Festival season is upon us, which means you’ll soon be packing your beauty essentials and flowy dresses to wear as you dance under the sun to your favorite musical acts. Besides a solid amount of SPF, a cute and comfortable hairstyle is an absolute must. Braided hairstyles are the ultimate look to rock to a music festival this season: You don’t have to be a mane master to style them, they are low-maintenance, keep hair out of your face and look great on all hair types and lengths. Whether you’re into a boho look, an edgier style or want a simple option to wear with your hair down, we’ve got you covered. Check out 30 of the best braided hairstyles to inspire your beauty look.
[ Next: 30 Gorgeous Braid Styles to Try Now ]
festival braid inspration
-
Braid Jewelry
It’s the braided version of a charm bracelet. Simply slip small statement rings over a few strands of hair and weave your standard braid.
Image: Pinterest via Lulu Frost
-
Mohawk Braided Ponytail
A regular ponytail just won’t do during festival season. That’s why we love this edgy interpretation featuring the beginning part of a typical French braid that opens up into a perfectly textured pony.
Image: @Blohaute
-
Braided Mohawk With a Twist
If you have really long hair, opt for a braided mohawk up top accented with an extra side braid. Leave things a little messy in the back for maximum 360-degree impact.
Image: Pinterest via Styles Wardrobe
-
Crisscross Pigtails
X marks the spot. Get twisted by crisscrossing your braided pigtails in the back — this works really well for anyone rocking two-tone hair color.
Image: @meggle
-
Infinity Braid
While this unique chunky braid doesn’t quite go on forever, it will certainly turn heads at any festival. We’re digging the way the blond strands are only woven into the epic braid’s bottom half.
Image: @brendamarieattheloft
-
Perfectly Imperfect Braids
What do you get when you pair piecey Dutch and fishtail braids? A perfectly undone boho look that just screams festival-ready, especially if you backcomb the ends with a fine-tooth comb to secure everything in place.
-
Braids and a Bun
There’s a lot going on here, but the style is surprisingly easy to replicate. Just pick a few sections of hair to weave in some fishtail braids and wind a few (and some straight hairs) into an accent bun.
Image: Pinterest via Lunchpails & Lipstick
-
Braided Wave
Help hold your wavy tresses back on one side by weaving in this classic braid. If you don’t have naturally wavy locks, use a curling iron prior to braiding to fool practically everyone.
Image: Pinterest via The Right Hairstyles
-
Loose Braids and Flowing Ends
For this laid-back look, you’ll need to prep your hair with some texture spray and braid sections underneath as opposed to on top. Let things fall where they may starting at the nape of your neck where the two braids merge together for a boho-from-the-back look.
-
Braid Remix
Much like festivals offer up a mix of musical acts, this hairstyle incorporates several braid styles. From traditional braids that transition into a less-than-perfect plait to select skinny braids, it all equals one stellar hairstyle.
Image: Pinterest via TobruckAve
-
Double Dutch
Start off with a duo of Dutch braids and then you can decide whether you want your bottom halves to be in the form of a standard set of pigtails, fishtails or a pair of four-strand braids that morph into rope braids (seen here). Or, since most festivals stretch out over several days, change things up for each act.
-
Waterfall Braid
The top half of this asymmetrical stunner is your typical French braid, but by splitting the top section in half every time you bring it over and leaving part down, you’ll get that sought-after cascading effect. Tip: This works best on textured or dirty hair.
Image: Pinterest via ...love Maegan
-
Braided Crown
This hairstyle will be the crowning achievement of your festival look. The updo delivers a bigger impact on those of us who boldly sport bangs.
Image: Pinterest via Treasures & Travels
-
Mini Braid
Calling all you naturally wavy-haired girls out there. Sometimes less is more — even when it comes to festival braids — and this solitary skinny mini braid is proof.
Image: Pinterest via Spell & the Gypsy Collective
-
Braided Bun
Instead of letting your two side plaits hang down, why not round things out by piling them into a bun? Leave some strands free around both sides for a full face-framing effect.
Image: Pinterest via Always Judging
-
Looped Ponytail
Keep your braids out of your face by gathering them up into a crazy-cool looped ponytail. Bonus points if you work in a headwrap.
-
Boho Goes Dutch
Double Dutch braids meet in the middle to form a new Dutch braid. This look is all about the details, from the relaxed nature of the braids themselves to the twisted knot in the middle and the looped end at the bottom.
Image: @chaneyalexishair
-
Roller Coaster Braided Bun
This braided updo takes onlookers for quite a ride, zigzagging up, down and around. Even sections of the unbraided bun are woven around the braids.
Image: @djp_designs
-
Plaits Galore
Pump up the volume by weaving in thick and thin fishtail plaits into both sides of your hair.
Image: Pinterest via UK Hairdressers
-
Speedy Solitary Braid
Braiding doesn’t have to be super intricate or time-consuming. This three-strand braid can be widened for that carefree vibe and topped off with a floppy hat to help block any unwanted rays.
-
Ponytail Braid
If you like to wear your hair up, then this full and braided style is calling your name. Use a texturizing spray and brush hair out before creating this look in order to amp up the fullness.
Image: Pinterest via Free People Blog
-
Short-Haired Braid
Short hair, don't care! Tease hair, add some waves and pull back a thin-to-medium sized braid on either side of your head, and tie them together with an elastic where they meet in the back. By teasing the roots, the style becomes more flattering in an instant.
Image: Pinterest via Wonder Forest
-
Peekaboo Braids
For you ladies who love to wear your hair down, add a couple braids underneath the hair on the left and right side, about halfway to the nape of your neck for an unexpected twist to your casual vibe. Add a few more to the top section — the key is to keep each individual braid as thin as possible to keep the look subtle.
Image: Pinterest via Runaway on the Runway
-
Double Fishtail Braids
We love a fishtail, so we're really into the double take on the pigtail look. Keep the braids tight and neat or pull them out a bit for a more undone and messy take.
Image: Pinterest via Fab Fashion Fix
-
Hairline Braid
If you have bangs you would like to keep out of your face or simply want a more easy approach to keeping your hair back, braid along the hairline, pin it back or wrap an elastic around it, and style the rest of your hair as you would.
Image: Pinterest via Lauren McBride
-
Messy Braid
A great twisted style for those looking for a lush look is to loosely braid your hair to the side, so that the volume and texture is more dramatic. For added texture, finish it with medium hold hairspray and gently brush the braid with a clean toothbrush for a lived-in and fuller effect.
Image: Pinterest via The Beauty Department
-
Trifecta of Braids
This trio of braids is ideal for an evening look that is still laid-back. Long-haired ladies, take note. Once you check out the tutorial, you'll realize that achieving this style is way easier than it looks.
Image: Pinterest via Divine Caroline
-
Halo Braid
This is not your average milkmaid braid — it's modern but still a bit lived-in with tiny strands of hair framing the face. To keep small pieces within the style from peeking out, add some pomade to the hairs and tuck them into the braid to maintain the uniform look.
-
Ribbon-Woven Braid
Accessorize a single braid of your choice by weaving in a few colorful strands of ribbon. Tie the end in a knot with your own hair and bobby pin it to step up your styling technique.
Image: Pinterest via Pretty Designs
-
Edgy Braids
Can't make up your mind about which type of braided hairstyle you want? Then go all out and add cornrows and peekaboo braids all over the front section of your hair, and play with size variations as well as switching up the direction in which each braid goes for added edge.
Image: @shopplanetblue
