The top knot will be your best friend on the second or third day of your hair cycle and is a great way of pulling all your hair away from your face while still looking ultra chic and put together. The top knot is a go-to style for literally every hair type and whether your hair is curly or straight, long or short, thin or thick, we’re confident there’s a top knot out there that will look absolutely fabulous on you!
If you’re looking for inspiration to achieve this look, follow along for 17 of our favourite top knot hairstyles. Your hair will thank you for the much needed break, we promise!
1. One-minute half-up top knot
Here's an easy one to start, ideal if you have long or short hair. For those with fine or shorter hair, be sure to clip in a couple of Luxy Hair extensions wefts at the top of your head while creating this look so that your top knot is nice and voluminous (don't worry, no one will ever know!) Then, use the remainder of the wefts and clip them in from the mid section of your head to the nape. Lucky for you, with this look, messier is better so you don't have to be too careful. Be sure to tease the hair before wrapping it into a bun and to pull at the bun to add volume and give the hairstyle an even more undone look. Add in a few curls or waves to blend, and you're good to go
For a step-by-step guide to achieve this look, check out our tutorial for the one-minute messy top knot.
2. Top knot with Havana twists
If the half up top knot is one of your go-tos and you're looking for something a little different, try out this braided top knot with Havana twists. Havana twists are a type of protective hairstyle for kinky hair, created by twisting two strands of hair on themselves to create one thicker twist. Once done, pull half the hair up into a top knot and voila!
3. Voluminous top knot
The key to a swoon-worthy top knot is volume, volume, volume! If you have curly, textured hair, you're in luck, however, even girls with fine hair can achieve this look with a few tips and tricks. We love adding a few wefts of our Luxy Hair extensions into our hair to get a full-looking bun. To style hair extensions with an updo or top knot, be sure to clip the wefts in following the direction the hair is going. Most often with updos, this means to clip the wefts in upside down. For a step-by-step guide on how to master this technique, be sure to check out our tutorial for an easy, voluminous bun.
4. Top knot with bangs
Wispy front bangs have taken over our Instagram feeds in recent months, but one of our favourite ways to see them styled is with a top knot. For all our Luxy Hair ladies who already have bangs, this style is as simple as it gets. Simply twist your hair into a top knot, fasten with an elastic and allow your bangs and a few face framing layers to fall naturally. For anyone who's on the fence about getting bangs, check out our Luxy Hair hack video on how you can fake the look with your own hair. This is a great way to test the style before fully committing to it. Be sure to choose the right style of bangs for your face shape!
5. Center-part sleek top knot
Hairstylist Britt Sully shows us how to create this modernized ballerina top knot. Adding a slick center part is a great way to fancy-up a regular top knot and create a more polished look. Add some highlighter to accentuate your cheekbones, and a bold lip and you're ready to go!
To achieve this sleek, center-part top knot, start by creating a middle part and separating the front sections of your hair away. Pull the rest into a sleek high ponytail, using a volumizing mousse for extra hold. Then, pull back one half of the front section, keeping the middle part intact. Wrap it around the ponytail and secure with a bobby pin. Do the same on the other side. Finally, take a small hairnet, wrap it around your ponytail and secure into a sleek small bun.
For more step-by-step instructions to achieve a sleek top knot look, check out our Jennifer Lopez hair tutorial.
6. Space buns
A bun that's twice as fun! For those looking for a top knot that’s a little more advanced, one of our all-time favorites is the space bun hairstyle. To achieve the look simply create a center part and tie your hair up in two high ponytails—then take the rest of your hair and twist around the to create space buns! You can either create smaller half up space buns and leave the rest of your hair loose or tie all your hair up into two space buns. The choice is yours!
7. The Headscarf top knot
If you don’t have the time to add a braid into your top knot, another one of our favorite styling tips is to use a hair accessory. A head scarf with a gorgeous print is timeless and is the perfect trick to making a top knot appear ultra-chic and different. Simply follow the usual steps to create a top knot and either tie the scarif around the bun or around the crown of your head to complete the look. Click here for some more creative ways to use a scarf in your hair.
8. Hair bow top knot
For a topknot that is a little more bold and eccentric, one of our all time favourites is the hair bow top knot. Popularized by the great Lady Gaga, this look is absolutely adorable and definitely a simple and unexpected way to doll up an outfit for a special occasion. Rather than using a classic accessory, why not make your hair the accessory? Check out our hair bow tutorial to achieve the look.
