Military Bun Tutorial

Not much of a fan of the ever-popular "sock bun" trend, when I joined the Air National Guard, I told myself, "I will never be caught DEAD wearing a sock bun!" You know, because it seems like every photo you ever see of anyone in the military shows them wearing a sock bun—and I was not going to do it!

Let me tell you what, after being at Basic Military Training for about two weeks with short hair that would just not stay up in any kind of bun and having an MTI come up to me and say, "Get it together, Rowe! Your hair looks like a hot mess!" it was then that I decided to embrace the dreaded sock bun. And I decided to call it the "donut bun" instead, because that just sounds better—I suppose. After about three successful buns created with my small, brown mesh donut, I was sold. I don't care what anyone has to say about the donut bun, it's quick, it's easy, it works for almost any hair length that can be put up, and it's the only way to put your hair up in less than a minute as Reveille is going off and 46 girls are scrambling around you to get their beds made.

So whether you're researching how best to wear your hair while at BMT or just wanting to try a new updo, here's my tutorial for the military version of the sock bun.



Basic Steps:

1. Pull hair up into low ponytail (it has to be low enough to put your ABU cap on)
2. String ponytail through mesh donut, bringing donut all the way up to base of hair tie
3. Fan ponytail over mesh donut, making sure to evenly cover mesh with hair
4. Wrap second hair tie around mesh donut
5. Secure loose ends with bobby pins
6. (Optional) Pull & tug hair around mesh donut to create a fuller, more voluminous bun
7. Finish with a light (or heavy—if you're at BMT) mist of hairspray

My favorite step and trick to the whole process is Step 6, where you give your bun that added bit of volume. I know the slicked-down look is so popular in the military, but I think a nice, full bun (especially if your hair is fine like mine) looks so much better and really elevates the whole look.

Also, if your hair is longer—at Step 5, you can either braid or twist the loose ends (try making 3-4 small braids/twists) before pinning them to give your bun a really chic, polished look. Unfortunately, my hair is still far too short to attempt any of those neat tricks, but the other girls at Basic Training looked so nice when they added little braided accents to their buns.

Below, I've included the exact products that I bought and used while down at BMT to achieve this style.

Do you rock the donut bun? I know several women who wear it out and about and I think it looks really nice—especially when it's not totally slicked down!

The little details: Eyes: Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes c/o my cousin & Younique Presenter Lindsay, Sterling Silver Wrap Ring: c/o The Vintage Pearl

Dutch Halo Braid

Hairclip: c/o Lilla Rose // Glasses: c/o Firmoo (use code 44378b2c8d for 15% off any order) //  
Boots & Leg Warmers: Runway Fashion Exchange // Photos: Taylor Love Studios

The halo braid has made a couple appearances here before. My first attempt can be found here, and my second here.

My hair is quite a bit longer now than the last time I did it in February, so it was a little harder to get my hair to all fit under the opposite side's braid. For a numbered tutorial for this style, see either of the posts linked above.

You basically do two French or Dutch braids and then tuck the braids up and under the other side's braids, pinning as you go. When you do a regular French halo braid, it's not a problem, since there is extra space under the plaits to hide your tucked-up braid. However, when you do a Dutch halo braid, you have to be tricky with how you get your braid to hide under there. Maybe a video tutorial for this would be good, and that's something I'll consider posting.

I think my favorite recent twist to this braid is the little Flexi Clip I added that I received from Lilla Rose. You can see a really cool shot of it in the second photo. It adds a little bit of sparkle, a little bit of class, and an unexpected little pop to this fun hairstyle.

I'd love to see your version of the halo braid! Tweet me and tag @auniesauce and #halobraid. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Twists to a Bun

Bye Bye Beehive, is over in 

6 days.

Six days.

6-days until I can use a blow dryer.

6-days until I don't have to go to work with a wet mop of hair everyday.

6-days until I probably won't go back to the crazy teasing, hair spraying, and highlighting

I was so attached to before.

I think the coolest part about this year-long project

is all that I've learned about myself.

You'll hear more about it in... 6 days.

Anyway—one of my favorite things to add a little spunk to a 2nd-day hair style

is to create a couple of twists or braids and secure your hair into a messy bun.

It's adds texture, it catches the eye, and it totally hides the fact 

that your hair is dirty major (with some dry shampoo, of course).

Because sometimes, just sometimes, that extra 10 (or 40) minutes of sleep

is just oh-so worth-it.

Topsy Tail Twist

Glasses: c/o Firmoo.com

Last week, The Beauty Department posted an amazing tutorial for a funky topsy tail bun. 
First, let me just say, I'm a huge fan of the topsy tail.
Second, this style is so easy.

