The chignon is a classic formal hairstyle where the hair combed back and is pinned into a knot or bun and usually set around the nape of the neck. Depending on the style required the chignon bun can be very simple or complex with braiding and other styling techniques. The chignon has become more modernized and various bun designs have developed to increase the sophistication of this vintage hairstyle. Whether you’re having a nice brunch at a posh establishment, gabbing over fizzy cocktails with girlfriends, filing paperwork at the office or even walking down the aisle, you can never go wrong with a chic chignon. And one thing’s for sure: the chignon will never go out of style — it’s eternally au courant.
The word “chignon” has French origin and literally translates to “at the nape.” Chignon the hairstyle, though, has transformed beyond your standard neck-grazing bun. As you can gather from the chignon tutorials below, this hairstyle can lean to the side, be placed high or low and takes on many forms.
Twisted Chignon
A low knot placed at the nape area effortlessly exudes refined style. Add a piece of jewelry and some fringe and you’ll be glam day to night.
French Braid Chignon Bun
There are countless braiding styles to try when you have a lot of hair to play with – like this infusion of a waterfall-braided headband and a super pretty bun. It looks sophisticated when worn with a scarf for a fresh and accentuated hairstyle.
Floral Chignon Bun
Go simple yet sophisticated with an accessorized twist. Leave some curly tendrils in front for a softer feminine look!
Wavy Chignon Hairstyle
This one’s a jaw-dropping, absolutely sexy bun that will get you going all day! It works with a balayaged hair and some slight waves for a flirty vibe.
Simple Chignon
This chic and simple chignon that anyone can recreate is lovely for a holiday party! No need to spend hours to look fab!
Bridesmaid Chignon
It is a very artistic updo but still wearable and elegant. The best about it is the huge roses. Consider coloring your hair blue if you’re in the winter season. It gives it that cold/winter feel.
This look can only be created with the help of extensions. You must already have 20-inch long hair and be very abundant. It takes a lot of hair to create these roses.
Curly Chignon
Tame your exquisite curls a bit by tying it up into a huge bun decorated with cute flowers for a feminine touch. Leaving some tendrils beside the face gives the look a soft finish.
This chignon was created to reproduce a classic hairstyle but in a soft and young fashion, and despite being a hairstyle intended for brides with some adaptations it can be used even in day by day. The best part of this look is the fact that it is worked in a unique way with the texture of the hair, respecting the shape of the curls, and using the naturalness to build the look. Curly hair placed in a bun can really work well if done properly.
To enhance hair texturizing, it is ideal to use leave-in curler or enhancers that enhance curls and a strong fixing mousse to give volume and definition. The ideal drying is with the diffuser always using the hands to stimulate the texture in the hair. With completely dry hair, the wicks should be organized, and if there is too much frizz a light serum can help give luster and keep the wires aligned.
If the hair is thin and with little volume, a filler can be used to give structure to the hairstyle. The spray fixative is an ally to help keep the hairstyle in place, giving body to the wires and make a perfect finishing.
Perfect Chignon for Short Hair
This look is a natural yet textured style that also can portray an elegance for those date nights, weddings, or even just a way to keep hair out of your face. I love that you can do this with any length and make it your own!
It’s an easy and fast style that can be executed both in the salon and at home – you can keep it soft or textured by using simple products! (A little goes a long way) You can start a trend with anything these days, be confident, and strut your stuff! Texture and messy is a new style these days but elegant is just as classy and beautiful!
Messy Boho
This soft chignon features a cute little bohemian bun with some natural accent. It’s a surely easy style to recreate in just under a few minutes!
This is a beautiful party or wedding look for those free spirits who want to have a great time without the worry of perfect hair.
If you’re considering this look for an event, ask your stylist for dimensional color prior to having the style. Highlights or lowlights intensify reflection and depth in the hair. This is essential for showcasing the movement in all upstyles.
Halo Braid
Try a twist braid boho chic updo. This textured bun is soft and flattering. It can be worn with jeans and a T-shirt or a sparkly dress. The best thing about this updo is that it can be adjusted to be neat and sleek or big, textured and messy to suit your personality and the occasion.
