A quick look through earlier hair tutorials shows my fondness for buns in every form—casual, polished, and everything in between. I thought we’d explored most bun variations until Rachel introduced this versatile updo that works as a half-up style or as a full faux hawk. It’s a two-in-one hairstyle that easily transitions from daytime casual to evening chic in minutes.
The half-up version reads relaxed and effortless for daytime, while the full updo gives a bolder, more refined silhouette for nights out. You can start the day with the half-up faux hawk and then convert it to the full updo after work for a date or drinks with friends.
Follow the steps below to recreate both looks in about ten minutes.
1. Half-Up Messy Bun Faux Hawk
Begin with hair that has some wave or texture. Apply a texturizing spray evenly, then lightly tease the hair to add grip and volume.
Gather the top quarter of your hair and secure it with a small elastic by looping the hair through, but stop before pulling it all the way through so the loop forms a loose bun. Wrap the elastic once more around the section so the bun stays in place but looks relaxed. Use two or three bobby pins to tuck any stray pieces or to refine the shape. Repeat the same technique on the next quarter of hair to create the staggered bun effect along the crown. Finish with a light mist of hairspray to hold the style without making it stiff.
2. Full Updo Messy Bun Faux Hawk
To amplify the faux hawk silhouette, continue the same process through the remaining sections of hair. After creating the first two buns at the top, divide the lower half into two more quarters and form two additional loose buns. This gives you four buns stacked down the back of the head, creating a cohesive faux hawk line that keeps all the hair up and away from the face.
Keep the buns slightly undone and tousled for a modern, effortless look—pull a few face-framing strands loose if you want softness around the face. Secure with pins where necessary and finish with a flexible-hold hairspray to preserve movement and texture.
The full updo is my favorite when I want everything off my face, but the half-up version is wonderfully wearable for a relaxed daytime look. Both styles are quick, require minimal tools—elastics, bobby pins, texturizer, and hairspray—and can be adapted for different hair lengths by adjusting the size and number of buns.
Hair and photography: Rachel Brewer
Model and art direction: Brittni Mehlhoff
Which do you prefer—the daytime half-up look or the full evening updo?