The Essential Guide to Cute Hairstyles 2021

Everyone needs a few cute hairstyles at their disposal. A look you can pull together in minutes- when you have to be somewhere quick but want to look your best. Whether you have long hair, short hair, curly hair or straight, we’re sharing the 20 cutest hairstyles to try in 2021. And the best part is they’re super easy to do yourself. Read ahead for the best hairstyles, along with easy-to-follow tutorials and styling tips.

These trendy hairstyles will help you stay on trend and look your best.

• Part your hair to the side and sweep the rest of it over your shoulder, to the side opposite your part. 
• Comb the hair that frames your face into a curved swoop and bobby pin the section to your side. Repeat on the other side. 
• Spray hairspray onto the bottom half of your hair.
• Braid your hair, smoothing out each section as you go. 
• Secure it with a clear elastic band.

• Part your hair down the middle. Leave two pieces sectioned off at the front. Secure the rest of your hair in a low pony. 
• Spray the front sections with hairspray to control flyaways. 
• Take one section and cross it over the hair elastic to the other side and secure in place with a bobby pin. 
• Repeat with the other section of hair. 
• Make sure the bobby pins are really tucked in so they're as invisible as possible. 

• Part your hair on the diagonal. 
• Take the front portions of your hair on both sides and twist them backwards, pinning them back. 
• Spray your hair with heat protection spray. 
• Curl the rest of your hair away from your face (you can skip this part if you have naturally wavy hair).
• Spray with a brushable hairspray and brush through for looser, more natural curls.

• Part your hair down the middle and separate it into two sections.
• Starting at the scalp, twist your hair until you get to your ear and then secure it with a hair tie to create a pigtail.
• Repeat on the other side.

• Part your hair down the middle. 
• Section off a small portion on the right side and split it into three equal parts. French braid the section for about an inch and a half of length. 
• Continue braiding, but instead of grabbing a new piece of hair like with a french braid, drop the one you were working with and grab a new one behind it every time you're working with the part of the braid closer to your face. 
• Continue until you've reached the back of your head and then bobby pin the section into place. 
• Repeat on the other side.

• Start by brushing out your hair for a smoother texture.
• Brush it up into a high ponytail and secure it with a hair tie.
• Divide your pony in half and twist the two sections into a thick twist.
• Use bobby pins to secure the twist to your head.
• Smooth down any flyaways with styling gel and mist all over with a hair oil for mega shine.

• Part your hair horizontally from ear to ear so that it’s divided into two equal halves. 
• Pull the top section up into a ponytail and secure it. 
• Pull the bottom section into another ponytail right under the first one. 
• Wrap a small section of hair around the base of both ponytails, creating a fuller, longer, single pony, and secure it with a bobby pin. 

• Spray your hair all over with dry shampoo.
• Gather your hair loosely to the side with an elastic band. Pull the band low to loosen your hair.
• Split hair into two sections.
• Twist the sections together until you reach the bottom.
• Wrap the twisted ponytail into a bun and secure it with bobby pins.

Wondering how to get beachy waves with little effort? This cute hairstyle is as easy as it gets and it’s accomplished without using heat tools. This makes it perfect for styling damaged or over-chemically-processed hair.

• Before bed, flip your head over like you’re making a high ponytail at the crown of your head. Separate your hair into three equal sections, and braid it. 
• Leave an inch or two out at the bottom so your waves gently fade out at the ends. 
• Go to sleep.
• Unravel your braid in the morning and shake out your hair from the roots.

• Place an elastic headband on your head as if it were a crown. 
• Twist the front section of your hair until you reach behind your ear. 
• Tuck it into your headband and secure it with a bobby pin. 
• Repeat on the other side. 
• Take part of the back section of your hair and twist it in a loop up toward the top of your head.
• Tuck it into the headband. 
• Continue with the rest of your hair, using hairspray to secure it into place. 

• Brush your hair, then part it down the middle. 
• Create 2 high pigtails.
• Tease your pigtails for volume.
• Twist your first pigtail into a rope. 
• Coil the rope into a bun, then secure it with some bobby pins or a hair tie.

• Pull your hair into a high ponytail. 
• Brush your hair down as much as possible to tame any hair bubbles or flyaways. 
• Divide your ponytail into two sections. Braid each section all the way down and secure with elastics. 
• Wrap the braids around each other in opposite directions and secure them with bobby pins.

Don’t worry you can still rock this look if you have straight hair, just start by scrunching some curling mousse through your strands. This is the perfect easy hairstyle for curly-haired cuties to have on hand. It works just as well on freshly washed hair with a little conditioner, as it does on second day hair. Be sure your hair care routine is stocked up on your favorite curly hair products and you’re set!

• Lift your hair loosely into a high ponytail, intentionally leaving some pieces out at the front and back. Don’t make it perfect, the messier the better here.
• Wrap your hair into a bun and secure it with bobby pins.

• Gather your strands into a ponytail at the crown of your head and secure with a hair tie.
• Stick two or three bobby pins in vertically on the underside of the ponytail to keep it lifted.
• Keep your curls frizz-free, by running a curl-defining cream through your ends.

• Grab a section of hair at your temple.
• Twist it around your fingers a few times, and secure it with hair clips.
• Repeat on the other side.
• Mess up the back of your hair or twist it into a messy bun or pony.

• Gather just the hair above your ears into a high ponytail at the crown of your head. You can pull it tight or keep it messy (there are two ways to wear this hairstyle — you can go slick and polished or textured and care-free).
• Twist the ponytail around itself and then coil it toward the base until you have your bun. 
• Use a few bobby pins to secure it to your head. If you want the messy version, tousle your hairline, if you want the polished version, smooth down any unruly pieces of hair.

This is another easy wash-and-go hairstyle. Perfect for the mornings you have zero time for styling and just enough time to shower.

• Start by squeezing excess water from your strands.
• Work a damp hair gel hair through your strands with your fingers.
• Smooth your hair down to your ears.
• Run a shine serum through your ends and let your hair air-dry from there.

• Pull your hair back into a low ponytail and secure it with a scrunchie or elastic. 
• Wrap the length of your hair around the base
• Secure it tightly with bobby pins.

• Pull your hair into a high ponytail. 
• Next wrap clear hair elastics down the length of your ponytail, about every two inches.
• Gently tug at each section to form the look of little bubbles. 
• Set your bubble ponytail hairstyle with a shine spray.

• Spray your strands with a non-aerosol hairspray.
• Run your fingers through your hair. 
• Loosely gather your hair into a ponytail on the top of your head, letting any flyaways go.
• Gently twist your hair and loosely wrap the pony around itself.
• Secure the knot with bobby pins.

These cute hairdos can be pulled together in minutes, making them perfect for those mornings you just don’t feel like dealing with a bad hair day. No matter your face shape or hair color; or whether you have long hair, short hair, curly hair, or straight, hairstyling will be a breeze with these cute hairstyles that are the easiest to pull off in 2021.

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor

Photos by @goldandglowco