We all have our hair vices.
For some it’s high-voltage shine.
Others crave dazzling color.
But if your vice is awesome, Beyonce-worthy curls you’re in for a treat.
Especially if you adore rocking crazy curly hair but don’t adore using hot styling tools to make it happen, well, you’re going to love this.
Yeah, you’re going to find a quick and easy trick for producing long lasting, sexy curls or textured beachy waves WITHOUT heat.
And how cool is that?
Even better this is what you might call another 5 Minute Hairstyle. Not to be confused with this one that also uses socks to create gorgeous curls.
Then too many fans of heatless sock bun curling also love straw curls. Our beginner’s guide tells you everything you need to know. While the hot new kid on the block is robe belt curling. It’s quick and the resulting curls are gorgeous.
Still if you just use this sock bun approach to get to a good place to start from – it is guaranteed to save you a ton of curling iron time.
So first we’re going to see how to work this styling magic with a simple, step-by-step video tutorial. It shows you exactly how create voluminous locks that are curled to perfection.
Then we’re going to explore 21 hacks to make it work for anyone. Even those who feel they don’t have perfect hair for this hack.
How can you not be smitten?
So let’s start with
How To Easily Create Sock Bun Curls
You want to work with dampish hair. Just not so damp that it won’t dry overnight.
Then fashion a high pony on the top of your head.
This is especially important if you plan to sleep on the bun. Situating it on the top of your head means it shouldn’t interfere with your beauty rest.
NOTE: You can use a hair donut you buy or one you make from a sock. (Don’t worry. How to make one follows.)
Either way you’re going to slip your pony tail though the hole so the donut rests just off your scalp.
If your hair is thick you’ll probably want to split it into two sections to wrap around the donut. Otherwise you can just work with one bigger section of hair.
As you go, just stick your index finger and thumb through the hole so you can grab the hair to pull back out and around as you wrap.
Take care to spread the hair out over the donut and not have it all clumped up in one place.
Pay attention to the ends. You can stick them inside other hair previously wrapped or use a bobby pin to hold the ends neatly tucked under.
If you’re using two sections repeat with the second section.
Once you’re done with wrapping the hair around your donut, you may want to tug at the hair on the crown of your head just a little so it doesn’t end up looking flat, limp and lifeless.
You should now be ready for a good night’s sleep. Which is fine since you want to leave this “bunned up” for at least 6 hours.
Then as you unwrap your hair in the AM prepare to be amazed.
Shake out the curls leaving your hair a bit curlier than you like since no matter what you do the curl will relax some – and in less than 30 seconds your hair is looking gorgeous.
You can spritz with hair spray to insure the curls hold throughout the day. Or not.
But as the video shows the end result should be hair with enough glamour and glitz to make it suitable for a Real Housewives of New Jersey episode.
So that’s how to curl your hair with a bun – sock or otherwise.
Okay now just in case you’re not exactly sure about the sock bun part here’s instructions:
The Making of a Sock Bun in 20 Seconds or Less
Really not much to it.
After turning it inside out cut the tip of the toe off your clean sock-without-a-partner. Then roll it into a bun.
As the video shows you do that by starting at the end opposite the toe.
Just keep slowly rolling until you end up with a nice, neat, smooth shape a hungry Homer Simpson might mistake for a donut.
Can’t get any more step-by-step than that!
But, and you knew there had to be a but coming, what if you wake up and things didn’t work out as you hoped? <gasp>
That’s never happened to you with any hair tutorial? I didn’t think so.
Yeah right.
First, don’t give up.
There are lots of ways you can alter the classic approach above if it doesn’t exactly work with your hair type.
Remember a willingness to practice and experiment is key to winning the no heat styling game.
Besides it takes no special talent to ply your mane with heat to achieve short term results.
Only the smarter-than-average hair diva realizes there are lots of tricks to be had. And this sock bun no heat curls method is no different.
So anyone, yes even you, who patiently tries some alternatives until they hit that Eureka moment will be rewarded with amazing hair that will gets loads of compliments.
Best of all this happens WITHOUT spending hours on your hair.
So let’s bring on the hacks, tips and tricks you may need to know.
Hacks Not Revealed in the First Video
Whatever you do don’t make this sock bun rookie mistake.
Next morning don’t just rip the bun out of the your hair.
Take care to be gentle so you maintain the bounciness of the curls. Or because you can totally tangle up your hair, or worse, if you aren’t careful.
So much so, that exasperated, you might end up having to cut the bun out of your hair. Here’s what that looks like.
Don’t be that girl.
Now to insure the curls last all day after release, spritz them with your favorite holding hair spray and scrunch them a little.
It’s critical to find the degree of dampness that works best with your hair. Lighter dampness is better than wetter as your hair won’t dry overnight which means the curls won’t last.
