Man bun braids are very much in style.
You see them everywhere these days, even where you least expect them.
If you style it right, it can very much work in a very formal situation.
However, creating a man bun braid is not as easy as many make it seem.
First, you have to choose the one which matches your style and the one that will go with your character.
The next step is styling it correctly, which requires time, precision, and dedication.
After hearing how much work is needed to style a good man bun braid, many guys tend to give up.
Luckily, you won’t be one of them.
After reading our step-by-step guide, you will know exactly what you need to do.
Table Of Contents
What Are Man Bun Braids
Whether it’s due to the influx of social media or popular TV shows like the Vikings, the fact is that a revolution is currently taking place in men’s hairstyles.
Styles generally known as women’s hairstyles are now being claimed by the fashionable gents. First, we had the bun and the braided looks separately, but now both have been combined to create man bun braids.
Benefits of Growing Them
Helps Prevent Hair Breakage
If your hair is breaking more often, it’s probably because you keep it loose all the time. Braiding not only prevents hair breakage but will also make your hair more manageable.
Simple to Maintain and Saves Money
Braiding your hair reduces the amount of money you spend and the time needed to maintain a hairstyle.
Creative
Braiding gives you a chance to be as creative as you want. There are lots of braid styles which you can choose from. Braids add a trendy twist to your haircut.
Variety of Styling Options
Man braids are trending and they offer a great variety of styling options for longer hair or locks. They also give you that hipster look.
Things to Consider Before
Hair Length
The man braid demands a particular length of hair. About two inches of hair can make smaller braids and longer inches for longer braids.
Hair Type
Any hair can be braided since braiding involves curling the hair. Therefore, curly hair will naturally curl, while straight hair is easy to curl. Thick hair, however, may be challenging to curl, but it is achievable.
Thickness of Hair
How thick your hair is, is also a very important factor to consider when braiding. We all know that practical hairstyles might be difficult to acquire, but many creative braid styles rock on thick hair. So no matter how thick your hair is, braids will always look good on you.
35 Most Popular Bun Braids for Men
Cornrow Man Bun
This man bun style is loaded with details. This, with a fade that edges your hairline, will give you a classic look. Combine all the cornrows into a bun at the tip of your head and you are good to go.
Man Bun for Black Men
Black men love to wear their hair in cornrows. If you’re one of those men, all you need is to bring all the braids to the back of your head to form a man bun. Shave the rest of the hair and complete this look with one of the world’s best black men’s beard styles.
Braided Bun With Bandana
Tiny braids are known to give you that handsome and fresh look. They also last a long time with a low maintenance cost. Complete the look with a bandana at the nape.
Undercut Man Bun
When you look at this hairstyle closely, you see the bun slightly above the neck. This can give you a modest and subtle look. However, when the bun is gathered up high, you’ll draw a lot of attention.
Jumbo Man Bun for Long Hair
This hairstyle is ideal for lengthy hair. If your hair goes below the shoulders, this is perfect for you. Gather the twisted braids together and roll them into a high jumbo man bun. Leave out a couple of strands to drape over your shoulders and complement it with your attractive thin beard.
Man Bun With Undercut Fade
This hairstyle has everything you need for that edgy, on-trend look. Braid your hair and roll it into a bun at the top of your head. Get a nice undercut fade done with high-quality hair cutting shears. This hairstyle gives you a break from having to style your hair every day and lasts longer.
Woven Braided Bun
What sets this hairstyle apart from the rest is its alternating thicknesses. Combine thick and thin cornrows, intertwine a few of them together for a classy work of art before bringing them together into a bun. Straighten out your beard with a durable beard comb, and you’re set! A woven braided bun and perfectly set beard will turn lots of heads!
Thin Hair Man Bun
Suffering from thinning hair? Get some loose braids that extend from the hairline to the back. No one will notice the thin side. Bring your braids together in a messy bun and achieve that perfect look with an attractive thin beard.
Man Bun With Highlights
This braided man bun hairstyle with an undercut fade will give you that stylish look.
Messy Man Bun
No rule states your braids have to be neat for a bun—the ‘messy-er,’ the better. If you’ve got a curled beard, get it straightened with a curly beard straightener. A messy man bun with a nice beard always makes a statement.
Front Row Style
Man braids are not only very fashionable, but they also give you that neat, tidy and classy look. Make two perfect French braids and secure at the head with a bun. Add an accessory to the bun to complement the look.
Tight Top
Who says you can have just a single braid? With this hairstyle, get four tight braids with a longer one. Bring them all together in a perfect bun.
Up and Over
To achieve this hairstyle, divide the hair into a center parting, braid each side and join the two braids together at the back of the head.
Ball of Box Braids
This hairstyle is achieved with an undercut below long box braids rolled into a neat, round bun at the back of the head.
Dutch Braid
Buns and braids usually look best on thin locks, but they can also work for men with thick hair. This hairstyle only needs a single braid that runs down the center of the head to a high bun.
Precision Locks
Men’s braids don’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, simplicity is all you need to achieve that perfect look. To achieve this style, section off the top of your hair and create a single braid. Gather the loose ends at the back and twist into a neat bun.
A Little on the Side
Gathering your hair and rolling it into the perfect bun keeps it tidy, but you can also spice up your look by adding small braids along the parting. Consider using hairspray on the non-braided parts.
Signature Style
You can be as creative as you want with braided man bun hairstyles. Consider adding a pompadour to your braiding to give you that signature style for a unique look. If you need to put your beard in a great shape to compliment your hair, learning beard shaping tips is a good option.
Great Expectations
This is similar to Dutch braids. A large braid runs from the front to the back of the head. The loose end is rolled into a perfect man bun.
