A Dancer's Life

View Original

Getting the perfect bun!

Energetiks

The classical ballet bun.

TUTORIAL TIME!

HAIR TIPS

Competitions have begun and many of us are preparing for mid-year concerts and performances. Hair is an important part of a performance – just like make-up or your costume. It is especially important for competitions where you are being judged not only on your dancing, but your grooming and appearance too. I have tried many different ways to do my bun over the years I have been dancing and I have put together some instructions for great ways to achieve a perfect bun.

WHAT YOU NEED:

  •         Spray bottle with water

  •         Brush

  •         Strong hold hairspray

  •         Hair ties

  •         Bun Doughnut (optional)

  •         Pins

  •         Bun net

All of these products can be found at your local supermarket or beauty supply store.

TRADITIONAL BUN

A traditional ballet bun is very simple and easy to do! It looks elegant on stage and will complete your ballerina look!

  1. Dampen hair with some water

  2. Brush hair until smooth with no tangles or knots

  3. Brush hair into a ponytail. It should roughly be in line with your ears

  4. If there are still some bumps in your hair then spray some hairspray and use a comb to smooth them out

  5. Twist pony tail around itself and then around the base of the ponytail

  6. Tuck the end of the ponytail under the base of the bun and secure the loose ends

  7. Use a thin bun net with an elastic edge and place over the entire bun to give neat secure look

  8. Use pins to secure the bun in place

  9. Spray some hairspray over your hair to give smooth finish

HOW TO USE A BUN DOUGHNUT

Bun doughnuts have become the latest craze in fashion and are now being used more often in dancing too. The doughnut that you chose to use for your bun should be as close to the colour of your hair as possible so that you will not be able to see it. Bun doughnuts also come in a range of sizes so you can pick one that suits the length and thickness of your hair.

  1. Dampen hair with some water

  2. Brush hair until smooth. No tangles or knots

  3. Brush hair into a ponytail. Should be in line with your ears

  4. If there are still some bumps in your hair then spray some hairspray and use comb to smooth them out

  5. Pull the ponytail through the bun doughnut so the donut is sitting at your head and the ponytail is hanging through the opening

  6. Spread the hair from your ponytail in every direction (like a water fountain) over the doughnut to cover it

  7. Place a hair tie the same colour as your hair around the bun to secure

  8. Tuck the loose ends of the you hair under the bun

  9. Use a thin bun net with an elastic edge and place over the entire bun to give neat secure look

  10. Use pins to secure the bun in place

  11. Spray some hairspray over your hair to give smooth finish

Try to tuck the loose ends of your ponytail under your bun rather than twisting the chunk around your hair. It looks neater and more like a ballet/dance bun.

Here is a great YouTube tutorial that I found online to help you use the doughnut:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=882m4QKu0sg

However if you have long or thicker hair, it can be hard to tuck all of the loose ends under the bun so I have provided another option instead of securing with the hair tie and twisting the ends around the bun. Once you have completed step number six, follow these steps:

7. Holding the centre of the bun, push the loose hair ends around the bun to create a smoother look

  1. Use a bun net and pins to secure in place.

  2. Spray some hairspray over your hair to give smooth finish

SOME MORE TIPS:

-        I find that is I use too many pins my bun becomes heavy and it has happened on more than one occasion for the pins to begin falling out leading to my bun falling apart. Only use enough pins so that your hair feels secure.

-        Have a smooth ponytail to begin with. It is easier to smooth out the bumps before you finish the bun. Plus, having no bumps or fly-away strands of hair gives a neater and clean look.

-        Using a bun donut can help you achieve a perfect bun shape but isn’t necessary.

-        You don’t have to use a bun donut. You can use any other device from your beauty supply shop. Some people even use a rolled up sock with the toe section cut off! You can find some great tutorials online for alternatives to bun donuts.

Good luck and happy dancing!

-  Katerina 

Energetiks Writer