Creating A Sock Bun With A Donut: Easy Steps For Beginners

The donut bun is a versatile hairstyle that can be adapted for casual or formal events and paired with various outfits. It is a topknot hairstyle that takes less than 5 minutes to tie and can be done with a sock or a store-bought donut form. The bun sits on the crown of the head and looks like a doughnut, hence its name. This hairstyle is suitable for all hair types and is especially perfect for those with sleek, straight, and fine hair as it adds volume and texture.

Prepare your hair

The sock bun is a great hairstyle for when your hair is a little dirty, as it will hold better in second or third-day hair. If you are working with clean hair, spray it with a light coating of hairspray to add texture.

Put your hair into a ponytail. The ponytail can be high or low, depending on what style you like. If you want your bun to look full, tease your ponytail to create more texture and then smooth the surface carefully with a paddle brush. If you want it to look sleek, comb your hair straight.

If you have a lot of layers, you may need to move the ponytail down towards the base of your neck to make sure most of your hair doesn't fall from within the ring.

Prepare your sock

Take a sock—ideally a clean, cotton sock that is no longer usable. It should be a similar colour to your hair. A knee sock is ideal as it will give you more volume, but you can also do this with a shorter sock.

Cut off the toe of the sock. You now have one long tube that's open at both ends. Roll the sock down. Take the top edge of the sock and roll it down toward the bottom edge. The sock will begin to form a doughnut shape. Make sure it's tight and evenly shaped.

Cut the toe off a sock

To make a sock bun, you'll need to start by cutting the toe off a sock. It's best to use a large, stretchy tube sock that's easy to roll. Using an old pair of socks is a good idea, as you will be cutting off the toe. Try to find a sock that's similar to your hair colour, but any sock will work.

Once you've cut off the toe, you'll be left with one long tube that's open at both ends. This will form the base of your bun. Next, you'll want to roll the sock down. Take the top edge of the sock and roll it down towards the bottom edge. The sock will begin to form a doughnut shape. Make sure it's tight and evenly shaped.

Now you've got your sock prepared, you can move on to styling your hair.

Roll the sock into a donut shape

To make a sock bun, you'll need a clean sock. It's best to use a large, stretchy tube sock that's easy to roll. Opt for a sock that's similar to your hair colour, but any sock will do. Before you begin, cut off the toe of the sock. You'll now have one long tube that's open at both ends.

Now, it's time to roll the sock into a donut shape. Take the top edge of the sock and roll it down towards the bottom edge. The sock will begin to form a donut shape. Make sure it's tight and evenly shaped. Keep rolling until you have a tight, neat donut shape. If you're using a store-bought donut form, you can skip this step.

Once you have your sock donut, you can move on to styling your hair. Put your hair into a ponytail. The ponytail can be high or low, depending on your preference. If you want a fuller look, tease your hair to create more texture, then smooth it out carefully with a brush. For a sleeker look, simply comb your hair straight. Pull your ponytail through the hole in the sock donut, sliding it down a few inches so that the tips of your hair stick out of the hole. Spread the tips of your hair around the sock, tucking them under so that your hair evenly covers the sock.

Create a ponytail

Creating a ponytail is the first step in achieving the perfect sock bun. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide to creating a ponytail as the base for your sock bun hairstyle:

Firstly, decide on the height of your ponytail. A high ponytail will result in a bun that sits higher on your head, while a low ponytail will create a lower bun. The height you choose will depend on your personal preference and the style you wish to achieve.

Next, gather your hair as you would normally do when creating a ponytail. Ensure that all your hair is smooth and neatly combed to avoid any bumps or tangles in your ponytail. Hold your hair together with one hand, using a brush or comb in the other hand to smooth it out.

Now, secure your ponytail with a hair tie. You can use a hair tie that matches the colour of your hair to make it less noticeable, or choose a decorative hair tie to add a stylish touch. Wrap the hair tie firmly around your hair, ensuring that it is secure but not too tight, as this can cause discomfort.

At this point, you can tease your ponytail to create more texture and volume, especially if you want your bun to look full and voluminous. Use a brush or comb to gently backcomb your hair, starting a few inches from the base of the ponytail. Smooth out the surface of your hair with a paddle brush or your fingers once you've achieved the desired level of volume.

If you prefer a sleeker look, simply comb your hair straight. You can also use a light coating of hairspray to add texture to clean hair, or apply dry shampoo to the roots if they are oily. This will help the sock bun hold better.

And there you have it! You've created a sleek and stylish ponytail, which is the perfect base for your sock bun hairstyle. Now you're ready to move on to the next step of sliding on the sock donut and creating your elegant updo.

Spread hair around the sock

Now that you've got your ponytail through the hole in your sock donut, it's time to spread the tips of your hair around the sock or donut form. You want to make sure your hair is completely covering the sock or form, so take your time with this step. Try to spread it out evenly without leaving any gaps. If you have thin hair, you may need to start over with a smaller sock or try teasing your hair and smoothing it out before trying again. You can also spray your ponytail with dry shampoo to help add bulk to your strands.

To spread your hair evenly, fan it out around the sock so it's mostly covering the sock and then gently rotate and twist the excess hair around the forming bun. This is a great method if you have shorter hair as it will give the illusion of more volume in the bun. However, if you have super long hair, you may have too much extra hair to wrap around the sock. In this case, try the alternative method described below.

If your hair is moderately long, try this alternative method. Pull the sock and ponytail straight up and back, then slide the sock almost to the ends of your hair. Now, fan out the hair around the sock and start to roll the hair and sock together down the length of the ponytail. When you reach the base of the ponytail, use bobby pins to hold it in place and clean up any stray pieces.

Once you've spread your hair around the sock, you can move on to the next step of rolling your ponytail into the sock to create a growing donut shape.

Frequently asked questions