15 Beautiful Quinceañera Hairstyles (& Easy Tutorials)

Find the perfect quince hairstyle for your party

Co-authored by Bailey Bujnosek, BA Reviewed by Jasmin Todd

Last Updated: January 22, 2025 Fact Checked

We're here to help you celebrate your 15th birthday in style with a hairdo that’s as stunning as your dress. There’s a dreamy quinceañera hairstyle for every personality and hair length, from stunning updos and cascading curls to elegant braids or buns. We even spoke with professional hairstylists to get expert advice on crafting the perfect quinceañera hairstyle. Read on for all the inspiration you need (and a complete tutorial for each look) ahead of your special day.

Popular Quinceañera Hairstyles

Quinceañera Hairstyles for Short Hair: Try soft waves with a rhinestone pin or tight curls and a small accent braid.
Quinceañera Hairstyles for Long Hair: Go for half-up, half-down curls with a crown or a beautiful, Rapunzel-style braid.
Easy Quinceañera Hairstyles: Opt for a chic chignon bun or a voluminous, pearl-studded ponytail.

1

Half Up, Half Down with Crown

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Wow with a classic half-up, half-down hairstyle. A half-up, half-down hairstyle with flowing curls and a glittery tiara is likely the most popular look for modern quinceañeras. Choose this hairstyle for a classic princess vibe. Start by dividing your hair into three sections: the front, the upper third of the back, and the lower two-thirds of the back.^{[1]
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- Use a curling iron to create tight curls along the lower section. Pin them to your head to help them set using alligator hair clips.^{[2]
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- Volumize the upper section of hair with hairspray and a teasing comb. Tie it with a clear elastic. Curl the hair below the tie and undo the clips to release your earlier curls.^{[3]
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- Pull the front section of hair back on both sides and pin or tie with a clear elastic hair band. Finally, secure your crown at the front of your head with bobby pins.^{[4]
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2

Pull-Through Braid Half Updo

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Do a pull-through braid for a soft, romantic look. Start by creating loose waves with your curling iron. Push all your hair to the back to begin your braid.
- Take a small section of hair just above your left ear and wrap it upward around two fingers. Hold the loop with your other hand.^{[5]
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- Pull another section of hair up through the loop and twist it once around two fingers. Grab this new loop with your other hand.^{[6]
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- Repeat until the braid goes all the way across the back crown of your head. Secure the last loop with bobby pins or a clear hair elastic.^{[7]
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  - If this pull-through technique is too challenging, do a pull-through braid with hair elastics instead.

3

Rapunzel-Inspired Braid

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Embrace your inner Rapunzel with a bohemian braid. The secret to getting an ethereal braid is to combine subtle accent curls and multiple braids together into one braid. Add fake flowers for a special touch. This look works best for those with long hair, although you can have a professional add hair extensions if you’d like to try this look and don’t have the length.
- Divide the hair into a top section (all the hair above the ears), a middle section (most of the remaining hair) and a bottom section (the hair above the nape of your neck). Loosely curl the bottom and middle sections with your curling iron.^{[8]
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- Use tiny hair elastics to create a pull-through braid with the curled hair. Secure it halfway through with another hair elastic before repeating the pull-through braid.^{[9]
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- Release the top section. Curl it loosely. Create two small braids along either side of your head, starting from the hairline and going back above the ear.
- Join them above the first braid you made. Use bobby pins to combine the two braids.^{[10]
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- Place real or fake flowers down the center of the braid for a whimsical, bohemian touch. “Baby’s breath is a really easy, affordable option” for a floral hair look, says wedding planner Nine Morrison.^{[11]
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4

Fishtail Braid

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Show off your carefree sense of style with a fishtail braid. Begin by straightening your hair so it’s sleek. Gather your hair to one side. Do a loose fishtail braid, pulling on strands as you go to volumize the braid. Secure with a clear hair elastic. Finally, pin your tiara atop your head using bobby pins. Insert the pins downward along the sides of the tiara to keep it in place.
- To do a fishtail braid, professional hair stylist Sarah Kosakowski says to split your hair into two equal sections. Take a small piece of hair from the outermost part of the right section, move it over the top of the hair, and add it to the left section.^{[12]
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- Repeat on the other side: take a small piece of hair from the outside of the left section and move it over the top of the hair, joining it with the right section.
- Keep moving strands back and forth until your fishtail braid is complete. Smaller strands will make the braid appear more detailed, while larger ones create a chunky bohemian effect.

