We Already Know the It Hairstyle That Will Define 2022
Recently, I noticed a hairstyle taking over among celebs and fashion insiders: the middle-part bun. Once I started seeing it, I couldn't unsee it and realized just how ubiquitous it was. Looking for a new way to wear my hair, I was interested in testing it out myself and picked up some tips when I stumbled upon a viral TikTok about the exact products celebrity hairstylist Irinel de León uses to pull off the look when working with Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner.
In the video, I learned that de León parts the hair in the middle and ties it into a ponytail in the center of the head before securing the hair into a twisted bun. She then applies a wax stick to combat flyaways and achieve a slicked-back look and uses a boar-bristle brush to smooth the hair. While every hair type and texture will require additional steps to style and prep the hair, these easy styling tips helped me achieve the middle-part-bun hairstyle—a new staple in my beauty routine. Ahead, I'm breaking down everything I used to style my hair. Then, see how celebs and fashion insiders are wearing the It hairstyle I'm predicting will define 2022.
How I'm Wearing It
The ease of this hairstyle made it an instant staple in my routine. As I've been getting into Pilates classes, it has become an easy way for me to style hair that isn't freshly cleaned and gives me more time between blowouts. Not only that, but I love that it lends a sleek, polished look that is perfect to wear now that I'm returning to the office again.
Shop:
As I mentioned, I watched a viral TikTok about how to pull off Bieber's and Jenner's slicked-back buns and ordered this Tigi Hair Stick on the spot. It's such a game-changer and helps me lock down all of my flyaways.
The same goes for this boar-bristle brush. I discovered it in the same TikTok video, and it's the best way to smooth down hair for a bun.
On Celebs
Bieber is the queen of the middle-part bun, so you'll spot her wearing the hairstyle often.
Take a styling note from Zoë Kravitz and leave some pieces undone in the front.
HoYeon Jung debuted a Y2K take on the hairstyle, leaving the bun untucked at the ends.
The ultimate sleek, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley–approved hairstyle.
On Insiders
So polished.
Try a low bun.
The middle part is really taking off right now.
Wear it on an evening out.
Next: I Tried the Cult Hair Supplement Everyone's Taking, and the Results Were Dramatic
Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.
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