Front and back view of a 35-45 year old Asian man with light skin showcasing a high crown curly man bun with softly tapered medium-length sides.
Man Bun

The High Crown Curly Man Bun with Softly Tapered Medium Sides

Top Top Very Long (20+ cm)
Sides Sides Medium (2-5 cm)
Hair Type Hair Type Curly (Type 3)
Face Shape Face Shape Oval
Maintenance Maintenance Low
Thickness Thickness Medium / Normal

About This Style

When you examine this strikingly handsome high crown curly man bun, you will immediately notice how it masterfully balances rugged, natural texture with refined, everyday control. Unlike sleek, aggressively straightened top knots that require heavy pomades, this specific variation proudly embraces your natural Type 3 curls. It allows the inherent loops, coils, and waves to create incredible volume and captivating visual interest within the bun itself. The hair is pulled back with just enough tension to present a clean, sophisticated silhouette from the front, while the rear view reveals a rich, complex tapestry of tightly woven curls secured neatly at the apex of the head. This specific style is an absolutely exceptional choice if you have an oval face shape and medium-thick curly hair, as the prominent height of the bun elongates your profile beautifully without adding unnecessary wideness. The medium-length sides, kept between two and five centimeters, provide a soft, natural, and highly blended transition down to the nape rather than a harsh, high-contrast skin fade. This distinct structural choice makes it a highly versatile, remarkably low-maintenance option that transitions effortlessly from a casual weekend outing to a relaxed, creative office environment. You will appreciate how this effortless style transforms unruly curls into a truly intentional, distinguished statement piece.

Key Features

  • Prominent high crown placement that strategically draws the eye upward, adding flattering vertical dimension to your overall facial silhouette.
  • Natural Type 3 curl texture proudly displayed and preserved within the bun, creating a beautifully textured, voluminous knot rather than a flat, slicked-down ball.
  • Softly tapered medium-length sides ranging from two to five centimeters that gracefully frame the ears and the nape of the neck without exposing the bare scalp.
  • Gentle, sweeping backward hair flow that maintains a neat, professional front hairline while still allowing your natural wave pattern to remain highly visible.
  • A secure, tension-conscious tie-off method at the crown that effectively prevents unnecessary stress on the frontal hairline while keeping the style locked in place all day.
  • Seamless integration between the longer top hair and the medium sides, entirely avoiding the stark, disconnected undercut appearance that is common with other top knots.

Getting the Cut

  1. Request a meticulous scissor-cut taper around the sides and back, specifically asking to keep the length between two to five centimeters to maintain a soft, highly natural perimeter.
  2. Ask your barber to leave the top and crown sections extremely long, ideally exceeding twenty centimeters, to ensure you have more than enough length to form a substantial, well-proportioned bun.
  3. Instruct your stylist to perform a gentle point-cutting technique on the very ends of your long top hair; this will encourage your natural curls to interlock smoothly when tied back.
  4. Specify clearly that you want a seamless, graduated blend from the medium sides into the exceptionally long top, actively avoiding any harsh disconnection lines or aggressive undercut styling.
  5. Ask for a natural, clean neckline cleanup using trimmers, ensuring they preserve the organic, natural shape of your hairline rather than carving out a rigid, unnatural boxed-out edge.
  6. Strongly request that absolutely no thinning shears be used on the bulk of your top length, as maintaining your medium-normal hair thickness is absolutely crucial for achieving a full, healthy-looking curly bun.

Daily Routine

  1. Begin your morning styling routine by lightly misting your dry or second-day hair with a high-quality hydrating leave-in conditioner spray to quickly reactivate and soften your natural curls.
  2. Thoroughly warm a dime-sized amount of light-hold styling cream or a specialized curl-enhancing smoothie between your palms to ensure smooth, completely even distribution across your hair.
  3. Gently work the styling product through your hair starting from the roots and moving to the ends, using your open fingers to rake the hair backward toward the high crown of your head.
  4. Carefully gather all your long hair at the high crown area using solely your hands, deliberately avoiding the use of a fine-tooth comb so you do not break apart your natural curl clumps.
  5. Secure the gathered hair with a premium, snag-free elastic band, looping it twice and pulling the hair only halfway through on the final pass to create that iconic, voluminous bun shape.
  6. Use your fingertips to gently tug and adjust the outer edges of the bun, intentionally allowing a few individual curls to pop out for that perfectly effortless, casually textured appearance.

Products & Tools

  • Lightweight curl-enhancing cream or specialized smoothie offering a highly flexible, low hold and a natural, healthy matte finish that never looks greasy.
  • Premium hydrating leave-in conditioner spray designed specifically for refreshing your curls and adding essential, deep moisture without weighing the hair strands down.
  • High-quality, snag-free seamless fabric hair ties or professional bungee bands specifically designed to prevent strand breakage and minimize tension on your delicate curly hair.
  • Sturdy wide-tooth detangling comb that should be used strictly during your shower routine only when your hair is fully coated in a slippery, hydrating conditioner.
  • Your own fingers, which genuinely serve as the absolute best daily styling tool for raking curly hair backward seamlessly without destroying the natural texture and volume.

Maintenance

  • Schedule a routine cleanup appointment with your trusted barber every five to eight weeks strictly to trim away split ends and meticulously maintain the softly tapered edges on the sides and back.
  • Limit your hair washing routine strictly to once or twice a week, always utilizing a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser to actively prevent your curly hair from drying out and becoming dangerously brittle.
  • Invest in and sleep on a high-quality silk or satin pillowcase, or wear a protective satin sleep cap, to drastically reduce overnight friction and perfectly preserve your curl definition for the next day.
  • Strictly avoid tying your man bun too tightly on a daily basis, as consistent, excessive tension can quickly lead to traction alopecia and cause permanent, irreversible damage to your frontal hairline.

Best For

Men with naturally oval or diamond face shapes, as the prominent high placement of the bun beautifully complements, elongates, and balances these specific facial proportions perfectly. Individuals possessing Type 3 curly hair with a medium to normal overall thickness, which naturally provides the necessary, robust volume required for a substantial, eye-catching knot. Gentlemen in their mid-thirties to mid-forties who are actively seeking a distinguished, highly creative, yet wonderfully relaxed everyday aesthetic for their personal style. Busy individuals with low-maintenance lifestyles where a quick, hassle-free one-to-five minute morning styling routine is highly preferred over complex grooming rituals.

Pro Tips

  • Never tie your hair back into a bun when it is completely soaking wet, as wet hair stretches significantly and becomes far more prone to snapping and breaking under the tension of a tight hairband.
  • To effectively prevent a flat, lifeless, and glued-down look around the scalp, massage your roots very gently with your fingertips immediately after tying the bun to encourage a slight, natural lift.
  • During the particularly dry and harsh winter months, make sure to incorporate a weekly deep conditioning mask to ensure your long curls remain highly elastic, deeply hydrated, and exceptionally easy to manage.
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