Colored Locks
Also, another type of Dutch braid except with a little bit of color.
From the Bottom Up
Most undercuts come to the top of the head, but this is not the case with this man bun braid hairstyle. Instead, it allows for a V-shaped section of the hair. In this case, long hair is better. The hair is braided from the bottom up and folded over the bun. With your beard trimmed and perfectly shaped with a premium beard derma roller, you will look your best.
Fashion Time
Here, the hair is braided into thin long box braids, which are pulled back and folded into a messy man bun. This is a sleek, fashionable hairstyle.
Sexy Sections
The hair is sectioned into three parts; two smaller ones by the side and a wider section in the middle. Each one is tightly braided and collected at the back of the hair and gathered into a big bun.
Braids of All Sizes
For this hairstyle, different sizes of braids are needed. It begins with a Dutch braid by the side, followed by a bigger one and this is repeated.
Super Neat
This man bun and braid style has been collected into fashionable multiple braids that begin from the front to the back and end with a neat twist over a bun.
Stark Sides and Black Braids
The hair is shaved to the skin along the sides; this concentrates all attention on the beautiful dark-colored locks at the top. The strands have been parted and Dutch braided, collected in a high ponytail.
Braids and Buns
Managing thick hair can be difficult, but with braids, you’ve got nothing to worry about. This style is an inverted French braid collected in a round braid at the back.
Ocean Twist
Here, perfectly combed hair is braided from front to back. One-half of the inch is colored in bright shades to make the hair stand out among the crowd.
Full Head of Braids
This is achievable with long hair. The hair is neatly sectioned into thin rows of braids. The end of these braids is collected in a neat relaxed bun.
Short Locks
Even short hair can be used to achieve this hairstyle. The hair is braided in a single loose braid which ends in a small bun at the back.
Master Styling
With braids, you can achieve unique patterns that turn your hair into a masterpiece. This hairstyle is achieved using rows of Dutch braids which are perfectly interlinked.
The Definition
The longer middle section of the hair is neatly braided and has well-defined partings to achieve this hairstyle. The braids are then collected above an undercut.
So Sauvé
Here, a perfectly graded undercut surrounds two neat French braids.
It’s All About the Spacing
The more equally spaced your braids are, the more stylish they look. This hairstyle is achieved with rows of Dutch braids collected in a tight bun.
Sharp Angles
Inverted French braiding creates four sharp-angled braids that are brought together in a high bun.
How to Get Them
Step 1 – Prepare your hair
Take a warm/cold shower and dry your hair with either a towel or a hairdryer. With a comb, untangle your hair and comb it thoroughly. Decide which area of your hair you want to braid.
Step 2 – Start braiding
Take a strand from this area and divide it into three sections. Secure each of these sections between your fingers. Lightly pull the left strand over the next strand to form an ‘X.’
Step 3 – Repeat the process on the other side
Add a piece of hair to the left strand and repeat the whole process from step 4 until you get the desired length of your man braid.
Step 4 – Use an elastic band to secure the braid
Following steps 3-4, take another strand and repeat the process.
Step 5 – Make a bun
Gather the remaining hair from the man bun braid and bunch it up where you want your bun to be placed. Pull the hair through and the elastic band once or twice and leave it halfway once firm.
Step 6 – Final treatment
Consider using hair spray for a perfect finishing. Face moisturizer can be an excellent option for that fabulous and handsome look.
How to Style
Step 1 – Place hair elastic around your wrist
Gather your hair as if forming a ponytail.
Step 2 – Twist the length around the base to make a bun
Wrap the hair around it.
How to Make Man Bun Braids Last Longer
Step 1 – Moisturize your hair
Always moisturize your hair daily like you would when wearing loose hair. Work a leave-in conditioner, Shea butter, or oil into braids on dry or damp hair. Hair cream for men is recommended, but you are free to use any product of your choice. Make sure to work your product into your scalp regularly to keep it from drying out.
Step 2 – Wash the scalp every 8-10 days
Gently work through your wet braids and squeeze the water out. Note that every braid should be taken out between the 6 and 8 weeks at most. Anything later than that can cause tension at your hair roots, resulting in traction alopecia. This is a gradual loss of hair.
FAQ
How long does your hair have to be to get braids for men?
To achieve a noticeable man braid, you’ll need to grow at least three to four inches of your hair. Short braids can be achieved with a few inches of hair; however, you can grow as long as you desire if you want long braids.
How long does it take to grow a man bun?
How long it will take to grow your hair for a man bun depends solely on the style of man bun you want. It also depends on how fast your hair grows.
Usually, it takes between 6 and 18 months, but it can be shorter if you desire a half-man bun. However, 12 months is required for a full head. With lots of patience and persistence, this is achievable.
Do man buns cause hair loss?
Hair loss is possible when the braid is worn for a longer period. Traction Alopecia is losing hair at the front line area due to constant pulling on the hair by heavy and tight hairstyles.
Try not to wear your braids too tight. It is also advisable to mix up your hairstyles, so it doesn’t always pull the same way.
Can you braid 2 inches of hair?
You can achieve smaller braids with a hair of 2 inches. However, you might need a professional barber for that.
How long does black hair need to be to braid?
The answer depends on the type of braids you’re planning to rock. The minimum length of hair to be braided is about 2 inches. This is just about enough hair to be wrapped around the fingers when braiding. At the same time, if you want longer braids, you would need a longer hair length.
Conclusion
Rocking a man bun says a lot to say about you. It means you’re bold, confident and not afraid to take a challenge. It also represents commitment, persistence and a lot of patience since growing your hair can take a lot of time. So be proud of yourself, you rock!