She's wearing her hair in a bun, like a ballerina's. Buns are so sexy. They used to be a treat to take apart: it was like opening a gift. Heads with the hair pulled back into buns are so elegant and confined, so maidenish; then the undoing, the dishevelment, the wildness of the freed hair, spilling down the shoulders, over the breasts, over the pillow. He enumerates in his head: Buns I have known.
The passage describes a person's admiration for the style of hair worn in a bun, likening it to a ballerina's elegance. Buns symbolize a combination of sophistication and restraint, giving a maidenly appearance. This charm transforms into something more alluring when the bun is undone, releasing the hair in a wild, free manner that conveys sensuality and intimacy.
The act of taking down a bun is depicted as an exciting journey, akin to unwrapping a present. The man's thoughts reflect on his experiences with women who wore their hair this way, highlighting the captivating contrast between the neatness of a bun and the beauty of flowing hair cascading over the body, evoking feelings of desire and exploration.