22 Easy Beach Hairstyles That Are Actually Easy to DIY

22 Easy Beach Hairstyles That Are Actually Easy to DIY

Summer hair doesn’t need to be complicated. Between the humidity, the salt water, and the fact that you’d rather be in the ocean than in front of a mirror, the best beach hairstyles are the ones that take five minutes and still look like you tried. This list is full of easy beach hairstyles that work with second-day hair, damp hair, or hair that’s already halfway to a frizzy mess. Whether you’ve got straight strands, loose curls, or something in between, there’s a look here you can actually pull off without a stylist on speed dial.

Classic Beach Waves

This is the one that started it all. Loose, tousled waves with just a little texture at the ends give off that “I just came from the ocean” energy, even if you never left your bathroom. It works beautifully on medium to long hair and looks best with a slightly undone, imperfect finish.

Spray in a texturizing sea salt spray while your hair is damp, scrunch it up, and let it air dry or diffuse it. If you’re in a rush, a quick pass with a curling wand on random sections keeps it from looking too uniform. Low maintenance, high payoff.

Half-Up Top Knot

When your hair is doing its own thing and you don’t have the patience to fight it, the half-up top knot is your best friend. Grab the top section, twist it up into a loose bun, and let the rest fall naturally around your shoulders.

This style suits pretty much every face shape and hair texture, though it looks especially cute with wavy or curly hair since the loose pieces add extra volume. It also hides greasy roots like a champ, which makes it perfect for day three or four of vacation hair.

Fishtail Braid

Fishtail braids look intricate, but once you get the hang of the technique, your hands basically do it on autopilot. Split your hair into two sections and alternate pulling small pieces from the outside of each section into the other.

It works best on long, straight to wavy hair since the texture holds the braid pattern nicely. This one photographs beautifully at golden hour, and a slightly loose, pulled-apart finish only makes it look more relaxed.

Messy Low Bun

A messy low bun sits at the nape of your neck and looks like you spent thirty seconds on it, because you probably did. Gather your hair into a low ponytail, twist it, and wrap it around the base without smoothing out every flyaway.

This is a great choice for thick or fine hair alike, and it keeps hair off your neck when the heat is unbearable. Leave a few face-framing pieces loose for a softer look.

Double Dutch Braids

Two Dutch braids running from your part down to the nape keep hair secure through wind, waves, and everything in between. They work on almost any hair length past the shoulders and hold up well on straight or wavy textures.

Beyond being practical, double braids have a playful, youthful vibe that feels right at home on a beach trip. Leave the braids in overnight and you’ll wake up with natural waves as a bonus.

Braided Top Knot

Take the top knot up a notch by French braiding the front section before twisting it into a bun. It gives you that effortless-looking style with a little extra polish, which makes it a nice option if you’re headed somewhere slightly dressier for dinner after the beach.

Curly and coily hair textures hold this style especially well since the braid adds structure that keeps flyaways contained.

Tousled Lob with Beach Texture

If you’re rocking a lob (long bob), you don’t need much to make it beach-ready. A few spritzes of texturizing spray and a quick tousle with your fingers is honestly all it takes.

This length flatters nearly every face shape, and the shorter style means less hair to manage in the heat. It’s especially great for fine hair since the shorter length creates the illusion of more volume and thickness.

Space Buns

Space buns aren’t just for festivals. Split your hair into two sections, twist each into a bun on either side of your head, and you’ve got a fun, secure style that keeps hair completely off your neck.

This works well on medium to long hair, and it’s particularly forgiving for second-day or third-day hair since the buns hide texture and oil at the roots.

Braided Crown

A braided crown wraps one or two braids around the top of your head like a halo. It’s romantic, it’s practical, and it keeps every strand secured, which makes it ideal for a windy beach day or a boat trip.

Longer hair gives you more to work with here, but shoulder-length hair can pull it off too with a little pinning. This style suits round and oval face shapes particularly well since it adds height at the crown.

Wet-Look Slick Back

Sometimes the easiest beach hairstyle is barely a style at all. Run a leave-in conditioner or gel through wet hair, comb it straight back, and let it dry naturally for a sleek, model-off-duty look.

This works on straight and wavy hair best, since curly textures tend to need more product to stay smooth. It’s a striking, minimal option when you want something polished without any actual styling effort.

