When you create a bun using hairsticks, do you begin with a ponytail?  

Everytime I do a bun, I first do a ponytail and then swirl the ponytail to create my bun.  For me it's the only way I know of to get it tight.  I also use bobby pins for extra security but would love to do a tight and secure bun with hairsticks alone.  Any suggestions?

I make a ponytail to make my bun or else its always way off center.  I have some layers so I get a weird looking bun if I try it with sticks alone.  I use Amish hairpins to "glue" my bun in place and control those pokey outey bits.

I wore a low bun today and got a compliment on my hairsticks :-).

I "make" a ponytail but do not secure it with anything.  I just start twisting it, then put it into a bun.  I don't need any other pins to hold it in place, but my hair is long enough to wrap around the base several times.

I do the inverted bun thing, one stick usually holds it securely, but I always use them in pairs.  Here's how I do it:

• Twist hair into a bun, just slightly lower than where you actually want it to be.
  
  (If right handed) Keep holding bun with left hand, with right hand take first stick and put the pointed end up through the center of the bun, from the underside, not the top (when I do it the pointed part is usually pointed at ten o'clock, not perfectly straight up & down).
  
  Now you flip the stick & the bun, so that now the bottom of the stick is pointed at ten o'clock, and push the pointed end down as you go.  This holds securely for me, then I put the second stick in either from the other side to make a wide X, or on the same side to make a narrow, tilted X.  I do this with piggy buns too, using one stick for each side so that they cross in the back, center of my head.

Another method that I've read about, but doesn't work that well for me is this:

• Pull hair into a ponytail, but don't secure with an elastic, hold with left hand (if right handed)
  
  With right hand, take a stick and place it horizontally above the base of the ponytail (still holding with left hand) and against head.  Pointy end should be to the left.
  
  Using left hand, wrap hair up, over & around stick 2-3 times, leaving a bit of a tail.
  
  With right hand, flip stick and push down through hair, then add second stick.

I never cared for that one as much as the first method, but give it a try anyhow.  I hope these make some sense to you & that you are able to use one of them.  I know your hair is a lot thicker than mine, so maybe they won't work as well.  Either way, give 'em a shot.  :)

Thanks for your replies Sakina and Bikerbraid.  Yeah, I was wondering if maybe it was a length issue.  I guess the only way for me to get a good bun with only hairsticks is to have longer hair.  Well, thats one more thing to look forward to.

Oh, I guess we were posting at the same time Maggie.  Thanks, those are great suggestions but I'm not sure if my hair is long enough to try the second one because of all of the wrapping.  I will try the first though, thanks. :)

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that you'll have to adjust the tension as you go, that takes just a little practice.  Too tight can be quite painful!

Maggie,  I loved that first idea of how you use a stick to get a secure bun.  I have lots of hair and it's becoming a bit difficult to keep my bun secure with just a stick, but I will try that one.  As for the second, not-so-good trick, I have tried that too and it absolutely does not work in my hair, I can't even get it to stay for a second.  My hair is just too long and heavy.  It probly works on short or thin hair.