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Balletcore is set to be one of 2024’s hottest hair trends – so here’s how to perfect your ballet bun
2 years ago
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4 min read
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s go-to hairstylist Christian Wood shares his top tips for perfecting a balletcore bun with Stylist.
If you’re someone who likes the slicked-back hair look that was everywhere this summer (thanks Sofia Richie Grainge for the endless Instagram inspo), you’ll love 2024’s upcoming balletcore hair trend. Simple, sophisticated and seriously easy to recreate, the ballet bun is set to take over in the new year, taking this summer’s slicked-back hair trend and turning it up a notch.
“A chic simple ballet bun is always my go-to for a red carpet,” says celebrity hairstylist Christian Wood. “I think I have done 100 variations on Rosie Huntington-Whiteley for various red carpets over the years. It always makes a look feel modern but timeless and is stay-proof all night.”
How to create the perfect ballet bun
The key to perfecting a ballet bun is all about keeping things neat and sleek. No matter your hair type or texture, you’ll need a great hairbrush and some styling products to ensure your bun is polished to perfection.
“I always like to do a slick back on slightly damp hair,” suggests Wood. “I use an oil like Augustinus Bader The Hair Oil, £39, throughout the entire hair to make the brushing/combing part easier and reduce bumps in the hair as you work it into a bun.
“One of my biggest tips is using velvet hair pins to secure your bun,” Wood continues. “My favourite brand is Frenchies. Using just two or three of these pins will give you the most secure bun of your life. There’s nothing worse than a perfectly sleek bun coming loose due to not being secured properly.
“Another trick I like to do is spray a shine spray like Color Wow Mist-ical, £26, all over the hair once the bun is completely finished, almost the same way you use a make-up highlighter. This will give mega shine and polish to the look but the light reflection from the shine spray hides any imperfections or bumps in the bun.”
The Stylist beauty team’s balletcore bun essentials
Frenchies Ultra Flocked Extra Soft French Twist Hair Pins
Designed to keep your updo hairstyles and buns in place, these hair pins are flocked with a microfibre coating, giving them the ultimate non-slip meaning that they won’t slide out of your hair.
Shop Frenchies Ultra Flocked Extra Soft French Twist Hair Pins at Desert Cart, £25 for 20 pins
Larry King Haircare Flyaway With Me Kit
Ideal for smoothing baby hairs, this genius flyaway kit was created by celebrity hairstylist Larry King. The genius toothbrush tool is perfect for giving that polished and smooth finish around the hairline and controlling those neap of the neck hairs.
Shop Larry King Haircare Flyaway With Me Kit at Cult Beauty, £20
Augustinus Bader Hair Oil
Christian Wood’s favourite – this luxury hair oil is formulated with argan, pomegranate and baobab oils to improve the appearance of the hair, reduce breakage, seal split ends and deep condition as you wear it.
ghd The Sectioner Tail Hair Comb
If you want to create a parting within your balletcore hair bun, a sectioning comb like this one from ghd is perfect. The angled tip allows you to create precision partings with ease.
Shop ghd The Sectioner Tail Hair Comb at Cult Beauty, £11.50
Bread Beauty Supply Hair Oil
A great hair oil for thicker, textured or afro hair types, it blends kakadu plum and safflower oil and works well with both low- and high-porosity hair. Plus, it leaves behind a high-gloss shine that’s perfect for that polished ballet bun finish.
Hairburst Baby Tamer
Another hair tamer we love, this mascara-esque wand allows you to slick back any straggly hair pieces while coconut and argan oil also work to condition and nourish the hair.
Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil
A great hair oil for colour-treated hair, the formula helps to do away with frizz while working from within to prevent damage caused by environmental stressors. Plus, it also works to nourish each strand to make it stronger, helping prevent unnecessary breakage.
Shop Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil at Space NK, £52.50
Color Wow Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray
Christian’s favourite finishing spray: this high shine hair spray leaves your ballet bun with a mirror-like sheen. Mist over your hair once you’ve finished styling for a professional-looking, glossy shine.
Shop Color Wow Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray at Cult Beauty, £26
JVN Nourishing Shine Drops
If you’ve got fine hair and are worried about overloading it with product, we love this lightweight shine oil from JVN. Formulated with lightweight hemisqualane, it works to improve hair health and strength over time, giving you a polished finish that won’t look wet or greasy on the hair.
Images: courtesy of brands
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