How to Make a Ballet Bun
A Guide to the Essential Ballerina Updo
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
Ballet bun at the crown of the head. Photo by Colin Hutton from danceadvantage.net
As dancers, we tirelessly strive to improve our technique and artistry in each class. A big part of putting in this work is focusing on the task at hand without distractions. And as any dancer with long locks knows, hair can often be a big distraction! We’ve all been there - constantly tucking falling strands behind our ears, jamming bobby pins into our scalp, trying to re-do our ballet bun in between combinations, the list goes on. Knowing how to do a proper ballet bun can significantly benefit a dancer, as it can keep them focused on their training and performance and not on whether their updo will stay put.
Let’s run through the basic steps.
Brush or comb your hair free of tangles
Run a hairbrush or comb through your hair several times until it is free of any tangles. Eliminating any knots or tangles in your hair will ensure that your hair looks smooth in the final ballet bun without any large “bumps.” Many dancers choose to use a spray bottle filled with water to achieve an extra smooth look.
Secure your hair in a ponytail at the crown of your head
Gather your hair into a ponytail that sits at the crown of your head (see photo). It’s worth noting that some dancers prefer to part their hair and secure it into a low ponytail at the nape of their neck. This creates what’s referred to as a “low bun.” For those with finer hair, using a hairbrush or comb to help gather your hair into a ponytail can help smooth out any bumps. Secure the ponytail with a hair tie, preferably one that’s a similar color to your hair. Dancers, specifically ones with finer hair, can optionally smooth their hair back with hair gel before this step to help smooth away bumps and flyaways. Many dancers also choose to use a bristle or “smoothing brush” during this step to help with any bumps or flyaways. Using mousse, “hair mascara,” or gel applied with a toothbrush can further enhance this smoothed back ponytail.
Twist the ponytail into a coil and wrap it around the hair tie
Photo of a ponytail at the crown of the head. Photo by Pius Martin from Unsplash.
Twist the hair in your ponytail until it starts coiling in on itself. Wrap it around your hair tie so it forms a spiral-like shape, pinning it with hair pins as you go. The tighter you coil your hair, the better! For dancers with thicker hair, it can be useful to divide the ponytail into two separate sections, twist each section, and coil each one in opposing directions around the hair tie. Twisting your hair into a firm coil will help ensure that the bun stays tightly secure and in place.
Fasten the bun with hair pins and a hairnet
Secure the ballet bun by sticking hair pins into its center, along the bottom base of the bun on the scalp. Angle the pin towards your scalp before shifting the angle upwards into the center of the bun. The more hair you gather in the pin before angling it upwards, into the bun, the flatter the bun will be. At Dancewear Center, we offer two-inch, two-and-a-half-inch, and three-inch hair pins for buns of varying sizes. The hair pin size that a dancer should use depends on the thickness and length of their hair. Also, wrapping a hairnet around the bun helps keep fine, flyaway hair at bay. Before securing the bun with hair pins, simply wrap the hairnet around the bun, making sure that its elasticized edge is tucked towards the bottom of the bun out of view. The hairnet may be wrapped around the dancer’s bun once, twice, or three times depending on the texture of the dancer’s hair and the size of their bun.
Pin back and hairspray any stray hairs
For those with layered and/or fine hair, use bobby pins or snap clips to secure any stray hairs or bangs. As a finishing touch, spray the bun and your scalp with a light coating of hairspray to ensure that the updo is smooth with a clean, finished look.
Bonus tips!
Use a “Bun Builder”
For those struggling to achieve a tall, rounded bun look, use the Bun “Donut” Builder by Bloch. Simply gather your hair into a ponytail, pull the ponytail through the center of the builder, slide the builder to the base of the ponytail, arrange your hair around it, and secure it with a hairnet and hair pins. The Bloch Bun Builder creates a taller, more spherical bun than the classic method, so we suggest using it if you are hoping to achieve that style in particular.
Keep a “hair kit” in your dance bag
It’s always helpful to have extra hair supplies on hand in the case of a hair tie snapping, a hair net snagging, or a bobby pin disappearing out of thin air (it’s crazy how they seem to do that!). The Bloch Hair Kit contains all of a dancer’s hair essentials including two hair nets, fifteen three-inch hair pins, ten two-inch hair pins, six bobby pins, four hair elastics, and a “how-to” guide for the best bun. Plus, it comes in an elegantly packaged pink tin that will be sure to stand out in your dance bag when you’re doing your hair in a hurry. The “Holding It Together” Bun Box from Covet Dance similarly contains hair pins and hair ties, as well as bobby pins, corkscrew spin pins, a bun-making “flower,” and a cute decorative wool bow to offer dancers more hair options.
Photo by Iiona Virgin on Unsplash
Accessorize!
When given permission from your dance instructor, let your personality shine with some fun hair accessories. The dreamy Cloud Scrunchie from Cloud & Victory wraps your bun in a colorful, luminous garment that looks great on your hair and on your wrist. Handmade by local Seattle artist Hayley Maddox, the scrunchies from Lasso Leos come with intricately detailed lace patterns and stitching, sure to stand out in any class. The Fluffy BUNnies Scrunchies from Covet Dance are as fuzzy and adorable as can be, particularly cute on younger dancers. Or adorn your ballerina updo with a classic crochet bun cover from American Dance Supply, offered in a variety of soft colors and with rhinestones.
By following these tips along with a little practice, your ballet bun will be fit for the studio and stage in no time!
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