20 Trendy Messy Bun Updo 2027

The messy bun is shedding its reputation as a last-minute scramble. For 2027, the look leans into deliberate texture, loose face-framing pieces, and a lived-in finish that suggests you spent five minutes making it look like you spent none.

This collection of 20 Trendy Messy Bun Updo ideas covers the spectrum from salon-built structures to styles you can replicate at home. Whether your hair is fine and falls flat, thick and unruly, or in need of a grow-out disguise, there is a version here that holds its shape without fighting your natural texture.

Ash Blonde Messy Bun With Curtain Bangs

Wondering how to make curtain bangs work with an updo without looking like you forgot the front half of your hair? This collarbone-length cut layers in wavy texture and ash blonde highlights, then pulls the rest into a loose, textured bun. The middle part lets the curtain bangs fall forward naturally, softening the whole thing. Ask your stylist for: messy bun with loose waves and curtain bangs. Dry texture spray on dry hair before styling gives the bun enough grip to hold its shape without pins fighting all day. Medium to long wavy hair with layers is the starting point, and round or heart faces get the most out of those face-framing pieces.

Voluminous Blonde Messy Updo With Root Shadow

The root shadow is the quiet hero here: it adds depth to the blonde highlights without demanding a salon visit every three weeks. This high, textured updo uses collarbone-length wavy hair with curtain bangs, built around a middle part that keeps the volume balanced. The loose strands are not accidents, they are the point, giving the updo a lived-in weight that a tight knot never has. Ask your stylist for: high messy updo with voluminous waves and curtain bangs. A root shadow technique lets the color grow out naturally, so the dimension stays even as the blonde fades. Curtain bangs soften square and oval faces, and the medium density hair holds the wave pattern without collapsing.

Dark Brown Messy Bun With Wispy Bangs

Thick, wavy hair is the reason this bun has volume without trying. The high messy bun is built from long dark brown strands with subtle lighter highlights, and the wispy bangs break up the forehead line without committing to a full fringe. The loose curls are curled before the bun is assembled, so the texture looks styled rather than slept on. Ask your stylist for: high messy bun with loose curls and wispy bangs. A medium-barrel curling iron gives the wave pattern enough definition to survive the pinning process. Wispy bangs suit most face shapes because they can be swept to either side or left center, and the thickness of the hair keeps the bun from looking sparse after an hour of wear.

Honey Blonde Messy Bun With Shadowed Roots

This is not a fresh-from-the-salon blonde, and that is the point. The honey blonde base with darker shadowed roots means the grow-out is part of the look, not a reminder to book an appointment. Mid-back length wavy hair is pulled into a high messy bun with curtain bangs left out to frame the face, and the middle part keeps everything symmetrical. Ask your colorist for: messy bun with loose waves and curtain bangs. A diffuser on low heat encourages the natural wave pattern, which gives the bun texture without extra product. The darker roots add contrast to the honey tones, making the highlights pop more than they would on a single-process blonde. Curtain bangs flatter round and oval faces by drawing the eye outward.

Platinum Blonde Messy Bun With Dark Roots

The dark root shadow against platinum lengths is a deliberate contrast, not a neglect situation. This high textured bun uses long wavy hair with loose curls that frame the face, and the middle part keeps the volume even on both sides. The trade-off: platinum needs a purple shampoo every other wash to stay cool-toned, and the dark roots will need a tonal refresh about every eight weeks to keep the line clean rather than fuzzy. Ask your colorist for: high messy bun with voluminous curls and face-framing pieces. A salon does this best because the cut layers need to hit exactly right for the curls to land where they should. Face-framing pieces soften the contrast between the dark roots and the platinum, and thick wavy hair holds the curl pattern through an evening without re-curling.

Blonde Balayage Messy Bun With Loose Curls

A high messy bun gains dimension when the base is blonde balayage instead of a single solid shade. The darker roots graduate into lighter ends, so the loose curls that escape the bun catch the eye at different points along each strand. This effect is subtler than ombre and more noticeable than a gloss, which makes it a good middle ground for someone who wants contrast without a hard line.

