The night before the first day of school is always the same.
You’ve picked your outfit. Your bag is packed. And then you look in the mirror and think okay but what am I doing with my hair?
Soft girl hairstyles are perfect for the first day because they look really pretty without being complicated. No heat tools required for most of them. No hour long tutorials. Just cute, feminine, effortless hair that matches that soft, dreamy aesthetic everyone loves right now.
Here are 12 hairstyles that are genuinely easy to do and look amazing on the first day of school.
1. Butterfly Clips Everywhere — The Soft Girl Signature
Take small sections of your hair and clip them back with butterfly clips the little claw clips with wings. You don’t need a specific style. Just clip random sections back on one or both sides of your head. Let the rest of your hair fall loose and wavy underneath. The more clips the better honestly. Mix colours lavender, pink, baby blue, pearl white. This is the softest, most Y2K inspired school hairstyle you can do and it takes maybe four minutes. It’s become one of the most popular first day of school hairstyles for good reason it’s quick and it always looks adorable.
2. Low Bun With Baby Hair Pulled Out
Pull your hair into a low bun not tight and sleek, but soft and a little messy. Then pull out small pieces at the front to frame your face. These little face-framing pieces are everything. They make the bun look intentional and soft instead of “I ran out of time.” If you have naturally curly or wavy hair this looks especially pretty because the pieces that fall out have natural texture. Add a satin scrunchie or a thin ribbon tied around the bun for extra soft girl energy.
3. Two Little Space Buns + Loose Hair Underneath
Full space buns on top of the head are fun but the softer version is better for school. Instead of putting ALL your hair in space buns, just take two small sections from the top front of your head and make two tiny buns. Leave the rest of your hair loose and wavy underneath. It’s half-up, half-down but make it quirky and cute. This hairstyle photographs really well and looks like you spent way more time on it than you did. You can find a lot of visual inspiration for this exact look on StylePetal’s Pinterest great for seeing different hair types wearing it.
4. Heatless Overnight Waves With a Ribbon
The night before school before you go to sleep put your slightly damp hair into two braids and tie a satin ribbon at the ends. Sleep. Wake up. Take the braids out. You have beautiful natural looking waves with zero heat damage. Then take the ribbon and tie it loosely around a half-up section or use it as a headband. Satin ribbons in soft colours dusty pink, cream, lavender are a major soft girl accessory. Your hair looks like you spent the morning curling it when really you just slept.
5. Messy Half-Up Heart Bun
This one sounds complicated but it’s actually easy once you do it once. Pull the top half of your hair into a ponytail. Then instead of pulling it all the way through on the last loop leave it looped and split it into two sections. Bend each section outward to form the two bumps of a heart shape and pin them. Leave the rest of your hair down. The heart bun is subtle people have to look closely to see it’s a heart which makes it even cuter. This is one of those amazing school hairstyle ideas that gets compliments every single time.
6. Soft Curtain Bangs Styled With a Round Brush
If you already have curtain bangs this is your moment. Blow dry them with a round brush curling each side slightly outward away from your face. They’ll fall in that soft, wispy, face-framing way that’s everywhere right now. Leave the rest of your hair loose or put it in a low ponytail. The curtain bangs do all the work. Your face immediately looks softer and more feminine and you didn’t even really do a hairstyle you just styled the front section. Simple, fast, effective.
7. Low Side Ponytail With a Scrunchie and Face-Framing Pieces
A regular ponytail but pulled to one side and worn low almost at the nape of your neck on the side. Use a big fluffy scrunchie in a soft colour. Pull out small pieces at the front of your face on both sides. This is easier than a bun, faster than braids, and looks much more intentional than a regular high ponytail. The side placement changes everything. It looks like a style decision instead of “I couldn’t think of anything else.” Pair it with small pearl or star earrings for the full soft girl look.
8. Mini Braids Pinned Back on One Side
Take two or three very small braids from the front section of your hair on one side. Braid them thin and loose not tight. Then pin them back behind your ear with a bobby pin or a small decorative clip. Leave the rest of your hair completely loose. This hairstyle looks intricate and detailed but it literally takes five minutes. The mini braids add texture and a boho softness to an otherwise simple look. If you want to see how this looks on different hair textures and lengths, the first day of school hairstyles for perfect photos guide has great visual examples.
9. Fluffy High Ponytail With a Bow
A high ponytail but the trick is making it fluffy. After you put your ponytail up gently pull at the hair on the crown of your head to create volume and lift. Then tease the ponytail itself slightly so it looks full and bouncy. Finish with a big satin bow tied around the base. A ribbon bow, not a hair tie bow an actual ribbon in white, black, or soft pink tied in a big floppy bow. The bow is the whole point. It’s feminine and fun and it photographs really well in that first day of school photo your mom is definitely going to take.
10. Undone French Braid Pulled Loose
French braid your hair but braid it loosely. Not tight and neat loose and a little sloppy on purpose. Then once it’s done, gently tug at the edges of the braid to make it look fuller and undone. Pull some pieces out at the front. This “undone” French braid looks so much more interesting than a perfect tight one. It has that soft, lived-in texture that’s really on trend right now. You can braid it to the side for an extra soft girl touch or keep it centered down the back.
11. Half-Up Bubble Ponytail
Take the top half of your hair and put it in a ponytail. Then add a small hair tie a few inches down from the first one. Gently puff out the section between the two hair ties to make a bubble shape. Keep adding hair ties down the length of the ponytail and puffing each section. This bubble ponytail effect looks adorable and different from the usual half up styles. Use matching pastel hair ties for extra soft girl vibes. This is one of those hairstyles that looks complicated in photos but is actually really fun and fast to do.
12. Just Your Natural Hair — But Make It Soft
This is the most important hairstyle on this list.
Whatever your natural hair texture is straight, wavy, curly, coily wear it. But add one soft girl element. A pretty clip. A satin headband. A small bow. A ribbon braided through a section. One little thing that says “I thought about this even if just for two minutes.”
Soft girl energy isn’t really about the hairstyle. It’s about how you carry it. A little care. A little color. A little something that’s yours.
The first day of school is already a big day. Your hair doesn’t need to be complicated to look good. It just needs to feel like you.
And if you need more inspiration before you decide, there are some really beautiful hairstyle ideas over at StylePetal’s Pinterest worth scrolling through the night before when you’re figuring out your look.
Quick Tips Before the First Day
Prep the night before. Braid your hair damp for waves. Set your clips out. Have your scrunchies ready. Morning-you will be very grateful.
One statement piece is enough. A big bow OR butterfly clips OR a ribbon. Not all three. Pick one and let it be the thing.
Soft colors are the whole vibe. Lavender, baby pink, cream, sage green, sky blue. If your hair accessories are in soft colors the look comes together automatically.
It’s supposed to look a little undone. Soft girl hair isn’t stiff or perfect. Pull pieces out. Let things be a little loose. That’s the point.
Good luck on your first day. You’re going to look great.