How to Pin a Chignon

The chignon is an elegant hairstyle that works well for any face shape. Dress it up for formal occasions with jeweled pins, hair sticks or flowers. Dress it down with "messy" pieces or spiky ends that stick out every which way and wear it with jeans. Either way, the chignon gives you a stylish look. The best part of this hairstyle is how easy it is to create.

Things You'll Need

• Two coated hairbands
• Bobby or chignon hair pins
• Hair texturizer, such as gel, mousse, thickening spray or pomade
• Hair spray
• Decorative hair accessories such as jeweled pins or flowers

Instructions

1. Gather your hair into a low ponytail at the base of your neck. Part your hair comfortably with a standard center or side part, or simply brush the hair straight back. Stiffer parts look formal while softer, looser hair around the face gives the style a casual feel. Secure the ponytail with a coated hairband.

2. Texturize the hair in your ponytail, especially if you have thin or fine hair. This creates friction among the hair strands, helps it hold a shape and gives the chignon greater volume. Use hair wax, pomade, gel, mousse, thickening spray or regular hair spray-whatever works best for your hair. Apply the product to your hair and work it evenly through the length.

3. Twist the hair in the ponytail. Choose to either keep your hair in a single section or to divide the ponytail in two sections and wrap them around each other in a spiral. Braiding the ponytail is also effective if your hair is long enough to coil the braid around the base of the ponytail at least twice. Secure the end of the twisted or braided ponytail with a second coated hairband.

4. Begin coiling the twisted or braided ponytail around the base of the ponytail. Once the hair is coiled into the first full circle, pin the hair to the back of your head. Be generous with the pins as the thickest and heaviest part of the ponytail is in this first circle. Pinning securely prevents the chignon from sagging even after you've worn it for several hours.

5. Continue coiling your hair around the outside of the first coiled circle. Pin the hair in place as you go.

6. Tuck the end of the ponytail under the body of the chignon. Pin it out of sight or tuck it under the outermost coil of hair and pull it through so the ends stick out. Fan out the spiky ends to give the chignon a little extra funk and apply some additional gel or pomade to the ends for staying power.

7. Finish your chignon by spritzing it with hair spray and adding a few flowers or jeweled pins around the outermost coil. If you use decorative pins, place the jewels so they are visible and catch the light. Pull some tendrils of hair around your face to soften the look.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash hair spray and any texturizing product out of your hair before you completely uncoil or brush out the chignon. This helps avoid breaking, tearing or splitting the hair strands. The products and the twist or braid fall out with the rush of water. Use a detangler to loosen any knots that may result from the hairstyle.