Four easy ways to get a regal bun like the Princess of Wales

The Princess of Wales’s bun has become the season’s chicest hair statement - Max Mumby/Indigo

It was an incidental moment that went viral. During a visit to a screen-printing firm in Kent the other week, the Princess of Wales was captured doing what I and thousands of women with long hair do when we don’t have a hair band at hand.

She twisted her lengths into a low bun and pulled the ends through the middle, tying it into a knot.

As the zeitgeist would have it, buns and the bun-adjacent “chignon banane,” to use its correct moniker, depict the current mood for a polished, demure aesthetic.

The Princess of Wales’s impromptu hair knot in September went viral - WPA Pool

As my colleague Hansveni and I discovered during this photoshoot with hair legend Sam McKnight, a carefully crafted bun lends the wearer a certain poise.

Take the see-through crystalline Armani Privé gown Margot Robbie wore to the London premiere of her latest film A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, a red carpet moment that, despite the frock itself being risqué, was surprisingly elegant thanks to Robbie’s exquisite updo.

“With a bigger, looser hairstyle, it would have read very differently,” suggests McKnight.

“Pulling your hair back off your face is powerful. It can change how someone feels about themselves entirely,” says McKnight, the hairstylist behind Kate Moss’s famously copied Nineties bun, among a slew of other iconic updos created for magazine covers and catwalk shows from the 1980s to the present day.

Celebrity hairdresser Sam McKnight shows Annabel Jones and Hansveni Dave how to master four elegant buns at his London studio - Clara Molden

McKnight created the hair at Richard Quinn during London’s recent Fashion Week.

McKnight is here to show us how to create four elegant modern buns ahead of event season – ones that don’t require the skill of a master stylist to achieve. Each of these looks took no more than ten minutes.

Here’s how…

The regal updo

Hansveni Dave models the ‘regal updo’ - Clara Molden

When thinking of the placement of your bun, says McKnight, high (but not all the way on top) is most flattering on young and old.

For Hansveni, who has an abundance of hair, McKnight split her hair into two ponytails, then twisted each one and folded them around one another until he had the desired shape.

A good set of strong bun pins is worth investing in to ensure it stays firmly put, suggests McKnight, who used a generous amount of his Easy Up-do styling spray to give Hansveni’s hair enough grip to work with, then finished with a soft setting hairspray.

A professional brush can be worth investing in as it helps to gather all the hair in a uniform manner. McKnight uses a YS Park brush with a mix of boar and plastic bristles.

Loose and low down bun

Hansveni Dave models the ‘loose and low down bun’ - Clara Molden

Wearing your hair low down, says McKnight, sends a formal message. Therefore, to modernise things, release some of the tension when tying your hair back by placing the hair band slightly lower down from the nape of the neck.

From there, twist your ponytail into an oblong shape that spreads from the nape to near the top of the head, pinning it into place.

The trick is not to be too strict. “Twist and play with the shape until you have something that feels right,” suggests McKnight, who recommends blow-drying your hair to a smooth finish first, then tonging some bends into it.

“Hair that isn’t poker straight is easier to work with.”

The relaxed day bun

Annabel Jones models the ‘relaxed day bun’ - Clara Molden

McKnight says the key to keeping your bun carefree is to embrace the imperfections.

Begin by gathering hair succinctly at the back, tying it firmly in place, then, for a something-but-nothing twist, pull out two pieces at the front (you can also do this first) and wrap heated tongs around them once to create movement.

If you have a fringe, then use your fingers to disrupt the texture a little to offset the seriousness happening at the back. Don’t worry about taming baby hairs; they create a soft frame that’s easy on facial features.

The facelift bun

Annabel Jones models the ‘facelift bun’ - Clara Molden

For times when formality calls, go sleek and scrape it all back using a little hair wax on flyaways. A hair bungee band (a stronger hair band with a small hook attached at each end) is best for getting a tight facelift effect.

Brush your hair into a ponytail (you’re aiming for a seam-free finish), gather the bulk of hair in one hand, then place a bungee hook at one side of the ponytail and wrap the band around as many times as you can before attaching the other end to create a high ponytail that lifts at the temples.

Now arrange your hair into a French pastry-shaped bun; the key here is to maintain a flat profile that hugs the back of your head. Using bun pins, secure it in place so it doesn’t move. Again, blow-dry your hair beforehand with a heat protectant to minimise frizz; this will give you the texture you want without having to overcompensate with finishing products.

A final spritz of hairspray helps it hold.

Six tools and products for the perfect modern bun

Play The Telegraph’s brilliant range of Puzzles - and feel brighter every day. Train your brain and boost your mood with PlusWord, the Mini Crossword, the fearsome Killer Sudoku and even the classic Cryptic Crossword.