RIP to the Slicked-Back Bun?

Updated on March 12, 2025 at 5:55 PM

Has the reign of the slicked-back bun finally come to an end? After spending multiple years as the It style of cool girls everywhere, it seems the tides have shifted. Celebrities are flocking to the ever-effortless and unfussy messy bun. At the Saint Laurent Womenswear Fall/Winter 2025-2026 show on March 11, 2025, not one, not two, but five A-listers put down their boar bristle brushes and hair gel and opted for a laidback, unpolished bun — including Hailey Bieber and Zoë Kravitz. The looks were complete with face-framing wisps and loose ends for that casually chic vibe.

The allure and magic of the messy bun is nothing new; in fact, it's a downright classic and if you need any further convincing to add it to your updo style rotation, consider this it. It works for all hair types (including fine), is perfect for concealing dirty hair, has a place in all seasons (in the summer, it'll keep your hair off your neck; in the winter, it'll keep your hair from getting mangled by your turtleneck or scarf), and doesn't require a cosmetology degree to pull off. And really, if it's good enough for a royal like Meghan Markle and Pamela Anderson's iconic look, it's good enough for us.

To get inspired for your own perfectly imperfect messy bun, keep scrolling.

Zoë Kravitz's Messy Bun

Zoë Kravitz's messy bun for the Saint Laurent Womenswear Fall/Winter 2025-2026 show featured wispy pieces around her face, the nape of her neck, and the bun itself. The style looked as if she had thrown her hair up before running out the door, in the best way possible.

Hailey Bieber's Messy Bun

Hailey Bieber has been a huge proponent of the sleek and smooth slicked-back bun, but she changed things up with a messier style for Paris Fashion Week. She paired her effortless look with a side part for an edgy yet glamourous look.

Kate Moss's Messy Bun

Kate Moss's PFW style sits somewhere between slicked back and messy. Her hair is pulled back and away from her face with a middle part, but it's perfectly imperfect, leaning into that casual, I-just-rolled-out-of-bed vibe.

Rosé's Messy Bun

Rosé's loose updo takes a little more effort, but it still has that laid-back feel thanks to the addition of loose wisps around her face.

Meghan Markle's Messy Bun

If you're not yet ready to give up your sleek updo just yet, take a page out of Meghan Markle's book. The "With Love, Meghan" star strikes the perfect balance between easygoing and polished with her signature updo.

Pamela Anderson's Messy Bun

Long hair can be a challenge to style when you don't have a lot of time but Pamela Anderson is the blueprint for the perfect messy style. She proves a high messy bun is both red carpet and grocery store-appropriate.

Sleek Messy Bun

Your curls and coils will lend themselves to natural volume when styled in a messy bun high on the top of your head.

Messy Bun For Thin Hair

Not all updos are possible with fine hair, but the beauty of a messy bun is that it truly works on everyone. There are an infinite number of ways you can twist your hair up to get it off of your neck that don't require you to have extra long or thick ends.

Messy Bun For Curly Hair

Wispy pieces dress up any updo but especially a messy bun. With naturally curly hair, your coils can act as accessories, framing your face like a picture.

Jessica Harrington (she/her) is the senior editor of PS Beauty, where she oversees coverage around makeup, skin care, hair, tattoos, and more. With more than eight years of industry experience, she has interviewed countless celebrities, reported on hundreds of beauty trends, and swatched more lipsticks than she can count. Prior to PS, Jessica worked for publications such as Makeup.com, Skincare.com, and The Zoe Report.