10 Hairstyles That Transition from Day to Night

It can be a serious challenge to balance everything, especially when it comes to your work and social lives. When you’re rushing from school or the office, trying to make it in time for dinner and drinks, you surely want to look sharp and chic for both. But there isn’t always time to totally change up your hair and create a fresh style before heading out for the night. The trick is to perfect your hairstyle on the first try by picking one that can transition from day to night. Below, we’re sharing 10 different hairstyles that look great in the morning but just as good come nighttime. Keep reading, then give them all a try to serve your best styles—any time of day.

Day to Night Hairstyle #1: Anytime, Anywhere Waves

Is there ever an occasion that wavy hair isn’t a fit for? Unlikely. Wash and wave your hair in the morning, then enjoy the effects for the rest of the day.

Step #1: Cleanse and condition. Grabbing drinks or heading to a hot date won’t be quite as fun with greasy hair. Wash your hair with a shampoo and conditioner formulated to purify your roots and hydrate your ends, like the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Extraordinary Clay Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Extraordinary Clay Conditioner.

Step #2: Towel-dry partially. Once you’re out of the shower, use a towel to remove excess water and stop your hair from being sopping wet.

Step #3: Apply wave spray. While hair is still damp, spritz on the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Wave Swept Spray through your strands. Scrunch hair to create shape and emphasize waves.

Step #4: Allow your hair to air dry. Beautiful hair doesn’t always require a blowout. Let hair finish air drying rather than breaking out the heat tools.

Day to Night Hairstyle #2: Fishtail Braid

Fishtails are elegant and fun—the perfect balance for a day to night hairstyle. Plus, once you put in the effort of braiding your hair, of course you’ll want the look to last you until bedtime. Don’t ditch your fishtail after nightfall—just mess it up a little.

Step #1: Use texturizing spray. Braids always look better with texture. Apply a texturizing spray all over your strands for more body and shape.

Step #2: Create a fishtail. Start braiding, then secure the end with a small elastic. (In case you need a refresher, check out our detailed fishtail tutorial.)

Step #3: Apply hairspray. After braiding, spray with strong hold hairspray, like the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold, to ensure your braid doesn’t fall out during the day.

Step #4: Pull it apart. Leave your braid intact during the day, then when it’s time to hit the town, carefully pull at small sections of your braid for a more undone vibe.

Day to Night Hairstyle #3: Really Relaxed Bed Head

While you probably won’t want to go into work after literally rolling right out of bed, having hair that looks that way is a whole other story. Bed head is back, and it’s trendier than ever.

Step #1: Cleanse and condition. Pick a shampoo and conditioner that provide the appearance of volume, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Volume Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Volume Conditioner.

Step #2: Apply mousse. While hair is damp but not dripping, work a mousse that builds body, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Ruffled Body Mousse, through your hair.

Step #3: Allow your hair to air dry. It doesn’t get much simpler than this. Just let your air dry without a worry in the world about how it dries.

Step #4: Ruffle. Use your fingers to ruffle your hair, playing with it around until it appears thoroughly slept in and well worn.

Day to Night Hairstyle #4: Time-Saving Top Knot

Wouldn’t it be nice to find a hairstyle that’s both cute and time efficient? Well, let us direct you to the top knot. All you need is the elastic around your wrist to create a style that’s cut out for morning meetings and nighttime activities. The low-maintenance look is ideal in case you need to redo it before meeting your friends for dinner.

Step #1: Pull hair into a ponytail. Gather all of your hair into a ponytail on the top of your head.

Step #2: Twist the ponytail. Swirl the ponytail, then wrap it around its own base, creating the shape of a tight bun.

Step #3: Secure with an elastic. While you could use pins and multiple hair ties to ensure the bun won’t budge, one elastic should be enough when you’re in a rush. Just loop the hair tie around the bottom of the top knot to secure.

Day to Night Hairstyle #5: Sleek and Straight

You can’t go wrong with straight hair, especially when it looks super-sleek and shiny. We love that this look is polished for the daytime and stays silky smooth at night.

