To do a messy bun with short hair as a man, gather your hair into a high or mid-level ponytail, secure it with a hair tie, and then use techniques like the "flick" shown in the reference to create texture and looseness before fully securing the bun.
Creating a messy bun with shorter hair can be a stylish look, but it requires a slightly different approach than with longer hair. The key is to maximize the hair you can gather and use techniques that add volume and intentional disarray.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
Gathering Your Hair
Even with shorter hair, the first step is to collect as much hair as possible into a ponytail shape.
- Determine Placement: Decide if you want the bun high on your head (often works well for creating an illusion of more hair) or lower.
- Sweep Hair: Use your fingers or a comb to sweep all your hair towards the desired bun location. Don't aim for perfection; slight bumps contribute to the messy look.
- Hold Firmly: Gather the hair and hold it firmly in one hand as if preparing a standard ponytail.
Creating the Mess
This is where the technique from the reference comes in handy for adding that desirable messy texture before fully forming the bun.
- The "Flick" Technique: As demonstrated in the reference (around the 1:26-2:55 mark of the video), once you have the ponytail gathered and secured with a first pass of the hair tie, you can use a "little flick" motion about halfway down the gathered section of hair. This action helps "create the mess" by loosening strands and adding disarray. You can do this while looping the hair through the tie for the last time or just before the final loop.
Forming the Bun
Now, use the hair tie to secure the gathered and "flicked" hair into a bun shape.
- Initial Loop: Loop the hair tie around the base of your gathered ponytail once or twice, depending on the tie's elasticity and your hair thickness.
- Partial Loop & Flick: On the last pass through the hair tie, pull the hair only halfway through, creating a loop. This is often where you can incorporate the "flick" motion mentioned in the reference to ensure some ends and loops are messy and not neatly tucked.
- Secure the Base: Wrap the remaining part of the hair tie around the base of this loop to secure the nascent bun.
- Adjust for Messiness: Gently tug at sections of the bun loop or loose ends to enhance the messy appearance. The goal is not a tight, perfect knot but a loose, effortless-looking shape.
Finishing Touches
- Product (Optional): A small amount of texturizing spray or dry shampoo can add grip and volume, helping the bun hold its shape and appear fuller.
- Loose Strands: Don't worry about stray hairs around your face or neck; these contribute to the authentic messy look.
Summary of Steps:
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Gather Hair | Sweep hair to desired bun location and hold like a ponytail. | Preparation |
| Initial Tie | Loop hair tie around gathered hair 1-2 times. | Secure base of ponytail |
| Partial Loop | On the final loop, pull hair only halfway through the tie. | Form the basic bun shape |
| Apply "Flick" | Perform the "flick" motion on the gathered hair before final tie. | Create mess and texture |
| Secure Bun | Wrap remaining hair tie portion around the partial loop/base. | Hold the bun shape |
| Adjust & Tousle | Gently pull sections of the bun to enhance messiness. | Refine the look |
| Add Product (Opt.) | Apply texturizing spray or dry shampoo. | Add volume and hold (optional) |
This method, particularly utilizing techniques like the "flick" to disrupt the hair structure during the tying process, is effective for achieving a messy bun even with shorter hair that might otherwise form a very small, neat knot.
