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45 Gorgeous Half-Up, Half-Down Hairstyles to Try This Summer

All you need: A hair tie and a couple of minutes.

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Few things in life are truly universal. But the half-up, half-down hairstyle is a rare and welcome exception: It works for almost everyone who wishes to rock it, no matter their texture, shade, or preference. It's a true workhorse. If you're looking to conceal greasy roots, a textured pony at the crown can hide them until wash day. If you're doing Pilates or going for a run around your neighborhood and still want to look chic, a sleek pull-back will keep your strands out of your face. It's the perfect way to show off bold or experimental makeup by drawing attention to the eyes, and if you're just plain feeling indecisive, the look is versatile enough to inspire a new variation every day.

Best of all, it's the perfect style for day-to-night dressing, so you can hop from grocery shopping to a dinner party without taking a shower or reaching for a brush. This theory is more than proven by our favorite celebrities: contrasting flowing locks with some creativity up top—from a sculptural top knot to a chic half-ponytail—can look elegant, playful, or avant-garde, depending on the mood you're in or the event you're attending (even if it is virtual, for now) Ahead, 46 reasons why some half-up, half-down styling is the best way to break up your hair routine (yes, even you, short-haired gals).

Lucy Boynton's Delicate Touch

Bonus: The length of your hair doesn't matter with this style. While Boynton may have a chin-grazing bob, tying up half of her hair with a bow instantly lengthens it with volume, while giving it a nice feminine touch.

Jourdan Dunn's Sparkly Embellishment

Adding some bejeweled clips or accessories to your half-up ponytail is bound to make you shine from head-to-toe. It's also a great addition if you're keeping your makeup a little smokey and dark, like Dunn is here.

Lana Condor's '60s Volume

As Condor proves, curling your ends upward for a '60s-esque flip instantly adds volume. Don't forget to go extra Mad Men-style and clip the hairs on the back of your head together a little higher than usual to score that iconic movie star look.

Kelly Rowland's Swept-Back Style

Leaving little to no hairs free to surround your face will help draw attention to your beautiful face and other parts of your ensemble, like those gorgeous drop-down earrings Rowland's wearing.

Zooey Deschanel's Bangin' 'Do

Bangs aren't extra baggage—if anything, they're your best accessory. Face-framing, fringe bangs like Deschanel's will add a fun flair to any style.

Yara Shahidi's Topknot

Pulling your hair up into a sleek topknot, while allowing the rest of your hair to flow freely, adds dimension and helps control the amount of volume you want to put on display. Tie it with a scrunchie to go super '90s.

Camila Cabello's Wispy Bangs

Wispy bangs + long waves = the perfect cool-girl combination. Spritz your roots with volumizing spray to really make that pony pop like Cabello's.

Kim Kardashian's Super-Sleek Pony

A well-structured, sleek ponytail with no flyaways is not an easy look to achieve, but it immediately draws attention to the masterpiece that is your face. Adding a soft bend at the bottom of your ponytail makes this style appear more relaxed, if you don't want something so serious.

Ciara's Waist-Length Locks

Colored dreadlocks offer an array of styles at your service, including this loose half-up, half-down bun. Ciara looks effortlessly beautiful, and so can you.

Bella Hadid's Off-Duty Curls

After a long day, nothing sounds better than putting your hair up. Let those sun-kissed waves you wish you had year-round shine with this simple style. Bonus points if you swap your regular hair band with a silk scarf for a kick of color.

Tessa Thompson's Voluminous Moment

The extra minutes it may take to create this statuesque updo are totally worth it. A sturdy hairspray will make it easier to build up the height.

Lily Rose Depp's French Girl Waves

Soft waves paired with floral jewelry and embellishments are just so pretty. A large barrel curling iron can help you achieve the same chic look.

Florence Pugh's Beachy Waves

Textured waves paired with coral jewelry practically screams "beach party." Use a comb to rake back the hair without making the pony too tidy.

Jodie Comer's Proper Pull-Back

Texture at the root keeps this look accessible. Curl the ends with a large barrel curling iron, and tease the top of your strands near the scalp for a balanced coif.

Elisabeth Moss's Side Swoop

Wave your hair with a curling wand for uniform strands, then part your hair on the side and clip it at the back of your head—polished, but not too prim.

Beyonce's Braids

Braids welcome texture to a regal updo. French-braid your strands on each side of your head, then plait what's left down your back.

Hailey Bieber's Crowning Achievement

Half-up styles can give a lifted appearance to the contours of your face, and placing your pony at the crown maximizes this effect. Add a cat eye to lift the look even more.

Gigi Hadid's Top Knot

Day four hair has never looked so enviable. If you want to hide greasy roots, massage some dry shampoo into the scalp, shake it out, then wind the hair up top into a cute lil' bun.

Sophie Turner's Sleek Look

Pairing a perfected pull-back with an elegant necklace can instantly refine a deep neckline.

Kendall Jenner's Easy Pony

This is a weekend pony if we've ever seen one, especially for short- haired ladies. A tiny rubber band will do the trick, and don't bother using a brush. This look is better a little messy.

Jessica Chastain's Red Carpet Waves

It's a simple style, but the half-do look is effortlessly glamorous when you pair it with beachy waves, a fresh face, and chic jewelry.

Ashley Greene's Swooping Strands

To add some zhuzhing effect to your half-updo, drape the strands closest to your forehead up and away from your face like so.

Blake Lively's Waterfall of Waves

What better way to make an entrance than with a head full of perfectly satiny curls? Pin back your hair on one side for chic, princess-worthy contrast.

Olivia Wilde's Balayage Tendrils

When you want to show off a fresh crop of highlights, do as Olivia Wilde does and pull your hair back at the crown to give your tips the spotlight.

Emma Watson's Asymmetry

A deep side part and texture at the roots helps keep this half-ponytail style looking red-carpet fresh.

Zooey Deschanel's Top Knot

Deschanel knows the power of a chic top knot to break up a head of thick hair.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's Face-Framing Strands

When you tease the heck out of your hair at your crown, the more volume at the top of your head will make an elegant contrast with long flowing locks. Leave two face-framing tendrils out to achieve this look.

Penelope Cruz's Side-Swept Bangs

While most people opt to keep their hair away from their forehead for a half-updo, Cruz's side-bangs are a fresh take on the style that frames her face to perfection.

Ashley Olsen's Regal Bun

In which Ashley makes growing out a dye job look all the more sophisticated with a rounded and pinned bun plus loose layers.

Poppy Delevingne's Braided Half-Updo

Try double-sided fishtail braids when you're looking for a more edgy half-up, half-down look.

Taylore Glynn Taylore Glynn is the Beauty and Health Editor at Marie Claire, covering skincare, makeup, fragrance, wellness, and more.

Bianca Rodriguez Commerce Editor Bianca Rodriguez is the Commerce Editor/Writer at Hearst Magazines Digital Media, where she covers fashion, beauty, home, and more.

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