Ask your stylist for a voluminous messy bun with loose curls and face-framing pieces. The style works best on long, thick, wavy hair, and the face-framing pieces suit most face shapes. Balayage placement naturally enhances the texture of an updo, and a touch-up is needed only when the grow-out feels too long for your taste.

Ash Blonde Curly Messy Bun

Can curls actually hold a messy bun without looking like a knot? Yes, when the curls are large and soft. The ash blonde base with darker roots adds a lived-in effect, so the texture does all the work. Ask your stylist for a messy bun updo with voluminous curls and face-framing pieces. This style suits long, thick, curly hair. Use a curl-enhancing product before styling to keep the shape defined.

Thick Curly Dark Brown Messy Updo

Thick curly hair needs a specific request at the salon, because the natural volume can turn a messy updo into a mound. The key is asking for loose curls and wispy face-framing pieces, which keep the shape airy rather than dense. The dark brown base with balayage adds dimension, so the curls read as separate pieces instead of one solid block.

Ask your stylist for a messy updo with loose curls and wispy face-framing pieces. This works best on mid-back length, thick, curly hair, and the wispy pieces soften the look for most face shapes. A strong hold product keeps the curls defined throughout the day. A trim every eight weeks maintains the layer shape.

Ash Blonde Voluminous Messy Bun

From the back, a messy bun reveals its true silhouette. This ash blonde version with lighter highlights is built with layers that create a rounded, full shape at the crown. The face-framing pieces are visible from the front, but the back view is where the volume reads clearly. Ask your stylist for a voluminous messy bun with face-framing pieces. The style suits mid-back length, thick, wavy hair. A teasing brush at the crown helps maintain the height.

Honey Blonde Messy High Bun

Does a high bun work if you prefer not to deal with bangs? Yes, because this version has none. The honey blonde base with lighter highlights draws the eye upward, and the height at the crown creates the drama that bangs usually provide. The loose strands and waves add texture without needing a fringe to soften the edges. Ask your stylist for a messy high bun updo with volume. It suits mid-back length, thick, wavy hair, and the lack of bangs makes it a low-maintenance option for those who want to skip the trimming schedule. A texturizing spray keeps the lived-in finish intact.

Dark Brown Low Twisted Messy Bun

Notice how the bun is built from individual twisted sections instead of a single gathered loop, which gives the low knot a woven structure. This technique works best on mid-back length, thick, wavy hair. Ask your stylist for: low twisted messy bun with soft tendrils. The twists are pinned separately at the nape, and the soft wavy tendrils left out keep the silhouette from feeling too stiff. The dark brown base with subtle lighter highlights adds depth that makes the twists read more clearly.

Blonde Wavy Loose Updo With Tendrils

Wondering how to get those soft, curled tendrils that frame the face without the whole updo falling apart? Start with collarbone to mid-back length, medium-density, wavy hair. Pull the main section into a loose low ponytail, twist it up, and pin only the center, leaving the outer pieces free. Curl those face-framing tendrils with a 1-inch barrel and apply a serum for a glossy finish.

This is a salon-level look for a wedding or event, but you can get close at home with practice. Ask your stylist for: loose updo with soft face-framing tendrils. The key is not to pin everything down.

Fine Ash Blonde Messy Bun

Fine hair in a messy bun can look sparse if you just pull it back and hope for the best. This ash blonde, wavy version works because the loose, textured strands are intentionally pulled out to create volume around the knot. Ask your stylist for: messy bun with loose textured strands. Start with collarbone length or longer fine, wavy hair. The trade-off is that fine hair may not hold the bun’s shape all day without dry shampoo or a texture spray for grip.

Fine Ash Blonde Low Messy Bun, Collarbone

Collarbone length is the sweet spot for a low messy bun: enough length to wrap around itself but not so much that the knot gets bulky. This ash blonde, fine wavy version uses a middle part and loose face-framing pieces to soften the silhouette. Ask your stylist for: low messy bun with face-framing pieces. To maintain the shape, twist and pin loosely rather than pulling tight, and expect to re-pin a few strands by midday. A trim every eight weeks keeps the ends from looking straggly.

