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Home / How to Tie a Hair Knot Ponytail

How to Tie a Hair Knot Ponytail

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A top knot bun is stylish hairstyle made from winding your hair in a bun on the top of your head. It's a very versatile look and can range from sleek and sophisticated to messy chic. Begin making the look by pulling your hair into a high ponytail, then wrapping your hair around the base of the ponytail and securing it with a hair tie. You can even use a hair donut to make the bun fuller and more voluminous.

  1. 1

    Pull your hair into a high ponytail. Comb back your hair away from your forehead, then take your hair and pull it into a high ponytail near the top of your head, securing it tightly with a hairband.

    • It's easier to do a top knot bun on second or third day hair rather than clean hair.
    • If you have curly or textured hair, begin by blow drying your hair straight. This way, you'll have a smooth, neat ponytail.
    • If you have frizzy hair, add a small amount of gel or serum around your hairline before brushing the hair into a ponytail. Doing so will ensure your ponytail is sleek.

  2. 2

    Divide your ponytail into two sections. Take the hair of your ponytail and divide it into two equal sized sections. Add a small amount of mousse or styling cream to each section to make the hair extra smooth.

  3. 3

    Wrap each section around each other. Take one section of hair in each hand and twist them together all the way down to make them into one piece. Twisting your hair like this will make your top knot even more smooth and prevents flyaways.

    • This method is done most easily with longer hair.

  4. 4

    Wrap your hair around the hair tie. Take your twisted hair and wrap it in a clockwise direction around your hair tie.

  5. 5

    Pin the top knot in place. Once you finish wrapping use several bobby pins the same color as your hair to pin the top knot in place, both at the top and bottom of the bun.

    • Spray with hairspray to give the style extra hold.

  1. 1

    Comb your hair into a ponytail. Work with second or third day hair or spray your hair with dry shampoo to give it some texture. Then comb your hair into a high ponytail near the top of your head, securing it with a hair tie.

    • This style is especially good for those with curly or wavy hair, since curly hair gives you a more voluminous look.

  2. 2

    Backcomb your hair. Take about a quarter of your hair from the ponytail and hold it straight up above your head. Use a comb to backcomb through the hair, starting at the midpoint of the hair and combing down to the base of the ponytail. Repeat until you have lightly backcombed each section of hair.

    • Backcombing your hair makes it more voluminous and textured so that your top knot is fuller.

  3. 3

    Smooth the top of the ponytail. After backcombing your hair, take the comb and lightly brush the very top layer of hair in the ponytail, brushing from the base of the ponytail down to the tips of the hair.

    • Comb very gently with a brush rather than a comb, which will be easier to work with on backcombed hair.
    • Smoothing this very top layer of the ponytail will keep the top knot looking smooth, even if the hair in the center of the top knot is full and textured.

  4. 4

    Wrap your hair in a bun around the base of the ponytail. Take the hair of your ponytail and wrap it clockwise around the base of the ponytail. When you reach the tips of your hair, tuck the hair underneath the hair tie.

  5. 5

    Pin the bun in place with bobby pins. After you twist your hair into the top knot, pin your hair in place with several bobby pins. Use your fingers to pull the bun out if you wish to give it more volume and then spray lightly with hairspray to give it better hold.

  1. 1

    Put your hair in a high ponytail. Pull back your hair into a high ponytail. If it helps, you can brush your hair back so that your hair is smooth and bump-free.[1]

    • Remove all tangles from your hair with a brush before styling.
    • If you have unruly hair, start with a blow out to create a smooth ponytail.

  2. 2

    Put a hair donut around the base of your ponytail. Poke your hair through a hair donut and pull it all the way to the base of your ponytail. If you don't have a hair donut, you can also take a clean tube sock, cut off the top of the tube sock so you get a three inch or so (7.62 cm or so) band of sock, then pull the loop of sock through your ponytail until it reaches the base.[2]

    • You should be able to find a hair donut at beauty supply stores or online retailers.

  3. 3

    Tease your hair. Take your ponytail and hold it straight up in the air with one hand. With the other, take a comb and backcomb through your hair, starting at the midsection of your hair and combing down to the base.[3]

    • Teasing your hair gives it the volume to completely cover the donut. If your hair is already extra thick, skip teasing.

  4. 4

    Wrap your hair around the donut. Take your teased hair and start to wrap it clockwise around the hair donut to completely cover it. When you reach the tips of your hair, tuck the tips under the donut.[4]

  5. 5

    Pin your bun in place. Use several bobby pins to pin your hair around the hair donut and secure it in place. Spritz the bun with hairspray to prevent flyaways and to give the style extra hold.[5]

  1. 1

    Make a horizontal part. To do this half-up top knot, do a horizontal part that divides the top of your hair from the bottom, starting at about ear level on one side and parting over to the other side.[6]

    • Since this is a laid back look, you don't have to precisely part your hair on each side, as long as each side is roughly symmetrical.[7]
    • This look can work either on short or long hair.

