The Ballet Bun: a Classic that Knows how to Reinvent Itself

It has become the signature look of the stars of the Opera as well as the most discerning celebrities. Sometimes scholastic, always imperial, the chignon continues to seduce and it will be necessary to count with it in 2023.

The simple choice to dress Carrie Bradshaw in a tulle petticoat in the iconic Sex and The City credits summed up a fact: the dancer spirit is a highly influential trend. And it has been for many years. Even today, the occurrence of the term "balletcore" on TikTok accumulates nearly 290 million views.

It's already been a few seasons that fashion is inspired by the codes of ballet. Abundance of tulle in the collections, return of the ballerina in particular at Miu Miu, coronation of the body... The dancer's uniform has imposed itself on the catwalks as well as in the major ready-to-wear brands. However, if there is a code of the ballerina that is easy to adopt, and without too much risk, it is the bun. "It really stands out as an easy hairstyle. That's why it never really disappears from the trends. And it comes in very handy when you have dirty hair and don't have time to wash it," analyzes hairstylist Delphine Courteille, who advises wearing it both at the beach and in winter. "Especially with scarves or turtlenecks, it will help avoid friction and therefore create knots."

Healthy glow effect

Its advantage? It clears the neck, but also the face. "This allows to highlight the skin", adds the hairdresser. A detail which is not one at the time when to show its glow is imposed like an ultimate quest in beauty. "Moreover, it immediately gives a good look. For fittings, models often tie their lengths in a bun because it immediately lengthens the silhouette, clears the face and gives a clean look. In short, it has everything to ensure a haughty bearing.

The popular version of the little rats of the Opera wants to be drawn to four pins, a symbol of rigor but also of grace. An inspiration that we find in celebrities like Selena Gomez or Hailey Bieber. With a wet effect in addition. "Moreover, if you are not skilled, you can make your bun on wet hair, making sure to wring them well beforehand. This allows to smooth them and to plate them more easily. You can also lacquer them."

Even Jennifer Lopez gave in to the call of this trend and adopted it for the last beauty tutorial she made for her brand JLoBeauty (especially because the very pulled hair gives a little lift to the face). But also for the holiday season.

Hairnet and headband

The fashion shows have also succumbed to the call of the chignon. "It is a frequent inspiration for designers," adds the one who regularly officiates in the backstage of shows. Thus we saw at Max Mara (worn by Bella Hadid who is a fan of daily) or Carolina Herrera for the fall-winter 2022-2023 season. For the summer of 2023, Issey Miyake is appropriating it and Roberto Cavalli is even pairing it with a braided headband and a net, another accessory borrowed from the star dancers. "We can totally adopt it in our daily lives too. I would choose it in contrast, for example white for a brunette. We can also opt for a flashier color, by dipping a white net in pigments," suggests Delphine Courteille. However, the famous ballet bun knows how to reinvent itself and play on details to better seduce us. First of all, it offers a triple choice of position: low on the neck, in the middle or placed a little higher on the head. Then, the sense of detail can hold a parting in the middle (the most obvious option at the moment) that moves to the side. And that can even be worn very low. "In 2023, the hair pulled back and the low bun like Romy Schneider really give way to the middle parting. It is not necessarily very clear. Bella Hadid, for example, is a fan of it," says the hair stylist.

Baby bangs

Finally, it is on the side of the guests and celebrities near the catwalks during the famous sessions of street style that it is necessary to turn for the most originality. They indeed have fun to offer highly desirable variations. Accessorized and embellished with barrettes and other hair jewels, it takes on a precious look. For a more contemporary look, we mix it with baby hair, those fine evanescent hairs around the forehead and temples that can also be worked and fixed with delicacy. "You can crumple up the hair around the temples and the ear to get that youthful look," says Delphine Courteille.

Others will dare to mix it with a fringe, even if it's more out of the codes of the classical dancer. The right mix? To associate the baby fringe chosen in particular by Zoë Kravitz during the last ceremony of the Oscars. "On the other hand, we do not play on a bi-material effect with wet hair on the back for example. Fringe and lengths must be in agreement", concludes Delphine Courteille. A way to ensure that the bun is not too wise to the point of becoming boring.