Low Ponytail with a Wrap

A simple low ponytail gets an upgrade when you wrap a small section of hair around the elastic to hide it. This tiny detail makes the whole look feel more finished, even though it adds maybe ten seconds to your routine.

It works on any hair length past the collarbone and is a great option for thick hair that tends to feel heavy in the heat.

Boho Waves with Braided Accents

Take your natural waves and add two thin braids near your temples, pulling them back and pinning them behind your head. It’s a small detail that makes loose waves feel more intentional and pulled together.

This look is especially pretty on hair with natural texture, since the waves and braids blend seamlessly. Wavy and curly hair types will find this one comes together with almost no extra effort.

High Ponytail with Volume

A high ponytail is a beach hair staple for a reason. It’s fast, it keeps hair off your neck, and a little backcombing at the crown before you tie it up gives it some lift so it doesn’t look flat.

This style suits long, thick hair especially well, though fine hair can fake extra volume with the right teasing technique. Wrap a small strand around the base for a cleaner finish.

Twisted Half-Up Style

Instead of a simple half-up ponytail, twist two small sections from each side of your head and pin them together in the back. It’s barely more effort than a regular half-up but reads as noticeably more put-together.

This works well across most hair lengths and textures, and it’s a solid option for hair that’s prone to frizz since the twists help control flyaways at the front.

Braided Ponytail

Combine a low or high ponytail with a simple three-strand braid running down the length of it. This is an easy way to dress up a basic ponytail without adding much time to your routine.

It’s particularly nice for straight, fine hair, since the braid adds texture and visual interest that the hair might not have on its own.

Curly Shake-and-Go

If you’ve got natural curls, sometimes the best beach hairstyle is just letting them do their thing. Scrunch in a curl cream or gel while hair is damp, shake it out, and let the humidity work in your favor for once.

This look celebrates curly and coily textures exactly as they are, and it genuinely could not be lower maintenance. A little diffusing helps if you want more definition, but air drying works just as well.

Braided Headband

Take a small section of hair from one side, braid it, and pull it across your head like a headband, pinning it behind your opposite ear. It keeps hair out of your face without needing an actual accessory.

This works nicely on medium to long hair and pairs well with loose waves underneath for a boho, put-together feel.

Low Twisted Bun

Similar to the messy low bun but with a twist (literally), this style involves twisting two sections of hair together before wrapping them into a bun at the nape. It creates a more textured, rope-like look than a standard twist.

This is a great pick for thick or curly hair, since the twisting technique naturally controls volume while still looking relaxed.

Sleek Middle-Part Ponytail

A sharp middle part with a sleek, low ponytail is a clean, modern option when you want something simple that still looks intentional. Smooth your hair back with a bit of gel and secure it low at the nape.

This style flatters oval and heart-shaped faces especially well, and it works best on straight to slightly wavy hair that’s easy to smooth down.

Beachy Pigtail Braids

Not just for kids, pigtail braids get a grown-up upgrade when they’re a little loose and undone. Split your hair down the middle and braid each side loosely, pulling gently on the plaits afterward for extra texture.

This is a fun, low-effort option for long hair and works especially well on wavy textures, which already have a bit of natural movement built in.

Voluminous Beach Blowout

If you’re heading somewhere a little more polished after the beach, a voluminous blowout with soft waves at the ends gives you that salon-fresh look. Blow-dry with a round brush for lift at the roots, then run a wand through the ends.

This takes a bit more time than most looks on this list, but it’s worth it for thick or medium hair when you want something that reads as more finished without going full formal updo.

Loose Braided Bun

To close things out, a loose, low braid twisted into a soft bun is one of the most versatile beach hairstyles you can do. Braid your hair loosely, then coil it at the nape and secure with a few bobby pins, letting some pieces fall free.

It works on nearly every hair length and texture, and it has that effortless, undone quality that somehow still looks intentional, which is really what beach hair is all about.

Whatever your hair type or how much time you’ve got in the morning, there’s a version of easy beach hair that works for you. Keep a texturizing spray, a few bobby pins, and maybe a lightweight gel in your beach bag, and you’ll have everything you need to pull off any of these looks in just a few minutes flat.