5

Accent Braid and Curls

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Elevate tight curls with a chic accent braid. This hairstyle works on short- and medium-length hair. First, part your hair to one side. Use a curling iron to curl your hair. Take a section from the front, starting at the part, and do a Dutch braid that extends across the crown of your head and slightly back. Pin the braid under the curls on the other side.^{[13]
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- A Dutch braid is essentially an inverted French braid. Instead of braiding and pulling hair inward, you’re braiding the strands outward and pulling hair under the braid.

6

Gentle Waves with Accent Pin

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Choose beachy waves for a relaxed quince hairstyle. This look works on any hair length, but is especially easy for those with shoulder-length or shorter hair. Add some bling without a tiara—just a statement hair pin featuring rhinestones or faux pearls.
- First, part your hair to the side. Give yourself waves using a triple-barrel waver.^{[14]
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  Research source} Add a sparkly pin on the lower, short side of the part for a glam finishing touch.
- Hair stylist Nick Arrojo says using a triple-barrel waver tool is simple. “Hold the tool horizontally, press to open the clamp, and capture the top of the hair section between the barrels and clamp,” he explains.^{[15]
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- Hold for no more than 5 seconds before moving the tool down the section of hair and repeating.

7

Voluminous Rope Braided Pony

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Rock a voluminous ponytail for a pretty, functional look. Opt for a ponytail if you’re worried about your hair getting in your eyes, especially when dancing. Start by grabbing a small section of hair from the front right side of your part. Split it into two sections and twist the right section over the left to begin a rope braid.
- Pick up hair from the right side of the twist and add it to the new right strand before twisting again. Continue to twist the strands over one another, only adding hair from the right side to the right strand.^{[16]
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- End your braid just past the ear. Gently tug the rope braid twists upward to make them appear fuller.^{[17]
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- Gather the rest of your hair into a ponytail.^{[18]
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  Research source} Use a teasing comb to add volume to your pony.^{[19]
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  - When teasing your hair to create volume, work on small sections of hair below the top pieces. This way, you can hide the teased sections under smooth ones while still achieving a volumized look.

8

High Pony with Pearls

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Channel nautical glamour with a pearl-detail pony. Transform a simple high ponytail into a work of art with the addition of trendy faux pearls. To do this style, use a comb to detangle and smooth out bumps as you gather your hair at the back of the top of your head. Secure with a hair elastic. Curl or straighten the ponytail, depending on your preference. Finally, apply stick-on faux pearl gems throughout the ponytail and on the scalp.
- Look for faux pearls in different sizes. Stick-on faux pearls have an adhesive side, making it easier for you to place them throughout your hair.

9

French Twist Updo

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Wear a French twist for a subtle, elegant look. The French twist doesn’t require heat tools, making it perfect for birthday girls who want to save time getting ready. Begin by creating a deep side part with a parting comb and gather your hair in your hands, just above the nape of your neck.^{[20]
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- While still holding your hair with your right hand, wrap the hair up and around your left hand’s middle and pointer fingers, letting it hang down on the right side.^{[21]
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- Lift your two fingers to tug the wrapped hair toward the left, letting some of it slide through your right hand’s grasp. Make one complete turn with your fingers to twist the hair around itself. Bring your fingers up to the top of your head and hold the twisted hair in place in the center.^{[22]
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- With your right hand, pull the hair at the base of the twist (near the nape of the neck on the left side) upward along the twist. Tuck excess hair into the twist on the top and right side. Secure with French pins at the bottom and up the right side where the twist is pressed against your head.^{[23]
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10

