Tired of complicated styling? The beauty of an effortlessly chic look lies in its simplicity. Mastering soft, casual volume and the perfect messy bun can elevate your everyday style without spending hours in front of the mirror.
The Foundation for Effortless Volume
Great volume starts in
the shower. Opt for a lightweight, volumizing shampoo to cleanse your hair without weighing it down. When applying conditioner, focus only on the mid-lengths and ends. Applying it to your roots can flatten your hair, which is the opposite of what you want. After washing, gently towel-dry your hair and apply a volumizing mousse or a root-lifting spray. These products create a foundation of support and texture that is crucial for building body that lasts throughout the day. A heat protectant is also a must before you bring out any styling tools.
Techniques for Building Soft, Casual Volume
How you dry your hair is one of the most important steps for creating volume. For an instant lift, flip your hair upside down and blow-dry until it's about 80% dry. This simple trick works by lifting the roots away from your scalp. Once your hair is mostly dry, flip it back over. Using a round brush, lift sections of hair at the crown and direct the heat from the blow-dryer at the roots before moving down the hair shaft. Finish with a blast of cool air to set the style and lock in the volume. If you need an extra boost, a light mist of dry shampoo or a texturizing spray at the roots can work wonders, even on clean hair.
The Art of the Everyday Messy Bun
The messy bun is the ultimate 'cool-girl' hairstyle, perfect for second or third-day hair when your natural oils and pre-existing texture provide more grip. If you're starting with clean, voluminous hair, you can add some texture with a sea salt spray or a dry texturizing spray to keep it from looking too perfect or slipping out. The charm of the messy bun is its imperfection, so don't aim for a sleek, tight look. This style is all about relaxed, effortless chic, making it a go-to for almost any casual occasion.
A Step-byStep Guide to the Perfect Mess
Start by gathering your hair into a loose ponytail at your desired height—the crown of your head is a popular choice for a classic look. Don't pull it too tight. On the final pullthrough of your hair tie, only pull the hair partway to create a loop, leaving the ends out. Now, twist the remaining hair and wrap it around the base of the loop. Secure it with another hair tie or a few bobby pins. The key to the 'messy' part is to gently pull and loosen sections of the bun to create more fullness. You can also pull out a few faceframing strands to soften the look. A light spritz of a flexiblehold hairspray will keep it in place without making it stiff.
Personalising Your Look
Once you have the basic techniques down, feel free to play around and make these styles your own. For extra volume, you can gently tease, or backcomb, the hair at the crown before creating your bun. To do this, take a small section of hair, hold it straight up, and gently push a comb down towards the scalp a few times. Smooth the top layer over it to hide the teasing. For the messy bun, don’t be afraid to let it evolve throughout the day; a few extra loose strands can add to its charm. Accessories like a scrunchie, scarf, or bandana can also add a touch of personality and flair to an otherwise simple style.
