Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style at Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • New Beauty Launches
    • Halloween Nails
    • 'You Can See Everything'
    • Holiday Candles
    • Statement Red Socks
    1. Beauty
    2. Hair

    Ciara's Hairstylist Explains How He Created Her Perfectly Messy Bun

    It's not as elusive as you think.

    Gabrielle Ulubay's avatar
    By Gabrielle Ulubay
    Published 12 February 2024 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Ciara Wilson
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    This weekend, Ciara celebrated Superbowl LVIII in style. It's no wonder the singer pulled out all the stops: Her husband, Russell Wilson, is currently playing quarterback for the Denver Broncos. When Ciara posted a sweet, stylish photo of the two celebrating Super Bowl Sunday, it wasn't the celebration that earned attention; all eyes were instead on Ciara's chic blonde bun with strands of wavy hair framing her face.

    The look epitomizes the potential of the messy bun, showing off her multi-toned balayage and her length while also pulling the majority of her hair out of her face. An exposed middle part also lent Ciara the appearance of nonchalant ease, as though she'd just pulled her hair up in a quick, easy updo. The move is a stark contrast from the meticulous slicked back buns that have monopolized street style mood boards in recent months.

    A post shared by Ciara

    A photo posted by ciara

    "I wanted to highlight Ciara’s beauty, so I wanted to keep her hair up with some face framing strands around her face," Dimitris Giannetos, the celebrity hairstylist responsible for the Ciara's perfectly messy bun, tells Marie Claire. He calls the style "the modern version of Pretty Woman," referencing Julia Roberts' memorable beauty from the 1990 film.

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    A post shared by Ciara

    A photo posted by ciara

    Ciara's style is enough to put anyone in the mood for a new updo hairstyle, especially one paired with maximalist fashion like the singer's layers of shiny silver necklaces and her oversized tee.

    To get the look, simply pull your hair back, just below the crown of your head, and wrap it in a loose bun, taking care to retain your part. (To achieve the volume that Ciara has on both sides, make sure that your hair isn't pulled back too tight.) Then, pull a few strands out of the bun, allowing them to frame your face on either side.

    You may like
    • hannah baxter in a red skirt with a slick-back bun My Slick-Back Bun Routine Is Elite—Here's Everything I Use
    • two women with blow buns and low ponytails on a liquid golden background The Reign of the Slick Back Bun Is Over
    • Nicole Kidman attends the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Nicole Kidman’s Emmys Hair Has Me Ready to Retire the Slicked-Back Bun

    While the look conveys nonchalance, it takes some extra product to achieve peak volume. Giannetos recommends using NEXXUS Prep and Protect Heat Defense Spray, which he credits massively with "help[ing] me create this voluminous updo."

    Shop every product needed for Ciara's Pretty Woman updo ahead.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Get the Look

    Prep & Protect Thermal Shield Spray

    NEXXUS Prep & Protect Thermal Shield Spray
    $12 AT ULTA

    Small Slipsilk™ Scrunchies

    Slip Small Slipsilk Scrunchies
    $39 AT SEPHORA

    Vegan Detangle + Style Brush

    dae Vegan Detangle + Style Brush
    $24 AT SEPHORA

    Edge Tool

    PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Edge Tool
    $12 AT SEPHORA

    Long Barrel Curling Iron 1.25' NanoIonic MX

    Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling Iron 1.25' NanoIonic MX
    $149 AT SEPHORA

    Drybar Reserve Vibrating Flat Iron

    Drybar Reserve Vibrating Flat Iron
    $190 AT SEPHORA

    Gabrielle Ulubay
    Gabrielle Ulubay
    Social Links Navigation
    Former Beauty Writer

    Gabrielle Ulubay is a Former Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. She has also written about sexual wellness, politics, culture, and fashion at Marie Claire and at publications including The New York Times, HuffPost Personal, Bustle, Alma, Muskrat Magazine, O'Bheal, and elsewhere. Her personal essay in The New York Times' Modern Love column kickstarted her professional writing career in 2018, and that piece has since been printed in the 2019 revised edition of the Modern Love book. Having studied history, international relations, and film, she has made films on politics and gender equity in addition to writing about cinema for Film Ireland, University College Cork, and on her personal blog, gabrielleulubay.medium.com.

    Read more
    hannah baxter in a red skirt with a slick-back bun
    Hair My Slick-Back Bun Routine Is Elite—Here's Everything I Use Flyaways? Never heard of them.
    By Hannah Baxter
    Princess Kate Slick Back Ponytail Trend
    Royals Princess Kate’s Ponytail Makes A Case For The Death Of The Slick Back
    By Christine Ross
     
     
    short choppy curtain bangs and shaggy layers on different hair lengths, dark tousled bob with pieces falling across the face, soft wispy fringe and flipped out ends, effortless messy hair inspo
    Hair These Cool-Girl Bangs Never Go Out of Style Celebrity stylists share different cut ideas and the best products to use.
    By Olivia Truffaut-Wong
    Taylor Swift's turtleneck at the Kansas City Chiefs game tapped into Fall 2026's red color trend
    Celebrity Style This Color Trend Is Already Taylor Swift's Signature Chiefs Shade
    By Meguire Hennes
     
     
    Latest in Hair
    short choppy curtain bangs and shaggy layers on different hair lengths, dark tousled bob with pieces falling across the face, soft wispy fringe and flipped out ends, effortless messy hair inspo
    Hair These Cool-Girl Bangs Never Go Out of Style
    a collage featuring the Emi Jay x DedCool collaboration for holiday gifting of hair and body mist and sweet fragrance notes
    Hair DedCool and Emi Jay Just Released the $59 Holiday Gift Set I'll Be Giving Everyone
     
     
    The Clever Way Princess Kate Uses Beauty and Hair Styling Tricks to "Make a Statement" and Invoke "A Fresh Start," Per Celebrity Stylist
    Royals The Clever Way Princess Kate Uses Beauty and Hair Styling Tricks
    collage of women with different shades of red hair
    Hair At Long Last, I Found the Perfect Shade of Red Hair for Every Skin Tone
     
     
    Latest in News
    Prince William wearing a light gray suit and blue shirt
    Royals Prince William Reflects on Losing a Parent: "You Need to Take Your Time Over It"
    Elle Fanning wore a pink ballet-inspired tutu dress by Robert Wun at the 'Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' London premiere
    Celebrity Style Elle Fanning's Over-the-Top 'Hunger Games' Premiere Dress Would Make Effie Proud
     
     
    Princess Diana
    Royals Earl Spencer Details the Part of Princess Diana's Personality That Wouldn't Be "Encouraged in This Day and Age"
    Prince William wearing a blue blazer
    Royals Prince William's "Position Hasn't Changed" About One Tradition He Might Break
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.