Whether you slept through your alarm or you just don’t have the patience to spend hours perfecting your hair in the morning, we’re all in search of ways to look chic without sacrificing our time. While some trendy hairstyles require tons of steps and an endless number of products to get the look—when you’re always on the go, the best hairstyle is the one you can actually do. Enter, commuter girl hair. Sure, updos have always been a thing. But commuter girl hair is all about embracing that effortlessly undone look. For once, the messier the better.
For most of us, a messy updo is the only way to get our hair out of our face. Because unlike other beauty trends that can take forever to get the hang of, we’re already doing commuter girl hair. As much as we love polished hairstyles like a red carpet-worthy updo and a clean girl slicked-back bun, there’s truly nothing more satisfying than pulling off an updo in a pinch. (Especially when you don’t require a mirror.) Thankfully, we no longer have to feel ashamed of our sloppy buns and less-than-perfect claw clip updos, because stars like Hailey Bieber and Zoe Kravitz are truly championing the messy look.
With our busy schedules and endless to-do lists, sometimes our only choice is to embrace the way our hair naturally falls. And even if you weren’t big on messy buns back in the 2010s, commuter girl hair is way more versatile than you might think. While Hailey Bieber was seen wearing an undone messy bun with face-framing pieces at Paris Fashion Week, there are tons of other ways to channel that “I did my hair on the way here” cool girl vibe.
Claw clips have always been a great choice for looking chic while keeping your hair out of your face, and spiky updos have inspired us to let our stray hairs run wild. So, if you’re desperate to look put together in between wash days—take note of the effortless commuter girl hairstyles we’re executing on the train, in the back of the cab, and in between meetings at work.
Arguably the easiest hairstyle ever, the low pony. No matter if your hair is curly or straight, there’s no shame in tying it up in a simple ponytail when you’re in a rush. And if you want to look like you spent time doing your hair, try adding a cutesy bow or a fun scrunchie to spice it up.
If your hair’s on the longer side, a bun is the way to go. Zoe Kravitz pulled off an effortless bun at Paris Fashion Week, and we have no doubt we could recreate it at home. Be sure to pull out extra hairs to frame your face and ditch the gel so your natural hair texture can shine through.
Claw clips have been all the rage recently, and for good reason. Beyond just being cute, they’re a must when you’re on the way to work and the subway platform starts to get muggy. Although there’s tons of ways to use them, your best bet is to quickly twist your hair and clip it up. Depending on your outfit, you can go crazy with bright colors and bold shapes.
Even though Miley Cyrus’ spiky updo required a professional hair stylist and tons of hair tools, you can still capture the edgy vibe of her look without all the fuss. If you have layered (or just plain stubborn) hair, you understand the frustration of stray hairs popping out and ruining the look. Thankfully, we’re finally embracing the messiness—and a low bun with spiky pieces is the perfect way to finish off your look in a hurry.