9. The accessorized top knot
The top knot is undeniably versatile and you can definitely style it in a messy, undone way for an everyday look or make it more polished and sleek for an elegant evening look. If you’re in search of inspiration, one of our favourite tips is to add a trendy hair accessory. Whether your hair is curly, straight, thin, or thick, adding a french pin, gold clips, pearl hair clips, or floral accents to a top knot like this will always add an instant dose of chic.
10. Easy twisted bun
This laid back, easy-going hairstyle is ideal for every girl on the go. It takes approximately 8.5 seconds to do (we kid!) but in all honesty, this look is easy to wear, we’re confident you will be rocking it more than you think. The bonus? if you’re a hair styling rookie, this look is simple to achieve and perfect for days when you want a little extra sleekness.
P.S. Don’t forget to pull out a few face-framing strands to make this hairstyle look even more effortless.
11. Top knot + scrunchie combo
We love how ‘90s accessories are making such a big and bold comeback—especially statement silk scrunchies! Scrunchies add a casual feel to your outfit no matter what you’re wearing. What better way to wear this throwback trend than by combining it with a good ol’ top knot! A simple bun paired with a cozy silk scrunchie? This look reaches a whole new level of comfort, IMHO. Comfortable, and looks super chic. What else could you ask for?
12. Low bun with face-framing layers
We’ve already seen how stunning a top-knot and bangs combo looks. When you add in face-framing layers to the mix, you can rest assured that your #hairoftheday will be one for the books. This easy, effortless look is perfect for days where you need a quick hair fix!
13. Half-up half-down
This is the kind of hairstyle that goes perfectly with cute sweatsuits, tie-dye hoodies, and oversized tees. A half-up half-down bun demands little perfection and plays on the volume and length of your hair for a look that you will love to wear again and again. So don’t forget to clip your hair extensions in for this one, ladies!
14. Elegant low bun
The elegant low bun could easily be tagged the royalty of the hair bun society! It combines grace, and effortlessness like no other. No wonder this hairstyle is so popular with modern brides. Whether messy or sleek, an elegant low bun can be easily accessorized with flowers, bejewelled hairpins, rhinestone headbands, and more. Think of it as a canvas that helps you emphasize your personality through your favorite accessories.
15. Tousled messy top knot
Who knew a mess could look this beautiful?! This bun is beautifully calculated to be the right amount of messy. Not too much that makes your mom question the last time you combed your hair, and not too little, either. For a look like this, hair volume plays a key role–so if you’re looking for the perfect layers to level up your messy bun, consider adding a few hair extensions or a volumizer weft.
16. Claw Clipped Bun
Another '90s accessory that makes wearing your hair up oh-so-simple. From Hailey Beiber, Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber, and more—the claw clip is sliding its way back into our dresser drawers and we’re not complaining. What we love about this trend is the variety of hair clips you can use—solid, tortoise, pearl-encrusted, mini, metallic, and more. We like to think of it as a clip for every mood. This easy-to-wear, trendy hair accessory can be your savior on days where you want to put your hair up without any effort. Definitely sounds like our kind of hair accessory, what about you?
17. Braided Top Knot
Is there anything more pleasing to the eye than beautifully braided hair? We think not! (Don’t @ us, you know how much we love our braids!) The next time you want to wear your hair up in a bun, consider adding braids to give it more character. It will help elevate your look and add give a truly #InstaWorthy hairstyle.
18. The avant-garde top knot
Any Real Housewives fans in the house? This one is not for the shy or faint of heart! Styled by Danielle Priano, we're loving this experimental top knot on Erika Jayne with fanned out pieces. Pair this look with a bold winged liner and command all the attention in the room.
19. Sleek top knot with edges
The art of 'layering' baby hairs and styling edges has become a phenomenon amount women of color. Instead of fighting with the shorter hairs situated around the hairline, turn these hairs into works of art using edge control to take your top knot look to new levels.
We’re sure you’re thinking—so many top-knots, so little time! These top knots aren’t just your best option to style third-day hair but are also so easy to do, and comfortable to wear. We almost subconsciously put our hair up in a bun when we get down to do work at home, run errands, or delve into a good book. These hairstyles will keep you on-trend, cozy, and are fuss-free. What else could you ask for?!
