How To Make A Donut Bun: 15 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Make a Donut Bun PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Christine George

Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Approved

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  • Using a Sock or Form
    • |
  • Using Two Hairbands
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Expert Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Christine George. Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 20 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,102,665 times.

Create a perfectly shaped hair bun using a sock or store-bought form for this trendy and polished look. You can also create a looser, more casual donut using a couple of hair bands. In a few easy steps you can style a beautiful donut bun perfect for everyday wear or going out at night.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

Using a Sock or Form

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  1. Step 1 Buy a donut form or find a clean sock. 1 Buy a donut form or find a clean sock. Donut forms can be purchased in the hair accessories section of the drugstore, but it's just as easy to make your own with a sock. You want a large, stretchy tube sock that's easy to roll. Use an old pair because you will be cutting the toe off.
    • It's best if you have a sock that's similar to your hair color, but any sock will work.
    • If using a store-bought doughnut form, skip to step 4.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Donut Bun 2 Cut the toe off the sock. You now have one long tube that's open at both ends. Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Donut Bun 3 Roll the sock down. Take the top edge of the sock and roll it down toward the bottom edge. The sock will begin to form a doughnut shape. Make sure it's tight and evenly shape.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Donut Bun 4 Put your hair into a ponytail.[1] The ponytail can be high or low, depending on what style you like. If you want your bun to look full, tease your ponytail a bit to create more texture and then smooth the surface carefully with a paddle brush. If you want it to look sleek, comb your hair straight.
    • A donut bun will hold best in second or third day hair, since it's not as slippery. Use a little dry shampoo if your roots are oily.
    • If you're working with clean hair, spray it with a light coating of hairspray to add a little texture to your hair so it will stay in the bun. Use a non-aerosol spray to avoid stickiness.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Donut Bun 5 Pull the ponytail through the hole in your sock donut. Make sure all of your hair gets through the hole. Slide the sock donut a few inches down your ponytail so that the tips of your hair are sticking out of the hole.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Donut Bun 6 Spread the tips of your hair around the sock or donut form. Tuck the tips under so that your hair is evenly spread in a donut shape, covering the sock or form.
    • This step takes the longest, because you want to make sure your hair is completely covering the sock or form. Try to spread it out evenly without leaving any gaps.
    • If your hair isn't thick enough to cover the sock or form, you may want to start over with a smaller sock or try teasing your hair, smoothing out the surface and trying again. You can also spray the ponytail with dry shampoo which will help add bulk to your strands.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Donut Bun 7 Roll your ponytail into the sock or form.[2] Begin rolling it down toward the base of your ponytail to create a growing donut shape. Make sure your hair is getting neatly rolled into the donut. Keep going until the donut is flat against your head.
    • Is your hair too short to roll? No problem! Simply gather your hair over the donut form or sock in a donut shape. Use a hairband to secure the tips of your hair in place or interlock bobby pins in an “x” shape around the base of the bun.
    • For extra hold, use bobby pins to secure the tips of your hair in place.
  8. Step 8 Check the donut to make sure you can't see the sock or form. 8 Check the donut to make sure you can't see the sock or form. Use two mirrors to view the back of your head. Your hair should be completely covering the sock or form to hide it from view.[3]
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Donut Bun 9 Use bobby pins and hairspray to hold it in place. If the donut seems a little loose, pin it against your head using a few bobby pins. Use firm-hold hairspray to keep your hair from getting messy. Jen Atkin Jen Atkin, Celebrity Hairstylist

    You can salvage a bad hair day. "Play with hair accessories — put your hair up in a ponytail or a bun and add a few statements pieces and clip-in accessories, that’s my quick fix. I’m always a sucker for a really nice chic chignon, and just having the hair off your face."

