Running Late For School? Try These 5 Minute Hairstyles

Running late for school? Try these 5 minute hairstyles

A young woman with light brown hair in a 5 minute hairstyle bun stands outside, wearing a brown jacket over a gray top. She has hoop earrings, layered necklaces, and carries a white purse. Trees and a car are visible in the background.

Haute hair…or 10 more minutes of beauty sleep? That used to be the dilemma—until these fast (and oh-so-fab) styles became part of your morning routine.

“Quick doesn’t have to mean sloppy,” says hairstylist David von Cannon. “A clean part, a thoughtful accessory or just taking 10 seconds to smooth flyaways can make a huge difference in how put together a look can be.”

Way easy waves

@pressley

Why say goodbye to summer so soon? We’re all for holding onto those beachy vibes for as long as we can.

Before bed, spritz hair with a leave-in spray, then twist into buns, depending on your hair’s length, texture and how tight you want your waves (the less hair per bun, the tighter the wave).

“In the morning, gently unravel and finger-comb through the waves,” says von Cannon. “Finish with a light styling product to hold the shape and enhance texture.”

Toolkit: Verb Hydrate Detangling Leave-In Conditioner, $22, sephora.com.

Pineappled curls

@sofiawylie

Rock three-day-old curls with an updo that screams, “Take me back to Tahiti.” Start by flipping your head upside down, then gathering your hair into a high ponytail—we love seamless elastics for a gentle hold that protects curls. Finish by applying a bit of mousse to your edges to keep strands in place (bonus points for using an edge brush to style and define).

Toolkit: Kitsch Seamless Hair Elastics, $8, mykitsch.com. Pattern Palo Santo Curl Mousse for Curls & Coils, $23, sephora.com. Fenty Beauty The Side Stick 3-in-1 Edge Styling Tool, $18, fentybeauty.com.

Clippy clips

@megdonnelly

@kherispoppin

Can a five-minute hairstyle *get* more nostalgic? Dress up your coils for school with butterfly clips. Stick with a theme like pink and red tones, match your clips to your outfit or go all out with a rainbow of colors. Styling straight hair? Slick face-framing strands out of your face with an assortment of barrettes and bobby pins (we love these cute charms!). Finish with a spritz of hairspray to lock in the look.

Toolkit: Claire’s Club Pastel Butterfly Mini Hair Claws, $8, claires.com. Claire’s Gold Celestial Snap Hair Clips, $8, claires.com

Effortless, sleek bun

A no-brainer style for short-on-time mornings…but make it intentional by middle-parting your hair and slicking it back. “Start with damp or lightly misted hair—it gives you more control,” says von Cannon. Use a comb to define a clean middle part, then add pomade or oil for a sleek finish. For thicker strands, apply product section by section, but for fine hair, focus just on the outer layer to smooth flyaways.

Toolkit: SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Smooth & Shine Hair Oil, $11, target.com. The Hair Edit Section & Style Rat Tail Comb, $5, ulta.com.

Baby braided bangs

@freyaskye

Bad bangs day? Not anymore. Section off two small squares on either side of your middle part and start braiding. For extra structure, try French braiding the first few plaits—just pull the hair at a side angle to keep it from falling into your eyes throughout the day. Secure the ends with elastics. Good bangs day? Add small braids about an inch back on each side for a face-framing detail that lets your fringe stay the star of the show.

Toolkit: Scunci Polybands in Neutrals, $5, target.com.

Twisty bun

@madisonbaileybabe

Don’t get it twisted: This style is easy to do. Hairstylist Dhiran Mistry says the secret is texture spray. “If you have straight or fine hair, run a bit of styling cream from root to tip for extra grip,” he advises. First, pull hair into a high ponytail. Take one-inch sections from the ponytail and twist or coil them (depending on how tight you want the bun to look), then pull the ends back toward the base and secure with bobby pins. Repeat until every strand becomes part of a tendril-y bun. Want to frame your face? Pull out a few front pieces, Mistry suggests.

Toolkit: Roz Evergreen Hair Styling Cream, $32, sephora.com. Amika Un.Done Volume & Matte Texture Spray, $10, loveamika.com.