Festival season is upon us, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to experiment with bold, creative, and carefree hairstyles. In 2025, festival hair trends are all about self-expression, blending nostalgic vibes with futuristic flair. From vibrant colors and intricate braids to shimmering accessories and eco-friendly styling, this year’s trends promise to turn heads and inspire individuality. Whether you’re dancing under the stars or soaking up the sun, these hair trends will ensure you’re festival-ready and picture-perfect. Let’s dive into the must-try looks that are set to dominate the festival scene this year!
This year, clients will be a lot more experimental when it comes to festival hair. We will
Suzie McGill, Artistic Director at Rainbow Room International
See clients opting for pastel hair colours, as well as bright and bold vivid shades, wearing these all over their hair or through sections and panels to give their hair a fun and playful look. When it comes to hairstyles, we will see the comeback of classic festival hair trends, which include topknots and buns – hairstyles that are easy to create and work well paired with day 2/3 festival hair when the hair starts to get a little bit oily, as a serum or oil can be distributed through the hair to slick it back and help create these styles. Accessories, including hair scarfs and ribbons, will also be prominent for festival season and are a great way to amplify any simple updo and give it added drama.
BRAIDS
Gill Berry, JOICO
Braids are always a huge festival hair trend and will never go out of style. The great thing about braids is that they are so versatile, whereby there are a number of braid styles to choose from – from normal to Dutch and French braids. For 2025, we will see braids being incorporated more into half up half down styles, taking some hair away from the face and creating a pretty and very boho inspired look. We will also see more intricate braiding becoming popular, whereby clients will incorporate small braids around their face and into their partings to give their hair a cool and edgy vibe.
Sophie Chandler RUSH Artistic Team
Festival hair is expected to be a little more laid back luxe this year with a boho feel.
Loose beachy waves are going to be a popular style and we can expect to see lots of
hair accessories being used to create a cool festival style, opposed to lots of
complicated hairstyles. In addition to this, we can expect to see nineties trends across
the festival scene – think bangs and voluminous layers. This isn’t a look just for festival
time, it will be popular throughout summer and as we move into autumn too.
Festival hair is all about balance—you need something that turns heads but can also last through heat, dancing, and long days outside. That’s why Doechii’s look at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 is such a perfect festival hair moment. Her micro braids, styled into a structured topknot, bring boho energy with a bold, futuristic twist – exactly what festival season 2025 calls for.
Chris Grimley, textured hair specialist, owner of Fusion Hair Co & Textured Curled Academy
Micro braids are an ideal festival style because they’re low-maintenance but high-impact. They hold their shape, they’re endlessly versatile, and they work with every accessory under the sun. What makes Doechii’s look stand out is how the topknot creates elevation and movement, while the face-framing tendrils keep it soft and effortless. To make this style truly festival-ready, I always recommend weaving in metallic beads, shells, or UV-reactive threads—something that catches the light and enhances the whole vibe. And let’s talk longevity: a lightweight oil mist keeps the braids fresh and defined, while edge control ensures everything stays sleek without feeling stiff. This is festival of hair at its best intricate, expressive, and built to last. If you’re looking for the ultimate festival style this season, this is it.
Celebrity Hairstylist Jay Birmingham
Festival hair is all about getting creative, and this season, I’m obsessed with feathers as the ultimate statement accessory this festival season. They add colour, movement, and a touch of ethereal magic, transforming any style into something eye-catching.
For me, it’s all about weaving delicate, wispy feathers into loose, tousled waves or sleek, sculpted ponytails. The contrast between soft texture and bold adornment creates a striking, high-fashion festival moment. Whether you go for subtle neutral plumes for a boho edge or vivid, color-blocked feathers for a high-impact statement, this look is made to turn heads. The key to making it work? Placement is everything. I love layering feathers through braids, pinning them into ponytails, or tucking them behind the ear for a more effortless feel. Finish with a lightweight styling mist to keep everything secure while still allowing natural movement. Festival hair should feel playful, bold, and a little untamed—and feathers bring all of that energy together in the most care-free, stylish and fun wayy.
Festival hair should be bold, expressive, and unapologetically fun. Nothing captures this energy better than vibrant, high-voltage waves. This season is all about striking, statement-making colours combined with effortless texture. Dua Lipa is known for her experimentation with these bold colours. What makes this style a festival essential is its fluidity and impact. Waves create movement and light reflection, which makes bold shades even more striking—whether it’s electric blue, neon pink, or fiery copper. This is a look that’s designed to *stand out in the crowd, on stage, and under festival lights. To perfect bold waves, it’s all about technique. I always recommend starting with a colour-protecting treatment to keep the vibrancy locked in, then enhancing the waves with a texture mist and a soft bend using a styling wand. The key is keeping the movement controlled but effortless, so the colour stays the main focus. Festival hair is about making a statement, and bold waves are the ultimate power move—high-energy, high-impact, and built to steal the show.”
Brian ‘Leo’ McCallum, ROAR Hair & Beauty
Nicholas James, Celebrity Session Stylist
Influenced by the likes of Euphoria, bubble braids will be a staple in festival season, being loved for their practical and trendy look. When it gets to Day 2 or 3 of the festival, you need a style that will both keep the hair out of the face and still look chic. The key to nailing this trend is to create a relaxed feel to the style! The beauty of it is that it doesn’t have to be too neat and perfected and this look is best paired with wispy bangs to frame the face. Embrace flyaways and texture for an on-trend vibe, using clear elastics to create the bubble effect cascading down the hair.
Safy B, Owner of Safy B’s Hair Salon
Keeping your hair fresh and tidy at festivals is a challenge in itself – showers tend to be far and few, and you can’t always use straighteners to tame your mane. Braids are a great hairstyle for festivals as they require little to no maintenance once styled and can be easily jazzed up with other accessories, such as rings, charms, beads, bows and much more! The festival season also sees many clients wanting to take the leap and try more vivid hair colours – which is my forte! Festivals are a great time for clients to experiment with vivid hair colours and step out of their comfort zone! I’d recommend using semi-permanent dye for clients who are wanting to try out a new hair colour – this means clients can still have the fun and go back to their original colour. Pastels colours are always popular ones!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the talented experts who have generously shared their insights, tips, and predictions for festival hair trends in 2025. Their creativity and expertise not only inspire stunning looks but also empower individuals to express themselves through bold and beautiful styles. Thanks to their contributions, we can embrace the season with confidence and individuality. Here’s to the visionaries shaping the festival fashion scene!