This look would be best achieved on long hair. If your hair is shorter, you might have to clip in hair extensions for volume and length. To start with, blow-dry your hair with volumizing mousse from Maroccanoil, then spray your roots with Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dry Spun. Finally, do two twist braids starting at the temples crisscrossing with grips at the nape of the neck and meeting again at the crown. Remember that braids have to be pulled out as much as possible for a soft effortless effect, and always adjust the tendrils around the face to suit your face shape.
Chignon Using a Fishtail Braid
This fishtail braid style is a must for a messy bun effect. I like this look because it can be very glamour but also adapts to all kinds of occasions.
However, this type of braid is harder to realize than a classical braid. Just take your time to practice and do not expect to have a perfect result at the first time. To set the braid, use bobby pins and fixative spray to finalize the look. Here’s a tutorial Youtube to help you understand how to perform hairstyle: https://youtu.be/be6jGqWmu4g
Low Chignon
This chignon is a timeless and classic hairstyle that can be so versatile. I love that you can wear it “Plain Jane”, or put in a fun hair accessory for a different look.
My favorite think about this style is that you can rock this look whether you have super thin hair or very thick hair.
If you have extremely thin/fine hair, start by building up the base of the hair, teasing each section then curling it to get as much volume and movement as possible. I use Kenra #25 and #30 hairspray because I love the shine and hold they give.
Think of it like putting a puzzle together fill in all the gaps and be conscious of how much hair you have to work with. I start in the back, leaving the top and sides out. This way you can use that extra hair to cover any visible bobby pins and put those signature finishing touches on your creation.
This is beautiful for the bride that wants a stunning timeless look. I call this style the modern classic bride. You want the hair to compliment the whole look, not compete with it. She will look back at this style in 20 years and still love it.
Modern Day Blonde Chignon
This is a textured, modern day chignon. My favorite thing about it is that it looks elegant, but also very natural and simplistic. You could easily wear this style for a wedding or an evening out.
I recommend using Unite Texturiza spray (or another dry texturizing spray) on hair after putting in some beach waves, but before creating your chignon. This will give the hair that perfectly tousled and piecey texture that keeps the style “undone” looking.
I think this hairstyle can be done on anyone with fine to medium hair texture. The most important thing is to prep the hair to a beachy, lived-in texture before styling completely. Whether you are going for a more elegant occasion or just a night out, this style can easily be created for both.
Large Bun
I love chignons because they are so timeless and elegant, my favorite thing about this chignon is that it has a modern feel to it by being a little bigger and tighter. I also love how gorgeous and shiny her hair looks!
This look needs a very good light reflecting shine spray and a lightweight hairspray. Use the shine spray by Toni and Guy, and use it all over once I had finished dressing the hair. Try the hairspray is L’Oréal Pro Range. Don’t over do the hairspray as this can make the chignon lose its smoothness. Little sprays often are needed to help keep the hair all in place.
This style can work with almost any hair type, with the help of hair padding in most cases! With the right styling tools to keep the hair sleek, almost anyone can wear this look. It’s a very sophisticated and simple style, yet it’s also very bold and daring. It works well with statement jewelry, luscious lashes and a fierce lip color.
Look after your hair. The smoother your hair, the better your chignon will look. Be sure to use a hair oil to calm and soften any split ends, and get regular haircuts to keep your hair looking healthy.
Elegant Wedding Chignon
This look is an elegant and sleek updo. It is great for any special occasion, especially a wedding. It is great for anyone who doesn’t like hair in the face and wants something that they can dance and shake around without worry.
The best products to achieve and keep this look lasting all day and night would be Kerestase L’incroyable Blowdry on wet hair before blow drying to protect from heat. This product reactivates, so no need to reapply when going in with the flat iron. Control the hair with Baume Double Je as a finishing touch to add shine and keep the flyalways down. Finish the look with an extra strong hold hairspray like Laque Noire.
This full yet sleek chignon accentuates the face and is beautiful with a bold lip and dramatic eye.
Simple Eleganct Chignon
Go for an elegant chignon style that doesn’t look overly done, making it appropriate for casual and formal events alike. Most upstyles are very curled, so I love that this is a straighter alternative that’s still soft and romantic.
