OUR FAVOURITE HAIRSTYLES FOR LONG HAIR

If you have long hair, you’ll already know that your styling choices are endless. However, it’s all too easy to get stuck in a style rut, or be so overwhelmed by choices that it’s tough to decide which style to attempt.

If you’re looking to refresh your look but you’re lacking hair inspiration, here are six of our favourite hairstyles for long hair which you can easily do yourself at home.

Dutch braids

Braided hairstyles are a popular choice for longer hair all year round, but it’s an especially great style for summer, when you may want to keep your hair out of your face and off your neck. One of our favourite styles are Dutch braids; they’re slightly different to French braids, but simple to create at home. French braids are made by adding small sections of hair into the braid as it progresses, while Dutch braids involve braiding sections of hair under each other for a raised, more prominent look.

To achieve long dutch braids, brush your hair to ensure you get a smooth finish. Gather a 3-inch thick section of hair from the top of your head, then split this into three equal strands. Begin to braid, bringing in sections of hair from each side of your head as you continue to braid down.

Secure at the bottom with a hair tie - you could even try double dutch braids by parting your hair first before braiding each side.

Space buns

This double bun look is great for festivals, as it helps keep your hair away from your face, and your hair’s protected from getting dirty by being wrapped around itself.

To get the look, brush your hair and give yourself a centre parting. Clip up one section of your hair so it’s out of the way, and then tie the other section into a high ponytail. Then wrap that ponytail around itself and secure with bobby clips. Repeat with the other section of hair you’ve tied up.

Gently pull a few strands at the front of your head loose if you’d like some face-framing strands, and secure your style with hairspray.

Classic long ponytail

For a totally glam look with minimal effort, try a classic long ponytail.

To perfect a long ponytail, start with clean, brushed hair. Apply a small amount of serum to your mid-lengths to smooth your strands, then gather hair at the top of your crown, securing with a snag-free elastic. To get some added volume, gently tease the strands at the top of your ponytail upwards.

Smooth out any bumps with a fine-tooth comb, take a small section of hair from your ponytail and wrap around the base of your ponytail to conceal the hair tie.

Long waves

Whilst some people may be blessed with naturally wavy hair, for others, it may take a little more work to create this effortless look.

To add beachy waves to long hair, begin with clean, dry hair. Apply a few spritzes of a heat protectant spray, divide your hair into 5-6 sections, and twist each section away from your face, securing each twisted section with hair clips. Heat each twisted section with a curling wand for a few seconds, then release and let cool.

Once all sections are cooled, tousle your hair with your fingertips and finish with hairspray for natural-looking waves.

Loose, textured curls

A step up from wavy hair, loose curls give your mane a little bit of extra glamour and volume.

To create loose, textured curls on long hair, divide hair into 5-6 sections. Take a 2-inch section of hair, and wrap it around a curling wand or iron, leaving the ends out for a more relaxed look. Hold for a few seconds, then release. Repeat this process on all the different sections, alternating the direction of the curls for a natural look.

Once all sections are curled, gently tousle the curls with your fingers to loosen them and create texture. Finish with a sea salt spray to set the curls and add definition, and for added volume and texture, backcomb the roots lightly.

Poker straight long hair

This style works best when your hair’s freshly washed, so you’ve got a clean foundation to work from.

Apply a dab of smoothing serum from your mid-lengths to your ends to tame frizz and add shine, and spritz some please replace with Heat Defeat Spray and focus on heat protection through your hair to seal in long-lasting straightness before using heat styling tools. Then blow-dry hair your hair straight, using a paddle brush to smooth out any kinks or waves. Apply the brush to your roots, and run sections of your hair through the brush in an even motion, keeping it flat.

Once your hair’s dry, use a straightener on small sections of hair, starting from the roots and slowly gliding down to the ends to complete the look. For a super-sleek look, finish with a small amount of shine spray to create a glossy, polished finish.