  2. 2

    Hold your hair in a ponytail. Take the top section of hair and gather it into a high ponytail on the top of your head. Hold it in a ponytail using one hand.[8]

  3. 3

    Wrap your hair into a bun. Hold your hair in a ponytail with the fingers of one hand and use the other to wind your hair clockwise around the base of your ponytail that you are holding with your fingers.[9]

    • If you have short hair, make a small loop and hold it in place with your fingers instead of wrapping your hair around.

  4. 4

    Secure your hair with a hair elastic. After you have wrapped the hair around until you reach the tips, or have made a small loop if you have short hair, use a hair tie to secure the bun. If you want a fuller looking top knot, pull the bun gently with your fingers to make it bigger.[10]

Add New Question

  • Question

    How can I do the hair donut method without a hair donut?

    Ashley Adams

    Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

    Ashley Adams

    Professional Hair Stylist

    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    You can use a sock instead. If you don't want to use a sock, after making a ponytail, twist your hair (the entire ponytail) into one big twist. Wrap the twist around in a circle, mimicking the shape of a bun or donut, and secure it with bobby pins.

  • Question

    Whenever I do a high ponytail, it always ends up sagging down later in the day. What can I do to stop that from happening?

    Ashley Adams

    Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

    Ashley Adams

    Professional Hair Stylist

    Expert Answer

  • Question

    What's the difference between a top knot bun and a regular bun?

    Community Answer

    Mainly where it sits on the head. The top knot sits on the top of the head, while a regular one is usually in the back center of your head.

  • Question

    When I try this bun, my hair just droops. Why does this happen and what can I do to fix it?

    Community Answer

    Your hair has to be in a tighter hold and has to be the right texture. For example, fix it in with bobby pins or use two elastics. To make your hair texture thicker, don't wash it for a few days and/or use dry shampoo or hair volumizer.

  • Question

    When I try to do a high pony, it always winds up in the middle. Also, it is impossible to do my hair into a 'sleek' ponytail thanks to several stubborn cowlicks. What should I do?

    Community Answer

    I have that same problem. I do is I do my ponytail with my head turned upside down to help ensure the ponytail goes high. As for the stubborn cowlicks, a good smoothing gel might help. Or, you could wear a headband to hide the inevitable bumps.

  • Question

    Is it easier to do on long hair or short hair?

    Community Answer

    Making a bun is much easier with long hair. The hair should be at least long enough to make a ponytail on top of the head, with enough hair to loop under the fastener.

  • Question

    I thought that a top knot was literally a knot on the top of your head. Is this a different type of bun or is it still considered a top knot?

    I am a dancer

    I am a dancer

    Community Answer

    The "top knots" shown here are not technically "top knots." The one that you described is a top knot.

  • Question

    Do these methods work with 14-inch extensions also? Would a top knot or braid in bed be easier to do?

    Alyssa Scott

    Alyssa Scott

    Community Answer

    These methods do work with extensions, and a top knot would probably work better than a braid in bed because it has more volume than a braid, depending on what method you use.

  • Question

    How do I make my hair wrap around my hair elastic when it turns into a normal bun?

    Community Answer

    Just put the elastic on your fingers, grab the bun and then wrap the elastic around the bun one or two times, depending on how big the bun is and how well it holds.

  • Question

    When I wrap my hair around, strands always stick out everywhere. What can I do to stop that?

    Community Answer

    Just wrap them around a little bit and stick a bobby pin in to secure it. If that doesn't work, try adding a bobby pin and then spraying them with hair spray.

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  • It's easier to do topknots on second or third day hair rather than clean hair with tends to be more slippery.

  • If you want a chic, messy look, keep the tips of your hair poking out of your top knot.

  • Dry shampoo the night before.

  • If you have twist braids you want to style, a top knot bun is a relatively easy option to try.

Things You'll Need

  • Hair Ties
  • Mousse or Curling Cream
  • Comb
  • Hair Donut
  • Hairspray

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To make a top knot bun in your hair, start by putting your hair in a high ponytail. Then, divide your ponytail into two sections and add a bit of styling cream to each section. Twist the sections of hair and wrap them around each other. Then, wrap the twisted ponytail around your hair tie and once you reach the end, pin it into place. To finish the look, spray your bun with hairspray for extra staying power. If you want to learn more from our Cosmetologist co-author, like how to use a hair donut to help shape your bun, keep reading!

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How to Tie a Hair Knot Ponytail

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Top-Knot-Bun