10 Messy Double Buns Ideas for Your Next Beach Festival

Beach festivals move fast — sun overhead, wind off the water, and a schedule packed with sets you don’t want to miss for a hair emergency. That’s exactly why messy double buns have become a festival-season staple. They’re quick to put together, they keep your hair off your neck and shoulders in the heat, and they hold their shape through wind, dancing, and humidity without ever looking stiff or over-styled. Better still, this style translates across almost every hair type — straight, wavy, curly, coily, thick, or fine — so you’re not locked out of the look no matter what you’re working with.

Below you’ll find ten takes on the style, from soft and undone to a little more detailed with braids and twists, so you can pick the version that matches your hair, your face shape, and how much time you actually want to spend getting ready before you head out the door. A few basics before you start: work a little dry shampoo or texturizing spray through your hair first (second-day hair genuinely holds a bun better than freshly washed strands), keep a small stash of elastics and bobby pins in your festival bag for touch-ups, and finish with a light mist of flexible-hold hairspray so the buns stay put without turning crunchy.

For more relaxed updo inspiration, explore these messy bun hairstyles.

10 Messy Double Buns Styles That Are Perfect for Beach Festivals

1. Sun-Kissed Loose Double Buns

This is the easiest entry point into the trend — airy, undone, and never fussy. The loosely wrapped buns give your hair natural movement, and it looks just as good walking into an afternoon set as it does at a bonfire after dark. It’s especially flattering if your hair already has some wave or texture from the day before, and pulling the buns gently outward after pinning adds width, which helps fine or medium hair read as fuller.

How to style it:

• Part your hair down the middle.
• Gather two high pigtails.
• Twist each section loosely and wind it into a bun.
• Pin in place, then tug a few pieces loose around your face.
• Set with a texturizing spray.

Best for: Oval, heart, and round face shapes; straight, wavy, or fine-to-medium hair.

What you’ll need: Hair elastics, bobby pins, texture spray, dry shampoo, light-hold hairspray.

2. Wavy Center-Part Double Buns

Adding waves underneath the buns gives this version more body without extra teasing, which makes it a strong choice if you have medium-to-long hair and want fuller-looking buns with minimal effort. The center part keeps everything balanced, while the wave pattern stops the finished look from feeling too neat or precise — which is really the whole point of a beach-festival style.

How to style it:

• Create a clean center part.
• Add loose waves through the lengths.
• Split into two sections and tie high ponytails.
• Wrap each into a loose bun and pin.
• Pull gently at the crown for extra softness.

Best for: Oval, long, and heart face shapes; wavy or straight hair.

What you’ll need: Curling wand, hair elastics, bobby pins, mousse, texturizing mist.

3. Braided Front Messy Double Buns

Small front braids leading into the buns add a bit more visual interest without adding much extra styling time. The braids also do double duty — they keep the front section secure through hours outdoors and frame your face nicely, especially with a few wispy pieces left loose near your cheekbones. It’s a good middle ground if you want something with a touch more detail than plain buns but still easy enough for a daytime look.

How to style it:

• Part your hair down the middle.
• Take a small front section on each side and braid it back.
• Gather each half into a ponytail.
• Twist into buns and pin.
• Loosen the braids and buns slightly for a relaxed finish.

Best for: Heart, oval, and round face shapes; straight, wavy, or lightly curly hair.

What you’ll need: Small elastics, hair elastics, bobby pins, texture spray, light-hold spray.

4. Curly Pull-Apart Double Buns

If you have natural curls, this is the version built for you. Rather than smoothing texture down, this style lets your curl pattern shape the buns, giving them natural fullness without any real effort. Pulling the buns apart after pinning adds even more width, and a few curly face-framing pieces keep everything soft around the forehead. It also tends to hold up better than sleeker styles as the day goes on, since curls naturally camouflage a little loosening.

How to style it:

• Refresh curls with water or curl cream.
• Part hair down the middle.
• Tie two ponytails where you want the buns positioned.
• Wrap curls loosely into buns and pin.
• Pull sections wider for extra shape.

Best for: Round, oval, and heart face shapes; curly or coily hair.

What you’ll need: Hair elastics, bobby pins, curl cream, wide-tooth comb, light mist spray.

5. Low Messy Double Buns

Lower on the head and closer to the nape, this version has a quieter, more understated energy than high buns while still being just as secure. It’s a nice option if you’d rather not go full-on statement hair, and the lower placement is especially flattering on longer face shapes. A few loose strands near the ears soften the whole look even further.

How to style it:

• Make a center or soft off-center part.
• Split hair into two low sections near the nape.
• Tie each into a ponytail.
• Twist and coil into loose buns.
• Pin securely and pull a few strands free.

Best for: Long, oval, and heart face shapes; straight, wavy, or medium hair.

What you’ll need: Hair elastics, bobby pins, tail comb, texture spray, flexible-hold spray.

6. High Windswept Double Buns

This one has festival energy built in. Set high on the head, the buns get an instant lift, and the intentionally windswept texture keeps the finish from ever looking too polished — which actually works in your favor once you’ve been out in the sun and wind for a few hours. It’s a solid pick for warmer days since it keeps hair fully off your neck, and the added volume at the crown can make finer hair look noticeably thicker.

