The sock bun was my go to hairstyle all summer, and it looks like it’s here to stay! It started as a way to survive the summer heat without a blanket of hair down my back, and stuck around because it takes 60 seconds to do, stays put all day without pinning or adjusting, and looks polished even if you’re running late and have no time to wash your hair. Every single time I wear my sock bun I get questions from most women in a 10 foot radius, and none of them have heard of it!
Check out my sock bun in action here, here & here!
It takes a little practice to perfect, but as you can see in the animation below, I executed a perfect bun in 20 seconds without looking in a mirror!
To begin, grab a sock and a pair of scissors. You should use a sock similar to your hair colour, but I used a navy blue sock for the demo so you could see it!
1. Cut off the toe of any {clean} sock you have lying around. Roll up the sock until you achieve a sock doughnut.
{UPDATE: check my other post on how to cut and roll the sock here!}
2. Put your hair in a pony tail. The higher the pony, the higher the bun! I add a little dry shampoo to my pony tail to add texture and grip (clean slippery hair is way harder to use.)
3. Put your hair through the sock, then begin tucking the ends up through the sock doughnut.
4. Continue to tuck and roll your hair around the sock. Use your fingers to spread out the hair if the sock isn’t covered, and keep tucking in loose pieces as they come out.
5. When the sock/hair roll is near the base of the pony you want to do one last roll, which should flatten the bun to your head and feel very secure. If the bun feels loose, try tuck/rolling it downwards again until you can no longer roll it. I never use bobby pins with this bun, and it has lasted a full day of work, lunch time dance practice, and all through dinner ( still looking polished!)
If those directions leave you somewhat puzzled, check out my sock bun in action below!! Everyone should immediately try this out, it’s made my life so much easier, garnered soo many compliments, and I can’t imagine not having it in my beauty arsenal!
Good luck, happy sock bunning, and leave my a comment if you have questions or sock bun success stories!!!
xox
Alana
at 8:34 am
I don’t know why it’s so hard to make it myself, it looks so easy, but I never succeded 😀
at 9:20 am
Aww, where did you have the problem? My tips: use second day hair or add some texture with dry shampoo. Also PRACTICE!!!! I must have done this 50 times already, which is why I can do it without a mirror, you’ll get the feel for how it rolls, how to tuck in layers that come loose, and when its done well. Let me know if you need more help/ have questions!!
XO Alana
at 9:39 am
50 times? probably it’s the lack of practice, ‘cose my problem is it doesn’t look so precise, it looks a mess, I loose some strings. I always thought that everyone does that perfectly at first time (i don’t understand now why I had an idea like that :D), but it seems practice is always a key.
at 8:46 am
this needs to be on my head… now!
thanks for the gif. it looks so much easier to do than what I’d thought. How well does it stay in with exercise?
at 9:30 am
It just takes practice to get the hang of, then it’s super quick and easy!
Funny story, I had to learn/teach the LMFAO Party Rock Anthem shuffle at work this summer, so on lunch breaks I would be aggressively shuffling and stomping for an hour and my sock bun didn’t move an inch!! I also had to wear a helmet for some office chair racing, and I thought it would ruin my bun, but it didn’t! Moral of the story…my work is awesome….and if you make a sturdy sock bun, it won’t move!
Cheers!
Alana
at 11:30 am
Can you please make a video for how you cut the sock! I feel like an idiot but I cannot get it to cut right
at 12:35 pm
Good idea! I’ll add that to the tutorial this weekend!! Xo Alana
at 11:52 pm
I love your animated directions!
at 8:37 pm
I tried it a few times, and got it pretty good the third time 😀 this is awesome ^_^
at 10:49 pm
I’m SOOOO glad to hear it worked for you!!!! Yaaay! xox Alana
at 8:12 pm
this looks so pretty!
i will have to try it.
i was wondering if it would stay for going out dancing at a club?
i hate having my hair down, because it gets so hot!
at 11:49 am
It totally stays put during dancing! I’ve tested it!! I would add hair spray to the equation just for the fine hair that might escape! Cheers!!! Alana
at 10:17 pm
How much hair (how long) does it need to be to achieve sock bun awesomeness? Also, does it look good with curly hair? Inquiring minds want to know!
at 1:30 am
This is great!!!! Love how these buns look ! 😀
at 10:43 am
They are total life & time savers. I’ve heard great feedback from moms, that it’s the greatest thing that’s happened to them!
at 9:00 am
We’ve been doing this for years in the military. It’s one of the first things we learn how to do. It actually baffled me when I went in a store and seen them for sale. You can make them for free lol. Military women have been doing it for several decades.
at 11:23 am
I agree Bridget, it is such a waste to buy, and I don’t think they ever work as well as a sock! Clearly figure skaters and military women know where it’s at!