Fast Take

Your Take – Buns: Sleek, Severe, or Sassy?

I am talking about buns in the hair here. Of course! Call it a bun, a chignon, a knot, it’s a perennial favorite. Student of the hairstyle that I am, I invite you to join me on a deep dive into bun deployment and the royal lady. I say lady because we haven’t seen a royal man bun. YET.

Victoria is the Queen of the Royal Hair Bun. She wears one to almost every royal engagement, defaulting to it so often that there are those royal-watchers who beg her to loosen up, to try another style. When she was younger she was more inclined to change it, but she has definitely settled on this look as her working crown princess hairstyle. The no part, tightly pulled back version is her go-to. The benefit to this approach is that is takes her hair out of the conversation; she is all competence, and all business.

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Letizia and Meghan each have several hairstyles in their rotation, and both have pulled out the sleek bun to excellent effect. This is is my favorite of the royal bun selections, and it works well for those professional events when one will be in the outdoors and wind is a factor. It’s also an elegant evening option. I particularly like the deep side part variation, which manages to convey a youthful effect, and a sophisticated one.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Of course, there are those times when you go with the classic, a sleek bun with a center part. Best to show off those earrings, right?

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As much as I like the sleek bun, there are times when one must simply loosen it up. I like the slightly looser hairstyle on Kate. It can skew prom – ish, but it can also have a youthful effect. It can make those intimidating hairstyles more accessible, and the next Queen-to-be but one is all about being accessible.

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The messy bun gets a lot of grief, but I think, artfully deployed, that it has its place. Of course Meghan is the one who has brought it to the royal scene with a flourish. I enjoy her casual Californication of royal style at some events. Leti, of course, has opted for her own version of it.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

I cannot leave this topic without mentioning the many and varied bun styles of the Swedish royals at the Nobel ceremonies. They really deserve their own post, so deep is that topic. Some day we will tackle it, probably in a three part post. A quick Google showed pages of braids, rolls and updos. Keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime…

How do you like your buns?
The results are in – loose and lively wins the day.