12 Festival Ready Braided Hairstyles That Steal the Show

There’s nothing quite like festival morning the thump of distant bass, sunshine breaking through the tent, and the promise of dancing until stars fill the sky. And your hair?

That’s part of the whole vibe. A great festival braid isn’t just practical keeping hair out of your face while you groove it’s also your personal style flag flying high above the crowd.

These 12 gorgeously detailed, step-by-step festival braids are designed to get you noticed from the first chord to the encore. With accessories, color pops, and bold textures, they’re perfect for all hair types, lengths, and personal styles.

1. Space Buns with Mini Braids

Playful, iconic, and impossibly photogenic this look is made for ferris-wheel selfies.

How to do it:

Part your hair straight down the middle into two equal sections. Pick 2–4 skinny strands near your face on each side and braid them tightly from root to tip.

Gather the rest of each section up high on your head and twist into buns, using the braids either to wrap around the bun’s base or letting them hang loose.

For instant star-power, weave tinsel hair strands or metallic embroidery thread into your mini braids before twisting

A spritz of glitter spray over the buns will catch the stage lights like disco balls. This holds up all day, even in wind, and stays cute as it softens plus, with mini braids framing your face, your second-day selfies still slay.

2. Boho Half-Up Braids

Romantic, floaty, and as effortless as a guitar riff drifting across the lawn.
How to do it:

From each temple, start a Dutch or French braid back toward your crown, making sure to keep the top a little loose for volume.

Join both braids at the back and secure with bobby pins or a tiny elastic hidden under a hair strand.

Let the rest tumble naturally with waves or curls. Curl the ends loosely with a wand beforehand and run fingers through no brush so the lower half feels free and beachy.

Add dainty flower pins for daytime sets, swapping in rhinestone clips for night. This style is perfect for hats or flower crowns, and keeps your hair out of your eyes during sing-along moments.

3. Fishtail Festival Braid

Bold yet ethereal, this braid is the definition of “Mermaid on the Main Stage.”

How to do it:

Pull all your hair to one side. Split into two sections.

Take a thin strand from the outer edge of the left side, cross it over to the right, then repeat with the right side over and over until you’ve braided the full length.

Secure with a clear elastic. Pancake (pull at the sides) of the braid to fatten it up for volume and dimension. Mist with a grit texture spray for hold that resists unraveling.
Pair with shell clips, pearl hairpins, or pastel streak extensions you’ll look like you just stepped out of a dream sequence.

4. Bubble Braids

High energy, Y2K nostalgia, and maximum bounce with minimal skill required.

How to do it:

Gather your hair into a high ponytail, then add mini elastics every 2–3 inches along the length.

After each elastic, pinch and pull the hair slightly to form ‘bubbles.’
Clip in colorful extensions before you start for multi-tonal bubbles. Clear elastics blend, colorful ones pop choose depending on your outfit mood.They stay poofy even when you’re dancing in the crowd. Perfect for pairing with bold glitter makeup and retro sunglasses.

5. Braided Crown

Fit for a festival queen or fairy queen, depending on your accessories.
How to do it:

Braid a medium-thick section from above each ear, then lift them over the top of your head like a headband and pin securely just behind the opposite ear.

Let loose hair flow underneath. For fullness, fluff each braid by tugging gently along the edges.

Weave in flowers, beads, or lightweight chains for that boho-luxe aura.
Works wonders for hiding slightly greasy roots on day two without sacrificing glamour.

6. Peekaboo Braids

Subtle, flirty, and perfect if you like surprises in your style.
On dry hair, braid a few thin plaits underneath your top layers just above your neck or behind your ears. Keep them tight so they peek through with movement.
Thread in colored cord or metallic ribbon that matches your outfit, so when the sun hits, your secret details shimmer.
Works with straight hair, curls, or beach waves and it stays looking intentional as your main style loosens over the day.

7. Dutch Braided Bun

Elegant at the front, party at the back.
Start a Dutch braid (weaving under, not over) low behind one ear, curve it horizontally across the nape, then gather the end into a bun behind the opposite ear.
Loosen the braid for volume before pinning. Add a patterned scarf tied at the bun base to complete the look.
Super secure for headbanging or spinning in the crowd and it keeps your neck cool.

8. Double Boxer Braids

Sharp, athletic, and perfect for intense dance marathons.
Part hair dead-center from forehead to nape. Dutch braid each side down tightly and secure at the ends. For a festival twist, braid in colored yarn, glitter hair, or neon ribbon.
For longer wear, prep roots with dry shampoo before braiding and finish with a mist of flexible-hold spray.
You can accessorize and still wear a hat or headpiece without ruining the braids.

9. Flower Power Mini Braids

Spirited, romantic, with a 70s revival vibe.
Create several tiny braids randomly through your hair, leaving the rest natural. As you braid, slip in flower clips or weave artificial blossoms right into the plaits.
Use small faux flowers so they stay light and won’t droop they’ll last from daytime folk sets to late-night DJs.
This one photographs beautifully, especially in outdoor light where your ‘flower crown’ catches the breeze.

10. Edgy Faux Hawk Braid

For the bold spirits who want to command every space they walk into.
Section a strip of hair from forehead to nape along your center. Create a tight Dutch braid up the scalp, teasing slightly at the roots for lift.

Leave the sides slick or wavy for contrast.
Spray the top lightly with strong-hold hairspray to keep height all night.

Clip in neon or pastel extensions into the central braid for a knockout visual. This one’s impossible to ignore especially with glitter roots and bold earrings.

11. Half-Up Bubble Braids with Waves

Fun, bouncy, and great for showing off length.
Gather the top half of your hair, split into two ponytails, and make bubble braids (like style #4). Let the rest of your hair flow down in loose curls.
Choose brightly colored elastics to match your makeup palette so everything feels styled, not random.
This style has movement, dimension, and stays cute even after hours of dancing.

12. Reverse Dutch Braid into Top Bun

Gymnastics-level secure, with big performance energy.
Flip your head upside down and Dutch braid from your nape toward your crown. When you reach the top, gather the rest into a bun — messy or sleek, your call.
If you have short layers at the nape, mist them with hairspray before starting so they don’t slip out.
Keeps hair off your face, showcases earrings or makeup, and holds strong through even the wildest jumps and spins.

Festival Braid Survival Tips

• Grip first: Always start with dry shampoo or texturizing spray before braiding.
  
• Decor overload? Not at a festival layer beads, pins, tassels, glitter spray, and scarves.
  
• Think longevity: Tight base braids + loose ends = style that ages gracefully over multiple days.
  
• Pack a mini kit: Extra elastics, bobby pins, and a travel hairspray can save a day-two touch-up.