Festival Hair Ideas To Help You Party

Festival season calls for hairstyles that reflect the vibrant, carefree spirit of the occasion. Embrace the festivities with glitter roots, bold color streaks, intricate braids, or whimsical hair accessories like flowers and bandanas.

These styles are not only eye-catching but also designed to withstand the elements, ensuring you look fabulous from the first act to the closing set. Get ready to stand out and express your individuality with these festival-ready looks.

Festival Hair Advice

Music festivals are a hallmark of the spring and summer seasons, but they can be hard on your hair. To get the most out of festival season without ending up with lackluster locks, there are a few simple steps you can follow.

• Depending on what festivals you plan to attend, you may want to consider changing up your style. A weekend-long concert in the desert might be a little more manageable with shorter hair, for example. Since festivals are a great time to have fun and express your personal style, they’re also a fun place to try out new hairstyles and cuts.
• When it comes to actually deciding how you’ll wear your hair for festivals, simplicity is a big key. You likely won’t want or even be able to carry around a backpack or large purse full of products to fix and adjust your do. Instead, stick with simple styles that can last all day with just a little hair spray, like this one from Moroccanoil, without getting uncomfortable.
• You can also keep flyaways at bay while making sure your hair looks healthy and shiny with a hair gloss like this one from Kenra.
• Most festivals are outdoors as well, and if the weather is nice, that means a lot of exposure to UV rays. Consider bringing a hat with you so you don’t dry or damage your hair in the sun. Alternatively, make sure to reapply a hair SPF, like this one from COOLA, along with your regular sunscreen.
• If you’re staying at a hotel or heading home at the end of each festival day, you likely don’t have to change up your hair routine that much. Though you’ll likely have to wash your hair a little more often than usual if you’re in a sandy or dusty area.
• If your festival plans involve camping, you might not have access to a shower that’s reliable enough to thoroughly wash your hair. If that’s the case, be sure to bring a good dry shampoo to help soak up any excess oil or grime and give your hair a little more volume and texture. Moroccan oil makes one for light hair and another for dark hair.
• It might be tempting to throw your hair into a ponytail or bun at some point during a festival day as well. Remember, though, that normal hair ties can cause breakage, especially if you’re dancing around with your locks in an updo. Instead, swab your normal elastics with a satin option, like these from Kitsch.
• If you want to have a little fun with your festival hairstyle without making any permanent changes, there are plenty of options to choose from. Pretty Vulgar makes a glitter spray that’s safe for your skin, face, and hair, so you can add a little sparkle to your do.
• You can also use a washable or semi-permanent hair dye to change your color without committing to a new long-term look. Arctic Fox makes a vegan option that comes in a variety of shades that would fit in perfectly at a festival.

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Festival Hair Ideas

Cotton Candy Space Buns with Mermaid Waves

This look is pure festival magic. The soft pink pastel base is paired with space buns that are a little messy in the best way.

I love how the loose waves give it that whimsical, mermaid-meets-rave vibe. Perfect for glitter, fairy wings, and dancing from day to night.

Neon Streak High Ponytail

This high pony is sleek, fierce, and all about the pop of color. The neon green streaks instantly grab attention and pair so well with bold makeup.

I like using hair extensions to get that extra-long drama, and wrapping a piece of hair around the base makes it look super polished.

Boho Braids with Feather Extensions

This one is such a boho dream. The tiny front braids add structure without taking away from the loose waves, and the feather extensions bring that fun, earthy vibe.

I always say a little sparkle on the face and a lot of texture in the hair goes a long way at a festival.

Platinum Top Knot Half-Up

The icy blonde color already turns heads, but adding that top knot bun on a half-up style just takes it over the top.

It’s such an easy look to recreate and keeps hair off your face while still feeling glam. I love styling this one with a little wave and a whole lot of highlighter.

Braided Ponytail with Baby Hairs

This braided crown into a high curly ponytail is all about definition. The braids keep things looking clean and edgy while the laid baby hairs soften the whole look.

I always recommend using edge control and a small brush to get those details just right.

Butterfly Braids with Curly Volume

This look is everything I love about festival styling. You’ve got those defined braids along the crown for detail, then full, natural curls for volume and movement.

And those sparkly butterfly clips? Total showstoppers. I always say, if you’re going for ethereal, go all the way with glitter and bold accessories.

Starry Twisted Updo with Rainbow Accents

This curly updo is chaotic in the most fabulous way. It’s full of twists, curls, and little rainbow highlights peeking through. I used fun star clips to give it that whimsical, intergalactic finish.

It’s great if you want something off your neck but still super eye-catching.

Floral Crown with Glitter Waves

Soft waves and a floral twist braid make this look feel like modern fairycore. The flowers woven into the braid look so natural, and the glitter scattered through the waves catches the sunlight beautifully.

I love how it balances effortlessness with just the right amount of sparkle.

Silver Curls with Glitter Underside Braids

This one’s got major ice queen energy. The silver curls are already dreamy, but it’s the glitter-covered side braids that really make it pop.

I like to braid in the glitter gel with a brush while the hair is damp so it sticks better and lasts through the entire day.

Lavender Space Buns with Loose Waves

Soft lavender tones, loose waves, and two playful space buns? Yes please. This look is such a good mix of edgy and cute.

I love using temporary pastel color sprays for this kind of vibe and teasing the buns a little for that fluffy, undone feel.

Twisted Rainbow Half-Up with Braids

This half-up festival look blends soft, twisted crown braids with peekaboo rainbow streaks that melt into honeyed waves. I love the way the color pops peek through the style without overpowering it.

It’s the perfect balance of playful and earthy, and the placement of each pastel section really makes the whole look feel like a watercolor painting in motion.

Silver Chain Accents on Curly Fringe

These natural curls are giving major mermaid energy with those tiny crystal chains tucked throughout.

The micro-detailing catches the light perfectly, and pairing that sparkle with bangs and full volume makes this style feel soft, luxe, and totally whimsical.

I always say: when in doubt, add some face-framing glitter strands.

Fire-Toned Fauxhawk Braid

This bold fauxhawk braid has so much texture and movement. The fiery blend of red, orange, and yellow adds an edgy flame effect, and the undercut-style cornrows help keep everything secure while dancing.

It’s one of those high-impact looks that’s surprisingly wearable and super fun to create with extensions or temporary color.

Dutch Braids with Space Buns

This double Dutch braid style pulled into mini space buns is such a fun and practical choice for long festival days. I like how it keeps everything off the face while still showing off length.

You can add glitter or hair rings for extra flair, but even on its own it has that playful, sporty vibe that never goes out of style.