How to make the perfect ballet bun

How to make the perfect ballet bun

By Lydie Schrepfer • 2 minute(s) read

The traditional ballet dancer’s silhouette isn’t complete without that traditional bump over her head - the Ballet Bun! No, it isn’t a pastry; it is the way dancers do their hair for class. And I am about to tell you how to make the perfect bun in minutes!

  1. Untangle Untangle
  2. Tie up Tie up
  3. Swirl Swirl
  4. Wrap Wrap
  5. Pin Pin Pin
  6. Tada!

Done

You will need:

  • Hairbrush and comb
  • Hair band
  • Hair net (not a bun net, which is much smaller)
  • Bobby pins (the ones in a "U" shape) — 8 should be enough

The ponytail:

First, a good bun needs a good ponytail. The best way to achieve a good ponytail at the correct height (in line with your chin and the top of your ear) is to bend forward, gather all your hair, and use a comb. A brush might be enough, but a comb will gather your hair much more neatly!

The bun:

  1. Twist your hair (anti-clockwise if you're going around the bun anti-clockwise; clockwise if you're going around clockwise). I did it clockwise in the picture.
  2. Go around the bun, making sure you keep twisting the hair as you go.
  3. To secure the end of the hair, take some of the "bun" with the pin going away from the center. Pass over the end of the hair, turn the pin around towards the center of the bun, and push it in.

Note: This is not meant to hold long on its own, so be ready with your hair net! (especially if you have short or thick hair)

  1. Wrap the bun in the hair net. Make sure to include all the hair, and don’t be afraid to go around as many times as needed. It shouldn’t be too tight, though.

To put the pins in:

  • Take the pin you used to hold the end out
  • Shape the bun if needed to make it rounder
  • Pressing the bun slightly, take a bit of the edge of the bun going away from its center (make sure your pin is flat against the bun)
  • Put the end of the pin against your scalp
  • Turn it around so its end points towards the center of the bun
  • Push it in
  • Repeat all around the bun in a North, South, East, West pattern, and in between.

That’s all!
You may want to practice on each other before class before you start doing your own. Your first buns may be a bit loose, but don’t despair — like ballet, it takes practice! 😊