Chignon (Low Bun)

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Keep things simple with a delicate chignon. This low bun will have an understated effect at your quinceañera, leaving the focus on your dress and makeup—though you can always add drama with a tiara. Begin by creating a side part with a parting comb. Leave the parted hair section at the front of your head down. Gather the rest of your hair into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck.^{[24]
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- Tie a smaller hair elastic near the bottom quarter of your ponytail.
- Roll the ponytail underneath itself so this lower elastic is covered and a low bun forms. Secure with bobby pins.
- Comb the parted section you left out earlier and pull it back and over the bun, pinning it with bobby pins to cover the top of the bun. Loop the hair over the other half of the bun and secure any remaining wisps in your chignon.
- Struggling to secure the base of your chignon? Professional hair stylist Danielle Chiz recommends using spiral or coil hair ties at the base instead of traditional hair elastics.^{[25]
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11

Sleek, Straight Pony

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Wear a sleek ponytail for an elegant, no-frills look. Popularized by celebrities like Ariana Grande, a sleek, straight high ponytail is always on trend. If your hair is naturally straight, simply blow dry after washing and add in argan oil for shine. Comb your hair back and gather into a ponytail at the top of your head. Secure with a hair elastic. Use hairspray to tame any flyaways.^{[26]
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- If your hair isn’t naturally straight, use a straightening iron to tame it before doing your ponytail. First, wash your hair and apply a heat protectant spray before blow drying and straightening.

12

Side-Swept Soft Curls

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Sweep your curls over one shoulder for a unique style. While many quince hairstyles are worn in the back, a side-swept hairstyle lets you display your curls in front and better frame your face. Start by parting your hair with a parting comb on one side. The part should almost be above the ear. Curl your hair using a curling iron.
- Move the hair on the side below the part to the back. Leave the hair opposite the part over your front shoulder.
- Grab the hair in the upper middle section of the head. Pin it at the back of your scalp so it’s flowing toward the shoulder where the hair will rest. Two to three pins should suffice.^{[27]
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- Repeat with other sections of hair until they’re all pinned and stable. Push the hair below the pins so it hangs over your shoulder. Spray hairspray to help your curls stay defined.

13

Old Hollywood Waves

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Softer than curls but more textured than straight hair, waves are a wonderful in-between style. Create soft waves by curling the hair with a 1.25 in (3.2 cm) barrel curling iron. Create all the curls in the same direction by wrapping them around the iron the same way. Once curled, brush them out to unravel the coils into waves.^{[28]
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14

Waterfall Braid and Curls

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Frame your curls with a fairy-like waterfall braid. Grab a small section of hair at the front of your head and divide it into three sections to begin your waterfall braid. Cross the left (frontmost) strand over the central strand. Then, cross the right strand over the central strand. Instead of repeating as you normally would, drop the left strand and pick up a new section of hair from right beside it.
- Cross this new left strand over the central strand. Before crossing the right strand over, add a strand of hair from above the braid like you’re doing a French braid.
- Repeat these steps, switching out the left strands and adding hair to the right strands as you go. The strands you drop will stream down along the braid like a waterfall, while the right side of the braid will be secured against your scalp.
- Continue your waterfall braid until you reach the opposite ear. Secure with a hair elastic. Use a curling iron to touch up any curls that may have fallen out while you braided.

15

High Bun with Curls

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Throwback to the ‘90s with a curly, messy bun. Because it’s more casual, this hairstyle works for the birthday girl or her court of damas in attendance. To create the look, curl the ends of your hair with a large barrel curling iron. Sweep your hair into a messy updo, leaving a few face-framing strands out on either side of your face.^{[29]
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- Touch up the curls as desired, or leave them loose for a tousled, model-off-duty look.