Skip to main content

7 kids hairstyles and braids that will keep girls cool all summer

Summertime means hot temperatures and high humidity. Therefore, when you think about those conditions, you might look for inspiration for kids’ hairstyles and braids to keep your daughter cool, comfortable—and of course, styling! For that reason, we’ve come up with a list of hairstyles that are super cute and super easy to do. Your little girl won’t mind the chair time at all when she sees the result.

Twin braids

This simple hairstyle can be altered into fancier up-dos depending on the occasion. All you’ll have to do is dampen your little girl’s hair with water or detangler and part it in the middle. Then, you’ll comb through one side and start braiding from the crown (or a bit lower) to the bottom. You’ll secure the end of the braid with an elastic band.

Recommended Videos

Another idea is to tuck the ends of the braids into the opposite sides and secure with bobby pins, or you can fasten bows over the elastics.

little girl with top-knot
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The top bun or knot

For a cool look that keeps hair away from the face, you can try the top bun. For this easy do, you’ll need to work with damp hair. You’ll brush your daughter’s hair to gather it up to the top of her head for a high ponytail. Then, take the ponytail and twist it around into a bun. Secure the bun with another elastic and bobby pins.

Side French braid

Out of all the kids’ hairstyles and braids, the one that’s proven to be quite popular is the side French braid. However, this option is a simpler take on the “Elsa braid” or the “Katniss braid.” You’ll part your girl’s hair to the side and French braid it across the top of her head and down the side. Once you reach the base of her ear, you’ll braid the rest in the “normal” fashion and fasten an elastic around it. Finally, you’ll comb out the remaining ponytail. For special occasions, you can add a bow at the top of the ponytail.

Twist-wrap ponytail

Are you looking for a different twist to the ponytail? This style not only boosts the cute factor of the traditional ponytail, but it also serves a purpose of keeping hair in place. And of course, the process is effortless.

Before combing your daughter’s hair into a ponytail, you’ll need to set aside a small lock to braid and another small lock to wrap around the elastic at the top of the ponytail. As you’re gathering the rest of the hair into a ponytail, you’ll also include the braid. Once you secure the ponytail with the elastic and wrap-around lock, then you’ll take the braid and twist it around the ponytail from top to bottom. And then, secure the bottom part with an extra elastic.

Ballerina bun with a scrunchie

You can also bring back the 90s with this up-do. Plus, the process is similar to that of the top bun. However, you’ll place your girl’s ponytail on the back of her head, or you can also opt for a low bun. Additionally, there are two hacks to remember for optimal results:

  • Start with wet hair or damp hair, or apply a small dollop of gel
  • Anchor the twist down with hairpins as you wind it around

Finally, add the scrunchie to the base of the bun

little girl with up-do
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Space buns

Try to imagine a modern take on the retro “Star Wars” look. (Picture Princess Leia from “A New Hope.”) To achieve this style, you’ll need to start out with wet or damp hair. A small dollop of gel would also help keep it in place. First, you’ll secure two pigtails at the crown of your little girl’s head. Then, you’ll twist the first pigtail and wind it around in the same way you would create a ballet bun or a top knot. Afterward, you’ll repeat the same process on the other pigtail. You can secure both sides with hairpins and an extra elastic.

teen with tiara and lob
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The bob or lob

Of course, you have another alternative if your daughter is also on board with the idea of sporting shorter hair. The bob and lob are two of the most low-maintenance styles for any texture. For the child who likes to comb her own hair and doesn’t particularly care for barrettes or headbands, you can ask the beautician for a short bob that’s angled.

If your daughter prefers to have styling options kept open, then the lob or the bob with an even length would be a perfect fit.

Also, remember that these kids’ hairstyles and braids can be adapted to suit any occasion by adding bows or any other hair accessory. Most importantly, you don’t have to be a master beautician to master these hairstyles, and best of all, your little girl will be cool and comfortable all summer long.

Leslie Anderson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Leslie Anderson is a freelance writer/writing coach from Roswell, N.M. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and helping students…
Keep little ones entertained with the best ‘Would you rather?’ questions for kids
Get a laugh with these fun questions
Family laughing with their dad

No one knows who exactly started asking those fun "would you rather" questions, but it seems like they've been around for ages. Little kids love them and so do tweens, but they probably won't admit it between eye rolls. Teens, too, will usually get involved in the off-beat question-and-answer game.

The entertainment value isn't lost on adults either, especially when there's quite a bit of awkward silence going on. "Would you rather" questions for kids are a perfect way to pass the miles in the car or get everyone involved in dinnertime conversation. If you're on the hunt for some laughter-provoking fun, "would you rather" questions are here to help, and we've got a list to get the brains and the fun going.

Read more
10 great party favors teenage girls will actually think are cool
Celebrate your teen with cool party favors their guests will love
Three teenage girls in matching pajamas

Shopping with a teenage girl can be a huge headache, but what happens when it's time to buy a birthday present? Parents dread the process and remember fondly the times buying gifts for their daughter was actually fun.

When it comes to buying gifts for teenage girls, the process can be grueling. Picking out party favors for teen girls as a group is just as difficult. Yes, teens, in general, are notoriously hard to buy for. As kids get older, tastes change dramatically and quickly. Today’s social media-crazed world is constantly on the move. What’s trending on Monday is dead by Friday. Since teens are joined at the hip to their smartphones, they are always up on the latest trends on whatever the hottest social media is lately. So, what is a party-planning parent to do?

Read more
Kids clothes: This is how many outfits children really need
Don't buy your kids more clothing than they'll ever wear
A child in their closet full of clothing.

One thing that is harder to keep up with than your children's newest favorite character is keeping up with their wardrobe changes. With unpredictable but frequent baby accidents (hello, blowouts), newborns need the largest number of outfits. Toddlers need more variety than quantity in their wardrobe and school-age kids spend the most time outdoors and need all types of kids' clothes. Between them growing like weeds and your kiddo changing their style every season, your child’s clothing essentials are in a constant state of change.
With a growing child at home, the minimalist concept is not the best idea, especially if you’re a busy parent who doesn’t want to wash kids clothes every single day. To keep it easier on everyone, your child should have an average of nine sets of clothes for today’s modern lifestyle. Find out if that would be too little, too many, or just the right number of sets for your little human, and how to adjust their current wardrobe to match.

Too many clothing options is too time consuming
As great as it sounds, having too many clothes is as bad as having too little. Nobody wants to deal with a jumbo basket full of dirty clothes that smell like a CrossFit Box inside your apartment. And with today’s busy schedules, who wants to do laundry more than once a week? Maybe twice, if you have a baby at home.

Read more