31 Easy Hairstyles to Try This August

By Erin Lukas
Updated Aug 01, 2018 @ 11:30 am
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August can sometimes feel like a "meh" month. It's the beginning of the end of summer, and it's still so hot out everyday that the heat leaves you perpetually looking like you've just taken a shower but somehow, aren't clean..

Essentially, it can seem like there's not too much to be excited about. While we haven't cracked the code on how to August feel particularly exciting, you can boost your overall mood by spicing up your hairstyles for the entire month — it's the little things that help, right?) 

When it comes to hair, there are some hacks that make the high humidity levels more bearable: tying your hair up in a high, wavy ponytail, or if you have a bob or pixie cut, slicking everything back. We've set you up for an entire month of killer hairstyles with the looks we cherry-picked from the red carpet.  

Ahead, you'll 31 fresh hairstyles that'll get you through the entire month of August.   

VIDEO: Cost of Getting Your Hair Dyed 

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Closing Ceremony & 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote' Red Carpet Arrivals - The 71st Annual Cannes Film Festival

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One of the major misconceptions with having hair that’s on the shorter side is that you’re limited on styling options. With the help of a few hair clips it’s possible to make a bob or lob look like an entirely different cut. As seen on Kristen Stewart, simply twist and pin front pieces of your hair back. Who knew the barrettes you wore in middle school would still seem so cool as a adult? 

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Rihanna's Top Knot 

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With the mornings still hot and sticky in August, the last thing you’re going to want to do is waste time on your hair when you’re going to want to get it off your sweaty neck in an hour by throwing it up. Instead, pull your hair up into a super easy top knot. Rihanna did hers by twisting and knotting her ponytail before securing it with pins. 

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Meghan Markle's Messy Bun

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What do mere civilians have in common with Duchess Meghan Markle? She loves a messy bun just as much as you do. And it’s understandable: the updo is about as effortless as effortless hair can really be, making it the perfect option for someone with a busy Royal schedule, or you know, a lazy mid-August morning. 

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Cate Blanchett's Wavy Bob 

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Tucking one side of your bob behind your ear will your cut a lived-in, "I care, but not too much" vibe. Use a wave spray like Bumble and bumble's Surf Infusion ($29; sephora.com) to get Cate Blanchett's beadhead-y style.  

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Kim Kardashian's Wavy High Ponytail

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When it’s so humid out, that using hot tools is out of the question, Kim Kardashian’s soft, wavy, high ponytail is an ideal look. Kardashian’s stylist Chris Appleton prepped her damp hair with Color Wow’s Brass Banned Correct & Perfect Mousse for Dark Hair ($24; dermstore.com) to add texture and definition to her natural waves. 

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Lupita Nyong'o's Braided Ponytail

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Bored of the ponytail? Add some braids in at the base and it'll feel like a completely new style.

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Lili Reinhart's Front Flip 

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Another way to instant volume is by flipping the front pieces of your hair over the other side. This trick works on a variety of hair types and textures, plus it legit takes two seconds to do. For extra body and hold, you can spritz your roots with a volumizing hair spray like Ouai's Volumizing Hair Spray ($26; theouai.com) before flipping it. 

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Priyanka Chopra's Ponytail with Tendrils 

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Instead of fighting with those front short layers, just surrender and leave them out of your ponytail. Smooth any flyaways with Pantene's Smooth and Sleek Fixing Serum ($7; walmart.com). 

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Sarah Paulson's Slicked-Back Pixie 

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What's an awkward grow-out phase? Sarah Paulson's slicked back pixie looks cool and keeps random hairs from getting sweaty and sticky as you're transitioning back to a longer length. Run a pomade like Living Proof's Molding Clay ($26; sephora.com) through your hair to set it in place. 

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Yara Shahidi's Sparkly Hair Clips

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No matter your stance on the recent resurgence of hair clips, who can resist a little bit of sparkle? No one, including Yara Shahidi. 

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Margot Robbie's Wavy Angled Bob 

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You got the "haircut of the summer," but now you don't know how to style it? Take a flat iron to your wavy lob to create "S" bend waves as seen on Margot Robbie. 

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Ruby Rose's Tousled Pixie 

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Warm a pomade up in your hands, and go to town on your layers for added texture. We recommend Ouai's Matte Pomade ($24; sephora.com) because it locks hair in place without any crunchiness or residue. 

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Blake Lively's Brushed-Back Waves 

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Go glam or go home as they say, at least that's what we assume Blake Lively was thinking while wearing these retro-inspired waves. Brushing them back out of your face may make curled hair look fancier, but it'll also keep all of your hair out of your face. 

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Ciara's Slick Ponytail 

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When in doubt, slick your hair back and tie it up. 

