I'm Calling It: Everyone Will Be Wearing This Hairstyle at Coachella

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As a music festival ~connisseur~, I understand the struggle of planning your festival hair vibes. On one hand, you wanna sport all the cute accessories and fun styles... but it's also a bajillion degrees outside, meaning that dealing with sweat, handling frizz, and maintaining your overall comfort are the priority. But you've got options! Updos! Ponytails! Slickbacks! Braids! And those are what I've compiled right here: a full list of festival hair ideas for all hair types and lengths, from beachy waves to cute ways to get your hair out of your face. Without further ado...

Curl Mousse for Frizz Control

Texturizing Sea Spray

Sweetheart Clip

Three Barrel Hair Waver

1. Festival Hair Idea: Wet-Hair Look

I'm all too familiar with sweat ruining my hairstyle. However! What if I could use that to my advantage, huh? That's the beauty of this wet-look hairstyle for your next music festival. Shown above on Karol G, this style only requires gobs of hair gel to mimic the look of glistening, dripping strands.

2. Festival Hair Idea: Long Braids

An oldie but a goodie, long braids are a go-to for a reason. And if genetics didn't bless you with super-long hair, there are hair extensions for that, btw. To tuck away any flyaways into your braids (and make 'em look as shiny as Salma Hayek's above), smooth some hair cream over your braids as the last step.

3. Festival Hair Idea: Half-Up Half-Down

Bringing face-framing pieces back while embracing your hair's natural texture and shape? The best of both worlds, ofc. (The early 2000s could never.) TBH, this is also a great way to make use of any cute hair clips, bows, or accessories you've collected.

4. Festival Hair Idea: Low Ponytail

When Tessa Thompson and hairstylist Lacy Redway come together, they make magic—every single time. Case in point: This stunning low ponytail, which has a wet finish that would be perfect for your greasy festival hair. To make the grease look a bit more ~intentional~, smooth on some hair oil to give your hair mega shine.

5. Festival Hair Idea: Colorful Hair

There is simply no better time to cover your entire head in a bright color than for a festival. And luckily, the committment averse have options here! Coat your hair in a color-depositing conditioner or temporary hair color, which will offer you a whole new persona for your festival weekend that you can ditch before the Monday all-hands.

6. Festival Hair Idea: Box Braids

If you're not considering putting your natural hair in a protective hairstyle for your festival, WYED? Whether you go for these traditional box braids or knotless box braids (which put a lil less tension on your scalp, making them way more comfortable), these will last you the entire festival and even a couple of weeks afterward.

7. Festival Hair Idea: Swirly Slicked-Back Bun

I'm going to Coachella this weekend (!), and I've had this inspo saved to my IG for months because it's such a chic, cool take on a standard slicked-back bun. To get these swirls, grab an edge brush dipped in some hair gel and create lil loops with your baby hairs.

8. Festival Hair Idea: Light Bends

Gigi Hadid's bendy bob haircut is the epitome of breezy, summer vibes, which is exactly what I'm planning to emulate all festival szn. To get a similar look, glide your flat iron down the length of your hair, creating bends back and forth along the way down. Just keep your ends straight for that effortless look.

9. Festival Hair Idea: Beachy Waves

Assuming your music festival is in the midst of warm, summery temps, beachy waves are always gonna be the vibe, whether you've got a bob haircut, long hair, or a lob like Lana Candor. You've got a few options: Simply put your hair into a few braids before bed, then let it out in the morning and spritz with sea salt spray to give your hair some texture. Or run a three-barrel hair waver through your hair in sections to mimic that beachy look.

10. Festival Hair Idea: Side-Parted Bun

I love a slicked-back look as much as the next Sofia Richie wannabe, but I sometimes miss having a little hair framing my face. Enter: this side-parted bun, wherein some hair is slicked back while your bangs or a few layers are swept to the side. Plz, if you do this look, invest in a flyaway wand to help smooth down your hair.

11. Festival Hair Idea: Braided Bun

If your hair is in a set of box braids, you can change up your look a ton of diff ways, including plopping them on top of your head into a bun. Reminder to pack a whole lotta bobby pins and elastics to hold all of your hair in place all day long.

12. Festival Hair Idea: Barrettes

Y2K and festival vibes are one in the same, FYI. Which is why these adorable glittery barettes on Simone Ashley are a genius way to amp up whatever updo, ponytail, or bun you do. These generally stay in place well, but if you wanna make them feel extra secure, spritz 'em with hairspray before sliding them on and clicking in place.

