The scene is familiar: dress ready, makeup done… and that question that gets stuck in front of the mirror, how to achieve a real evening bun without a hairdresser appointment. However, the red carpets are full of ideas, like the one in Los Angeles where Gwyneth Paltrow recently opted for a minimalist low bun for the premiere of her film. A hairstyle detail, but everything changes.
Because this low bun, brought back into fashion after being popularized in the 1960s by Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn, shows that an ultra-simple hairstyle can be enough to lengthen the silhouette and open up the face. Between chic, bohemian donut or vintage banana versions, several quick techniques exist to find the bun that fits your evening.
Low evening bun: the chic Gwyneth Paltrow-style option
On the red carpet at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Gwyneth Paltrow opted for a low bun with a very natural aesthetic, structured by a parting in the middle which accentuated the refined side of her look. Combined with a black strapless dress and sparkling pumps, this basic reveals the neck, refines the shoulder line and immediately gives a very dressy look, without excessive volume.
To replicate this low evening bun, first work on straightened hair with a clean center part. Twist the two front strands then tie them together at the back of the head with a thin elastic band. Then twist the entire hair, bring the lengths at the nape of the neck to form a small low bun and secure it carefully with bobby pins. A few very fine strands left free around the face soften the whole look.
Bohemian, chic or banana evening bun: three quick ideas
For an express chic evening bun, the three ponytail technique is extremely effective. Take three thin elastics and pins, create a high ponytail, one in the middle of the head and one lower, well aligned. Then roll each little tail into a mini-shell, then attach them to each other with your pins, playing with the strands until you obtain a harmonious volume: in less than five minutes, you obtain a sophisticated ball bun that you can enhance with a piece of head jewelry.
If you like romantic volumes, the bohemian donut bun remains a safe bet. Simply place a donut at the base of a ponytail, distribute the strands all around then wrap and secure them, to create a very round and generous bun. For a retro look, the banana bun, star of the 40s, is perfect for dressy evenings: we bring the lengths back to one side, we wrap them against the nape of the neck in the shape of a vertical roll, then we secure the whole thing with pins to obtain this very elegant relief.
Easy evening bun: adapt the hairstyle to your hair and the occasion
The good reflex is to choose your bun according to your material and the planned outfit. A low twisted bun works very well on mid-length hair, where a donut gives body to fine hair. Naturally curly hair lends itself well to bohemian buns or fuzzy versions, which accept some frizz and do not require perfect straightening.
Finally, there remains the question of finishes, those which transform an everyday hairstyle into a party hairstyle. A head jewel, a few rhinestone pins or a simple satin ribbon are enough to take a low bun or a banana bun into evening mode. And then, by insisting a little on the fixation with well-crossed pins and a veil of hairspray, you gain the serenity of dancing without thinking about your hair.
How to keep an evening bun in place all night?
Prepare the hair with a light texturizing product, secure the bun with several crossed pins then finish with a veil of hairspray, paying particular attention to the nape of the neck and temples.
Which evening bun to choose for mid-length hair?
Mid-length hair works very well with a low twisted bun or a chic bun made with three small ponytails, which give volume without requiring XXL lengths.
Can you achieve an evening bun when you’re a beginner?
Yes, by focusing on simple techniques like the low twisted bun or the three ponytail version, achievable with a few thin elastics and hairpins.
