Cute and Easy Wet Hair Hairstyles for Your Poolside Hangs

June 30, 2023
Jordan Julian
By: Jordan Julian | Makeup.com by L'Oréal
Photo of the author with her hair in a single braid and photo of the author with her hair down styled in baby braids, collaged on a purple and blue tie-dye background
There are so many different reasons to love summer, but pool parties and beach days with besties are definitely at the top of the list. While summer is a great time to take a more low maintenance approach to beauty, I’m definitely not judging if you want to make sure you’re ready for an impromptu poolside Instagram photoshoot. After all, you’ve got to show off that cute new bikini or flex your beach day makeup skills. The good news? You can have plenty of fun in the sun (after applying your broad-spectrum SPF, of course) and the water without having to worry about whether a dip in the pool will ruin your hair. I’m sharing four of my super easy, go-to wet hair hairstyles that I rely on to stay selfie-ready during the summer months. (Bonus: They all take less than five minutes to do!)

Pigtail Braids

Braids are probably your best bet for a quick but cute hairstyle that looks great with wet hair. Not to mention, your hair will dry with perfect beachy waves if you braid it while it’s damp. Two low pigtail braids make for an adorable, playful and sporty look. This look can also be enhanced and customized to suit your personal style with hair accessories. I secured my braids with hot pink elastics for a pop of color, but you can also accesorize with a headband, a bandana, ribbons at the ends and more. Pro tip: If your hair tends to get frizzy, you can spritz it with a treatment like the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine 10-in-1 Leave-In Spray before braiding it. 

Side-by-side photos of author with her blonde hair in pigtail braids secured with hot pink hair elastics

Sleek Braid

For a sleeker look, try a single braid with your hair pulled tightly and slicked down. Start by parting your hair how you like (when in doubt, a center part works great for this look), and pulling your hair back tightly into a ponytail. After securing the pony with a hair tie, braid it down to the bottom and secure your braid in place with another hair tie. You’ll look chic and your hair will be out of your face all day.    

Side-by-side photos of the author with her blonde hair in a sleek single braid secured with a blue hair elastic

Baby Braids and Texturizing Spray

I’m all for rocking my wet hair down and letting it dry naturally. For a simple summery vibe, try wearing your hair loose except for a couple of face-framing baby braids. Baby braids were a major trend last summer and the 2000s-inspired style is back again this year. Finish the look with a mist of texturizing spray or wave spray, like the Redken Beach Spray. This sea-salt-free formula will give you the tousled, effortless waves of your dreams without drying out your hair. 

Side-by-side photos of the author with her blonde hair down with two face-framing baby braids

Slicked-Back Bun

Sweep your hair away from your face with a sleek, slicked-back bun. This is a trendy hairstyle that is actually easier to do with wet hair than with dry hair, since you won’t have to deal with as many flyaways or use a lot of product. Use a wide-tooth comb or a wet brush to part your hair down the center, gather it at the nape of your neck and twist it into a bun. While you don’t need to use any products to do this style, it doubles as a great opportunity to nourish dry or damaged hair. Before doing your bun, apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair (we love the Carol’s Daughter Born to Repair Curl Defining Leave-In Cream With Shea Butter for curly hair).         
Side-by-side photos with her hair blonde hair in a slicked-back bun
Photographer: Jordan Julian Design: Juliana Campisi

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