If your hair is silky smooth, so dry shampoo (or a similar dry texturizing product) is a must! This style was all about simplicity, absolutely no curling required. Start by creating a low teased ponytail tied at both ends. Roll it into a bun and secured it so that it didn’t wiggle when she shook her head. Only a few bobby pins were used to drape the rest, tucking in loose ends while letting longer pieces fall out organically.
This is actually a great style for shoulder length hair! A lot of women think that their hair is too short to put up, but I think there’s always a solution. This should be a quick and easy style to recreate on your own since it requires no heat, a couple elastics and a few bobbi pins. The carefree style will allow you to look put-together either at the office or in a wedding. It’s really versatile!
Easy Chignon Bun
The look of the Royals can now be easily achieved at home. This classic do is neatly tucked at the nape and usually secured with fancy headpiece.
The Perfect Bridesmaid Chignon
Modern elegance meets winter knot glamour! With all the swirls and the pearls, you’ll feel like royalty on that special day.
Classic French Chignon
Messy yet sophisticated – tuck your strands into an elegant knot without effort. Leave some frontal pieces down and curly for a sexy finish.
Messy Bun with Loose Curls
Q&A with style creator, Stella Chio
Bridal Hair Specialist @ Hair Beauty Salon in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
How would you describe this look and what is your favorite thing about it?
This hairstyle is a messy bun with loose curls. I love how the loose curls complement the bun and give it a much softer look.
What tips or products do you recommend to recreate this look?
I recommend a good curling iron. We used a 1-inch barrel curling iron for this particular look. If your hair is shorter or not very thick, it might be a good idea to invest in some clip-in hair extensions. They make a world of a difference to updos.
My go-to products are always Schwarzkoft Osis hairspray and Dust It to secure the backcombing.
What type of client would you recommend this look for?
This look works well for everyone! It is definitely one of the most requested hairstyles. You can adjust the amount of volume and loose curls depending on what suits the client’s face best, and of course keeping in mind what she likes.
Low Textured Chignon
A low textured chignon, or for a less fancy word, “bun” is simple, not too fussy, yet still so elegant and romantic, standing the test of time.
I recommend slightly curling the ends to create some bend in the hair. This will make it much easier to position the hair, as it will all be going in one direction. Once you have done a quick curl, spray texturizing spray throughout the entire head (my absolute favorite is Spray Clay by Sexy Hair). Section the hair into three sections (two on the sides and one in the back). Then, a good tease will help create volume and give you a base to put your bobby pins in.
For extra texture, I like to use Kenra Medium Hold Hairspray. This gives the hair some grit without being sticky. Once you have placed all of your pins, spray with Kenra Ultra Volume Hairspray (the best and strongest hairspray out there).
To recreate this exact look, the perfect candidate would be someone with medium length, highlighted hair.
For round faces, add extra volume to the crown to elongate the face. For heart shaped faces, pin the bun off to the side to create some width along the chin area. Just keep in mind to keep this look soft, especially around the face, leaving a few pieces here and there out. Anything too stiff or tight will change the look.
Simple and Soft Updo
This is a simple and soft, but not “too perfect” updo chignon.
Use a texture spray from roots to ends to achieve texture and some grip for the pins. Additionally, use a working hairspray for hold and a shine spray to finish it off and keep it from looking too matte from the texture spray.
Medium to mid length works best for this hairstyle. Depending on the face shape, some pieces can be left out around the face for softness.
Aussie-Inspired Chignon
This is a classic chignon with an Aussie twist!
Blow dry the hair smooth using Biosilk Smoothing Balm before tonging all over to put a bend in the hair to assist in the upstyle. I also love PPS flat iron spray for heat protection, and my favorite hairspray for all of my upstyling is Fudge Skyscraper. It smells divine! I never use a hairspray I can’t stand the smell ofthere are plenty out there!
Teasing, smoothing and positioning are always techniques you need for any upstyle.
You definitely need length and volume for this style. It is perfect for the bride who is going for a more elegant look with smoothness and clean design.
I absolutely adored the Aussie natives that her florist had made into the hairpiece. I think it really made the look!
Classy Chignon Buns
This timeless updo with full bangs is a laid-back hairstyle that can be done in minutes! Suitable for straight to wavy hair, this voluminous style is a classic game-changer.
