Have a first-time dancer this year and have no idea how to do a ballet bun?  Tried doing your own bun with no success?  What’s the best way to get a smooth bun? CVDA has some tips for you!

1. Wet or dampened hair works best.  Spray your hair with a spray bottle of water before you brush your hair into a ponytail.
2. Gel is your friend!  Add a little gel to the top and sides of your hairline, where your fly aways tend to escape from.
3. Use a “smoothie brush” to brush your hair into a ponytail.  Regular brushes with plastic bristles create separations in your hair and isn’t a smooth brush.  Any brush with close bristles will brush hair back uniformly.
4. Your hair band should match your natural hair color.  When you put your hair in a ponytail, use an elastic that matches your hair color and blends in.  If you use a colored hair tie, it may be seen under the stage lights.
5. Bobby pins should match your hair color too!  Blondes, don’t use black pins. Brunettes, don’t use blonde or metallic pins.
6. Not all bobby pins are the same!  Find a pin that suits your hair type.  Smaller pins are better for thin hair.  Long jumbo pins work best for thick hair.  If you know you have troublesome hair, some pins have a rubber inside that helps hold your hair in place.
7. Twist your ponytail into a rope and wrap it around the hair tie.  Be sure to pin the twisted ponytail to your head as you wrap it around. When you bobby pin your bun, pin your hair like numbers on a clock.
8. Don’t forget a hair net!  Select a hair net that is similar to your natural hair color and wrap it around the bun after you’ve pinned it.  For dancers with layers in their hair, this will help keep the shorter layers tucked down and not sticking up all over the place.
9. Hairpiece’s need to be pinned too! Should you choose to add a bow, bun wrap, or ribbon, please be sure it is pinned down.  You don’t want your hairpiece to come loose during class!