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A big, tight bun creates a dramatic, practical and sexy style for day or evening. Updos, like knots, keep long locks out of the way and healthy, limiting wear, tear and sun exposure. While big buns are easiest with thick tresses, with a little help you can style finer hair into over-sized knots. Experiment to find the knot style that works best with your hair length and type.
Ballet Buns
If your hair is thick and straight, a classic ballet bun will produce a big knot. You can place your bun on top of your head or in the center of the back of your head. Work gel through slightly damp hair. Comb through your hair and gather it into a tight ponytail, securing with a hair elastic. Grasp the ends of your hair firmly and twist in one direction until the hair curls in on itself. Twist the hair into a knot, wrapping the length of it around the ponytail base. Tuck the ends of your hair under the knot. Pin into place with U-shaped hair pins or bobby pins. Top with a small hairnet to keep your bun tidy if desired.
Tight and Teased
For an even bigger bun or to get a large knot on finer hair, gather your hair into a tight ponytail, smoothing flyaways with a bristle brush. Tease the length of the ponytail with a rat-tail comb. Spray with a strong hold hairspray before lightly twisting your hair and pinning into place. Use a fine comb or small boar bristle brush to smooth the top of your bun and finish with a light coating of hair spray.
Sock Buns
A bun form, sometimes called a donut, can give you a large, tight knot without teasing. You can purchase these forms at beauty supply stores or snip the toe off a sock and roll it to make a donut for your bun. Put your hair into a ponytail, securing it snugly. Place the donut at the base of the ponytail, with your hair coming through the center of the form. Spread and smooth the hair over the bun form and wrap with a second hair elastic. Gather the ends and wrap them around the base of your bun, pinning into place. The bigger the bun form, the bigger the bun. You can even stack two forms for a taller updo.
Rolled Buns
If your hair is quite long, a standard sock bun may leave you with more ends than bun. Start a rolled bun with a tight ponytail, but place the sock donut or bun form near the ends of your hair. Spread your locks evenly over the form and roll, smoothing the hair as you go. Continue rolling your hair around the round bun form until you reach the base of the ponytail. Add a few bobby pins to secure your bun. This style produces a huge, neat knot and works well for curly or straight hair, regardless of whether it's thick or fine.
