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Ah, the magical half-up, half-down hairstyle. The look that says, yes, I wanted my hair in a ponytail, but no, I did not want to look like a hot mess today. The style that can be glammed up with accessories and pins or downplayed with elastics and natural texture. It is, dare I say, the most versatile hairstyle, and it doesn’t get nearly as much love as it deserves. And to change that—and get you out of your hair rut—I rounded up the 13 prettiest half-up, half-down hair ideas to copy next time you wanna try a bit. Just, like, a little bit.
1
Half-Up, Half-Down Studded Bun
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Okay, aside from the fact that Lucy’s stick-straight hair looks like it could actually cut glass (goals), her half-up, half-down baby bun is perfectly sectioned above her temples, combed back and pinned to the crown of her head, and then adorned with a dozen star pins (P.S. I’m wearing these pins right now. Am I also a celebrity?! Yes?!).
2
Half-Up, Half-Down Braids
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Whether you’re working with locs or braids, you can copy this super-easy style (you’re probably already wearing it right now, TBH). But to make it feel a little ~newer~, try leaving out two face-framing pieces, à la every single icon of the ’00s, and pinning or tying your hair off at the nape of your neck rather than at the crown.
3
Half-Up, Half-Down Braids
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I truly cannot get over how gorgeous these fairy-esque braids were at the Alice + Olivia spring 2020 show—I mean, please just look at them. LOOK AT THEM. To recreate, rake the sides of your hairline back into two braids, pinning them in place in the center of your head before tying the ends into a knot. Then stick sprigs of fake lavender through your braid, bobby-pinning the ends in place.
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4
Half-Up, Half-Down Curls
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Alright, so Joan Smalls’ hair isn’t exactly half up—more like one-third up. Still, I’m counting it, because it’s also the perfect trick for anyone who has fine hair (hi) and can’t scoop up half of their hair without looking like they’re balding on the bottom.
5
Half-Up, Half-Down Bun
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If you’ve got a ton of thick hair, gathering half of it and pinning it to the top of your head isn’t exactly feasible (or comfortable). Instead, section off just the top of your hair, from temple to temple, and twist it into a bun, securing with pins or a cute scrunchie.
6
Half-Up, Half-Down Twists
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Yes, this half-up, half-down hairstyle looks hella complicated, but it’s honestly not: Just scoop the sides of your hair back, twist them, and pin them on top of one another straight across your head. Then weave a thin gold chain (can legit just be from a necklace) around the twists, letting the ends dangle free or bobby-pinning them in place.
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7
Half-Up, Half-Down Curls
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Vanessa Hudgens, I cannot handle the vibes you are giving us in this photo. The makeup, the hair, the perfectly blown-out swoops...sigh. To recreate on yourself, DO NOT EVEN TRY, but also, blow out your hair with a large round brush, then wrap the two-inch section of your hairline around velcro rollers for major volume.
8
Half-Up, Half-Down Pearled Twist
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Again, this half-up, half-down look is way, way easier than it appears. Yes, it’ll take a few tries, but to get this result? It’s worth it. Think of this style like a French braid but with twisting instead. Scoop the crown of your hair back, twist once, then pin in place. Scoop up the sides of your hair, twist it all together once, then pin in place. Then scoop up another layer of hair, twist together, and pin in place. Confused? Just watch the tutorial, and grab some pearl pins to get ready.
9
Half-Up, Half-Down Knots
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Space buns meet 2019 with Isabela Moner’s incredibly cute half-up, half-down hairstyle. Just section your hair in half from temple to temple, split your hair down the middle, then twist and pin each side in two knots.
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10
Half-Up, Half-Down Bows
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So glossy...so shiny...so pretty. This half-up, half-down hairstyle veers on the edge of a ponytail, but as someone who hates having my hair in my face, I’m down with it. Twist the sides of your hair back and pin in place at the nape of your neck before clipping on a bow. This Perlita bow costs $198, but don’t worry—cheaper options also exist if you’re on a budget.
