A bun (also known as a Bobtail) is a type of hairstyle, typically worn by women, where the hair is pulled back from the face, twisted or plaited, and wrapped in a circular coil around itself, typically on the back of the head or neck. They can either be secured with a hairpiece, a hairnet and bobby pins or simply by bobby pins. They may be tightly gathered or slightly messier and more informal. Buns, like ponytails, may cause headaches if worn too tight or up too high on the head.
Also known as a "ballet bun," this hairstyle is used by all female ballet dancers (with a few exceptions). Ballet dancers often use hairnets and bobby pins to make the bun as tight and neat as possible. This is especially important while turning, as loose buns may fall out.
Double or pigtail buns are often called odango (お団子 odango?), which is a type of Japanese dumpling (usually called dango). The term was popularized by the anime and manga series Sailor Moon, whose eponymous heroine wears her hair in this style. She also wears two pigtails of hair that hang down from the two spherical buns, but this is not universal to the term's usage.
In the series, the term odango atama ("dumpling head") is used to describe any character who keeps their hair in such a style. The English dub of Sailor Moon, broadcast in markets where the odango food is uncommon, uses the name "meatball head". The term now extends to other fictional characters and even real people who use the hairstyle. More examples of this hairstyle are:
In China, the hairstyle is known as "ox horns"citation needed]. It was a commonly used hairstyle up until the early 20th century, and can still be seen today when traditional attire is used. This hairstyle differs from the odango slightly in that it is gender neutral; Chinese paintings of children have frequently depicted girls as having matching ox horns, while boys have a single bun in the back.
Another type of double bun is the hairstyle worn by Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.