14+ Trendy Festival Hairstyles You NEED to Try This Year

Okay girl, let’s talk about the absolute chaos that is getting ready for a multi-day music event.

You spend months picking out the perfect outfits, and then the morning of, you are standing in front of a tiny mirror sweating because your hair just will not cooperate. I have literally been there crying over a hot curling iron. That is exactly why I decided to put together this massive guide of the best festival hairstyles. Because honestly, we need looks that are going to survive dancing for ten hours straight in the hot sun, but also look cute enough for all the pictures we are inevitably going to take.

I spent an embarrassing amount of time digging through Pinterest to find looks that are actually doable for us normal people who aren’t professional stylists. Whether you want something super braided and secure or just some loose messy waves, I have got you covered.

Boho braided crown

This is like the holy grail of cute but secure hair. A boho braided crown keeps all the sweaty hair off your neck while making you look like an actual woodland fairy. I love this because it looks so complicated but you literally just braid two pigtails and pin them across the top of your head. It is the perfect trick for when your roots are looking a little bit questionable on day two or three of camping. Plus, when you take it out the next day, you get those perfect heatless waves. Just make sure you use about a million bobby pins so it doesn’t slide backward while you are jumping around.

Glitter space buns

Okay, I have a major confession about glitter space buns. A couple years ago I tried to do this exact look at my hotel before heading to the festival grounds, and I somehow dropped an entire massive tub of chunky craft glitter all over the carpet. The hotel staff definitely hated me, and I was finding pink star-shaped glitter in my scalp for literal weeks. But honestly? It was completely worth it because the pictures looked so amazing. If you want to stand out and embrace the crazy vibe, this is definitely the way to do it. Just maybe apply the glitter outside if you can, and use a little bit of clear hair gel mixed with the glitter so it actually sticks to your roots instead of falling onto your face.

Messy beach waves with clips

You really cannot go wrong with just adding a ton of fun accessories to some messy hair. Messy beach waves with clips is basically my default setting when I am running late and my friends are yelling at me to get out the door. Just load up on butterfly clips or those trendy little metal snap clips. It takes zero skill and hides dirty hair perfectly. I usually just hit my hair with a ton of sea salt spray, scrunch it up, and start aggressively clipping pieces back. It frames your face nicely and keeps the hair out of your eyes when the wind picks up.

Colorful ribbon braids

This is such a cool way to add a bright pop of color to your look without doing anything permanent to your hair. Weaving some bright ribbons into your braids looks so intricate but is actually super easy once you get the hang of it. You just tie the ribbon at the top with a clear elastic and treat it like one of your hair strands while you plait down. I feel like this would be such a vibe paired with a vintage graphic tee and distressed denim cutoffs. You can match the ribbon to your outfit, or just do a bunch of crazy neon colors.

Half-up twisted knots

If you hate having hair in your face but still want to leave some of your length down in the back, you seriously need to try this. These little twisted knots are so edgy and cool. It gives a very 90s grunge vibe that I am absolutely obsessed with right now. You just take small sections at the crown, twist them tightly until they coil into themselves, and pin them down. It looks a little messy and undone on purpose, which is great because you don’t have to be a perfectionist about it at all.

Loose fishtail braid look

So I used to think fishtail braids were completely impossible for my uncoordinated hands, but then my friend Sarah sat me down and literally forced me to learn. We spent like two hours sitting on my living room floor drinking cheap wine while she showed me the technique on an old styling head. Now it is my favorite thing ever. A loose fishtail braid look is so romantic and perfect for a more chill indie music vibe. You just pancake the braid by gently pulling the edges apart to make it look really thick and messy. It’s supposed to look a bit undone, which is ideal because it only gets better and fuzzier as the day goes on.

Double Dutch braids style

This is for the girl who is actually going to be jumping up and down in the middle of the crowded pit. A double Dutch braids style will not budge, no matter how hard you go or how much you sweat. It is practical, sporty, and looks so incredibly good from the back. Plus, if you sleep in them after the show, you can take them out the next morning for the most insane, voluminous crimped waves. It is basically two styles in one, which is crucial when you are camping and don’t have access to your hot tools.

Wavy hair with bandana wrap

Sometimes the very best solution for day three hair is just to cover it up completely. Wavy hair with a cute bandana wrap is honestly a total lifesaver when your dry shampoo just isn’t cutting it anymore. You can fold it into a thick headband to push your bangs back, or tie it over your whole head like a pirate to protect your scalp. I got the worst sunburn on my part line one summer because I forgot a hat, and my scalp was literally peeling for a week. A little silk scarf or a cotton bandana prevents all of that pain while making you look effortlessly cool.

Playful bubble ponytail

I am convinced this is the easiest hair hack in the entire world. A playful bubble ponytail looks like it took a professional an hour to construct, but you literally just need a handful of those tiny clear plastic elastics. You just tie off sections every couple of inches and gently pull the hair outwards to make the little bubbles. This is also one of my absolute favorite concert hairstyles when I am just seeing a local show indoors because it keeps me cool in a hot venue but looks super styled. Throw in some tiny baby braids framing your face at the front and you are totally golden.

Braided pigtails with beads

Adding beads to the ends of your braids gives such a fun, nostalgic early 2000s feel. You can actually hear them clicking together when you walk and dance, which is honestly kind of satisfying. Just make sure you secure the ends really tightly with a good elastic, maybe even doubling them up, so you don’t end up losing colorful beads all over the grass. You can find massive variety packs of these beads online for super cheap, so you can color coordinate them perfectly with your outfit for the day.

Textured high pony look

A super high ponytail is universally flattering, I swear. It pulls your face up and just looks fierce and confident. For a textured high pony look, you want to tease the crown of your hair a little bit and maybe even clip in some hair extensions if you want that dramatic, swishy length. This is honestly one of my favorite going out hairstyles too, not just for daytime outdoor events. It looks so amazing paired with a backless top or a really structured leather jacket for the evening.

Crimped hair with accessories

We are fully bringing the early 2000s back and I am not even a little bit mad about it. Using a three-barrel waver or a traditional crimper gives you that massive, untamed volume that just screams music festival. It gives your hair so much grit and texture.

Half-up space bun style

Okay, this is another huge classic that you simply cannot ignore. A half-up space bun style gives you the absolute best of both worlds. You get the fun, quirky little buns right on top of your head, but you still get to show off your pretty length in the back. I wore my hair exactly like this to a huge EDM show a few months ago. My arms were so insanely tired from trying to make the two buns perfectly even in the mirror, but a random girl in the bathroom line told me I looked like a cute alien princess.

Flowy waves with flower clips

Sometimes you just want to feel soft, pretty, and feminine.