Virginia Williams' Draped Bun Hairstyle

Virginia Williams as Lauren Reed USA Network All Rights Reserved

Virginia Williams plays cool, calm and collected attorney Lauren Reed on USA's Fairly Legal series.

Although the actress has long, lush, beautiful blonde hair, as Lauren she keeps it pulled up and off her hairline in an array of draped bun hairstyles appropriate for a powerful female attorney.

Note: To view more hair photos of Virginia Williams visit her Celebrity Hair Gallery.

The base of her beautiful hair buns are positioned at various points between the top of the crown and the nape of the neck.

A Brilliant But Fragile Lawyer

Lauren is a brilliant lawyer who is trying to put the pieces of her shattered life together after the death of her beloved husband, and law partner, Teddy Reed.

Inheriting the law practice Teddy originally built, Lauren has to be cold as ice on the outside in order to hide the broken heart underneath.

She also has to deal on a daily basis with unresolved issues tied to her step-daughter Kate (Sarah Shahi). Their dealings are often tense.

Virginia Williams as Lauren Reed USA All Rights Reserved

More About Virginia Williams

Virginia was born in Memphis, Tennessee. She first began her acting education in New York where she earned a B.A. in Theatre Performance from Fordham University at Lincoln Center.

Later she studied Shakespeare at Oxford University as well at the British American Drama Academy in London.

After spending two years on the soap operas "One Life to Live" as Lorna and "As the World Turns" as Brandy, the beautiful blonde made the move to primetime.

She is best known for such roles as Bianca, the series lead on Lifetime's "Monarch Cove," Claudia on the hit series "How I Met Your Mother," and Shelley Long's jilted-at-the-altar daughter in the film "Honeymoon with Mom."

She also spent two seasons on the cult classic, "Strangers with Candy."

The actress has also guest starred or recurred in more than 25 television programs, including "Two and a Half Men," "Better Off Ted," "Veronica Mars" and "Cold Case," to name just a few. She has had leading roles on multiple pilots for ABC, FOX, NBC, Lifetime, The WB and USA.

Virginia Williams as Lauren Reed USA Network All Rights Reserved

Draped Bun Details

Virginia's perfectly finished buns and hair twists are paired with lots of lush volume along the top and an array of side-swept fringes.

Although this basic bun can be easily created with some backcombing and a foam hair ring or ratt, it can also be created with an instant add-on hair piece.

Virginia's hairline features a crisp clean off-center part with soft ribbons of hair draped on either side with the side neatly pulled back along the sides and tucked behind the ears.

Step By Step - How To Recreate Draped Bun

This bun hairstyle works ideally on hair which is shoulder length or longer and naturally or temporarily straightened.

Although it could be coiffed on naturally textured hair, it would not have the same buttoned down look.

Hair can be extended with extensions to create the bun. If desired a clip-in bun could also be added.

To change up her look from classic business to more relaxed, the base of Lauren's bun is adjusted so that's it closer to the crown or moved down several inches so that's it's closer to the nape of the neck.

Start With A Cleanse

This bun can be created on second day or aged hair or on newly cleansed hair.

Virginia Williams as Lauren Reed USA Network All Rights Reserved

1. Start by cleansing hair in lukewarm water with the best products for your hair type, texture, length and condition.

Utilize the best cleansing process for your strands such as Conditioner Only Wash (CO-Wash), Diluted Shampoo (DS), Water Only (WO) or a range of shampoo formulations including LoPoo and NoPoo.

If you have chemically treated or colored hair be sure to use a product designed to extend the color or add needed moisture.

When you wish to enhance your natural texture consider using a texture enhancing product mix like Phyto Curl which helps define curls.

2. Rinse well and apply a rinse-out conditioner. With the conditioner in your hair use your fingers or a wide tooth comb to detangle strands. Work from the ends to the roots.