Step #1: Use heat protectant. Never heat style your hair without using a heat protectant first. Apply the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Iron Straight Heatspray to dry hair before reaching for your flat iron.

Step #2: Straighten your hair. Pull your hair straightener through your hair, working in small sections to smooth and flatten every strand.

Step #3: Use a shine mist. Spray a glossing spray evenly throughout your hair, avoiding the roots, for high shine.

Step #4: Apply hairspray. No matter how humid it may get, you won’t want your hair to lose its straight style before the sun goes down. Use a weather control hairspray, like L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle LOCK IT Weather Control Hairspray, to keep your hair in shape.

Day to Night Hairstyle #6: Double Dutch Braids

When one braid just isn’t enough, there’s an obvious answer: Go for two. This on trend style can take your tresses from day to night, without any need to touch it up.

Step #1: Split hair in two. Use a comb to create a perfect center part, separating your hair into two sections.

Step #2: Create Dutch braids. Braid the hair on each side of your head into a Dutch braid.

Step #3. Apply hairspray. A fine control hairspray, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle LOCK IT Fine Control Hairspray, should be enough to hold your braids in place. Spray a thin coat all over your style.

Day to Night Hairstyle #7: Pumped Up Ponytail

Ponytails aren’t just for lazy days or hitting the gym. Try wearing one to work, then rocking it for girl’s night. Your pulled back style will let your beautiful bone structure and stylish outfit do all the talking.

Step #1: Pull hair into a ponytail. Collect all of your hair in your hands, and pull it into a ponytail, high on your head.

Step #2: Secure with an elastic. Wrap an elastic two to three times around the base of the ponytail to hold it there.

Step #3: Add bobby pins. Insert bobby pins into the elastic, facing downwards to give your pony a bit of lift. (Find more bobby pin hacks in our article, 11 Bobby Pin Hacks to Up Your Beauty Game.)

Step #4: Hide the elastic. Dress up your ponytail by keeping the hair tie undercover. Wrap a small piece of hair around the elastic, then use a bobby pin to secure and effectively hide it.

Day to Night Hairstyle #8: Big, Bouncy Curls

Curls are a classic, and for good reason. It’s a style that looks great on everyone and works no matter the time of day.

Step #1: Use heat protectant. Don’t even think about curls until you’ve used a heat protectant spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT Blow Out Heatspray.

Step #2: Blow-dry. Blast your hair with a blow-dryer until it's completely dry.

Step #3: Create curls. Wrap large sections of hair around the barrel of a curling wand or iron to form big curls.

Step #4: Apply hairspray. Without hairspray, there’s a chance your curls will droop and drop before the end of the day. Use a bold control hairspray, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle LOCK IT Bold Control Hairspray, to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Day to Night Hairstyle #9: Half Up

Keep your hair off your face and out of your eyes, while still showing off the length of your locks.

Step #1: Use dry shampoo. Refresh your hair and absorb excess oil by spraying a dry shampoo, like the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Extraordinary Clay Dry Shampoo, at your roots and through the length of your hair.

Step #2: Pull the top layer of hair into a top knot. Separate the top layer of your hair and pull it into a tiny top knot.

Step #3: Secure with an elastic. You know the drill!

Step #4: Apply styling cream. Give your hair that’s left down some undone texture with a styling cream, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Undone Style Cream.

Day to Night Hairstyle #10: Braided Bangs

Give a braid on a smaller scale a shot. When you’re bored of wearing bangs every day, just braid them back to transform your style—then watch it transition perfectly into the night.

Step #1: Braid your bangs. Put your bangs into a French braid.

Step #2: Add bobby pins. Pin your braided bangs back, securing the end behind your ear with a couple of bobby pins.

Step #3: Apply hairspray. Spray, focusing on your bangs, with hairspray.

For even more hairstyles that are perfect for taking your look from the A.M. to P.M., check out our article, Perfectly Imperfect: 9 Low-Maintenance Undone Hairstyles.