These days, I have about this much patience for my hair…
Seriously, I just can’t freaking deal! Even the curling iron feels like too much work.
So lately I’ve been all about #thatscrunchielife, because it only takes about 10 seconds to either corral my mane into a low side pony…
…or put it up into this haphazard ponytail/bun number I lovingly call my “crazy cat lady hair.”
I have come to the realization, however, that as tempting as it is, woman cannot live on scrunchies alone. Eventually, we have to leave the house, and when we’re out there in the big, bad world, it really does help to look like a responsible citizen. It makes strangers less likely to run away when you say things like, “I’m looking for a velvet king or princess costume for my 20-pound cat.”
In that vein, and to expand my hair style horizons, I’ve started using the $5 Mia Beauty Bun Ease.
I grabbed it primarily because of the instructions on the box, which make using it sound so easy (“Just tuck and roll!”). The six-piece kit comes with everything you need to whip up a large four-inch diameter bun — one bun-holder thingy, a ponytail elastic and four large bobby pins — so you don’t have to buy anything else.
Before using it, my major worries were 1) that it would give me a headache, 2) that it wouldn’t stay in place, and 3) that it would be a chore to use, but since it was only $5 ($6 at Target), I figured that I wasn’t risking too much if it didn’t work out.
I’ve been wearing it pretty much all week long, and I’m happy to report that it’s great! It stays in all day, doesn’t make my head hurt, and it’s a cinch to use.
With it I can knock out a casually messy bun in one or two minutes. I’ll just gather my hair into a ponytail, slip it into the bun contraption, spread the ends of my hair over the edge, and roll the bun down. Then I secure it with the four bobby pins that come with the kit.
If I spend a little more time I can make the bun look neater and more Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but I kind of prefer the slightly disheveled look… I guess it speaks to the part of my soul that embraces chaos!
But here’s the deal: While I like the bun to look a little “undone,” I can’t pull off super messy like some girls can, so I still like the overall hairstyle to look somewhat polished; otherwise, I look like one of the wildlings from Game of Thrones…
What I’ll do is slick down the sides and back of my head with a firm hold hairspray, then comb down the fly-away hairs with a stiff brush. That way I get a nice contrast between the smooth sides and the haphazard bun.
I’ve been using this new Kerastase Lacque Noire ($37), a firm hold hairspray that keeps everything in place but still leaves my hair feeling soft.
See? Messy but not too messy. 🙂
I highly recommend the Mia Beauty Bun Ease kit. I found mine at Target for $6, but it’s also available for $5 at Ulta. (I just couldn’t wait).
PRICE: $5
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Target, Ulta and ulta.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
So glad you reviewed this Karen! I was in Target today but didn’t buy it in hopes you would review it! Awesome!
I saw some smaller bun tools or whatever you want to call them. My hair is past my shoulders and fairly long. Do you feel you need to have a certain length of hair to use this one? Your hair is definitely longer than mine.
love the look! Karen what makeup are you wearing here? I’m really liking the base, cheek and lip!
i agree, your face looks extra awesome! i am a scrunchie addict. i’m wearing one right now. hot pink. waffle-knit fabric. sexy, right?
I might have to pick this up!Tarjay is a dangerous place!
This looks great! I’m always in a bun so I’m going to check this out the next time I go to Target
Woah, look at how big that bun is!! Love it!! Awesome 🙂
~Christina
http://thedancegrad.com
My hair is longer and thicker than yours is, and I just cannot seem to make this thing work for me! I’ve had it for months now, and each time I try, my hair gets super tangled, and doesn’t cover the material. It ends up looking horrible, even after I pin everything down. Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve that might work with the Bun Ease?
Thank you for reviewing this, Karen!! Love how the bun looks on you and how easy you made it seem for even me to do. I can’t wait to try it out!
Very convenient, and looks très chic.
I use to “pimp my bun” using the old cut off sock, works wonders. Just have to make sure, the hair stays put throughout the day. It kind of ruins the grown-up look if you have got parts of sock showing on your head.
Your comment about the crazy cat lady buying costumes for a 20 lb cat was hysterical!! Love it.
You look wonderful, Karen! My hair resists being wound around one of these, but it also resists being curled, or even being braided at all tightly. End result, it takes me forever to use one of these, although the resulting bun is beautiful (actually, I think my hair might be too long for it now, the resulting bun might be ginormous). But for anyone whose hair isn’t an active resister like mine, I think this is a great way to do a quick and easy bun that reliably looks good — glad you tried it!
That is a VERY big bun right there! Love it! I wonder if I have enough hair to cover up the bun thingie.
Fun fact – Instead of buying the foam bun thing, the military (especially the marines) teach women with long hair how to do that with a sock. Cut off the toe of a sock. Roll it into a donut. Use it just like the foam bun thing.
I think I need to grab this the next time I’m at target!! Thanks for the review!
Cute hairstyle! I brought a bun maker kit called hot buns from Walmart a while ago. It wasn’t easy to use at all like it claimed!I kept getting my hair tangled up in it. My Mom gave me a couple of the homemade roll up socks and they work fine. I love a bun but like you I worry about headaches and neck aches when I wear them. So I just twist my hair and secure it with a barrette for my easy style.
Love this look. What are the products you are wearing? please do a tutorial.
All I could look at was your makeup, you must tell us what you’re wearing in this post!
OMG your makeup!!!!! share please!!!!
Love your make up Karen, please tell us what it is
Obsessed with your makeup here!!!! Definitely would love to know what you are wearing.:)
You mean I can’t leave the house in my scrunchi:) Wish someone had told me earlier.
The hair is great, but I *love* the makeup!
This is just the “bun contraption” that I’ve been looking for! I really have been looking for one for a while now and have tried a few that have only took more time than I liked. I will have to give this a try, especially since I see that it gathers the hair when you roll it down. So simple! Thanks for reviewing it!
I wish I was confident enough to rock a big bun while out and about!!! I just stick my lil messy one (I have super fine hair with no volume) and save the big bun for at home/curling my hair!
My hanging around the house look is definitely photo #2 (AKA Crazy Cat Lady Hair) but insert a hair elastic for the scrunchie. 🙂 Thanks for the awesome tutorial. I only laughed when I saw the instruction card again – Steps 1 and 2 – and imagined how that would work out for me. Now that I see the bun/sleeve thingy, I think it might be OK. Still, no promises. HAHA!
Hi Karen, first time commentor, long time lurker
Hi cgr,
Thank you for coming by to say hello! Welcome. 🙂
Gah, sorry, that wasn’t my whole comment, how did 90% get lost? Anyway, my lost comment was that I love your blog. You’re so funny and smart, your writing style really appeals to me, so witty. I bought this two days ago from Ulta, it was $6, but I had a 20% off coupon, so worth it. Got it on my first go and wore it to work yesterday, got lots of compliments. Thanks so much for reviewing this. I think I’ll get another one and cut it shorter for a smaller bun for a more casual, everyday look. I got the 4 inch one and while it looks great, I might be more comfortable with something a bit smaller.
Lots of comments on what makeup you used…will there be an update?
It really does work, huh? Might have to get one to try on my shoulder length hair.