These 31 Hairstyles Will *Actually* Get You Excited About Going Back to School (2024)

It's easy for the low bun to look less "chic" and more "I'm about to star in Hamilton," but the key is to have those face-framing pieces clearly separated from the back and looking glossy instead of messy. Dry shampoo and a curling iron will be your BFF here.

The hardest part of this look is the eye-grazing bangs, since the pretty front layers will grow out nicely (and you might be able to do your roots at home). If you have a stylist you like nearby, you can schedule a touchup if you're afraid to cut your bangs yourself—and it's cheaper than a full cut.

This fall trend hair looks so simple, but it relies on two things: clean, longer hair (the front part can be shorter, just long enough to fit behind your ears) and bobby/hair pins the same color as your hair. Use a fine-tooth comb to give yourself a ~perfect~ middle part, then separate the front of your crown into two sections, secure them, and finish with styling hair oil.

Ah, Y2K beauty trends. I kind of missed you! When they're too thin or too sparse, lil mini braids can look haphazard instead of fun and intentional. The key is to make your face-framing braids look perfect and then space the others evenly around your head. Aim for 4-5 to start, then see if you need more.

If you're really loving a messy bun but need an upgrade, I have just the look. Take a short scarf/bandana and tie it around your face; then situate your bun high on your head. Use face-framing pieces if they look clean, otherwise tie everything (even the short pieces) into the scarf. Hit the bottom side of the scarf with hairspray before you put it on so there's no slippage.

Usually you're trying to *avoid* the crunchiness...but adding just a little bit of strategic water-soluble gel as your hair air-dries, or some strategically placed hairspray afterwards, can give you a suggestion of texture without making you feel greasy. For naturally straight hair, you'll want to style the beachy waves, then add the texture at the end.

The *new* tease is the opposite of the '80s big hair look. You'll be giving your hair lots of moisture and love—like with curl cream and serum, depending on what your hair responds to—then you hit it with texture spray once it's dry, five inches from the root all the way through the ends. You hair won't scream, "I'm so dry it hurts" but proudly proclaim, "I have ~so~ much healthy hair."

Hair color is great, but: the upkeep. However! If you balayage, no one will know how long ago you dyed it. (Case in point: Kaia here did this herself while in quarantine.) Just make sure you add color to ~at least~ half the length of your strand. An ever lower-risk option is hair chalk, which washes out in three days max.

All you need for this sleek look is a flat iron and a smoothing hair serum. Working with one small section at a time, run the straightener through your hair, slightly angling the plates outward as you reach the bottom inch of your strands to create a little flick on the ends. Then, use your serum and the palm of your hands to smooth any flyaways on top.

Whether you just hopped out of the shower and you're late for class or you just prefer heatless hairstyles, this wet-hair look deserves a spot in your rotation. Get yourself a bottle of this shine serum to keep it looking wet all day long.

This cool, modern take on the pigtails you know and love is perfect for running around your college campus—and the braids (or braided braids or locs) as an accent makes it even better for this fall's back-to-school hairstyle.

With all the layers and curtain bangs, it feels like the '70s all over again. But even if you don't have bangs, you can still get the look with a curling wand or straightener and texture spray. Just curl the hair away from your face, leaving the ends straight, then brush it out. Don't have a texturizing spray? Take a nap between classes to muss it up a little. Works like a charm.

Not your intramural-sports ponytail, this sleek updo would be perfect for pretty much any other event on campus when you want to wear your hair up in a sophisticated updo.

Show this photo to anyone who with medium-length hair or longer. If you have a few shorter pieces, a half-up hairstyle gets the job done just fine. It looks cute, too, and your hair's out of your face as an added bonus. (Just make sure the rest of your hair looks clean enough to wear down.)

If you got the urge to go blonde for summer and bleached your hair, don't rush to go back to your roots—a rooty blonde color is always a cool idea. Play up the '90s grunge look with a textured ponytail and pieces in the front.

You don't have to totally reinvent your style with the start of each school year if you don't wanna. A subtle color change, like a sprinkle of highlights on brown hair, can still make a noticeable difference. Proof: These caramel babylights, aka the perfect fall hair color.

If you want an easy hairstyle idea that still looks cute, put down the hair tie and grab a hair comb clip instead. Never used one of these clips before? Here's the trick: Lay the clip on the side where the comb fits the curve of your head, then push the teeth against the direction of the hair to secure it into your twist.

If you're looking for a protective style that'll last you six to eight weeks, try box braids. The versatility and longevity of this style definitely make up for the hours spent in the salon to get them.

Once you've got your braids, you've got endless options for ways to wear them in different braided hairstyles that you can switch up as often as you'd like. Take this braided box-braid look, for instance—10/10 recommend for your back-to-school style.

Whether you're team middle part or side part, you can still update your hairstyle for the new school year by adding a few layers throughout your hair. Worried about going too short? Tell your stylist you want the shortest layer to still be able to fit into a ponytail or topknot.