1. Gather hair in a ponytail at the nape of your neck.
2. Secure with an elastic band.
3. Pull the elastic band to the bottom of your ponytail, leaving about 1-2 inches of hair at the end of the ponytail (or until your shorter layers don't start falling out).
4. Separate the hair in the gap of the ponytail right down the middle into two pieces.
5. Bring the ponytail up and through the gap, creating an upside-down topsy tail.
6. Repeat, repeat, repeat... the hair will begin to twist into coils! 
7. Once it's all coiled into a bun, secure the end of the ponytail underneath the bun with bobby pins.
8. If your shorter layers fall out (like mine did), let them hang loose or pin them back. I gently twisted mine back and pinned them underneath one of the bigger twists (top right photo).
9. You can tug on some of the pieces to give it some body and hide the part in the back.
10. You can also tug on the coils to make them look a little bigger and more full. I had to do this because my bun was so small at first!
11. A visual learner? Want to see how it is done? Visit TBD!

The Beauty Department recommended wearing this style slicked back and straight,
but I actually prefer it a little more loose and casual-looking.
I think it's perfect for a day at the office or a nice wedding updo.

I'd love to see your version of it. Tweet me or Instagram a photo with the hashtag #topsytailtwist!

Curl Your Hair Without Heat

Last week, I saw a post on my friend Kristen's blog

(Confessions of a Graphic Design Student).

She mentioned how she vintage-style curled her hair with a headband...

with NO heat.

Needless to say, I had to try it.

I began by putting an elastic headband over my slightly damp hair.

I grabbed pieces of my hair and tucked them around the headband,

continuing until I reached the back of my head.

It's really similar to the Holiday Updo that I did in December.

When I reached the back, I simply twisted that hair around and around 

the headband until it was all tucked in.

I slept in my headband overnight...

Daniel said I looked like Friar Tuck.

So this is the "Friar Tuck Method" now and forever in my eyes.

In the morning, I pulled the headband out of my hair and was 

SHOCKED at the curls I got.

Wowza, baby!

They stayed like that almost all day.

Of course they fell out a bit... but I didn't mind.

UPDATE // And just in case you'd like to see how to do this,

I included my very own video tutorial (original inspiration tutorial can be found here).

Enjoy!

Products used in this video:

Oh... and just last night after my shower,

I mentioned to Daniel that I was going to "Friar Tuck" my hair again.

His reaction was so adorable, and clearly showed that he found

that sleep-in style NOT attractive.

I opted for two French braids instead.

Sexy.

UPDATE** For those of you who asked 

if this could someday become a hot new trend... 

yes, the Friar Tuck... 

I've actually worn a version of it out before. 

Check out THIS LINK!

UPDATE PART 2** For those of you who say you
get a red mark on your forehead that won't go away for hours,
after you finish rolling your hair,
push the front of the band up, so it rests in your hairline instead
of on your forehead.
That's what I do!

Beach Twist in Winter? You Betcha!

 

I think I need to let you in on a little secret. The beach twist is NOT just for summer weather. In fact, it makes a really sleek, elegant updo that you can wear to work anytime of the year.

Last time I did this hairstyle, I tried the beach twist on dry hair. This time I only had a few minutes before I had to leave for work, so I pulled it back when it was wet. I also changed the steps for the last tutorial I made for this one a bit. They are as follows:

1. Run a comb through your wet hair to get rid of any tangles.
2. Create a deep side part. 
3. On the side with the part (less hair), begin twisting a piece of hair right by your scalp.
4. Add in sections of hair as you twist, twisting it low by the hairline along the back of your head and toward the opposite ear.
5. When you have it to where you're going to want your bun (just below the opposite ear for me), add a clip to keep it secure for just a moment.
6. Begin the same process on other side.
7. Twist along your scalp until you've reached the place where you want your bun and your hair from the other side is clipped.
8. Remove the clip.
9. Twist both sections together in another twist. Secure this bun with Spin Pins.
10. Bobby pin any loose pieces that might be too short to wrap around the bun.
11. You can totally add a flower if you want... but it's gross and dreary here in Idaho... and I just thought the sleek look was more appropriate.

I remember in last time I did the beach twist, I commented on how dark it looked. That was a little over a month ago. I am amazed at how much darker it is NOW. Holy moses.

xo

Scrunch It!

You know those days when you wake up,

Have approximately 5 minutes to get ready,

and your hair just isn't your first priority?

Those are the days I do this.

 

Scrunching.

However, normally when I scrunch my hair

I also use gel and a blow dryer.

Since I can't use either of those,

I sprayed my wet hair with It's A 10 leave-in conditioner,

scrunched my hair with my fingers a couple of times,

and let that hot mess dry.

I feel a slight bit frumpy today,

but it's low maintenance, and I can't ask for anything more than that!

Beach Twist

OOh ooh OOH! I found a super-easy new hairstyle... good for wet or dry hair! I found it at Hair Romance. She does it on wet hair... but I didn't feel like washing my hair this morning, so I tried it on dry hair and it worked just fine!

