When we scroll through red carpet pictures, we’re not just looking for hair and makeup styles that are bigger and bolder than the rest. Often times what catches our eye is much more subtle, like glamorous twists on looks real girls wear every day. Case in point: Charlize Theron’s hair at the Cannes premiere of Mad Max: Fury Road. The actress had her hair pulled back into a sleek low bun — a basic hairstyle we employ whenever we need to look instantly polished on-the-go — but with a next-level addition of curled and cascading bangs.
Because it has an undeniably fancy feel, yet is at its core a simple of twist on a classic style, trust us when we say that you need to bookmark this hair DIY for your next special occasion. Scroll through to learn how to dress up your low bun in just five steps.
Leave out the front section of your hair (the wider side of your dramatic side part) and pull the rest of your hair back into a quick low ponytail for now to keep it out of the way. Use a rat tail comb to gently tease the base of your roots throughout your bangs/front section of hair to give it a little height.
Step 1: Split into Two Sections + Tease
Apply a pea-sized amount of a straightening product like Philip Kingsley Straight Hair Balm ($37) to your fingertips, rub the product together with your fingers and then apply it directly to the roots of your teased bangs/front section of hair in an upward motion. This will help add more height as well as create that trendy wet roots look.
Step 2: Slick It Up
Use a larger one- or two-inch curling wand to make two pin curls out of your bangs/front section of hair. Lift the hair up at the root with the wand, then curl under until the ends of your hair are inside the wand clamp. Slowly remove the wand and pin each curl at the base of the curl using a duck bill clip. Repeat for the second curl as well.
Step 3: Curl + Pin
After you pull out the elastic that was holding your ponytail, apply a quarter-sized amount of the same straightening balm to the roots through the mid shaft of your loose hair. Use your rat tail comb to comb the product through evenly as you gather all of your hair into a low ponytail. One your ponytail is in place, add a little more straightening product to the ponytail before you wrap it up and around into a bun. Pin it in place using bobby pins.
Step 4: Sleek Low Bun
By this time, your curls should be nice and cooled off, which means it’s time to pull out the clips. Use a wide tooth brush to gently comb through the curls, then shape them into place with your fingers.
Step 5: Pull Out Bangs + Shape
Low bun, you so fancy.
What red carpet hairstyles have you swooning lately? Tell us which celeb’s hair you’re obsessed with in the comments below.
