Everybody’s Wearing A Messy Bun – Here’s How To Do It Like A Pro

London-based hairstylist George Northwood is the man Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Alexa Chung and Daisy Edgar-Jones rely on for red carpets and photoshoots. His specialty is creating an uncontrived up-do that expertly straddles the distance between groomed and nonchalant – no mean feat. Here’s how to recreate the magic…

“Tight buns just look out of date,” says Northwood, who suggests working with day-two hair rather than hair that’s freshly washed. “You don’t want squeaky-clean hair because you’re after the shape that comes once it has been lived in a little. The loose and soft texture is what makes a bun modern.” If you have just washed your hair, however, you can still recreate some of that texture. “Don’t be too precise with your blow-dry; rough-dry your hair with your hands and then work a texturizing product through the lengths to create that same texture.”

Northwood creates even more texture by using a waving or curling tong, which has the added benefit of creating some shape around the crown. “A little height here looks really pretty, but again, you don’t want anything too precise, otherwise it can look contrived,” he says. Separate your hair into fairly large sections, a few centimeters at least, so you create waves instead of tight curls. Begin tonging each part in different directions, leaving the sections of hair around your face until last. “Tong these sections away from your face,” advises Northwood. “You’ll be pulling a few of these strands free in a moment, and tonging in this direction creates the perfect shape.” If you have naturally straight hair that refuses to curl, try Ghd’s Curve Thin Wand; wrap small sections of hair around the wand, leave the ends out, and hold in place for just a few seconds. This will create lasting texture, without a tight curl.

“Loosely pull your hair back into a ponytail, positioning its base where you want your bun to sit,” Northwood advises. Whether twirled into a top knot, tied at the nape of the neck or secured mid-height, any placement goes – but a low bun has a slightly more relaxed feel. “Using a small comb or dressing brush, backcomb the ponytail itself so it becomes thicker. This will give your bun more substance, as well as something to secure your grips to.” Lightly brush over the sides of the ponytail to create a smoother finish, then twist the length around itself into a shape resembling a bun. “Once the coil is in position, secure it with grips the same color as your hair. I prefer to use grips instead of pins, because they hold the hair more securely.” Pushing an ornate hair pin into the root of the bun to help secure the knot in place and add some interest to your hairstyle will help take your bun into evening.

“With everything secured in place, you want to start pulling some strands of hair free from the bun. Loosen a few strands around your hairline and allow them to fall free so they frame your face,” suggests Northwood. “The final step is to mist everything with hairspray.” Northwood says that any spray with medium hold and a non-sticky finish will do. For a final flourish, extend your fragrance to your hair with a light mist of scent.