13. Festival Hair Idea: Sleek Bun

Wanna spice up your usual slicked-back bun for a music festival? Before you tuck your hair into your bun, twist the ends into sleek bang, per Anitta. Honestly, this is even better with greasy hair, so I'll be waiting until day three to debut this bb.

14. Festival Hair Idea: High Ponytail

Is a ponytail basic? Sure, but if it looks as full and ~lush~ as Nicola Peltz Beckham's, it's a show-stealer. If you aren't blessed with all this hair naturally, all good—just grab a ponytail extension.

15. Festival Hair Idea: Bow Braid

This braided bow on Nicola Coughlin is taking the coquette trend to new heights—literally. And even though it looks like a masterpiece, it's shockingly not that difficult to accomplish yourself. Tie your hair back into a half-up ponytail, then section your hair into two braids. Then, create a bow with your braids, pinning them down from the back to keep them from moving around. And spritz with hella hairspray, ofc.

16. Festival Hair Idea: Rhinestone Dutch Braids

If you've already ordered thousands of face gems for your festival makeup, why not stick 'em in your hair too? Try this braided look like Remi Bader by creating two Dutch braids (reminder, these braids have a raised look against your scalp since you make them by crossing each section under each other versus over, like in a French braid). Then, strategically stick some rhinestone pins throughout your braids to add some sparkle.

17. Festival Hair Idea: Braided Crown

Remember the heyday of music festivals? Vanessa Hudgens was frolicking in the dress, everything was crochet, and everyone had their hair in braids. Take it back to the good 'ole days with this simple braided updo. Your hair is totally pulled back—perfect for extremely hot weather—but in a cutesy fashion. And as you can see, even short bobs like Lucy Boynton has can achieve this style, just leave your hair down in the back if you can't pull it into a bun or pony.

18. Festival Hair Idea: Goddess Braids

Storm Reid's braid game is simply off the charts, and this festival-worthy style is one of her best. Ask your braider for goddess braids, which involves braiding from your roots to the mid-lengths, then leaving the rest of your braiding hair wavy and textured. Then, if you wanna completely copy Reid's ~flow~, pull your braids into a twist and wear to the side for a boho vibe.

19. Festival Hair Idea: Birkin Bangs

Mark my words: Everyone will have Birkin bangs at the big festivals this year. This is the latest bang trend, after the wave of curtain bangs in 2021, modeled after fashion icon Jane Birkin (the Hermès Birkin is literally named after her—talk about legendary). They're wispier and softer than a traditional bang and hit just at your eyebrows. 2024's muse is Suki Waterhouse in this shaggy, '70s style that'll pair perfectly with all of your western fashion 'fits.

20. Festival Hair Idea: Messy Updo

Is there anything easier than toppling all of your hair on your head and sticking in a bunch of bobby pins in random places to hold it all together? Nope, there isn't. Make yours feel a little more elevated by pulling out a few pieces, especially face-framing layers, and curling them.

21. Festival Hair Idea: Baby Braids

Zhuzh up your natural texture by creating a few tiny braids throughout your hair. Tie them off with a clear elastic so they stay hidden, or go full steam ahead with the childlike vibes by adding colorful hair ties.

22. Festival Hair Idea: Thick Headband

Not a fan of your sweaty festival hair? Just hide it all behind a thick, fabric headband, like Meredith Duxbury's look here. Best part? You can just refresh your second-day waves by spritzing on some wave spray and combing through them. Gives me more time to perfect my false lashes, lol.

23. Festival Hair Idea: Space Puffs

Have some extra fun with your curls and coils by pulling them into these bb space puffs on either side of your head. Perfect for head banging to The Killers, twerking to Sza, and swaying to Lana Del Rey. Basically, an all-around good vibe style.

24. Festival Hair Idea: Accessorized Bun

A sleek bun is the perfect vessel for your biggest, most out-there hair accessories. We're talking giant bows, metal clips, flowers, scrunchies—the bigger, the better. Consider this the 2020s take on a flower crown.

25. Festival Hair Idea: Voluminous Blowout

Listen, who am I to tell you to ditch your big, bouncy Sabrina Carpenter-esque hair dreams just because you're at a music festival? My biggest tip here is to opt for a 1.5 or 2" curling iron instead of your usual Dyson AirWrap or Shark FlexStyle, as the heated iron will create longer-lasting waves.

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with nearly six years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from shampoos for thinning hair to Dyson AirWrap dupes. She’s an authority in all hair categories, but is an expert when it comes to festival hair ideas.

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