Braided Ponytail Bun Hairstyles: A Comprehensive Tutorial

Buns are a classic and convenient way to keep your hair neat and away from your face. For those seeking a touch of elegance and flair beyond the simplicity of a regular bun, incorporating a braid is an excellent option. This article provides a comprehensive guide to creating various braided ponytail bun hairstyles, suitable for different hair types and occasions. Whether you're aiming for a quick and easy everyday style or a sophisticated look for a holiday party, these tutorials will equip you with the skills to achieve stunning results.

Simple Fold-Through Braided Bun

This technique is a quick and easy way to achieve a braided bun, perfect for those days when you want a stylish yet effortless look.

1. Create a Ponytail: Begin by gathering your hair and securing it with a ponytail holder. The height of the ponytail will determine the placement of your bun, so choose accordingly.
2. Braid the Ponytail: Divide your ponytail into three equal strands. Braid your ponytail in a classic three-strand braid. Cross the right strand over to become the new middle strand, then cross the left strand over to the middle. Continue this pattern until you reach the end of your ponytail. Remember to keep the strands tight after each cross-over for a neat braid. Secure the end of the braid with a hair tie.
3. Create a Hole: Use your fingers to gently create a hole in the hair above the ponytail holder.
4. Fold the Braid Through: Lift your braid up and bring it to the hole you created. Push your braid through the hole from above, then fold it through again to form a bun. This fold-through technique creates a unique and stylish bun.
5. Secure the Bun: Use bobby pins to secure the sides of the bun, ensuring it stays in place throughout the day.
6. Admire your Hairstyle: Take a moment to admire your new, effortlessly chic braided bun.

Braided Wrapped Bun for Dirty Hair

This braided wrapped bun hairstyle is perfect for a quick hair pick-me-up on hair that’s dirty and ready to be washed. You don’t have to put any tools on your hair. Just maybe some dry shampoo if it’s that gross. The thing that makes this braided wrapped bun hair tutorial hairstyle so great and easy is that you can do it on hair that’s dirty and so ready to be washed.

1. Create a Ponytail: Pull your hair back into a ponytail but leave a small chunk out on the side. You can also put the pony wherever you want. If you want a high ponytail, go high. A low ponytail is a bit more elegant.
2. Form a Messy Bun: While the small piece of hair is left out, wrap your ponytail into a messy bun. For this style, just wrap the pony twice, and on the third, only pull it through 2/3 of the way. It leaves a big loop and the layers add some texture when they fall out of it a bit.
3. Create a Braid: Pull the hair that you set aside out and begin a three strand braid. You can also do a fishtail braid here if you want a different look.
4. Add Texture to the Braid: Once you do your braid, pull it apart a bit so it adds some more texture to the braid. More texture makes it a lot easier to see.
5. Wrap the Braid: Once your braid is finished, you’ll then wrap it around your hair tie. Just secure it with a bobby pin and you’re all set!

Braided Bun with Volume

This style incorporates back combing to add volume at the crown, creating a fuller and more dramatic bun.

1. Create a Ponytail: You don’t need to brush your hair before putting your hair into the ponytail.
2. Tease the Crown: Grab a section of hair at your crown (about a 1-2 inch section), nearer to your forehead. Lightly back comb and tease this section of hair, then flip it over to the front of your face.
3. Repeat Teasing: Grab a small section of hair behind the first section (again, about a 1-2 inch section), and repeat the teasing and back combing. Flip this back combed section of hair over the first section.
4. Add Volume: Tease and back comb 3-5 sections of hair for some nice volume at the crown of your head. Flip the back combed section of hair over to the front of you face. Take the section of hair behind the first section of hair you just back combed, and back comb that section. Tease and back comb about 3-4 sections of hair.
5. Braid the Hair: Separate your hair into three sections, and loosely braid your hair in a classic three-strand braid.
6. Secure the Braid: Don’t secure the entire braid with an elastic ponytail holder. Instead, only secure two out of the three strands. It’s okay if some pieces of hair fall out of the braids.
7. Create the Bun: Hold onto the one strand of hair that you didn’t secure into the elastic ponytail holder. Wrap the loose strand around the bunched up braided strands and secure the bun with bobby pins.

Double Braided Bun

This style uses two braids wrapped in opposite directions to create a unique and intricate bun.

Read also: Black Hair Braiding Guide

1. Create a Ponytail: You don’t need to brush your hair before putting your hair into the ponytail.
2. Separate the Ponytail: Separate your ponytail into two sections.
3. Braid Each Section: Separate each section into three strands.
4. Wrap the First Braid: Use a bobby pin to secure that first wrapped braid.
5. Wrap the Second Braid: Wrap the other braided section going in the opposite direction, until it reaches the back of your head.

Braided Bun for Short or Broken Hair

Even with shorter hair or breakage, you can still achieve a stylish braided bun. This technique focuses on creating a top knot, which can be adapted for various hair lengths.

1. Create a High Ponytail: Where ever your ponytail is in the beginning is where your bun's going to be. So if you want a high bun do a high ponytail.
2. Choose Your Style: You can choose either a tousled or sleek bun. To create a sleek look where your ends won't stick out, apply hairspray or gel to your hair as you smooth it into a high ponytail.

Braided Bun for Box Braids

Styling box braids into a bun requires a slightly different approach due to the added weight and length. Here are a couple of options:

Simple Box Braid Bun:

1. Part Your Hair: You would need to part your hair in half and create a central part from one ear to the other, particularly considering the weight of the box braids.
2. Gather the Braids: If they're lightweight, you can simply gather them in your hands and secure them in the middle with a scrunchie or elastic band as a foundation.
3. Create the Bun: Next, take the loose hair on the left and twirl it in a circular motion around the top of the hair, forming a small circle that can be transformed into a bun.

Sponge Bun for Box Braids:

1. Gather the Braids: Gather the braids as in the previous method.
2. Use a Sponge Bun Accessory: Alternatively, you could utilize one of those sponge-like scrunchies typically used for regular hair.
3. Roll and Secure: Once the hair is allowed to fall naturally, roll it under the sponge bun accessory. You can twirl it around, similar to the motion of a snail or a spiral, securing it in a circular pattern.

Additional Tips for Braided Bun Hairstyles

• Use Mirrors: If putting your hair into a ponytail is hard for you, try placing a mirror in front of you and a mirror behind you so that you can see both sides of your hair at 1 time. This will allow you to see the back of your hair while you style your bun.
• Add Texture: Hold one braided section at the bottom near the hair tie, and use your other hand to twist the middle portion of the braid.

Read also: Styling Pink Braids

Read also: Ideas for Brown Braids

tags: #braided #ponytail #bun #hairstyles #tutorial

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