Ballet Basics: How To Make A Ballet Bun
It is part of good traditional ballet training to learn to create a proper ballet bun and to learn to do it quickly.
California DanceArts requires all students to have their hair fastened securely out of the face and off of the neck. Young ladies should have nice pretty ballet buns in class just as they must have for performances. It is a matter of creating good habits for performance and giving dancers the opportunity to work without the distraction of hair in the face and eyes. Some movements are thrown off by the weight of the hair when it is loose.
Although not acceptable for performances, occasionally when you are really in a bind– running late to class or mom is away and dad is left to handle the bun making, for instance–there are handy “Bear Claw” clips that can be purchased at any drug store. By twisting the hair up as described above and securing it with the ‘Bear Claw,’ the bun is made fast and secure without bobby pins.
Here’s how to make a good bun:
Step 1: Brush your hair; make sure that there are no tangles.
Step 2: Pull back into a ponytail using a comb or brush to remove the bumps. If necessary, spray the hair with a quick-drying hairspray (an inexpensive brand is okay). You have already used a comb or brush to remove the lumps, so now you can use hairspray (optional, depends on the style of your hair) to smooth with your hand all of those wisps up and into the bun.
Step 3: Put an extra rubber band around your ponytail, just for extra security. It is important to have a strong foundation for your bun so it doesn’t fall down.
Step 4: Separate hair into 2 equal sections.
Step 5: Take one half and twist the whole strand together, tightly.
Step 6: Tightly wind the strand of hair around the ponytail holder, as if curling around it, not over it. You should probably use heavy-duty hairpins such as Scunci Bobby Pins to hold up your hair. They are about $2.00 for 18. Most people find that an actual hair pin versus a bobby pin can hold their hair better. You will want to get the thicker kind, especially if you have thick or curly hair, because the thin ones are easily bent out of shape.
Step 7: Securely fasten the hair. You can do this by putting a bobby pin in like your bun like it was a clock. 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9 o’clock. If the first half of your bun feels a little shaky, put more bobby pins in where desired.
*Repeat these same steps for the second half of your ponytail.
For extra security, cover your bun with a hair net that matches your hair color. (Hint: If you have blonde hair, don’t use the gray hair net because then your bun looks purple. If you’re a brunette, don’t use the blonde hair net because then you have a lighter bun than the rest of your hair and that gives you the air of being unprofessional and/or colorblind).
If there are any wispies, or frizzies, lightly spray with hairspray, all over.
There are a lot of videos on the internet that show this process and additional tricks to help you.