Heart buns are the hair trend I didn’t know I needed

I don’t know who decided that hair should be this fun, but I’m fully on board.

Heart buns are buns — shaped like hearts. Two little loops, a bit of gel, and suddenly you look like you tried way harder than you did. Which is basically my whole hair philosophy.

I am not a hair person. I can do a ponytail. I can do a messy bun if I’m feeling ambitious. But this? This is actually doable — and it looks genuinely adorable.

What even are heart buns?

Heart buns are a two-piece bun style where each bun is shaped into a heart instead of a round lump on your head. They sit on either side — think Spice Girls pigtails, but make them romantic. You can do them high on the crown, lower near the nape, or half-up with the rest of your hair down. The effect is sweet without being over the top.

And yeah, they work on kids’ hair too. Valentine’s Day school pictures are about to be really good.

How do you actually do heart buns?

Split your hair into two sections — one on each side of your head. Secure each section with a small hair band the same way you’d do pigtails. Pull them tight enough that you have something to work with.

Now split each ponytail into two smaller sections. This is where the heart shape comes from. Use a little pomade or gel on each section so everything stays put — this step matters more than you’d think.

Twist each section tightly, then loop them toward each other to form the two rounded tops of a heart. Pin them into place. The tails tuck under and get pinned at the bottom point of the heart. Done.

The whole thing takes maybe five minutes once you’ve done it once. The first time might be a little fumbly — but watch this TikTok tutorial by @wabsters and it’ll click immediately.

Can you make heart buns fancier?

Absolutely, and this is where it gets really fun. Bella on Instagram does a braided version where you braid each section before twisting it into the heart shape — the braid adds texture and makes the whole thing look intentional in the best possible way.

You can also add little butterfly clips or bobby pins with pearls along the edge of each heart. Or just leave them clean and simple. Both work.

Is this actually hard to do on yourself?

Not really — but it helps to have a mirror you can see the back of your head in. The tricky part is getting both hearts to look even, which is honestly true of all two-sided hairstyles. A rat tail comb helps with the part.

If you’re doing it on a kid, it’s even easier because you can actually see what you’re doing. Give yourself a practice run before the actual occasion and you’ll be fine. But what do I know — I’ve been attempting my own hair for decades and I still sometimes end up with one side higher than the other.

If you want to skip the learning curve entirely, I wrote about some other low-effort hairstyles that look like you planned them — same energy, different vibe.

When should you wear heart buns?

Valentine’s Day is the obvious answer, but honestly? These work anytime. A concert. A date. A Saturday where you just want your hair to do something cute without a lot of effort.

They’re also a great option when your hair is in that annoying in-between length — long enough for a ponytail but too short for a full bun. Two smaller buns solve the problem and look intentional.

And if you want to lean all the way into the theme, here are some Valentine’s Day ideas that go with the whole vibe — because why not commit.

Heart buns are one of those trends that’s just purely fun. No agenda, no deep meaning — just a cute hairstyle that takes five minutes and makes people smile.

I’m a sucker for anything that looks like I tried when I didn’t. This qualifies.

Go make your hair into tiny hearts. You’re welcome.

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