Brown With Blonde Highlights Woven Bun

It is not a simple twist-and-pin bun; this is a woven construction where sections of hair are interlaced rather than wrapped. The brown base with blonde highlights makes each woven piece visible from the back, which is the whole point. Ask your stylist for: messy bun updo with woven sections. This requires mid-back length, thick, wavy hair and a salon visit to get the sections even. The woven technique creates a bun that holds well for an event or party without needing pins every half inch.

Warm Blonde Curly Twisted Messy Bun

Ever wondered how those intricate twists in a messy bun actually stay put? This warm blonde curly bun is built from the inside out: each section of thick, curly hair is twisted before it is pinned, which creates that sculpted, almost woven texture you see from the back. Loose tendrils are left out deliberately so the whole thing has an undone look. It works best on mid-back length hair with natural curl or wave, since the texture gives the twists something to grip. Ask your stylist for: voluminous messy bun updo with twists and tendrils. The pinning takes about twenty minutes, and the hold is solid enough for a full evening, though the tendrils will soften by hour three.

Dark Brown Loose Messy Bun

Unlike a tightly pulled bun, which can look severe on thick, wavy hair, this dark brown loose messy bun is gathered low at the nape, with face-framing tendrils left loose to break up the silhouette, so the overall effect is soft and not strict. The subtle warm highlights add dimension in the waves, which keeps the dark base from feeling flat. Mid-back length with layers gives the bun its undone construction, since the shorter pieces naturally escape and soften the shape. Ask your stylist for: loose messy bun updo with face-framing tendrils. A quick spritz of texture spray before gathering will help the waves hold their shape without looking stiff, and the style lasts through a date night without much fuss.

Honey Blonde Elegant Messy Bun

Swept bangs and a side parting give this honey blonde style a sculpted asymmetry that looks more polished than your average bun. The bun sits low on the side, with soft waves framing the face, so it suits medium to long wavy hair that has enough weight to hold the shape. It is a good option for formal events or weddings, where you want something polished but not stiff. Ask your stylist for: elegant messy bun updo with swept bangs. The side profile shows off the sculpted bun shape, and the swept bangs can help soften angular jawlines. If your hair is fine or very straight, curl it first and add a texturizing spray, because the style relies on natural wave to keep the bun from slipping.

Ash Blonde Braided Messy Bun

Braids are the secret to this ash blonde braided bun’s staying power: they add texture and grip, so the low, romantic shape holds far longer than a simple twisted bun. The hair is thick and wavy, gathered at the nape with a side parting, and the braided sections are woven into the bun itself rather than sitting on top. Loose tendrils are pulled out to soften the edges, which keeps it from looking like a formal updo. Ask your stylist for: romantic messy bun with braids and tendrils. At home, you can approximate it by braiding two front sections, pinning them into the bun, and letting the rest fall loose. The braids also mean fewer pins are needed, and the style stays intact through an evening of dancing.

Ash Blonde Voluminous Messy Bun Updo With Adding Depth

Can you get extreme volume without a stylist’s help? Mostly yes, but it takes more than a quick twist. This high messy bun relies on ash blonde hair with darker roots for depth, plus waves and loose strands that create a deliberately chaotic texture. Achieving that much height means teasing the crown and pinning carefully, which is a twenty-minute job at best, and the style is easier to pull off on thick, wavy hair. On fine or thin hair, the bun can look sparse, so you would be better off with a lower, smaller version. Ask your stylist for: high messy bun updo with extreme volume and loose tendrils. A salon finish will hold for a long event, but expect to touch up the tendrils by hour two.

Final Thoughts

For a polished yet undone look, prioritize loose tendrils and soft texture. If aiming for maximum volume, ask for layers and strategic teasing. Fine hair benefits from a texturizing spray before styling; thick hair needs a flexible hold to keep bulk in check.

• For textured updos, apply a texturizing spray or dry shampoo to second-day hair before styling.
• Use flexible hold hairspray to keep loose strands in place without stiffness.
• Refresh waves with a curling iron or wand before creating the bun for added polish.
• For color maintenance, use color-depositing conditioners to preserve highlights or base tones.
• Trim split ends every 6-8 weeks to ensure the hair looks healthy when styled up.

Master the art of the intentional mess for your next updo.