This article will show you the cutest hairstyles for graduation this year.
If you are graduating this semester, I am sure you are already getting excited. Graduation season is so much fun because you (finally) get to celebrate your accomplishments with family and friends.
And, of course, as you are being recognized, you will also want to look and feel your best! This means that you should start thinking about the hair, makeup, and outfit that you want to wear to the event. (We’ve got guides to graduation dresses and graduation shoes to get you started!)
One of the most important things to consider when getting ready for graduation is your hair! You will want to have the perfect hairstyle for graduation and it all depends on your vibe.
For example, if you prefer to wear your hair down, you could go for some gorgeous voluminous curls. Or, if you prefer to wear your hair up, you could put it up in a sleek ponytail or low updo. The options are endless.
So, check out these 25 hairstyles that you could totally wear for your graduation in 2023!
Related reading: Which Hairstyles Are in Style? Hairstyle Trends for 2023
Table of Contents
The Best Hairstyles for Graduation This Year
Wavy Styles
1. Beachy Waves
If you have straight hair and you want to add a little extra something to your hair look for graduation, I would recommend going for some subtle beachy waves.
This will add some volume to your hair and give it some wave without you having to add huge curls to your hair. This will create a simple, but gorgeous hair look for your graduation.
Just watch this quick tutorial on how to get these beachy waves!
2. Voluminous Curls
Now, if you want to do bigger, more voluminous curls, you can also totally do that for graduation! Voluminous curls are always a go-to hairstyle when it comes to fancy or big events.
So, if that is the look you want to go for, good news — it’s totally be perfect for graduation. And, this tutorial will show you exactly how to get the look!
3. Natural Curls
If you want to wear your natural curls to your graduation, I would recommend watching Zendaya’s tutorial on how she styles her natural curls.
This will give you that natural, but also gorgeous hair look that’s perfect for graduation day.
4. Iron Curls
Another way to style your hair if you are looking to do a wavy hairstyle is to curl it with a flat iron. This has become a very popular hairstyle recently and many people have been moving away from the traditional barrel curls using a curling iron.
So, if you want to learn how to get this look for your graduation, watch this tutorial!
Straight Styles
5. Sleek Straight Hair
If you have wavy or curly hair and you would like to switch it up at your graduation, the sleek, straight hair look is a simple and perfect way to wear your hair at graduation.
Before you try straightening your hair, I would recommend watching this tutorial because there are certain things you should do in order to get the perfect sleek straight hair look.
6. Bobby Pins
Another way that you can wear straight hair at graduation is that is simple but also girly is by adding bobby pins! There are multiple ways that you can pin your hair back with bobby pins that will give you a more fancy hair look for graduation that you will love.
Just watch this tutorial that will show you eight great looks when styling your hair with bobby pins.
7. Voluminous Straight Hair
If you want to wear your naturally straight hair to graduation, but you want to make it stand out more, I would recommend trying to add some extra volume to your hair.
If you want all the best tips for giving your straight hair that gorgeous volume, this tutorial will show you what you need to know.
8. Hair Barrettes
If you want a trendy and cute way to style your hair at graduation, I would recommend using hair barrettes or clips!
What’s great about using these hair accessories is that there are so many different ones to choose from and you can totally get ones that will look perfect with your graduation outfit.
Once you have picked out your favorite hair barrettes, watch this tutorial on how to style your hair!
Braided Styles
9. Fishtail Braid
Braided hairstyles are another very common type of hairstyle that looks great at special events and will work perfectly for graduation. Braided hairstyles can be a bit more complicated, especially if you are new to braiding hair.
But, don’t worry because there are plenty of great tutorials to show you exactly how to get the braided hairstyles you love.
For example, watch this tutorial to see exactly how to get the popular fishtail braid.
10. The Rope Braid
If you want to wear a braided style, but you want something a little more interesting than a basic braid, don’t worry because there is a certain type of braid that will work perfectly for you!
It is the rope braid, which creates a beautiful braid that wraps around your head and has tons of volume. This may seem a little complicated, but don’t worry because you can learn exactly how to do it by watching this tutorial!
11. Mini Braids
Mini braids are becoming very trendy right now because of TV shows like Euphoria and it is a super cute but simple way to wear your hair to graduation.
So, if you want a hairstyle that is trendy, but also will make you look great at graduation, I would recommend this hairstyle.
Just watch this tutorial to get the look!
Updos
12. Twisted Updo
Of course, updos are also a great choice for special events, so you can also wear a super cute updo to graduation!
