Curly Messy Bun

Natural curl gathered high and pinned into a soft pile, with a ring of loose curls left out around the hairline.

BeforeCurly Messy Bun

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This render comes from the same edit instruction HairGlam uses for this look, applied to a studio portrait. In the app the style lands on your own photo instead.

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Free on iPhone and iPad. 12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks, no paywall in between. Or try it free in your browser.

Rather than smoothing anything down, this stacks the curl on top of the head so the coils interlock and spring outward, which is why it holds with far fewer pins than a straight-hair bun. Curls at the temples and nape are pulled forward while the hair is still damp so they set as defined spirals instead of drying frizzy. Worn looser overnight, the same gather doubles as a way to protect the curl pattern.

Suitsoval, square, heart face shapes. Volume lifted above the crown stretches the head shape upward, and the escaped curls put a curved line right beside a square jaw so the corner reads softer.
Hair typethick, wavy, curly, coily. A genuine curl pattern is what lets the pile hold its shape without heavy pinning, and it behaves best a day or two after washing when the coils have clumped.
UpkeepDry cut every twelve weeks or so to stop the ends stringing out, and refresh the front curls each morning with water and a leave-in rather than restyling the whole head.
Ask forAsk for a dry curl-by-curl cut and say you want the front pieces long enough to reach the cheekbone after they shrink.

HairGlam Hair Studio: one face, a row of different haircuts

In the HairGlam app

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Tap Curly Messy Bun in Hair Studio, or any of the other 298 looks.
See it in seconds on your own face, then save it for your stylist.

12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks. No paywall in between, no account.

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Questions about Curly Messy Bun

Who does the Curly Messy Bun suit?

It works best on oval, square, heart face shapes. Volume lifted above the crown stretches the head shape upward, and the escaped curls put a curved line right beside a square jaw so the corner reads softer.

Does the Curly Messy Bun work on my hair type?

Best on thick, wavy, curly, coily hair. A genuine curl pattern is what lets the pile hold its shape without heavy pinning, and it behaves best a day or two after washing when the coils have clumped.

How much upkeep does a Curly Messy Bun need?

Dry cut every twelve weeks or so to stop the ends stringing out, and refresh the front curls each morning with water and a leave-in rather than restyling the whole head.

What do I ask my stylist for?

Ask for a dry curl-by-curl cut and say you want the front pieces long enough to reach the cheekbone after they shrink.

Can I try the Curly Messy Bun on my own photo first?

Yes. HairGlam puts the Curly Messy Bun on a photo of your own face in a few seconds, so you can judge it against your face shape and hairline before you book. It is free to download on iPhone and iPad with 12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks, and some looks can also be tried free in your browser at hairglam.app/try.