3. After detangling rinse well. Finish with a cool or cold water final rinse to seal in moisture, add shine.

4. Carefully squeeze out any excess water with your fingers. Do not rub wet strands. Use a combination of techniques from squeezing out the excess water and then blotting strands with a towel.

5. Towel blot with a thick towel to remove excess moisture. Avoid towels without rough fibers and loops. It's best to wait until hair is no longer dripping before applying styling products.

Add Desired Styling Cocktail

Virginia Williams as Lauren Reed USA Network All Rights Reserved

6. Apply cocktail of desired styling products including, but not limited to, a defrisant, styling cream and/or mousse and/or a leave-in conditioner. The products should be applied to the middle and ends of the hair.

Select styling products which work best for your hair type, texture and styling needs. Don't be afraid to layer products to get the most appropriate results.

Note: Avoid applying heavy styling products near the roots which may weigh them down. The exception to the case are volume enhancing spray like Phytovolume Actif or similar.

You may wish to mix a defrisant product along with your styling product to add texture and block frizz at the same time.

It's possible to mix Phytodefrisant with your favorite mousse, glaze or paste for a total solution.

7. Separate hair into 6-8 equal sized sections. The ideal sectioning would include two sections on either side and 4 in the back.

Example Of Hair Ratt Insertion All Rights Reserved

8. If a fringe is desired, style it at this point. Utilize a long tailed comb. Create desired side part on either side of your head. Blow dry the fringe before drying the rest of the hair.

9. Combine a boar bristle paddle brush along with a blow dryer to blow dry each of the 6-8 sections as straight as possible.

Use a cool setting on a low speed to avoid blowing out the newly formed texture.

10. When hair is completely dry separate into 6-8 individual horizontal sections.

11. Create beautiful body by misting each section with a volumizing formula. Roll each section of the hair on hot rollers.

12. Allow rollers to completely cool before removing them one at a time.

13. Separate out the front side-swept fringe from the rest of your hair. Pull the remaining hair back into a high ponytail. Secure with a hair friendly elastic.

Virginia Williams as Lauren Reed USA Network - All Rights Reserved

14. Pin a hair pad or similar in the same color as your current hair underneath the pony base as shown.

15. Smooth pony tail over the hair pad, tuck the ends under and pin securely into place with bobby pins the same color as your hair.

For more fullness lightly backcomb the pony before smoothing over the hair pad.

Note: Check out How To Tease Hair for instructions on how to backcomb tresses. If hair is naturally fine or thin you may wish to use a foam hair form or ratt under hair to add instant height. You may also wish to experience with strategically placed add-on hair pieces.

16. Lightly tease front fringe section and smooth strands down. Softly sweep fringe back so they are positioned low across the forehead. The goal is to create a soft fringe or pull the strands across the head.

Optionally this gorgeous updo hairstyle can be created without a fringe. The hairstyle can be modified to work within your specific hair and fashion goals.

Finish Hairstyle

Example Of Hair Bun With Hair Ratt Base - All Rights Reserved

17. Finish by using a shine serum like Phyto's PhyoLisse, Rene Furterer's Spray Gloss or similar.

Apply one or two drops of shine serum or shine spray to the palms of your hands.

Massage the product into the palms of the hands. Lightly glide serum infused palms over the top of the hair to add instant shimmer, shine and eliminate any roughness.

18. If you prefer a high shine you may wish to spray well with hairspray. This step adds a soft sheen to the final look. It will also soften the overall finish.

19. Allow the hair spray or shine products to completely dry before going outside.

Summary

Of course there are many options for styling a big glamorous bun like Virginia wears on Fairly Legal on The USA Network.

The beauty of Virginia's hair bun is that it can be shaped and molded until it fits into the proper shape. It can also be positioned on the head according to the hair and fashion event you're attending.

The bun can also be styled closer to the head, without a foam piece. It can be styled as more of a topknot than a full blown bun.

This bun can easily be modified for different face shapes by adding an array of unique parts and fringes. The simple matter of changing the fringe and parts will instantly alter the finished hairstyle.