If you note hairstyle inspiration in the world around you — the girl in front of you in the Zara return line, or your co-worker who always looks chic in her teeny-tiny Zoom box — chances are better than not that you’ve spotted the hairstyle trend of the moment: the tight, centre-parted bun. Some call it the “model-off-duty” look; others consider it more of a heat hack with the fringe benefits of having a style moment. Either way, we’re breaking down exactly how to nail the look on every type of hair.
Ahead, the five different iterations of the sleek, low bun, along with a step-by-step guide to achieve the same style in your own bathroom with a comb, a little bit of hair oil, and a tight grip on your hair elastic.
Refinery29’s selection is purely editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items we love! As part of our business model we do work with affiliates; if you directly purchase something from a link on this article, we may earn a small amount of commission. Transparency is important to us at Refinery29, if you have any questions please reach out to us
Celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak says to start with dry hair and add a hair oil, like her own Rōz Styling Oil, to ensure a glossy finish. Then, take a fine-tooth comb to create a sharp centre parting, pull the hair back into a low ponytail, and secure it tight with an elastic. Wrap or twist the hair around the elastic to create a bun and use bobby pins to hold it in place. Fun twist: Leave out the baby hairs in front of your ears.Bread Beauty Supply founder Maeva Heim created her Hair Oil Gloss as a natural hair-care product, first and foremost, until shoppers found that it doubles as a styler. Here, model Brianna Anderson uses a tiny bit to soften crispy or frizzed ends and keep the top of the hair slick.Influencer Melany Rodriguez recently shared her slicked-back bun tutorial using TRESemmé hair products. She used the brand’s styling gel to tame hairline flyaways and the extra-hold hairspray to keep it in place.Influencer Keri Fay created a TikTok video where she recreated Kendall Jenner’s signature middle-parted bun. She pulls her hair into a high, tight ponytail and then sections off the front, face-framing strands, leaving them loose. Then, she pulls them back and works the hair into a bun, which maximises the sharp, lifted look without having to place the bun on the very top of the head.If you’re already wearing your hair in a protective style, like stitch braids, you can secure the braids at the nape of your neck, then wrap them around an elastic to create a sculptural bun like Lesley, a London-based model, content creator, and hair influencer.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
