Not to be dramatic, but doing my hair in the summertime is akin to partaking in an extreme sport. Like, I’m about to compete in the World Cup of styling thick hair. It’s wavy and frizz-prone, which is only amplified by the humidity of a New York City summer. And there’s only so many times I can wrestle with my boar bristle brush to perfect a slicked-back ponytail, and only so much time I want to spend styling a voluminous blowout for it to just go to waste the moment I step outside.

Luckily, there’s a hybrid hairstyle, perfect for summer, that also leaves plenty of room for fun iterations and accessories: the half-up half-down style. So many of my favorite celebrity hair muses are constantly rocking the look, and it works for every hair length—whether you have long layers or just chopped a bob. If you need a go-to for a sweaty commute and want less hair sitting on the back of your neck, or have a summer wedding where you don’t want to go full slick-back, the half-up half-down hairstyle strikes the perfect balance between chic and practical.

Ahead, all the best half-up, half-down hair inspiration for summer.

How to do a Half-Up Half-Down Style:

The beauty of a half-up, half-down hairstyle is that there's no strict formula. Start by sectioning off the top portion of your hair, deciding how much you want to pull back, and considering the type of look you’re going for. If you're creating a half-up bun, for example, you'll want to gather more hair from the crown than you would for a small ponytail or clipped-back style.

Once you've separated your section, use a brush to smooth it back, then secure it with a hair tie, clip, barrette, or pins. From there, you can leave the rest of your hair natural or style it however you'd like.

The Best Half-up Half-down Inspo:

Person in a yellow dress with a lace hair accessory, standing near lush greenery.
@hairinel
Person in a black lace outfit with an elegant hairstyle at a formal event.
@nikkinelms
Person wearing an elegant, intricately detailed silver dress with floral patterns.
@jennychohair
Person with long, curly hair wearing a blazer against a plain background.
@amberdmakeup
Woman in a sleeveless blue top with long, dark hair tied back.
@jennychohair
Woman with long brown hair in a silver textured dress against a light background.
@jennychohair
Person in an elegant dress holding a pink rose and small handbag.
@haileybieber
Person posing in a black leather outfit with red accents, long side ponytail, and bangs.
@olandria
Person with long dark hair in a white robe, looking over shoulder.
@dimitrishair
A woman with long, wavy hair in a half-up style wearing hoop earrings and an off-shoulder top against a pink background.
@renatocampora

Why Trust Cosmopolitan?

Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things hair—from the latest product launches to trending colors and cuts.

Headshot of Jasmine Hyman
Jasmine Hyman

Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.