The man bun pairs an undercut or fade on the sides and back with long hair on top gathered and tied into a knot. It gives men with longer hair a polished way to wear it up while keeping the sides clean and maintained.
The man bun took off in the mid-2010s. Athletes, actors, and musicians drove the trend, and it quickly became one of the most searched-for men’s hairstyles online. But the concept isn’t new. Men have been tying their hair up for centuries across cultures, from samurai topknots in feudal Japan to Viking warriors to Sikh joora traditions. The modern man bun is just the latest version of a very old idea: long hair, controlled.
The style works on most hair types, but it needs length. The top should be at least 6 inches to create a bun that actually stays put. Eight to 10 inches gives more options for size and placement. Texture changes the look: straight hair creates a sleeker, tighter bun, while wavy and curly hair produces a bigger, more textured knot.
The man bun suits most face shapes. Pulling the hair back exposes the face fully, which works well for clients with strong jawlines and defined features. Rounder faces benefit from the vertical lift of the bun, which elongates the profile. Clients with very long or narrow faces should position the bun lower on the head and avoid pulling the hair too tight, which can exaggerate facial length.
One conversation worth having upfront: the man bun requires a commitment to growing hair out. There will be awkward stages. There will be months where the top is too long to style down but too short to tie up. Setting that expectation early saves frustration for everyone.
Your role with a man bun is managing the sides and back, shaping the top, and teaching the client how to tie it properly.
Start by determining the side treatment. The sides can be buzzed to a uniform length (classic undercut approach), faded (more graduated), or tapered (softer transition). Talk through the options with the client. A skin fade on the sides creates the most dramatic contrast with the long top. A taper or low fade is more subtle and grows out better.
Section the top. Clip up all the hair that will stay long. The section line should follow the parietal ridge, the natural curve where the top of the skull starts to slope down toward the sides. Everything above this line stays long. Everything below gets cut.
Cut the sides and back with the long hair secured and out of the way. Work around the entire head from sideburns around the back and up to the opposite side. Pay extra attention to the nape, which is often visible when the bun is worn and needs to look clean.
If the client opted for a faded or tapered look, blend the transition zone where the short sides meet the long top. For a disconnected look, leave a hard line. For something softer, use clipper-over-comb or blending shears to create a short gradient.
Even though the top is being grown out, it still needs maintenance. Check for split ends and trim them with shears. Remove any stray, uneven lengths that stick out when the hair is down. If the client wants layers for texture, add them through the mid-lengths while preserving the overall length.
Then teach the tie. This is a service step that adds real value. Show the client how to gather the hair, twist it, and secure it with a hair tie. Demonstrate different bun positions (high, mid, low on the crown) and explain which elastic types cause the least breakage. Fabric-covered elastics and spiral hair ties are gentler than standard rubber bands.
When fading the sides of a man bun, you’re working with the same demands as any undercut: multiple guard passes across a wide surface area. Reliable clippers that regulate their own blade temperature keep the session comfortable for the client, especially around the ears and nape where the skin is sensitive.
The man bun is higher maintenance than most clients expect. The long hair on top needs ongoing care to stay healthy and bun-worthy.
For daily care, brush or comb through the long hair before tying it up. Starting with tangled hair and forcing it into a bun causes breakage and weakens the hair over time. Don’t tie the bun too tight. Constant tension on the follicles can lead to traction alopecia, a form of hair loss caused by repeated pulling. A firm but comfortable hold is enough. Vary the bun position from day to day so you’re not concentrating stress on the same follicles every time. Use a fabric-covered hair tie, not rubber bands. Replace ties when they lose elasticity.
On washing and conditioning: 2 to 3 times per week, not daily. Over-washing strips natural oils that keep longer hair manageable. Condition every time, and consider a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Apply a lightweight leave-in conditioner or hair oil (argan, jojoba, or coconut) to the ends after washing. And never tie wet hair into a bun. Wet hair is more elastic and more prone to breakage under tension. Let it air dry or blow dry first.
The faded or buzzed sides grow out faster than the top grows longer. Those sides will need attention every 2 to 3 weeks. Moisturize the buzzed area to prevent dryness and irritation.
Visit frequency: every 2 to 3 weeks for the sides, every 6 to 8 weeks for a top trim (split end removal and shaping). Clients in the growing-out phase may go longer between top trims.
Top Knot, Samurai Bun, Half-Up Undercut