How to style it:

• Gather hair into two high sections.
• Tie two ponytails.
• Twist each loosely into a bun.
• Pin and fan out with your fingers for volume.
• Pull out a few pieces at the hairline.

Best for: Round, oval, and heart face shapes; straight or wavy hair.

What you’ll need: Dry shampoo, hair elastics, bobby pins, texture powder, light hairspray.

7. Textured Double Buns with Face-Framing Pieces

Here, the buns stay soft and a little undone while longer face-framing pieces do most of the work shaping the overall look. It’s a forgiving style — a bit of frizz or humidity-induced wave only adds to the effect rather than working against it. The loose pieces in front are also genuinely useful for balancing a wider forehead or fuller cheeks, and this look tends to get better, not worse, as the day wears on.

How to style it:

• Create a middle or soft middle part.
• Leave out front pieces on both sides.
• Tie two mid-to-high ponytails.
• Wrap into messy buns and pin.
• Rake front pieces gently with your fingers.

Best for: Round, heart, and oval face shapes; straight, wavy, or lightly curly hair.

What you’ll need: Hair elastics, bobby pins, texture spray, small curling iron, flexible-hold spray.

8. Twisted Crown Double Buns

Twisted sections at the crown give this version a slightly more polished edge while keeping the rest of the look easy and beach-appropriate. The twists add shape up top, which reads as more intentional, while the buns themselves stay airy and loose underneath. It’s a good fit if you like a softer, more romantic finish without spending much extra time on it, and it works especially well on medium-to-long hair.

How to style it:

• Part your hair down the middle.
• Take top sections and twist them back on each side.
• Secure into two ponytails.
• Wrap each ponytail into a loose bun.
• Pin and loosen the twists slightly.

Best for: Oval, heart, and long face shapes; straight or wavy hair.

What you’ll need: Hair elastics, bobby pins, tail comb, texture mist, light hairspray.

9. Beachy Double Buns with Mini Braids

Small braids add texture and a bit of visual detail without weighing the style down — you can tuck them into the buns or leave them peeking out along the sides. This version leans a little more boho and works especially well on naturally wavy hair, though a spritz of texture spray gets straight hair there just as easily. It’s an easy way to personalize the basic double-bun formula for a long day outdoors.

How to style it:

• Add texture through the lengths.
• Braid one or two small sections on each side.
• Split hair into two ponytails.
• Wrap into messy buns, leaving some braid detail visible.
• Pin and loosen gently.

Best for: Round, oval, and heart face shapes; wavy, straight, or medium hair.

What you’ll need: Small elastics, hair elastics, bobby pins, texture spray, dry shampoo.

10. Soft Volume Double Buns

For a fuller-looking finish without heavy teasing, this version leans on root lift instead. It’s a particularly good option for finer hair, since the added volume at the roots and crown makes everything appear thicker with very little product. Paired with a few loose wisps near the temples, it has an easy, breezy feel that holds up comfortably through a full day at the festival.

How to style it:

• Blow-dry for light root lift.
• Part hair down the middle.
• Make two ponytails at medium height.
• Twist and pin into airy buns.
• Pull gently at the crown and buns for width.

Best for: Oval, round, and long face shapes; straight, wavy, or fine hair.

What you’ll need: Round brush, hair dryer, hair elastics, bobby pins, volume spray.

A Quick Note on Protecting Your Hair Outdoors

Beach festivals mean hours of sun, wind, and often salt water, all of which can leave hair dry and prone to breakage by the end of the day — even underneath a great hairstyle. The American Academy of Dermatology’s summer hair care guidance is a solid, dermatologist-reviewed resource if you want tips on keeping your hair (and scalp) healthy through a full season of sun exposure, on top of whatever style you’re wearing that day.

Final Thoughts

Messy double buns work as festival hair because they’re forgiving by design — a little frizz, a stray flyaway, or hours of dancing only add to the look instead of ruining it. Whether you keep it simple and loose, work in a few braids, lean into your natural curl pattern, or add extra volume at the crown, there’s a version here that fits your hair type and however much time you have before you need to leave. Prep with a little texture, keep pins on hand for the day, and let a few soft pieces fall loose for that easy, lived-in festival finish.

Save your favorite messy double buns look now and try it out before your next beach festival.

FAQs

Do messy double buns work on short hair? Yes — as long as you have enough length for two small ponytails, short-to-medium hair can pull this off. A few extra pins and some texture spray help the buns hold their shape.

How do I make double buns look fuller? Lightly tease each ponytail before wrapping it, then gently pull the buns apart once they’re pinned. Dry shampoo or texture spray adds extra grip and thickness too.

Are messy double buns good for humid beach weather? Very much so — a bit of texture or a few flyaways actually suits this style rather than working against it. A light-hold spray and secure pins are all you need to keep things in place without stiffness.

Which face shapes suit messy double buns best? Most face shapes can wear this style; it’s really about placement. Higher buns add lift, while soft face-framing pieces help balance round, heart, or longer face shapes.

Can I wear messy double buns with curly hair? Definitely — curly hair actually gives this style extra volume and shape with almost no effort. A little curl cream keeps any loose curls soft and defined throughout the day.