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Sofia Vergara's Soft Waves 

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Take ghd's Curl Creative Curl Wand ($199; sephora.com) to your hair and you'll get loose waves like Sofia Vergara. Yup, using a curling iron means you're going to spend a bit more time styling your hair, but there's a silver lining: you'll be able to do a next-day wavy ponytail in a few minutes. 

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Lauren Conrad's Sleek Bob

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Yes, it is possible to wear your hair straight in the middle of the summer. Keep flyaways under control by spritzing Conrad's stylist Kristin Ess' Signature Hair Water ($10; target.com) on your hair and run a smoothing brush over it to get the same sleek finish. 

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Lily Collins's Hair Barrette 

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Blow-dry your hair and clip-in a barrette. Yup, this Lily Collins style is truly that easy. 

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Kendall Jenner's Updo with Face-Framing Layers 

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Another '90s-inspired beauty trend to bring back before the summer's over? Kendall Jenner's updo with face-framing tendrils. The model piled her hair up high on her head and left any flyaways as is, tucking the a few of the stray pieces behind her ears. 

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Jennifer Lopez's piece-y Lob

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J.Lo got a lob, so you got a lob. Now get the same bendy texture by using a flat iron in a loose "S" shape from your mid-lengths to ends. Tousle it with your fingers and you're good to go. 

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Busy Phillips's Low Ponytail 

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An alternative to the high ponytail is one that hits at the nape of the neck. 

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Mandy Moore's Side Part 

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If you know how to use a brush, you can move your part over to the side like Mandy Moore did. It's a trick you've probably read before, but it will honestly make your current haircut feel entirely new without going to the salon. Switching to a shine-boosting shampoo like Garnier's Whole Blends Illuminating Shampoo ($4; target.com) won't hurt either. 

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Mila Kunis's Pinned-Up Curls 

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Mila Kunis's pinned-up curls is proof that you can wear an updo when you have a bob. After curling the star's hair and pinning one side up, her stylist Renato Campora sprayed Matrix's Biolage Styling Smoothing Shine Milk ($17; ulta.com) all over for extra shine. 

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Issa Rae's Braid

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Issa Rae's braid is glorious, and an ideal way to stay cool in high humidity levels. 

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Emily Blunt's Braided Updo

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Emily Blunt's braided updo is like your Pinterest hair board come to life. To get the look, create two French braids on either side of your head, then tie them off in a braided bun at the nape of the neck. Accessorize the look with a headband or a barrette. We like Lelet NY's Ruffle French Barrette ($188; leletny.com). 

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Emma Stone's Loose Side Ponytail 

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Emma Stone has dispelled whatever doubts there were about side ponytails not being cool. To get the look, pull your hair over to one shoulder, gather it into a ponytail, and loosely tie about mid-way down the tail. A silver hair elastic will make it look extra jazzy.  

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Karlie Kloss's Messy Bun

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Humidity and heat is the optimum environment for a high messy bun to thrive in. Think about it: Frizz will actually enhance the shape and exisiting volume of your updo. 

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Alexa Chung's Bedhead

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Yes, effortless hair is a myth but Alexa Chung's intentional bedhead is the next best thing to doing absolutely nothing to your hair when you get up in the morning. Fluff up your roots with your fingers and spray a bit of L'Oreal Professionnel's Tecni.Art Wild Stylers Next Day Hair Texturizing Spray ($28: ulta.com) on your ends to get a similar piece-y finish. 

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Camila Cabello's Epic Braid 

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In the case of Camila Cabello's braid, two is better than one. She braided her hair into two plaits on both sides of her head, and joined them at the nape of her neck. Give your hair some grit by spritzing it with a coat of dry shampoo like L'Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Dry Shampoo ($6; target.com). This will prevent your hair from slipping as you're braiding it.  

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Jessica Chastain's Side-Swept Waves 

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Get through the remainder of the summer by sweeping your waves over one shoulder. Yes, Jessica Chastain's fancy hairstyle is really that simple. 

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Hailey Baldwin's Scrunchie

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Whether you like it or not, the scrunchie back. If you want to revisit the polarizing hair accessory from your youth, try simply wrapping one around the base of your ponytail. Scunchi's Scrunchies are a foolproof option that doesn't leave pull on hair or dent it ($6 for a pack of 8; target.com). 

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Selena Gomez

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If you have bob-length hair, Selena Gomez's look is a great updo option. Loosely secure all your hair near the nape of your neck with bobby pins. Leave out your bangs or any shorter pieces towards the front to balance out the look. For extra insurance, coat your finished style with a bit of hairspray like Pantene Airspray Hairspray ($5; target.com). 

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By Erin Lukas