13 Gorgeous Festival Hair Ideas to Try Right Now
Break out your flower crowns, girls, because the festivals are finally upon us! And now that your suitcases are packed with your crop tops, sunnies, and clever graphic tees, it's time to talk hair. "Concert and festival hairstyles are really inspired by the notion of enjoying the music, the amazing weather, and having a great time," says Pantene's celebrity hairstylist Kim Kimble. "Having said that, you want to look cool without fussing over your appearance too much!"
We're honoring that aesthetic with this slideshow of runway and celebrity beauty ideas. So take a look, start clicking, and get inspired! And, of course, be sure to let us know your favorites in the comments below.
Photo courtesy of Erin Baiano for Beauty.com1/14Get hairstyle ideas in the slideshow ahead.
Photo courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana2/14The Flower Crown
We had to start with the most obvious of Coachella hair looks, didn’t we? But Guido Palau’s interpretation of floral headpieces backstage at Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2014 show was less contrived hippie and more Sicilian Princess. Start off with second-day hair, pin a simple chignon in the back, and then lightly mess up the front pieces to achieve effortless texture. (If you need a boost, try a bit of Davines Hair Refresher first.) Once that’s done, opt for a crown with traditional blooms like tea roses and carnations for a more classic look. Finish with a statement earring (as shown here) and you’re good to go.
Photo: Getty Images3/14The Messy Braid
The ultimate in relad-yet-polished hair styles is the braid. (Brace yourself, you’ll be seeing lots of them in this slideshow.) And if we learned anything from Lou Teasdale, it’s that braids are always coolest when they’re messed up. All you have to do for a look like Lea Michele’s is make a traditional French, then tear it apart. Securing it loosely at the ends with pieces hanging out will add to your cool factor. (Though you may consider Serge Normant’s Dry Oil to give shine without grease.)
Photo courtesy of John Frieda4/14The Wave-and-Braids Combo
Rodarte’s Spring 2014 braid took just about every Pinterest hair board by storm when it made its big runway debut. "This is a complex-looking style, but it can be achieved easily by braiding sections of the hair back and then pinning it into a loose, messy bun at the back of your head. Afterwards, just braid the piece of hair directly underneath to make it look like it’s all one piece," says Kimble. "Make sure to finish with a hairspray so it doesn’t fall out while you’re dancing!" she adds. Try Pantene’s Flexible Hold Hairspray.
Photo: Getty Images5/14The Cornrow
Ms. Delevingne has worn cornrows on a few different red carpet occasions, and then they popped up on the Fall runways at shows like Marchesa, McQueen, and Adam Selman. It’s the most street-inspired way to take the festival by storm, especially if your style is more sneakers-and-a-jersey than bohemian floral dresses. You can wear it all over, but maybe take a cue from Cara and pair it with easy, pretty waves. Spray your hair all over with Living Proof Flex Shaping Hairspray (it ensures all-day hold) then curl section-by-section with an iron. After, spray your lengths with a texture spray to enhance your waves. Try Oribe Après Beach Wave & Shine Spray.
Photo courtesy of Erin Baiano for Beauty.com6/14The Floral Accessories
No, it’s not a flower crown. In fact, it’s one better! (Mostly because, once secured, these little pins will be harder to lose and a lot less annoying to wear all day.) Backstage at Honor’s Spring 2014 show, James Pecis was rough drying hair with a volumizing mousse (try Kérastase Mousse Bouffante, then wrapping it into a ponytail. Once secured, her curled pieces of the ponytail to add a feminine element, then decorated the style with a few floral gems that were "meant to look like she’d just rolled around in the hay." (That’s backstage speak for "haphazardly placed.")
Photo: Getty Images7/14The Baseball Cap
This is literally the biggest no-brainer of festival season. Know why? Baseball caps provide a physical blocker to the sun’s damaging rays, which means your complexion is protected while you also channel Zendaya-like levels of swagger. This is also a great style if you’ve got really greasy roots and dry shampoo just won’t cut it. Make sure you add some level of style to the lengths of your hair, like the soft waves shown here, or else you’ll risk looking slovenly. A cap plus gorgeous, shiny hair is a foolproof formula for festival success. Try Bumble’s genius travel-friendly Surf Set.
Photo courtesy of Redken8/14The Romantic Braid
Guido Palau took the braid to even more epic proportions backstage at Alberta Ferretti’s Spring show. This time, romance was the key. (If Kate Bosworth is your ultimate style icon, this is the hair for you.) "I love this look because of the texture," Kimble says. "Spray a dry shampoo, like Pantene’s, into the roots of the hair and massage it in with your fingers. That will activate the product and give it the lift that you want. Then, part hair wherever you like it the most, pull it back, and braid from the nape of the neck." As for the messy bits in front? "Don’t be afraid of those," she insists, "that’s what makes it chic."
Photo: Getty Images9/14The Milkmaid Braid
We fell in love with the utter gorgeousness that was Sarah Hyland’s hairstyle at the Golden Globes. It’s perfect because it keeps the hair up and out of the face, which is ideal for sweaty summer weather. For a complete play-by-play of how to get this look, click here.
Photo courtesy of Redken10/14The Bad-Girl Pigtails
Your favorite elementary school hairstyle is now the coolest thing ever, thanks to Marc by Marc Jacobs. We'd give you pointers on how to style it, but we also recognize that every girl has her own special technique. Make sure to pair with overalls, a romper, or some other schoolgirl-inspired ensemble to really show that you're ready to have some fun.
Photo: Getty Images11/14The Messy Side Braid
You can keep your braid simple, and then you can blow it up into epic proportions. This will obviously require a lot more texture, which means a lot of mousse and a whole lot of dry shampoo. To pull off Chloe Grace Moretz’s crazy plait here, flip your hair upside down and then blast it with Oscar Blandi Pronto Texture & Volume Spray. Build your braid, then pull pieces apart with your fingers. You might even consider grabbing a texturizing paste and roughing up the braid for major volume. Try Original Mineral K-Gravel for the ultimate messy style.
Photo: Getty Images12/14The Best Curls Ever
"Waves and curls are a classic summer hairstyle," Kimble says. "They’re the easiest because you can save time by letting your hair air dry after applying product, especially when you plan to be out in the sun all day." For a full play-by-play on how to get Selena Gomez’s look, click here.
Photo courtesy of Bumble & Bumble13/14The Colored Ponytail
OK, so you hate styling your hair, you’re not bringing a curling iron, you’ve never used a blowdryer, and you basically want to know the easiest way to score a cool-girl look. Luckily for you, Rita Hazan’s Pop Color temporary color sprays are TSA-friendly, so you can put them in your carry-on. Take a cue from Laurent Philippon’s technicolor ponytails at Hervé Leger and select just a few pieces of a style to color. This will look a lot more modern than the dip dye we’ve seen at Coachellas past! Have your friend select the pieces and do the spraying for you—it will take a maximum of five minutes. Toss your hair up and you’re good to go. Dance away!
Photo courtesy of Bumble & Bumble14/14The Middle Braid
Unlike the middle child, the middle braid is not to be looked over! "You can never go wrong with a straight, sleek look, but adding a center braid allows you to change up this classic style and frame your face with the rest of your hair," says Kimble. "Remember to keep the pieces of the braid very small to create the intricate detail, and pull it very taut each time you incorporate another piece of hair so the braid doesn’t lose its shape." To tame flyaways and add a bit of shine, she suggests running a tiny bit of Pantene Sculpting Wax through the hair to finish.
