Chignon Style: 7 Ways to Create the Perfect Chignon

Aphrodite the heck out of your next party updo.

For weddings and any other fancy occasions, a chignon hairstyle allows you to have an elegant updo that stays pristine all night long. This is a knotted/coiled updo that gives your look an extra touch of elegance compared to a regular ponytail or bun. This style also looks great for any daytime activities. Plus, it can be. mastered at home.

Whether you opt for a low chignon or one to the side, it’s definitely a look that’s bound to turn heads. Ready to try out this gorgeous style? Read on to check out our step-by-step chignon tutorial, featuring three different styles.

Tutorial 1: How to Get the Perfect Chignon

Learn how to create a classic, low chignon hairstyle.

1

Start with clean hair.

Big-day beauty looks should start on a clean canvas. Shampoo and condition your hair with Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo and Dove Daily Moisture Conditioner.

perfect chignon step 1 clean hair
2

Create a side part.

Create a side part using a rat-tail or fishtail comb.

perfect chignon step 2 side part
3

Gather the back section into a ponytail.

Sharply separate the parted area in the front from the rest of your hair and leave this section down. Gather the remaining back section into a low ponytail and secure with a hair tie at your nape. This is the start of the chignon.

perfect chignon step 3 gather into pony
4

Tie another elastic near the ends.

Secure the bottom half of your ponytail by tying another hair elastic near the ends, around 1/3 of the way down.

perfect chignon step 4 gather into a pony bottom
5

Define the loose section in front.

Brush or comb the loose section to remove any knots. Make sure your parting remains sharp and well-defined – you should have a thick strip of untied hair on one side.

perfect chignon step 5 refine parting
6

Loop the pony underneath itself.

Create your low bun by looping your ponytail underneath itself.

perfect chignon step 6 loop underneath
7

Secure with pins.

Secure the overlap with bobby pins to keep the bun in place. Pin around the bun as necessary to keep it from unfurling and to fix any tendrils that may have fallen loose.

perfect chignon step 7 secure with pins
8

Cover the base of the bun.

Conceal any pins and hair ties by placing the loose parted section from earlier over the base of your bun.

perfect chignon step 8 place section over bun base
9

Make sure the entire seam is covered.

Ensure the entire base of the bun, as well as all elastics and seams, are covered completely by new hair.

perfect chignon step 9 perfect cover
10

Loop hair around chignon once again.

Second time’s the charm: Loop the loose ends over the bun once more, and again using pins at the overlap to secure.

evening hairstyles Chignon
11

Refine the bun.

Lock in this style by using some of TRESemmé TRES Two Extra Hold Hairspray. Then, tuck in any loose strands with extra pins on the underside of the chignon, if necessary.

 

perfect chignon step 11 refine second loop
12

Done!

You’re all set with your chignon! Finish with some hairspray for extra staying power.

perfect chignon final step done

Tutorial 2: How to Create a Festive Chignon

An accessorized chignon is the perfect hairstyle for any festive look. Learn how to create it here!

chignon with flower

Step 1: Wash and style.

To begin creating your festive chignon updo, wash and condition your hair. Once your hair is dry, roll, tuck, and pin the ends up like a croissant bun. Make sure you apply enough pins to lock your chignon in place and then weave your wreath into the fold of your chignon.

festive chignon tutorial
Finished look.

Step 2: Finished product!

You can stop right here or keep piling on the wreath and make a festive hair crown. Set your style some hairspray by spraying it a few inches away from your hair and you’re done with your chignon!

Tutorial 3: How to Make a Greek Bun

Want to add a little bit of a change to the classic chignon style? Incorporated a braid into the look, giving the updo a Greek Goddess feel.

low chignon tutorial back view
Positioned just at the hollow of your nape, the chignon has a very soft, feminine silhouette.

Step 1: Start on clean, shiny, freshly washed hair.

Use a moisturizing shampoo that provides amazing nourishment and shine to your hair for your chignon.

Step 2: Blow-dry until your hair is completely dry.

Holding your arms 10 to 12 inches away from your head, coat wet locks with a shine-delivering thermal protectant such as TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray. Proceed to blow-dry your hair and if needed, follow up with a few passes of a flat iron.

Step 3: Comb and section dried hair.

Create a center part, and then section off the top two sections closest to the hairline—one on each side—and set aside with a clip.

Step 4: Begin pin-curling.

Starting with the second-highest section on one side, begin creating medium-barreled pin curls either with a fishtail comb or your fingers. Secure the pin curls to your scalp with bobby pins. Note: Curl outwards, as these pin curls will form the shape of your bun, little by little.

Step 5: Move downwards.

Be mindful of following your neckline with the size of the pin-curls. (You should have a half-moon-shaped bun: shorter at the sides and thickest/longest at the middle part.) Finish pin-curling the entire back of the head until you reach the opposite side.

Step 6: Unclamp the front sections.

Create a regular three-strand braid (or whichever variation you like—we are loving the fishtail at the moment) on each of the top sections, and place them across your head and on top of each other, right on the seam of your Greek bun. Hold down with bobby pins until they feel completely secure. And that’s it – your Greek chignon awaits!

Chignon Style Inspo

Did you know there are so many ways you can sport a chignon hairstyle? From Dutch braids, to wispy, face-framing pieces left out, to looser approaches, the chignon can easily be made more modern without loosing its elegant feel.

1. Greek Side Braid

chignon greek braid
Follow your braid all the way into a side chignon.

Create a side-braid style that follows all along one side of your head, into an off-center chignon. Leave a few pieces of hair out in the front to frame your face and add some texture.

2. Messy Chignon

chignon messy
Keep it low and messy.

Go for the messy and effortless style with your chignon. A look like this makes the updo extremely wearable with casual outfits and during the day. For added texture in your look, spritz Suave Dry Texture Finishing Spray.

3. Double Dutch Braid

chignon double braid
Two braids are better than one!

Create two loose, Dutch braids and then bring them together into a chignon. By creating braids like this and then pancaking them, you’re helping the hairstyle. create the illusion of more volume.

4. Loose Braid Chignon

chignon braided
Take a loose braid and make it a chignon.

This look works best with longer hair. Make a loose braid, pancake it for added texture, and then pin it up into a chignon style.

5. Braids into Chignon

chignon double
Create two chignons and intertwine them.

For this look, you’re going to start with two three-strand braids. Twist these braids and pin them upwards to create the chignon look.

6. Side Braid

chignon side braid
Create a side braid for your style.

Start with a tight Dutch braid and combine it into your chignon. For more of an effortless look, leave out face-framing pieces of hair.

7. Classic

chignon classic
Nothing like a classic look.

You can’t go wrong with a classic chignon style, it’s one of our faves! This polished look is the perfect go-to for almost any occasion.

Are you thinking about trying one of these chignon styles? Be sure to snap a picture and tag us @AllThingsHairUS!

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