
  3. Secure the elastic
  4. The bun.

If there are any loose hairs left, it is best to gather them together and work them into the style as you’re tying the second elastic.

Below is a short video showing the process.

The man bun is the name for all of the different kinds of buns. It evolved over the years and have been adopted by many as a stylish way to manage long hair.

1. Low Man Bun

As the name suggests, the low man bun is worn at the nape of the neck. It’s a more relaxed and laid-back version of the classic. This style is perfect for those who want a nonchalant look, and it often complements casual outfits well.

2. High and Tight Man Bun

Positioned high on the head, this man bun style gives a more bold and noticeable appearance. The hair is pulled tightly, often accentuating the facial features. It’s a style that’s both athletic and edgy, often popular among sports personalities and those with pronounced jawlines.

3. Man Bun with Undercut

Merging two popular hair trends, this style involves having the sides and back of the head closely shaved or faded, while the top remains long enough to tie into a bun. This creates a sharp contrast and a contemporary feel, highlighting the bun prominently.

4. Man Bun Braids

This fusion of styles combines the traditional man bun with braids leading back to the bun. Whether it’s a single braid down the middle or multiple braids, this look adds a touch of intricacy to the otherwise simple bun.

5. Twisted Man Bun

Instead of just gathering the hair into a bun, the hair is twisted before being tied. This provides texture and depth to the bun, making it appear more voluminous and detailed. It’s a subtle twist (pun intended) on the classic look.

6. Half-up Man Bun

Only the top part of the hair is tied back into a bun, while the rest remains flowing down. This style gives a laid-back, bohemian vibe, perfect for those who want to show off their hair’s length while still keeping it controlled.

7. Double Man Bun

A playful take on the traditional style, the hair is divided into two sections, each tied into its own bun. Positioned side by side, these twin buns are both quirky and fashionable, often favored by those wanting to make a statement.

Whatever the style, man buns offer versatility and a fashionable way to manage longer hair. It’s all about finding the style that complements your personal aesthetic and face shape.

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Having medium-to-long hair is preferable for tying a man bun. Hair should be at least 6 inches long for the bun to look good, but the more hair you have, the more options you’ll have.

Just like any other hairstyle, the man bun can complement or counteract certain facial features.

Man bun is a perfect hairstyle for people with oval and square face shapes because it softens their strong jawline.

However, a high man bun can elongate a round face, and a lower, looser bun looks more flattering for people with diamond face shapes.

A neat and tight bun is possible for people with straight hair. A curly hair, however, offers a more textured and voluminous bun.

While younger individuals are more commonly seen with man buns, there’s no age limit. Older individuals can rock the look, especially if it aligns with their personal style and confidence.

Must haves

The man bun is a haircut for men that should look as natural as possible. So, the best thing to do is to use as few hair products as possible.

But what you can use is a hair texturizing spray, which keeps your hair in place a little better and gives it a natural look (because of the sea salt).

Furthermore, hair bands such as the non-slip hair bands are very handy to have with you.

Man bun inspiration and lookbook

As we mentioned before, there are many ways to style the standard man bun. This makes it a flexible hairstyle that can be used to create different looks with the same hair length.

The original look: the full man bun

Semi-man bun or “top knot” or “Samurai knot”

Origin of the man bun

Vikings

This is possibly one of the few hairstyles that didn’t exist until the last 100 years. Based on movies and TV shows, Vikings were very proud of their long hair and long, fierce beards.

So they probably had hair like this in the 800s. It might have been worn even earlier, but we haven’t found anything to prove it.

We can assume that in recent centuries, long hair was often worn in a tail for practical reasons. So maybe a bun was added for a personal touch.

2013 to now

A big leap forward to 2013 where the man bun became very popular. This is thanks to the hipster culture and celebrities such as Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Jared Leto.

Originally, the man bun was mainly worn by hipsters and styled out with their choppy beards (read: the hipster beard). Now, it’s been adopted by non-hipsters and seen as an everyday hairstyle.

In conclusion

You should now have all the facts and ideas you need to decide whether or not this look is right for you. If you let your hair grow longer, this simple haircut is easy to do. The time when your hair is in between styles is annoying, but the style you end up with is cool and casual.

The man bun, beyond being a fashion statement, is a testament to patience, individuality, and a nod to both history and contemporary style.

Regardless of the man bun style you choose, it’s easy to change between different looks if you don’t love your first attempt. It’s certainly a hairstyle that you will not regret.