How to Get the Man Bun Undercut at Home: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide
The cut that puts long hair on top and business on the sides. Here’s how to do it yourself.
A barber charges $40-60 for a man bun undercut. You can do it at home for the cost of a decent clipper set. The undercut is the easy part — it’s just buzzing the sides. The hard part is patience: you need 6+ inches on top before you can actually tie a bun. If you’re starting from scratch, that’s roughly 6-12 months of growing. If you already have the length, you can have the undercut done in 20 minutes. Here’s the full process.
Step 1: Gather Your Tools
You need clippers (Wahl, Andis, or Oster — budget $40-80), guards #0 through #4, a trimmer for detail work, a handheld mirror, clips to separate the top from the sides, and no-metal hair ties. The clips are critical — you need to isolate the top section cleanly so you don’t accidentally buzz into the length you’re trying to save.
Step 2: Section Off the Top
This is the most important step. Use your fingers to find where you want the transition line between the long top and short sides. A good starting point is about 2 inches above the ears, following the natural curve of the head from temple to temple around the back. Clip all the hair above this line up and out of the way. The hair below this line is what you’ll buzz. Take your time here — an uneven section line means an uneven undercut. Check both sides in the mirror to make sure they’re symmetrical.
Step 3: Buzz the Sides
Start with a #2 guard (for a classic look) or a #0 guard (for a disconnected look). Begin at the hairline and move the clippers upward in smooth, even strokes. Don’t push straight into the hair — use a scooping motion, starting flat against the head and gradually lifting the blade as you move up. This creates a softer transition at the top of the undercut. Work around the sides and back, checking the back with your handheld mirror. The goal is an even buzz all the way around. If you want a fade instead of a hard undercut, start with a #0 at the hairline, switch to a #1 halfway up, and use a #2 near the section line.
Step 4: Clean the Edges
Switch to your trimmer (not clippers) and clean up the hairline. Define the sideburns — they should be straight and level on both sides. Clean around the ears, following the natural ear shape. For the neckline, follow the natural hairline and create a clean edge. If you want the disconnected look, use the trimmer to sharpen the line between the buzzed sides and the long top. Check symmetry with the handheld mirror. This step is what separates a DIY cut from a barber-quality cut — clean edges make everything look intentional.
Step 5: Style the Bun
Now for the fun part. Gather all the top hair into one hand, pulling it back toward the crown. Don’t pull too tight — a man bun should look relaxed, not like a facelift. Secure it with a no-metal hair tie (metal ones snag and break hair). For a classic bun, twist the ponytail and wrap it around the base, securing with another tie or tucking the ends. For a messy bun, skip the twist — just wrap the ponytail loosely and let some ends stick out. The bun should sit at the crown or slightly below. If it’s too high, you’ve got a topknot. If it’s too low, you’ve got a ponytail.
Safety Warnings
- Never buzz the top section — double-check that all long hair is clipped up before starting the clippers.
- If you cut yourself with the trimmer, clean the wound and apply pressure before continuing.
- Don’t tie the bun too tight — chronic tension on the hairline causes traction alopecia over time.
Why This Works
The man bun undercut works because it solves the two biggest complaints about long hair on men: it’s hot and it looks messy. The undercut removes bulk from the sides and back, which is where most of the heat and weight accumulate. The bun pulls the remaining length up and out of the face, creating a clean silhouette. The contrast between the buzzed sides and the long top adds visual interest that neither a full buzz nor full-length hair can achieve alone. It’s functional architecture — the cut is designed around what the hair does, not just what it looks like.
Pro Tips
The man bun undercut is one of the few men’s hairstyles that actually gets better with time. The longer the top grows, the more versatile the bun becomes — tighter for formal settings, looser for casual ones. The undercut itself takes 20 minutes to maintain every few weeks. Once you’ve done it yourself once, you’ll never pay a barber for it again.
Buzz the sides. Grow the top. Tie it back. You’ve got this.
