What festival hair styles last the whole weekend?

Braids that sit close to the scalp last longest, usually all three days. Dutch braids are my first choice, then space buns or a braided crown. Loose curls drop within hours once you add heat, damp air and sleeping on a roll mat.

Should I wash my hair before getting festival braids?

Wash it one or two days before your appointment, not the morning of. Squeaky clean hair is slippery and braids slide out of it, so a little natural grip helps everything hold.

How do I keep festival braids neat in a tent?

Sleep on a silk or satin scarf to cut friction against your sleeping bag, use dry shampoo at the roots in the morning, and smooth flyaways with a little water on your hands instead of brushing the braids out.

Festival hair: styles that survive a full weekend

Q: When should I book my hair colour before a festival?

About a week before you go. That gives the colour time to settle and gives us a chance to fix anything you are not happy with. A toner before a weekend in the sun is worth doing.

Tasha Meyerhoff

Oct 9

3 min read

The festival hair that survives a full weekend is tight braids put in the day before you leave, on hair that was washed two days earlier. Loose waves and fresh blow dries rarely make it past Saturday lunchtime in a tent. Braids, buns and twists that are pinned close to the head will still look decent on Sunday night.

Every summer I get the same messages on a Thursday morning asking if we can squeeze someone in before they drive to a field. Here is what I tell them, so you can plan it properly next time.

The short version

Braids close to the scalp last longest, usually all three days.

Wash your hair one or two days before, not the morning of.

Book festival hair for the day before you travel.

Pack dry shampoo, a silk scrunchie, a wide-tooth comb and a hat.

Sun and sweat fade colour, so book any toner a week before.

Festival hair styles that actually last

Dutch braids are my first choice. Two of them, plaited underneath so they sit raised on top of the head, hold for days and look better as they loosen a bit. French braids work too but they lie flatter and show frizz sooner.

If you do not like braids, space buns or a braided crown are next best. Anything pinned up keeps your hair off your neck when it is hot and away from mud and wet tent walls. A bubble ponytail looks great on the first day but tends to slide by the second, so I only suggest it for one-day events.

Loose curls are the one I talk people out of. They look lovely when you leave the salon and drop within hours once you add heat, damp air and sleeping on a roll mat.

How to prep your hair the week before

Wash it one or two days before your appointment. Squeaky clean hair is slippery and braids slide out of it, so a little natural grip helps everything hold. Skip heavy oils and serums on the day for the same reason.

If you colour your hair, get it done about a week before you go rather than the day before. That gives the colour time to settle and gives us a chance to fix anything you are not happy with. A toner is £35 to £40 on its own, or £20 added on to a colour appointment, and it is worth doing before a weekend in the sun.

Extension wearers, braids are a good option because they hide bonds and tapes well. Tell your stylist you have them so the plait sits where it covers the attachment points.

Keeping your festival hair intact in a tent

Sleep on a silk or satin scarf if you can fit one in your bag. It cuts down friction against a sleeping bag, which is what turns a neat braid fuzzy overnight. A silk scrunchie does less damage than a standard hair tie if you need to put it up.

Dry shampoo is the most useful thing you can pack. Spray it at the roots on Saturday morning, leave it a few minutes, then rub it in with your fingertips. Do not brush out braids to refresh them, just smooth the flyaways with a little water on your hands.

Protecting your hair and colour from the sun

Long days outside fade colour faster than anything else, especially blondes and reds. A hat protects your colour and your parting, which burns easily when hair is braided back. The NHS sun safety advice says UK sun is strongest between 11am and 3pm from March to October, so that is when to cover up or find shade.

When you get home, wash with a gentle shampoo and use a proper conditioner. If your blonde has gone yellow or brassy after the weekend, a toner refresh brings it back in about half an hour.

Booking festival hair at our salon

Hair up is £35 to £50 depending on length and how intricate the style is. Braids for a festival usually sit at the lower end. If you want a blow dry first for smoother braids, a blow dry is £28 to £35, or £30 to £38 for a curly blow dry. You can see everything on our pricing list.

Most festivals start on a Thursday or Friday, and we are open until 6pm on Thursday and 3pm on Friday, so those slots go quickly in summer. Groups of friends are welcome, just let us know how many of you there are so Sabrina, Sheree and I can plan the chairs.

Call us on 01582 730381 or book online. We are at Shop 660, Jansel House, Hitchin Rd, Stopsley, Luton LU2 7XH, and Klarna is available if you are spreading the cost of a summer of events.