38 Chignon Hairstyles You'll Want To Copy Immediately

Chic, sophisticated, and pretty, the chignon is a versatile hairdo. Chignon styles are popular for formal events, but there are options for casual wear as well. While the style is stunning on its own, playing with braids, hair texture, and adding accessories can take it to the next level.

Many people use the words "bun" and "chignon" interchangeably, but a chignon does differ from a bun slightly. First of all, a chignon doesn't need to be twisted around itself like a bun; it can be a knot, bundle, or tuck of hair. What really sets a chignon apart, though, is its placement. It's always worn low on the back of the head, at the nape of the neck. Often associated with special events like red carpets and galas, chignons have a polished and refined air to them — but they have a place in your day-to-day life too.

There's a chignon hairstyle to suit any occasion, including elegant updos for a wedding, adorned buns for a date night, and purposefully undone everyday styles. If you're looking for some chignon hairstyle inspiration to show your stylist (or to attempt yourself — there are some simpler styles on this list, too!), then keep reading.

A hairpiece is the easiest way to spice up a plain chignon hairstyle. While this chignon would be beautiful on its own, the hair accessory makes it all the more eye-catching. The stylist matched the width of the chignon style with the width of the hairpiece, which was a stunning choice. This makes it look more balanced overall. If you have a small hair clip, you can go with a bun of any size, but if you have a larger hairpiece, you'll want to go with a more voluminous chignon, like in this example.

A well-placed braid can elevate almost any hairstyle. For a boho update on a chignon, consider a fishtail braid. It's a little more intricate looking than a regular braid but just as easy to do. To continue on the boho theme, ensure your chignon is loose and a little messy. The wispy curls really pull the entire style together and complete the laid-back vibe.

Texture is the name of the game with this gorgeous chignon. Curling the entire head rather than a few wispy pieces gives the chignon volume and dimension throughout and makes this style look all the more effortless. This look wouldn't be complete without its loose pieces, so pull a few strands of hair out to frame your face.

Another style for daily wear is this casual low bun with face-framing pieces — and it's another super easy look to recreate. Start with your hair in a middle part and create a bun at the nape of your neck. Leave some end strands sticking out of the bun if you want to copy this undone look. Then, pull out some face-framing pieces at the front. This style looks gorgeous on every hair type, but curls really give it such an enviable textured look.

One twist is pretty, but what about several? It depends on your taste, but when it comes to this hairstyle, you may give a resounding yes. Opt for multiple twisted pieces if you want a super romantic chignon style. We adore how the twists have varying levels of looseness to give the look more dimension. Pairing the twisted strands with a looser, voluminous chignon, and pulled-out strands just makes sense. 

Any type of bang adds more interest to a chignon. Whether full bangs or face-framing bottleneck bangs, they give some oomph to the front of your look to match the gorgeous back view. This side-swept bang works perfectly with the smooth chignon style. It makes the hairdo look extra stylish from the front and side.

Dramatic and striking, this hairstyle is one we'd expect to see on a red carpet or at a professional dance show. The large swoops just scream glamor. This hair look certainly makes a statement, with its large waves and contrasting bobby pins. It's meant to be the center of attention in any look, so you'll want to plan your outfit around this hairstyle.

Similar to a ribbon, a scrunchie adds a cutesy appeal to a chignon hairstyle. Associated with coziness, scrunchies make a chignon hairstyle look more casual. This is one of those quick everyday hairstyles that you can do on the go to keep your hair out of your face while looking put-together at the same time.

Shine bright like a diamond with this gem-adorned chignon hairdo. Seriously, we would love to see how this catches the light! It's so fun but graceful at the same time, and it will look just as spectacular at a glamorous wedding or event as on a packed dance floor. This hairstyle starts with a basic chignon, but the hair gems take it up a notch. You can opt for using fewer gems for a subtler look.

Sure, middle parts are taking center stage right now, but you shouldn't completely overlook the side part. A deep side part gives this chignon hairstyle its distinctive look. Slicking back your hair with gel or hair spray helps emphasize the part. If you want to play with your part even more, try a zig-zag part for your next chignon style.

Big and bold, this chignon bumps up the volume to make a statement. This hairstyle works best with longer hair, but you can also add volume by using extensions for shorter hair. Curls and texture help this updo achieve its bulk. If your hair has trouble holding volume, you can try a few techniques: Use a volumizing mousse and texturizing spray, tease your underlayers, and use hot hair tools to add curls and waves.

Add some magic to your everyday chignon look with a colorful hair scarf or bandana. It injects a bit of pattern and personality into your hairstyle but takes so little effort — just tie it around a low bun to get this look. There's something about a hair scarf that just exudes classiness, especially if you go for fabrics like silk or satin, making it one of those accessories that never go out of style.

If you couldn't tell already, curls and chignons are really a match made in heaven. This chignon hairstyle follows the shape of the barrel curls to create this looser look. The finished effect is this cascading updo style. It's another romantic-looking pick that's a go-to for weddings, whether you're the bride, bridesmaid, or guest.

This floral hairpiece really just brings the wow factor to an already pretty hairstyle. It's like a mini bouquet in your hair! Perfect for weddings, it's hard to find a style that's more romantic than this one. It's possible to use real flowers, but this look opts for artificial ones, which will stand up better to a long day of mingling and dancing.

Polar opposite to the neat chignon, this bun looks like it's almost on the verge of unraveling, and that's exactly how we like it! Textured, voluminous, and informal, this chignon is a refined take on a messy bun. Make sure to use enough hair pins and hair spray to keep the chignon in place. You want to achieve the barely-together look without your hard work actually unraveling!

This chignon truly looks like a work of art. It's contemporary and unique yet still has a trendy feel due to the low placement and slicked-back styling. It's hard to even tell where the twists start and end, which is exactly what makes this updo so mesmerizing. Recreating this chignon hairstyle is not for the faint of heart! You'll probably want to visit your stylist for this one (and don't forget the hairspray).

Another way to include romantic florals in a chignon style is with flower hairpins. Instead of a larger hairpiece, these individual flower pins give the style a more delicate look. Small pins also give you flexibility on where you place them. You can scatter them along the side and back (like in this example), use them to pin back your bangs in the front, or dot them throughout the low bun.

The looped bun detail gives this chignon more dimension without needing extra accessories. While this style might look complex, it's actually quite easy to recreate — even those with short hair can still rock the trendy looped bun. Tie a low bun as usual, but leave enough hair sticking out to wrap it around the chignon. Wrap the hair around the bun section and secure it with bobby pins. If you're not comfortable using many pins, this hair wrap technique is a great way to hide a hair elastic.

Flowers and pearls are pretty, but there's something extra glamorous about these star pins. Their shape and sparkle make them perfect for an evening event. Best of all, with small pins like these, they're so easy to pop in to a chignon style to take it from day to night.