Cute, Messy Bun: Perfect For Long, Thick Hair

If you have long, thick hair and your not willing to cut if off during the hot summer, this will be your go-to style this summer. In the last few years, buns have becoming increasingly popular. I think we all know what that signature "sock bun" is by now, so lets give it a twist. Literally. This style is created using a hair donut, bobby pins, and elastics, like a regular bun. Instead of wrapping the hair over the donut, the hair is first braided. The braid then gets wrapped around the donut and pined into place. It's the perfect, everyday, summer style!

Here's a link to a regular sock bun. If you don't know what it is, I recommend you check this out before trying this one.

If you're interested in rocking this braided, messy bun, look no further. Here's how:

Step 1: Make sure you are starting with completely dry hair. Since hair stretches more when its wet, the hair will be put up to tight and will pull when it dries.

Step 2: Using your preferred hair brush, gently brush through the hair to remove all tangles. It is much easier to work with knot-free hair.

Step 3: With a comb, section off the hair from the ear to the crown. Making sure both sides are relatively even will ensure the most professional looking results.

Step 4: Take the top section and using an elastic, put it into a ponytail. Putting this half up first helps keep the elastic in place so it doesn't loosen up throughout the day.

Step 5: Brush the bottom half of the hair up and secure it with the top half using another elastic. If you missed any hairs or fly aways, fix this at the end with a bobby pin and hairspray.

Step 6: Using a hair donut, either store bought or DIY, put it around the pony tail. Make sure the donut is right at the base of the ponytail so the bun stays secure.

Step 7: Take the hair and divide it into 3 big sections. Start braiding down the hair shaft.

Step 8: The braid doesn't have to be perfect. As long as it's twisted, it can be as messy as you like. The tighter it is, the harder the next step will be.

Step 9: This is where having long, thick hair comes in handy; it creates a beautiful dense braid. Secure the end with a small elastic.

Step 10: Hold the end of the braid and begin wrapping it around the donut. Pin it in place as you go along. Pull the sides of the braid to make it looser and make sure it covers all of the donut.

Step 11: Make sure the braid is pinned down properly and will not fall out. Pin up all the fly aways and hairspray them in place.

Long hair is beautiful, but difficult to deal with sometimes. This look is easy to recreate and can be worn on almost any occasion. For a a day at the beach, throw it up in a messy ponytail and quickly braid it. For a more formal event, make sure to slick the sides down and comb out all the lumps. You might also want to use a smoothing lotion or oil on the hair before you braid it to get rid of any frizz. I hope this helps some of you out this summer and that you don't die from the heat.