But, the key to getting the perfect graduation updo is keeping it on the low side so it won’t interfere with your graduation cap. (The Beauty Department has a great hack for making sure your hairstyle will work with your grad cap.)
One great option is the twisted updo. This will give you an elegant and also beautiful hairstyle for your graduation.
13. Messy Updo
Another option if you want to do an updo, but want to have a more effortless hair look is the messy updo! This is so Y2K and completely back in style.
Sometimes getting the “effortless” messy bun or updo can be a little difficult, so I would recommend watching this tutorial to see how to do it! Just keep the bun low so you can still wear your grad cap.
14. Braided Updo
If you want to do an updo, but also want to incorporate braids into it, I would recommend going for this lace braid updo.
This will give you the updo hairstyle that you want while also adding in some pretty braids on the sides of your head.
15. Simple Updo
If you like the updo kind of hairstyle, but you want to do something more simple for graduation, don’t worry because you can just do a simple updo as shown in this tutorial, and it will give you a great hairstyle for graduation!
Ponytails
16. Low Side Ponytail
Ponytails are also a great option for graduation because if you keep them on the low side, they won’t get in the way of your graduation cap.
For example, the side ponytail, as seen in the video above, is super cute and unexpected, and a great way to show off your natural hair texture. (It honestly works with any hair type!)
So, to see exactly how to get this pretty ponytail look (as well as some other ideas), watch this tutorial!
17. Ponytail with Two Bangs
Here’s another trendy ponytail that accommodates the bangs that are so in style right now.
This cute bangs and ponytail combo would be perfect for graduation day! Just lower the ponytail a little to work with your graduation cap and you’re good to go. So pretty and so of-the-moment. Watch the tutorial to see how to do it!
18. Messy Ponytails
If you want a more effortless, but chic ponytail for graduation, I would recommend going for the messy ponytail look as shown in this tutorial.
This will give you a super cute messy low ponytail that will look great at graduation!
19. Sleek Low Ponytail
You could also choose to do the opposite and go for a more sleek low ponytail as shown in this tutorial.
This is a more simple, but also elegant way to style your hair into a ponytail. It’s classic, it’s sophisticated, and it will work with a graduation cap — so it checks all the boxes for a great hairstyle for graduation.
Watch this tutorial to get the perfect sleek low ponytail!
Buns
20. Side Bun
The side bun hairstyle is also a great choice for graduation. It’s a great choice for pairing with a graduation cap, and it will look effortless and also gorgeous at graduation.
Just watch this tutorial to see exactly how to get this hairstyle!
21. Low Buns
A low bun is also a great choice. And, what’s great about the low bun look is that there are so many different ways that you can style your hair into a low bun.
Watch this tutorial to see a few different ways that you can get a cute low bun hairstyle at your graduation!
22. Sleek Bun
Just as the sleek ponytail is super chic for graduation day, so too is a sleek low bun. In fact, I’d argue that the low bun is even more sophisticated than the ponytail.
This look is giving “I have my whole life together” and that’s the perfect vibe we want for graduation day!
Watch the tutorial to show how easy it is to get this style.
Half Up Half Down Styles
23. Half Up Half Down Braid
One other way you can wear your hair at graduation is by putting it up in a half up half down hairstyle. This kind of hairstyle looks super cute with braids.
So, if you want to incorporate some pretty braids into your hairstyle for graduation, I would suggest going for a hairstyle like shown in this tutorial, which is the crown braid.
This will give you a gorgeous half up half down look with a pretty braid to make your hair stand out!
24. 90s Half Up Ponytail
You can also go for the classic half up half down ponytail. One of the best ways to style this look is to go for the Ariana Grande half up half down inspired ponytail like shown in this tutorial.
(Note: This one might not be grad cap-friendly, depending on how high you make the top pony and where you place it — experiment ahead of time to see what works with your cap! This one would also be great for a graduation party.)
This will give you a super cute and girly way to wear your hair at graduation!
25. Half Up Half Down Bun
A half up half down bun is another way that you can style the half up half down hairstyle. There are a few different ways that you can do a half up half down bun, but the hairstyle on the left above is my personal favorite.
So, check out this tutorial which will show you how to get a cute half up half down bun for your graduation!
What kind of hairstyle do you want to wear for graduation?
For more graduation content, see also: Graduation Announcements: The 26 Most Stylish Cards to Send This Year.
Which of these hairstyles for graduation is your favorite? Which one are you going to try?