Messy Bun Tutorial for Long or Short Hair

I'd like to preface this post by saying that I filmed this tutorial last year—the day before I whacked off 12-inches and donated my hair to charity. Looking back, I don't regret my decision to opt for a shorter 'do one bit, though this does make me miss my longer hair.

This messy bun is my go-to look for 2nd (or 3rd or 4th!) day hair. Though my hair is currently shoulder-length, I can still do a bun like this—I just have to modify the steps a little. My favorite part about this look? That it's a messy bun—it doesn't have to be perfect and will look different each time you do it.



Here are the basic steps:

1. Make a little bun
2. Double the bun
3. Twist and tuck loose ends into hair tie
4. Pull & tug bun to add volume
5. Secure loose & floppy bun pieces with bobby pins
6. Pull & tug crown to add volume

If you're trying this look on shorter hair, that's no problem! When you make your bun, skip step 2. Instead, twist and tuck the loose ends into your hair tie above your bun, creating what looks like a mini bun on top. It will give that "double bun" effect. And then, just like in the tutorial, pull & tug to add volume and secure loose pieces in place. I used this same method to create this bun and this bun on my much shorter hair.

Enjoy!

Short & Straight Hair

Quilted Jacket: c/o Joules USA

This hairstyle is so easy with my short hair! I washed it in the evening and let it air-dry while I slept. When I woke up, added a spritz of dry shampoo, straightened it, teased the crown and sprayed a light mist of hairspray. So easy!

Products & tools used for this hairstyle:

Disclosure: The Mitch Stone Session spray is a c/o product.

Straight and Flipped Hairstyle for Short Hair

Shirt: Macy's (similar), Bracelet: Thrifted, Nails: OPI I Ate Berries in the Canaries and China Glaze Turned Up Turquoise

This is my go-to short hairstyle. It's so easy, and literally takes less than 5-minutes.

1. Blow dry your hair, curling the front under with a round brush, but leave it slightly damp (if only just in the back).
• I prepped my hair before blow drying with Aveda Volumizing Tonic and Style Prep.
2. Add a bit of Pure Abundance Hair Potion to volumize your crown.
3. Tease your crown (I use a steel pin brush).
4. Smooth a penny-sized amount of wax through your fingers and flip/spike the back of your hair. Mine does it naturally, you may have to flip yours out with a round brush. 
5. Finish with a quick shot of hairspray (I love Mitch Stone's Session Spray—it doesn't make my hair stiff but gives a great hold).

Products & tools used for this hairstyle:

Disclosure: the Aveda Products & Mitch Stone Session Spray are c/o products, though I use them daily and love them regardless of the fact that they are c/o.

I CUT THE BEEHIVE!

Today is my twenty-seventh birthday. It's my Golden Birthday... 27 on the 27th. I'm not sure why, but for my whole life, I've always told myself that 27 would be my favorite year... and now that 27 is finally here, I can't wait to see what it brings.

Also, I kicked my birthday off with a "why not" of all why-nots:

I've always been a fan of change, and for this new year of mine, I'm embracing it fully. I ended up having 12 inches cut, and I'm donating my hair to Children With Hair Loss—they accept all kinds of hair and since the tips of my hair were bleached a few years ago, I picked their charity because some of the others have requirements against bleached & highlighted hair. I went to Kendall of Roots Salon in Boise (208-514-5895) and can't recommend her enough. This new cut is spunky, sporty, and of course—extra saucy. Why not, right?

Last year as I blew out my candles, I made sure that I didn't wish for "babies or anything crazy like that." This year, let's just say I can't promise the same, though I'm in no rush to make any changes that big (or small) quite yet. Oh, 27, I can't wait to see what joy you'll bring.

Here's to new short hairstyles and a brand new year!!

Messy Bun Updo

Since my hair has gotten longer, it's harder for me to get it into (and keep it in) a messy bun. My messy bun go-to these days is a triple-bun of sorts that—after adding a fancy hair clip c/o Lilla Rose by Rachel (win one here!)—turns into a pretty little updo.

I do this hairstyle by creating a ponytail at the nape of my neck. I then pull my ponytail through the hair-tie, stopping halfway down my ponytail to create a simple "poof" of hair. I then create another "poof" of hair with the rest of my ponytail. Then I tug and tug until it looks nice and a couple pieces fall out of the bottom poof, those of which I then tuck back into the hair-tie at the middle of the bun, hiding the hair-tie and creating a third "poof." Since that probably makes no sense at all, I plan on doing a video tutorial for this look so stay tuned for that to come soon.

Would you like to see a tutorial of this hairstyle? What's your messy-bun go-to?

My Hair Identity Crisis

Top: very, very old (like, wore it to my high school senior Honor Society banquet in 2005 old), Skirt: Thrifted F21, Belt: old, Shoes: Mossimo, Bracelet: Premier Design, Photos: Taylor Love Studios

Despite taking a year off from using heat or styling tools, an excess of hair products, teasing often, and "doing" my hair—and even though I knew my hair was growing—it never seemed to get any longer... until I saw these photos! I looked at them and thought, "That's me?"

Here's where I get frank with you... I feel like I've been having a bit of a physical identity crisis lately.

• First, I'm still not used to myself with brunette hair (I've been brunette now for over 3-months... my longest brown-haired record yet!). After being a blonde for 26-years of my life, this change—though one that I like—still catches me off guard. 
• Second, my hair has almost always been a mid to short length. Never did it ever come down to my bra straps in the back. And now that it does... it's just different. I'm not used to myself, the way my hair feels (it's getting thicker due to my lack of highlighting & damaging habits), and how it looks. 
• Third, I haven't dyed my hair since early April, and I'm very surprised at my lack of roots. I had thought they would grow in ashy blonde like before... but I really haven't noticed them and it's throwing me for a loop. Am I a brunette now? A real brunette? 

Anyway, I think that all of this, coupled with a recent bit of weight loss (more on that later) has had me asking, "Who is that person in the mirror?" To be honest, I'm not always sure... but I like her!

What's your preference? Blonde or brunette?

Just A Little Bit Darker...

Since going dark was the first thing I've done to my hair in over 2 years, the color faded a little quicker than I would have liked—especially on my previously highlighted tips. I went back and had the same shade put on again, and this time I think it's here for the long haul. ♥

Ombré to Brunette

Bracelet: c/o Outfit Additions (use code SAUCE for 15% off)

And... my 2-year long no-coloring-my-hair streak is over—I'm officially a brunette!

You may remember a year ago when Daniel wrote his one (and only) post on Aunie Sauce, and showed you a photo of me with brunette hair. Let's just say that since he stumbled upon that photo, he's been asking me with big puppy-dog eyes to go darker, and finally—I did it—though I let him pick the color... if I'm gonna do it, you bet I'm gonna do it right!

Of the 26 years I've been around, only about 1 of them has been enjoyed as a brunette (I've gone dark 3-times before... 3 short times), so here we go...here's to new hair!

PS> My natural color? The top left photo's roots! That's 2-years of grow-out!