Here's the process:

1. Create a deep side part.
2. Separate the hair on the small side of the part to one side.
3. Twist that section of hair back along your hairline, pulling in pieces as you twist to give it a waterfall twist look.
4. Secure that piece with a clear elastic band behind your ear to make a side ponytail.
5. Take the hair on the big side of the part and begin twisting that hair back along your hairline, adding pieces as you go.
6. Secure that section next to the first one, also on the side of your head.
7. Twist the two sections together to make a bun.
8. Secure with bobby pins.
9. Add a fun flower!

So, I know the girl on Hair Romance did it better because all she used was a simple clip-in flower... but my dry hair wouldn't stay put with just a flower. I needed the bobby pins to keep the bun in place, and the elastics were necessary to keep the hair held tightly to my head.

I'm sure you could definitely get away with just a flower clip at the beach... but for the day-to-day with dry hair... no way, Josè!

Sidenote: my hair is really getting brunette these days! Holy bajeezie it looks dark!

French Braid a la Bun.

Welcome, welcome hair chefs (if that's what you would call them)! Today we have a recipe for a quick and easy French braid a la Bun!

There are a couple ingredients that go into this French braid recipe:

1. A single French braid going down the back of your head.
2. A hairband to create a messy bun at the bottom of the braid.
3. Bobby pins if you have short pieces that you want to keep held back.

This recipe takes approximately 2-3 minutes to prepare and is ready to wear all day long! Enjoy!

Halo Braid.

I just can't get enough of my sister. She was only in town this weekend for two days and it wasn't enough. And it really wasn't fair, either. Seriously, all I did for those two days was look at her hair. And look. And get jealous. And then I would look at it again. Alas... sigh. Maybe, someday. 

So, I may have wasted my time while she was in town, but she used those two days wisely to show me two new hairstyles. One was yesterday's sock bun style, and one was today's Halo Braid. It's really just a continuous French braid, but she decided that it needed a catchy name... thus, Halo Braid was born.

To be quite honest, I'm not too sure if she named it after the style of the hair, or the fact that she played hours of Halo with my brother this weekend. Clearly, we have a Halo theme up in herrrr. 

See how it sort of looks like a continuous French braid? Cool, right?

Really, all you do is French braid your hair in two simple braids. Then, tuck your ends under, up and inside the opposite side's braid and pin it to secure it in place. Does that make sense?

You know how when you French braid your hair and if you stick your finger up through the back of the braid there is kind of a hole that you can make? All you need to do is just stick the other side's braid tail up that hole and pin it.

This definitely works better for girls with medium length hair, like mine. My sister's is way too long to get the ends all the way up in there.

Another cool part about this style is that if you do it on clean hair, you can rock it all day, sleep on it, and take it out the next day for voluptuous crimped waves. It's 2 styles in one!

Seriously, sister. You need to come back to Boise more often!! Please?

Zoë Twist.

 
I have a beautiful coworker. Her name is Zoë. She has a beautiful blog. She has a beautiful sense of style. She also has beautiful, wavy red hair. Figures, right?

When I first met Zoë, a little over a month ago, she wore her hair in this incredibly amazing style. I decided to call it the Zoë Twist. She is a huge fan of hair twists (since she has long bangs she likes to pull back), and this 'do is none other than the twisted look I've been looking for. See, it's not just a bang twist. It's a twisted updo that I just can't get enough of.

This look is so simple. Zoë does it on days where she needs to get her wet hair off her shoulders, or when her wavy hair needs to be controlled in a sleek look.

I love the elegance that this look gives you. I paired it with a white lacy sweater for an ethereal, feminine look and I just felt so natural and lady-like all day.

Here are the steps for the Zoë Twist:

1. Create a deep part in the front of your hair.
2. Twist a small piece of hair (or your bangs) to one side of your part along your scalp, pulling tightly and adding hair as you go. Bobby pin that small twist halfway back on your head.
3. Divide your remaining hair into 2 sections with a middle part down the back of your head. 
4. Grab each section of hair and twist it inwards three times. This creates the hair "crown" look.
5. Then, gather the twists together and put them into a regular low ponytail with a bun (I went with a simple bun, but Zoë usually does a fun messy bun). You can stop there; that's what Zoë does. If you want to add a little extra flair, move to Step 6.
6. Pull that bun up and through the extra space between the twists and your head, as to tuck it under the twists to keep it in place. It's just like a Topsy Tail!

Easy enough, right? This has quickly become Zoë's go-to look, and I think I might follow suit! I did it today because my hair was wet from my early-morning shower. Zoë also recommends doing it on days when your hair is curly, crimped or wavy so you can give the crown some good volume by tugging on a couple pieces or teasing it beforehand.

By the way, I usually like to use synonyms for words that I commonly use. For instance, in this post I repeated the word "twist" 16 times. But I just couldn't find a suitable word to replace "twist". I mean, the thesaurus suggested coil, helix, swivel, twine, zigzag, etc. but those just didn't seem to fit the bill. I apologize for not making my vocabulary a little more "convoluted" today... but it just wasn't appropriate to use swirl, warp, or wiggle instead of twist. So twist it is.