Image Source: Getty / Bauer-Griffin [1]
The "off-duty model" look has become synonymous with the slicked-back bun hairstyle, thanks to stars like Hailey Bieber, Lori Harvey [2], and Kendall Jenner. They've been spotted in the casual updo while running errands, leaving pilates class, or just hanging around the house — and some, namely Bieber and Jenner, have even brought the style to the red carpet. As a result, the bun hairstyle has essentially taken over TikTok [3], with countless users trialing different hacks to re-create the look [4] at home.
The supermodel slicked-back bun hairstyle is fairly simple, but if you've never attempted it before, you may not know where to start. To help you nail this 2024 hairstyle trend [5], we've enlisted some help from a professional hairstylist. Keep reading to get a step-by-step slicked-back bun tutorial.
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Step 1: Prep the Hair With Product
The key to the supermodel slicked-back bun is sleek, shiny hair. Think: the liquid-hair trend [8] you've seen on seemingly every celebrity. To get it, look for smoothing and shine-boosting products, and apply them "just to roots of [the] hair to create shine and sleekness," Noogie Thai [9], editorial director at John Paul Mitchell Systems [10], tells PS. He recommends the Paul Mitchell Gloss Drops Shine Serum [11] ($27).
Step 2: Brush Hair Back With a Center Part
While it's occasionally worn with no part, the classic supermodel bun hairstyle typically features a middle part [12]. Once you part your hair in a straight line directly in the center of your head, brush it back with a smoothing brush, like the Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Styler [13] ($17). "Secure with an elastic to create a ponytail at [the] desired fashion bun area on the head," Thai says.
Step 3: Spray the Ponytail With a Texturizer
To add some grit to the hair before pulling it into the bun, use a texturizing spray generously on the ponytail. We like the Verb Verb Volume Dry Texture Spray [14] ($20).
Step 4: Twist the Ponytail Into a Bun
After applying the products, it's time to form your bun. "Loosely twist and wrap the ponytail around the base to create bun," Thai says. "Tie the ends of the ponytail with an elastic, leaving out two inches of hair. This will give extra security when pinning the bun in place, and the loose ends will give a modern, playful finish."
Step 5: Secure the Bun With Hair Pins
Once your bun is in place, secure it with bobby pins, then "use your fingers to pinch and pull random areas [of the hair] to create soft, undone looseness throughout bun and around the face," Thai says. Finish the style with a generous coating of hairspray, such as the Andrew Fitzsimons Prism Shine Invisible Shine Hair Spray [15] ($16).
— Additional reporting by Renee Rodriguez [16]
Jessica Harrington [17] is the senior beauty editor at PS, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products.
Renee Rodriguez [18] is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.