11
Half-Up, Half-Down Ponytail
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Simple yet effective: Scoop your curls into a high half-up, half-down ponytail and secure on the top of your head. Pro tip: Use a PuffCuff—an O-shaped clip that’s a godsend for curls—instead of an elastic to secure your hair without destroying your curl pattern.
12
Double Half-Up, Half-Down
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If you look closely, you can see that this half-up, half-down hairstyle isn’t just one section of hair scooped and pinned in back—it’s actually two. To recreate, section off the hair at your crown, lightly back-comb it, then twist and pin in place. Then scoop up the section of hair beneath, back-comb, then twist and pin in place. Add two black bow barrettes if you’re feeling faaancy.
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13
Half-Up, Half-Down Bun
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This is pretty much the ultimate this-ol’-thing? hairstyle I dream of wearing yet can never get right. The trick, as I’ve discovered, is to play with how much hair you section off on top (for me, I look best with less hair on top and more on the bottom, just like this look). And, um, to also have a cool scrunchie and an Instagrammable background.
Chloe Metzger
Deputy Beauty Director
Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing the editorial content and growth strategy of the hair, makeup, and skin space on digital, while also obsessively writing about the best hair products for every hair type (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare routines that really, truly work (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life). She brings nearly a decade of writing and editing expertise, and her work has appeared in Allure, Health, Fitness, Marie Claire, StyleCaster, and Parents. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. Thanks.
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Regarding the concepts mentioned in this article, let's explore each one:
Half-Up, Half-Down Hairstyle
The half-up, half-down hairstyle is a versatile and popular hairstyle that combines elements of both an updo and leaving the hair down. It involves gathering and securing a portion of the hair on the top or back of the head while leaving the rest of the hair flowing freely. This style can be achieved in various ways, such as with braids, buns, twists, curls, or by using accessories like pins or bows.
Studded Bun
A studded bun is a variation of the half-up, half-down hairstyle that features a bun on the top or back of the head. It can be adorned with accessories like star pins to add a decorative element to the hairstyle.
Braids
Braids are a type of hairstyle created by weaving strands of hair together. In the context of the half-up, half-down hairstyle, braids can be incorporated to add texture and visual interest. They can be styled in various ways, such as leaving out face-framing pieces or pinning them at the nape of the neck .
Curls
Curls can be incorporated into the half-up, half-down hairstyle to add volume and texture. They can be styled by curling the hair using heat tools or other curling methods. The curls can be gathered and secured in a half-up style, such as a ponytail or bun, while leaving the remaining hair down.
Bun
A bun is a hairstyle where the hair is gathered and twisted or coiled into a round shape and secured with pins or other hair accessories. In the context of the half-up, half-down hairstyle, a bun can be created with a portion of the hair while leaving the rest of the hair down [[13]].
Twists
Twists are a hairstyle technique where sections of hair are twisted and secured in place. In the context of the half-up, half-down hairstyle, twists can be created by scooping the sides of the hair back, twisting them, and pinning them on top of each other across the head. Accessories like a thin gold chain can be added for extra flair.
Pearled Twist
A pearled twist is a variation of the half-up, half-down hairstyle that incorporates twisting the hair and securing it with pearl pins. It involves twisting the crown of the hair, then twisting the sides and pinning them in place. Another layer of hair can be added and twisted before pinning. This style creates an elegant and sophisticated look.
Knots
Knots are a hairstyle technique where sections of hair are twisted and secured in a knot shape. In the context of the half-up, half-down hairstyle, the hair can be divided into two sections, twisted, and pinned in two knots. This style can be cute and playful.
Bows
Bows can be used as accessories in the half-up, half-down hairstyle. The hair can be twisted or pinned back, and a bow can be clipped on to add a decorative element. Bows can be placed at the nape of the neck or other desired locations.
Double Half-Up, Half-Down
The double half-up, half-down hairstyle involves dividing the hair into two sections and creating separate half-up styles with each section. The hair at the crown is backcombed, twisted, and pinned, while the hair beneath is also backcombed, twisted, and pinned. This style creates a layered and textured look [[12]].
These are some of the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any specific questions or would like more information on a particular aspect, feel free to ask!
