We all have those days when our hair just doesn’t cooperate, doing all the things we don’t want it to do. Ugh. Aaand it’s always when you have to be out the door in less than five minutes, which is when I'm very much like: *panic-mode activated*.
If this sounds all too familiar, then worry no more because hairstylist to the stars, Chris Appleton, has just come to save the day with yet another Instagram and TikTok hair tutorial. Yes, you read that right, another… because this isn’t the first time Chris has saved our bacon.
The hair artist (as he calls himself) is notorious for sharing easy hair hacks on his Instagram page and has previously shared tutorials on how to achieve the middle-part snatched look and messy bun updo.
This time though, the how-to messy bun tutorial comes to us in the form of a low hairdo, sitting on the neck instead of at the top of your head. Chris walks us through an easy step-by-step guide, working on his daughter and makeup artist, Kitty-blu.
“First of all, put your hair into a low ponytail and on the last loop pull it through so you get a little bun”, Chris explains. “Take the very ends, twist them and criss-cross them over”.
And voila! It’s as simple as that.
Finish off the look by securing your low bun with a pin or two, add some hairspray – Chris’ favourite is the Colour Wow Cult Favorite Firm + Flexible, £23 – and you are good to go. As the hair genius himself says: “you get a beautiful detail bun without any work”.
What would we do without him, ey?
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