    10. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

Using Two Hairbands

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  1. Step 1 Put your hair in a ponytail. 1 Put your hair in a ponytail. Gather your hair and put it up in a tightly secured hairband. Either a high or low ponytail works equally well.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Donut Bun 2 Tease your ponytail. Use a flat brush with natural bristles to tease your ponytail. Starting a few inches from the base, gently push hair toward the base, moving up and repeating, forming a fluffy cloud of hair. Then use the tips of the bristles to gently smooth out the top surface. This will help make it easier to handle as well as giving your donut bun more volume.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Donut Bun 3 Gather your hair into a donut shape. Do this by finding the center of your ponytail and evenly gathering your hair around its base, so that your hair forms the shape of a donut. It may take a few tries before you're able to gather it evenly.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Donut Bun 4 Secure the tips of your hair with as second hair band and/or bobby pins. Holding the donut shape in place with one hand, use a second hair band to secure the tips of your hair around the base of your ponytail. Wrap it around several times to make sure the bun doesn't fall out. Interlock bobby pins in “x” shapes around the bun to secure additional stray hairs.
    • At this stage, check your donut bun in the mirror. Make sure the hair is evenly gathered into a donut shape.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Donut Bun 5 Pin the donut bun against your head. In additional to securing small hairs, you can use two or three bobby pins to secure the entire bun flat against your head. This will help to prevent it from falling out.
  6. Step 6 Finish with firm-hold hairspray. 6 Finish with firm-hold hairspray. This will keep the bun from falling out as you go about your day.
    7. Advertisement

Video

Expert Q&A

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  • Question How can I make a neat bun? Christine George Christine George Master Hair Stylist & Colorist Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty. Christine George Christine George Master Hair Stylist & Colorist Expert Answer It really helps if you find a sock or donut form to help shape your bun. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 1
  • Question How do you make the perfect messy bun? Laura Martin Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University. Laura Martin Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer Pull your hair into a ponytail. Twist the ends of the ponytail a few times to bring the strands together, then wrap them around the ponytail loosely. Secure with a few bobby pins, then use your fingers to spread and soften the bun, allowing some short pieces to come loose. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 22
  • Question How do you make a simple bun? Laura Martin Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University. Laura Martin Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer You can create a simple bun by starting with a ponytail. Then, twist the tail together until it forms a rope. Wrap it around the base of the ponytail and pin it in place. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 12 Helpful 13
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Tips

  • Use a bigger donut for longer hair. Thanks Helpful 73 Not Helpful 14
  • Try not to make the bun too tight, or it can hurt your head after a while and might give you a headache. Thanks Helpful 82 Not Helpful 19
  • You can use the excess hair to make a braid around the bun. Thanks Helpful 53 Not Helpful 19
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Things You'll Need

  • Brush
  • Sock or donut form
  • 2 or 3 elastic bands
  • Bobby pins
  • Mirror
  • Hairspray

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References

  1. ↑ Christine George. Master Hair Stylist & Colorist. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ Christine George. Master Hair Stylist & Colorist. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ http://www.seventeen.com/fashion/blog/secrets-to-getting-the-perfect-donut-bun
  4. Videos provided by ChikasChic

About This Article

Christine George Co-authored by: Christine George Master Hair Stylist & Colorist This article was co-authored by Christine George. Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty. This article has been viewed 1,102,665 times. 24 votes - 79% Co-authors: 76 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 1,102,665 Categories: Hair Buns Article SummaryX

To make a donut bun with a tube sock, first cut off the toe and roll the top edge down into a donut shape. Make a ponytail and slide the bottom few inches into the sock. Tuck the tips under the sock so your hair is spread evenly in a donut. Roll the sock down to the base of your ponytail and secure it with bobby pins. To make a bun with 2 hairbands, tie a ponytail and find its center. Gather your hair around the base in a donut shape, then wrap a second hair tie around it. Twist the ends around the bun and pin them with bobby pins. For tips on keeping your donut bun frizz-free, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Megan H.

    Megan H.

    May 25, 2017

    "I was rushing to get ready for a party and I was like, what will I do with my hair? Curl will not stay in, braids..." more Rated this article:
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Christine George Co-authored by: Christine George Master Hair Stylist & Colorist 24 votes - 79% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 76 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 1,102,665 Megan H.

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May 25, 2017

"I was rushing to get ready for a party and I was like, what will I do with my hair? Curl will not stay in, braids..." more Rated this article: Workswellfor Amessybun

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"This tutorial really helped me! I was trying to make a bun out of a nylon stuffed with a towel, which was not..." more Maham Azam

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"I love the second method, it really helped me. I was trying to look for videos online, then I found these two..." more Anonymous

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"I've been searching so hard for a tutorial that shows the actual sock bun Velcro as-seen-on-TV thing and I..." more Anonymous

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