Or you could use this as a bun hairstyle for Day 1. Then have all sorts of wavy no-effort curls Day 2.
Hacks for Altering the Method Itself
If loads of volume is the goal instead of not dividing your hair at all or only dividing it in two sections go for three or four and see if doing that doesn’t red line the volume meter.
If you are dissatisfied with the result try using two sock buns. Especially useful if you have longer hair.
Or you can try with both a high pony and low pony or splitting your hair in half like you would with pigtails. This trick may also produce more consistent looking curls.
Don’t worry if the bun sags a bit overnight. But if you have problems keeping things wrapped up tight all night because of tossing and turning do this. Pull a second sock over your bun so it is covered to keep things nice and snug while you sleep.
Instead of wrapping the hair around the bun wrap the bun around the hair. Yeah, start with the bun at the ends and roll the hair around it like a giant soft curler towards your scalp. This offers the added benefit of being easier to then unroll in the morning.
The size of the sock really does matter.
Going bigger produces a more wavy outcome.
Going smaller, as in little girls’ sock smaller, would give you much more tightly coiled curls to work with although you may find a smaller sock is harder to unroll.
Using thinner socks will also produce tighter curls than thicker ones.
While socks where the elastic has been stretched out will give you looser curls.
Now I know the point here is heat free curls but you might blast the bun with medium heat in the morning to insure the hair is TOTALLY dry.
Practice. Not a hack exactly but you may find it takes a few times to get the hang of rolling the hair around the sock bun just so. I know you don’t want to hear it but that doesn’t make it any less true.
It’s also helpful to practice this in front of a mirror initially so you can see what’s going on up there.
It may also take a couple two three times to learn the best level of dampness needed for your hair for producing totally enviable curls. (Yes I’m repeating this because it’s kinda important.)
While this will work with totally dry hair you’ll need to leave the bun in longer.
Hacks to Avoid Dented Hair
Some complain about having a dent in their hair from the elastic used with the ponytail.
Solution?
Just won’t wrap the elastic as many times around your hair.
You want it so it’s tight enough to hold your hair but still loose enough that you could probably wrap it one time more.
Another way to do that is to create your high pony using a rubber band, do your thing with wrapping your hair around the donut, then cut the rubber band off.
Or if you aren’t comfortable sacrificing a rubber band on the altar of beauty try using a scrunchie instead of a hair tie.
Hacks For Layered Hair
Those with layered hair often whine this won’t work for them.
Not true. They just don’t know this hack.
Layered Hair Sock Bun Tutorial
If you have layers you simply want to lightly spritz your hair with water after pulling it through the bun and brush out just a bit.
This moisture will persuade the layers to stay “lumped” together, for lack of a better term, so they don’t fall out when you’re rolling them up.
Then as you roll your hair gently pull up and away from your scalp simultaneously.
What this does is make the bun tighter.
It’s kinda tricky but with a little practice you’ll totally be able to do it
If you have bits of hair that insist on sticking out, take the time to convince them to stay tucked in as you roll.
BONUS: This video reveals how to wrap the bun into the hair rather than wrapping the hair around the bun.
It’s also an approach that could give you a cute, lazy-girl updo followed by oddles of curly waves sans the bun.
Hacks For Hair That Is Curl Resistant
Admittedly not everyone’s hair will take to this no heat approach without some coaxing.
For those with hair that doesn’t curl easily you’ll need some styling products to come to the rescue of your mane.
Obviously whether you choose to incorporate styling products or not is more or less a personal perference. Some are more than happy with the curly volume and texture achieved without adding any product.
Others find things just work better with any number of products.
A word of caution – you can weigh down your locks if you use too much of any of these.
Anyways here’s a few suggestions to try on for size.
One often mentioned solution is either sea salt spray, texturizing spray or a little of both sprayed in to produce long lasting tousled textured curls.
Or you can apply some gel, styling or soft hold mousse before wrapping your hair around the donut. Use products like these on the hair around the crown as a root lift to add volume and body.
Try using a bit of leave in conditioner – especially on the ends.
Others go with hair spray. Whether to spritz or not comes down to your natural hair texture and how well your strands hold a curl.
Still hair spray can make the difference between curls that last long enough and those that don’t quite make it.
You may find adding a bit of hair oil to the lower part of your hair, or at least on the ends, before rolling up into the bun helps form better curls too. That little bit of added moisturizing will give you hair that is super soft with no frizzies.
Anyway, do this before bedtime and in the morning your hair will be like all loaded with bouncy, bodacious volume.
This just works. It’s easy, fast, and fun yet looks like you spent hours on your hair.
All this major volume from a mere sock, five minutes of your time and knowing this hair-friendly, no heat approach. What could be better?
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