The hairstyle where hair is pulled back and twisted into a low knot at the nape is a chignon. The style wraps or coils the hair at the back of the head and is usually secured with pins, barrettes, or other accessories.
The word comes from the French chignon, meaning “bun,” and the phrase chignon du cou refers specifically to a bun worn low at the neck. A chignon may be sleek and tightly arranged or loose and deliberately textured, making it suitable for weddings, formal dances, ballet, and everyday wear.
The style has a long history. Ancient Greek hairstyles included hair gathered and fastened at the back, and sources describe Athenian women using decorative gold or ivory hairpins. Low knotted styles also appeared in other cultures, including ancient China, where they were associated with married women.
A common mix-up is treating every bun as a chignon. “Bun” is the broader term for hair gathered into a rounded knot, while “chignon” usually suggests a deliberately arranged bun, especially one positioned low at the nape. An updo is broader still and can include many styles, including a chignon.