What does “chongo” mean in Mexican Spanish?

In Mexico, a chongo is a hair bun, the knot of hair gathered on top or at the back of the head. Spain and much of Latin America would say moño instead, so chongo is a good word to know if you are learning Mexican Spanish. The speaker contrasts it with trenzas (braids) and cola de caballo (ponytail): the three basic ways to tie hair up.

The speaker says a tight chongo or cola de caballo gives her a headache, which is why she prefers braids. Notice hacerse chongos versus que me hagan trenzas: the first is doing your own hair, the second is having someone else do it. The word also gives its name to a Mexican dessert, chongos zamoranos, whose curdled-milk lumps are said to look like little buns.