Whether you’re gearing up for a festival this year or simply embracing that vibe, festival hairstyles are the summer hairstyle we can’t wait to flaunt!
With your makeup looks finalized, festival nails picked out, and skincare essentials packed, it’s time to dive into the finishing touch: festival hair.
From short to long, freshly washed to four-day festival-ready locks, we’ve assembled all the festival hair inspiration you’ll need for the season.
Prepare to get inspired with our ultimate list of this year’s most-wanted festival hairstyles, featuring everything from bohemian braids and voluminous bubble ponies to laid-back top knots, enchanting mermaid waves, space buns, and more.
How Should I Do My Hair for a Festival?
If you decide how to style your hair for festival season, one of these dreamy hairstyles will inspire you!
Festivals are the perfect time to experiment with bold, playful, and a little extra styles.
Whether you aim to achieve the ultimate festival-ready look, prepping for Burning Man, or seeking a unique style for an indie music event, these festival hair ideas have you covered.
Festival Hair Ideas You’ll Love!
These are all real-life festival hairstyles that we hope you love! Give the artist a like on social media if you grab inspiration from their design!
Space Buns with Statement Hair Clips
This festival-inspired look by @zoelizgordon combines tousled beach waves with playful mini space buns.
The space buns add a whimsical touch, perfect for anyone looking to add a bit of edge to their festival outfit.
The look is brought to life with a bold, statement hair clip, which adds a pop of personality and keeps the style fun and light.
Perfect for long days and late-night dancing, these mini space buns stay in place while keeping your hair away from your face, making it both fashionable and functional.
Whimsical Festival Braids with Colorful Flower Accents
Image Source via Pinterest
This dreamy festival hair look pairs small braids with romantic waves, and is finished with brightly colored faux flowers nestled into the strands.
Spaced out glitter face gems on the cheeks and forehead add to the playful, fairy-esque feel, rendering it ideal for the festival fields and outdoor concerts this summer.
How to Make It Yours:
Experiment with braided sections of all sizes — from chunky to micro braids —and weave in some colorful flowers that coordinate with your outfit or your mood.
And if you want to kick it up several notches, incorporate temporary pastel highlights or glitter strands for an added touch of magic.
And please do not neglect the face gems — they bring the whole look forward and give it that full-on festival opus effect.
Fluffy Pink High Pigtails Hairstyle
Image Source via Instagram: @emilyrosehannon
This hairstyle makes for a dream combination of soft, messy waves and fun, bouncy high pigtails–fierce and feminine.
The pastel pink hue gives an additional layer of magic as each strand is popping cotton-candy sweetness and feeling serious statement energy.
How to Make It Your Own:
Begin by bleaching hair until it’s an icy blonde before applying a pastel pink gloss or semi-permanent dye to achieve that muted hue.
To get the look, center part your hair and tie two raised pigtails just above your temples. Use a large barrel curling iron to curl the length, brush it out to form soft, fluffy waves, and then top off with a light shine spray to make the pink glitter under the spotlight.
Chic Side Part
Inspired by @hoskelsa
The side part is making a major comeback this summer, especially for festival looks.
This style adds instant volume and flair, perfect for second or third-day hair.
Part your hair to one side and apply a small amount of gel to keep it sleek.
This look works incredibly well with shorter cuts like bobs, creating a sophisticated, fantastic finish that stands out in the festival crowd.
Sleek Slicked-Back Bun
Seen on @sabinasocol
A slicked-back bun is a lifesaver for second or third-day hair, giving it a polished, elevated look with minimal effort.
Apply some gel and smooth your hair back into a low bun.
This style is great for festivals as it stays in place, looks sleek, and keeps hair off your face, allowing you to focus on the festivities without worrying about your hair.
Voluminous Bubble Braid
This chunky bubble braid by @hairbyrobynx is a festival must-have for those blessed with thick hair.
The look gives all the volume without the need for extensions, creating an eye-catching style that’s both dramatic and easy to maintain.
