Skip to main content

How to Create a Tiana-Inspired Hairstyle: Easy Updo Tutorial

Disney Princess Tiana inspired high bun hairstyle with a green ribbon and silver tiara.
★ Difficulty: 4 / 5 (Intermediate)

In Japan, Tiana might be a bit more "understated" compared to other Disney Princesses, but The Princess and the Frog is a massive hit among true fans! You’ll always see the charismatic Dr. Facilier making a grand appearance at the Tokyo Disney Resort (TDR) Halloween events. His charm is simply undeniable!

My kids and I are obsessed with this movie and watch it on repeat. It’s our dream to one day visit Disneyland Resort (DLR) or Walt Disney World (WDW) to fully immerse ourselves in Tiana’s world.

Today, I’m sharing a step-by-step guide to Tiana’s signature high bun. It’s not just a regular bun—it’s iconic for its massive volume and unique "wide" shape. Here is how to recreate that royal look!

Quick Tip: If you want to transform this into a Cinderella look, simply swap the green ribbon for a baby blue headband! It’s the perfect versatile technique for high-volume princess buns.

✂️ Material List

  • Hair ties (elastics)
  • Bun maker (donut)
  • Hairpins (U-pins and bobby pins)
  • Tiara & Headband
Step-by-step overview of creating Tiana's voluminous fan-shaped bun.

✨ Key Points for the Perfect Tiana Hairdo

It might feel tedious, but always use a brush or comb to smooth out each section before tying or moving to the next step. This small extra effort makes a huge difference in the final polished look!
How to tie an ultra-high ponytail for a princess bun base.
1

The Ultra-High Ponytail

Position your ponytail as high as possible—think "over the top!" To make it easier, tie the top section first and then gather the rest into one. Tilt your head back slightly while gathering the hair to keep the nape smooth and the ponytail high.

Pro Tip: To create a large, impressive bun, you need a rock-solid foundation. Once tied, pull the ponytail very tight! This is crucial for stability.
Modifying a hair donut bun maker into an oval shape with a hair tie.
2

Choosing Your Bun Maker

For Adults: Use a standard-size bun maker. Pinch the center with a hair tie to create an oval/wide shape.
For Kids: Use a small-size bun maker.
For Toddlers: If their hair is thin, use a "loop bun" (don't pull the hair all the way through) as your base.

Pro Tip: If you use the bun maker as is, the bun will end up round. By pinching the center with a hair tie, you can transform it into the wide "fan" shape that is signature to Tiana.
Securing the ponytail with a second elastic before adding the bun maker.
3

The Double-Tie Secret

Always secure the ponytail with an additional rubber band before sliding on the bun maker. This simple extra step prevents the hair from slipping and keeps everything organized as you work.

Covering the wide bun maker with hair to form a fan-shaped silhouette.
4

The "Fan" Shape

Wrap your hair around the wide bun maker and secure it with another elastic. Make sure the hair tie from Step 3 sits firmly on top of the bun maker—this is the secret to a rock-solid base!

Tucking hair ends under the bun for a clean princess look.
5

Hiding the Ends

If your ends are long, braid them first. If short, simply tuck them in. The goal is to hide them completely under the bun.

Pro Tip: If the ends seem a bit too short to cover the base, don't worry! You can easily adjust the placement when you tuck them under. It's better to have them a bit short than too long and messy.
Pushing the bun upward to create a regal and visible crown silhouette.
6

The Lift & Tilt

Fold the ends under the bun and push the whole bun forward and upward firmly. You want the bun to "stand up" so it’s clearly visible from the front for that regal princess silhouette.

Spreading the hair to perfect the wide bun shape and hide the donut.
7

The Finishing Touch

Gently fan out the bun to perfect that "wide" look. Secure with U-pins or bobby pins. For any flyaways, a super-hard hairspray works wonders. If the bun maker is peeking through, just spread the hair a bit more to cover it up.

Completing the Tiana look with a lime green ribbon and tiara.

🎀 Accessories

I really wanted to craft Tiana’s actual tiara, but since I was short on time, I used a lime green satin ribbon headband paired with a small tiara I had at home. It still looks magical and captures her spirit perfectly!

📺 Watch the Quick Tutorial

Need to see the "Double-Tie" or the "Lift & Tilt" in action? Check out this 35-second guide!

✨ Accomplished! You've mastered the iconic Tiana High Bun. ✨

Tiana's hairstyle is all about that beautiful, wide volume. It might take a couple of tries to get the "tilt" of the bun just right, but the result is so rewarding. Whether for a Disney trip or a birthday party, your little princess will shine!

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

The Ultimate Anna's Coronation Hairstyle Guide (900K+ YouTube Views)

★ Difficulty: 5 / 5 (Challenging) If you have a little girl who loves Frozen, she’s definitely dreamed of rocking Anna’s Coronation hairstyle at least once. My daughter was no exception—she begged me to transform her into Anna, so I went on a mission to find the perfect hair tutorial. To be honest, I had never seen a hairstyle like this before. It was a total mystery! No matter how much I searched, I couldn't find a single step-by-step guide that felt authentic or did the movie justice. I realized that if the perfect tutorial didn't exist, I’d have to invent it myself. Driven by the simple wish to make my daughter's dream come true, I obsessed over every twist and braid day after day. After six months of endless trial and error, I finally cracked the code! This method is a highly accurate recreation of Anna’s iconic look. If you’ve been looking for the "real" way to do it, you’ve finally found it. ✨ Over 900,000 views on YouT...
Read more

How to Create Bo Peep’s Hairstyle | Step-by-Step & Video Tutorial

★ Difficulty: 4 / 5 (Intermediate) With the official announcement of Toy Story 5 coming in June 2026, the hype for Bo Peep’s return is higher than ever! Since her stunning transformation in Toy Story 4, her "action-ready" hairstyle has become a favorite for fans of all ages. Just watching the new Pixar trailer gets your heart racing, doesn’t it? But how do you achieve that perfect, three-dimensional bun silhouette without it looking flat or messy? Many people assume you need a wig to get this look, but you can actually achieve professional results with your own natural hair. In this guide, I’ll take you through a step-by-step journey to master Bo Peep’s signature look. This isn't just a simple updo; it’s a carefully designed method to capture her exact screen-accurate aesthetic using your own hair. Let’s dive in and get you ready for the next chapter of the Toy Story saga! Looking for a version for your li...
Read more

Easy Cinderella Hair Tutorial: Stunning Updo Using Only Hair Ties!

★ Difficulty: 2 / 5 (Basic) Are you a pro at making hair buns? Honestly, I used to be terrible at them. I couldn't use hairpins properly, and even when I thought I’d finally made a decent bun, it would fall apart in minutes. Instead of a beautiful, round shape, my buns always ended up looking messy and lopsided. I used to be so envious of the moms who could effortlessly create perfect buns for their children. Driven by the simple wish of 'I want to be able to do a perfect bun too!' I went through endless trial and error. Eventually, I discovered a technique to create a rock-solid bun using only your natural hair and a few hair ties—no hairpins or bun makers needed! I’ve done this hairstyle for my daughter countless times. Even after a full day of school, she comes home with her bun looking just as perfect as it did in the morning—it simply doesn't budge! When I shared this method with a friend, she was shocked and said, "This is...
Read more