15 Lazy Girl Hairstyles That Take Virtually Zero Effort
It's just one of those days: The thought of rolling out of bed is hard enough, let alone actually getting ready. Whipping out that straightener or curling iron? Forget about it. But what if you want to look like you put effort into your look while simultaneously entering your lazy girl era? Don't just settle for a messy topknot each time when there are a handful of other hairstyles you can try out that take virtually zero effort.
Yes, you read that right. And the key to achieving a lazy girl hairstyle that looks like you tried, even if you really didn't, lies within your nighttime routine. You won't be doing yourself any favors in the morning if you hit the sheets with flat or frizzy hair! So spritz some dry shampoo on your roots before bed, take advantage of the legging curls hack, or throw your locks in braids for easy heatless waves.
By the a.m. you'll have gorgeous easy-to-style strands, shortening your morning routine and allowing you more time to catch up on beauty rest (or scrolling through TikTok while you wake up slowly, which we know is the likely scenario). How you choose to style your hair after that is up to you, and we've rounded up a few lazy girl hairstyles to help you decide.
A simple pony
Whether secured at the top of the head or near the nape of the neck, a simple ponytail is a tried-and-true lazy girl hairstyle. Spice up the look like the photo above, with a bow tied around the base of the ponytail for that romantic and girly vibe. If you're feeling up to it, give the top of the hair a quick tease for extra volume.
Slicked back and chic
A sleek bun is a lazy girl's BFF — especially when hair wash day keeps getting pushed off. No need for clean hair with this one! But even if your hair is freshly washed, you can still throw it in a sleek model-off-duty bun and look chic with minimal effort. You can leave the ends tucked in a bun or keep those natural strands loose and free.
Pigtail braids
Perfect for those who want to keep their hair somewhat down, a simple pigtail braid hairstyle is not only effortless to achieve, but totally adorable. If you're the type who can French braid with ease (how does it feel to be God's favorite?), then feel free to go for that sleek French braid look. Or create loose pigtail braids like the photo above for that relaxed, tussled vibe.
Throw on a hat
If you fell asleep without doing any prep or maintenance to your hair the night before, don't panic. Perhaps the absolute easiest hairstyle you can go for, which takes precisely two seconds to achieve, is one that involves a hat. Greasy roots? Flat hair? Dandruff flakes? No worries — a hat's got you covered. Leave your strands down, or throw them in braids or a low ponytail.
The trusty messy bun
Has a messy bun ever let you down? We didn't think so. You could go for the classic topknot messy bun, which is a major go-to for those lazy days. Or, for an elevated and refined look, place that messy bun toward the bottom of your head and leave your face-framing bangs out.
Leave it down and au naturel
You could go through the hassle of figuring out what style to go for, but if your hair looks perfectly fine down and free-flowing, then why not let it be? Whether you've got pin-straight strands or were blessed with a gorgeous head of natural curly tresses, leaving it all down to live its best life in all its natural glory is never a bad idea.
Tie a scarf around it
When it's getting close to wash day, your long curls might still look great while your scalp is starting to suffer a bit. If you need to buy an extra day or two until you wash, go ahead and tie a scarf around the top part of your hair. This will let you show off those gorgeous tresses while hiding the obviously-in-need-of-a-wash hair underneath.
Throw half of it into a bun
Want an easy, upgraded version of the classic half-up, half-down hairstyle? Put a fun twist on that easy look when you pull half of your hair into a bun on top of your head. This look is cute and flirty, and if you slick back the bun with some gel, it can be perfectly polished and still easy to pull off at a moment's notice.
A messy top knot with a headband
A messy bun is always an easy go-to, but sometimes you just want to add a little something extra to it. When that's the case, throw your hair into an easy bun hairstyle and top off the look with a chunky headband. Not only is this look easy, but a thick headband can also help keep you warm in colder months.
Secure it with a claw clip
The claw clip is back, baby, and we couldn't be more excited about the resurgence of this popular '90s hair accessory. Do yourself a favor and pick up one (or two, or a dozen) if you don't have any already — they make for the perfect lazy girl hair accessory on days when you need to head straight out the door.
Embrace space buns
If you're going for a look that's a bit more playful but still easy, space buns could be your next go-to. A pair of messy (or neat — you do you) space buns can add interest to any outfit, and you'll still look as polished as if you spent hours on your updo.
Or put half your hair into space buns
Of course, nobody said you have to go full space buns — if you have enough hair, pulling half of it into space buns could also do the trick. We love this half-up half-down space bun hairstyle because the space buns are slightly subtler, and it's still an incredibly easy look to pull together.
A sleek, floppy top knot
Your messy bun doesn't have to embody the word "messy." A top knot can also be a great and easy slicked-back hairstyle to pull off for any occasion. The only extra step is to secure any flyaways to your head with your favorite gel or pomade; then, gather your hair into a large, floppy top knot.
Try jumbo twists
If you frequently opt for twist-outs or braided hairstyles and want something a little easier to accomplish on the daily, there's no hairstyle more fun than the jumbo twist. We love the jumbo twists above because they're unique enough to draw attention without being too much of a hassle to pull off — plus, they're stunning to boot.
An easy bubble braid
If you've never tried bubble braids before, this is your sign. A bubble braid is an incredibly easy take on the classic ponytail and simply involves tying multiple hair elastics around one length of hair to create a "bubble" effect. This is a great go-to style for days when ponytails feel a little too basic for your liking.