Bubble braids involve tying off sections of your hair to create ‘bubbles’ rather than traditional braids, so they work well on all hair lengths.
Finish it with bright-colored elastics or metallic bands for an added burst of personality.
This braid stays secure, is ideal for all-day comfort, and keeps your hair looking effortlessly cool.
Low Ponytail with an Oversized Scrunchie
Inspired by @the_oluwaseun
Take a simple low ponytail to the next level with an oversized scrunchie.
This ’90s-inspired accessory adds a touch of flair and helps secure your hair in a comfortable style that stays chic all day.
Whether you choose a bright or patterned scrunchie, it adds a fun twist to a classic ponytail, making it a go-to for a trendy yet easy festival hairstyle.
Beachy Waves with Colorful Bands
Nothing says “festival-ready” like tousled beach waves, and @hairbynikoreyes puts a playful twist on the classic with bright, multicolored bands added throughout.
Perfect for creating texture and movement, this style suits a laid-back festival vibe, especially when paired with natural or pastel-colored highlights.
The colorful bands give a touch of whimsy to the beach waves, making it an eye-catching look that adds flair without being high-maintenance.
This style is ideal for day-two hair as it holds texture well and looks better the more lived-in it becomes.
Mermaid Waves
Spotted on @emilisindlev at Coachella
Mermaid waves are a festival classic, offering a relaxed, beachy vibe perfect for a laid-back summer aesthetic.
The best part? You can achieve this look without heat! Braid your hair the night before, then spritz on a bit of sea salt spray in the morning for extra texture.
The result is a look that feels effortlessly chic like you just stepped off the beach and into the festival grounds.
High Ponytail with Braided Accents
High ponytails are a staple, but this version by @easilockshair features braided accents and curly ends, making it perfect for festival settings.
Braiding small sections throughout the ponytail adds style and helps prevent tangling.
The curls at the ends bring a soft, feminine touch to this high ponytail, elevating it from an everyday look to something special.
It’s also perfect for second or third-day hair, as it conceals any flatness at the roots and keeps you looking refreshed. An excellent style for dancing, it stays put while adding a ton of volume and movement.
Braided Bun with Star Accents
Take a simple bun to new heights with braids and celestial details, like this look by @isabellajanehairmakeup.
This style begins with small braids that feed into a loosely styled bun, giving it texture and character.
To make it festival-worthy, add metallic or glittery star clips throughout, adding a magical, starry touch to your look.
It’s sophisticated and festival-appropriate, blending an updo with a free-spirited twist.
Perfect for warmer weather, this style keeps your hair up and out of the way, so you stay comfortable while looking like a cosmic dream.
Playful Plaits
Inspired by @haileybieber
Plaits, or pigtail braids, bring a playful touch to any festival outfit and are so easy to achieve.
Gather plenty of hair elastics and braid your hair into pigtails, adding face-framing strands for a relaxed finish.
This quick, low-maintenance style keeps your hair tidy all day, making it ideal for long festival hours while adding a bit of boho charm.
Half-Up with Floral Claw Clips
As seen on @nnennaechem
A half-up, half-down style secured with a floral claw clip screams summer.
This look is practical and cute, perfect for keeping your hair out of your face if things heat up. A claw clip adds a hint of retro style while allowing you to refresh your look throughout the day.
It’s ideal for festivals since you can quickly pull your hair up or let it down to switch up your vibe.
Playful Fishtail Braids with Mini Butterfly Clips
Image Source via Instagram
These tousled fishtails get a whimsical boost from pastel mini butterfly clips sprinkled throughout, translating to playful, festival-adventure hair that’s abundant in personality & charm.
How to Make This Aesthetic Yours:
Begin with beachy loose hair, braid either side into loose fishtail braids and pull apart gently for volume.
Clip in mini butterflies, colored mini’s or create a whimsical finish with the colorful form micro hair holds ideal for summer days or casual strolls.
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