How to Do a Chignon Hair Style

Co-authored by Nick Arrojo

Last Updated: September 17, 2021 References

The chignon, which is pretty much a fancy word for bun, is making a fashion comeback with a vengeance. Chignons can be spotted on the heads of the hottest celebs and red carpet walkers. To be as hip as these ladies, try out these three simple ways to create a chignon.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

The Classic Chignon

1
Run a brush through to make sure that your hair is as snag-free as possible. Smooth, tangle-free hair is easier to work with when creating chignons. Pull your hair back into a tight, low ponytail. Make sure it's centered. Secure it with a good hair tie.
- Try doing a chignon when your hair is unwashed! It'll give your hair a natural texture that works better for holding your twist in place. It's totally fine if you need to wash your hair, though—just make sure to blow-dry in some product, like a holding spray, to create the texture you need.^{[1]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Nick Arrojo
  Master Hair Stylist
  Expert Interview. 9 September 2021.}
2
Pull the hair apart so that you form two equally-sized ponytails. Hold one ponytail in each hand. ^{[2]
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Research source}
- You can also offset your part slightly, making one section bigger than the other.^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Nick Arrojo
  Master Hair Stylist
  Expert Interview. 9 September 2021.}
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3
Tie the two ponytails together. You want the ponytails to form a loose knot. Smooth down any hairs that may have gotten ruffled when creating your knot.^{[4]
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4
Secure the ends of the knot. Take one end and wrap it around the right side of the knot you have formed. Tuck it under or against the knot (that not looks more like a bun) and secure it with a hair pin. Do the same thing with the other end, only wrap it around the left side of the knot/bun.
- If you have particularly long hair, you should try to secure the ends of your hair under the knot.
5
Use hairspray to keep the bun in place. A medium-hold hairspray should do the trick, but if you have very long or thick hair, you may consider using extra-strength hairspray.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Nick Arrojo
Master Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 9 September 2021.} You may also need to use several hair pins, particularly if you have very thick hair.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

The Parted Chignon

1
Use a brush to smooth your hair straight back. Its important to keep your hair tangle-free while doing this hairstyle as you will be dividing your hair and it looks best if there aren’t any knots showing.^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Nick Arrojo
Master Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 9 September 2021.}
2
Gather the hair into a ponytail. Make the ponytail low at the nape of your neck, and use a hair band to secure the ponytail. Split your ponytail in half so that two smaller ponytails are formed and you are holding one in each had.
3
Twist it and wrap the right ponytail under the left ponytail and then up over the top of the original, large ponytail. Secure it with a hair pin (or several if your hair is especially thick.)^{[7]
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4
Take the left ponytail. Wrap it up and over the right so that it forms a twist. Secure it with a hair pin or wrap another hair tie around the whole bun to hold it in place.^{[8]
X
Expert Source

Nick Arrojo
Master Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 9 September 2021.}
5
Keep the bun in place with hair spray.^{[9]
X
Expert Source

Nick Arrojo
Master Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 9 September 2021.} You can also use pomade, or smoothing serum.
- You can also use a small comb or toothbrush to smooth down any stray hairs.
6
Done!

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

The Side Chignon

1
Pull your hair to the side you want your chignon to be on. The side you choose is up to you.^{[10]
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2
Twirl your ponytail. You will want to twirl it into a tight coil with as few hairs escaping from the spiral as possible. Twist the spiraled hair around the base of your ponytail. Make sure to tuck in any loose ends.^{[11]
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3
Place a hairpin in the edge of the bun. It doesn’t matter which side you pin first--you will be placing four pins in the top left, top right, bottom left, and bottom right sections of your bun. Insert the hairpin as if you were going to stab your scalp with the ends, making sure it catches the hair at the edge of the bun. Just before the pin hits your scalp, however, turn the pin so it goes toward the center of the bun, and push it all the way in. This will keep your bun secured because it catches bun hair, then scalp hair, then bun hair.
- You will want to use a hairpin rather than a bobby pin for this hairstyle. Hairpins are stronger and will keep your bun in place even if you find yourself in the middle of a major dance party. You can buy these at hair supply stores or dance stores (as they are favored by ballerinas who definitely have to keep their hair in place.)
4
Place four pins in your hair. As listed above, you will want to place four hairpins into your bun--one on the top left, top right, bottom left, and bottom right. Doing this will guarantee that your hair stays where its supposed to.
5
Use hairspray to keep your hair in place. Even when using very sturdy hairpins, chignons have a tendency to get a little while after a couple of hours.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Nick Arrojo
Master Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 9 September 2021.} By spraying your chignon with hairspray, your hairstyle will last a good while longer. Use a strong formula for the best effects.

Community Q&A

Question

Where do I place the four bobby pins?

Community Answer

Place them were your stray hairs are and use them to secure the rest of the bun. You can also use a hairband to secure the bun, but be careful so your hair doesn't fall apart!
Question

Is there a chignon that's low and would go all around the back of my head?

Community Answer

Yes, you can do a chignon like that. Try using a headband or a bun roller to make it easier to do.
Question

How do I take it out?

Community Answer

Undo your bands first, and then gently remove the hair pieces. Be careful not to damage your hair!