If you haven’t heard of the #balletcore trend yet, then you must be hiding from Instagram reels.  As a stylist, I am loving this nod to the ‘00s that pays homage to the epic Black Swan and Center Stage flicks. It focuses on the softer, sophisticated style of a ballet dancer while also embracing the modern-day woman, who gravitates towards leisure wear for daily fashion. This style is so versatile because you can truly make it your own.

Now, let’s break #balletcore hair down a little further. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is a high and tight ballerina bun up top, but this trend embraces all types of buns. You can live in this trend with a sleek bun, a twisted loose bun, or something in between. Basically, it's a tribute to a ballerina with a modern-day twist. This is your opportunity to look like a ballerina, even if you can't dance.

For this #balletcore look, first I gently brushed out all of my model’s tangles. Then, I used the Kevin Murphy Styling Brush (available at ZEN) to really smooth out her hair and pull it back into a high pony. Keep in mind that the bun placement should be in line with the cheekbones. 

As you are working through the high pony, mist your hair with KM’s SESSION.SPRAY and continue to brush with KM’s styling brush. This will give you that smooth, sleek, snatched hair that pairs perfectly with a high bun. Secure the pony with an elastic band. My personal favorite is the no-snag clear elastic bands from Kitsch (also available at ZEN). 

Once the pony was secured, the next step was to twist a small portion of the pony and then secure it with a bobby pin. Repeat this action until all of the hair is twisted and secured. If you want your bun to be fuller, then tease the pony with the styling brush before you begin to twist and pin. My model’s hair was freshly washed, so I used Kevin Murphy’s POWDER.PUFF to give her hair a little grit and volume so it would be easier to manipulate. 

I then used a mascara wand with some more SESSION.SPAY to help tame a few pesky flyaways that didn’t want to cooperate. To elevate this bun even further, I secured a scarf-like bow to the bottom of the bun to make it extra. Next up in your #balletcore transformation? Your new ballerina bun might need some #balletcore makeup to match.

#Balletcore is seriously trending right now and whether you opt to keep your bun high atop your head or low and simple, this is a hairstyle that you can embrace as it works well on all hair types. The beauty of #balletcore is that it will instantly make you feel more pulled together. ZEN would love to see your #balletcore style. Snap a photo and tag us @salondezen.