A hair net for a ballet bun is a fine mesh cap placed over the finished bun to hold stray hairs flat and give the bun a smooth, professional appearance. Choosing the right size and colour makes a significant difference to how the finished bun looks — the wrong net will either slide off or leave visible gaps.
What Type of Hair Net Do You Need for Ballet?
Ballet bun nets are different from the large catering-style hair nets that cover the whole head. For a ballet bun you need a small, circular or slightly oval mesh net that is sized to sit over the bun only, not over the whole head of hair. These are sometimes sold as “bun nets” or “ballet nets.”
Sizes
Bun nets are typically sold in two sizes:
- Small (child): approximately 55-65 mm diameter when flat — for a bun about the size of a tennis ball or smaller
- Large (adult): approximately 70-85 mm diameter when flat — for a fuller adult bun
Buy one size smaller than you expect — nets stretch to fit and a slightly smaller net grips more firmly. A net that is too large slides off the bun during class.
Colours
Hair nets are available in black, dark brown, medium brown, light brown/auburn and blonde. Choose a colour as close to the dancer’s natural hair colour as possible. An obviously mismatched net (a black net on blonde hair, or vice versa) looks untidy and draws attention in examinations.
If you cannot find an exact match, go one shade darker rather than lighter — a slightly darker net blends better than one that is too pale.
How to Put On a Ballet Bun Net
- Form the bun using a donut former or by pinning and coiling the hair into a bun shape.
- Secure the bun with U-shaped pins all around the base.
- Stretch the net over your hands to open it up.
- Place the net over the bun, letting it sit on top, then stretch the lower edge down and under the bun.
- Tuck the net under the bun and pin in place with kirby grips if needed.
- Smooth any loose hairs under the net with a grip or a small amount of gel.
How Many Nets Does a Dancer Need?
Nets are consumable — they tear, stretch out of shape and get lost. A dancer who has class once or twice a week will go through two to four nets per term. Buying in packs of six to ten is practical and more economical than buying individually. Keep a spare in the dance bag at all times.
Net vs Bun Cover: Which Do You Need?
A hair net holds the bun together and smooths stray hairs, but still shows the texture of the hair underneath. A bun cover is a solid fabric disc that goes over the net and gives the bun a completely smooth, uniform appearance. For everyday class, a net alone is usually sufficient. For examinations and performances, many RAD schools prefer or require a bun cover on top of the net.
See our complete bun kit guide for everything else you need for a perfect exam bun, or check our exam uniform checklist.