In less than a month, you’ll be walking towards your long-awaited diploma to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance” desperately hoping you don’t trip and fall in front of approximately 10,000 people. College graduation is arguably one of the biggest days of our lives thus far, and one of the biggest parts of that day? The pictures! We spend hours making sure our outfit is classy, our makeup is on point, and our hair is immovable. Scared your graduation cap will flatten and suck the life out of your perfect hairstyle? Don’t let the fear of a clunky graduation cap keep you from having a fabulous ‘do. With these styles, you’ll look stylish and chic, hat on or off!
1. Beachy waves
This classic style looks great underneath a graduation cap and will stay flawless even when you take it off. To create this simple hairstyle, make loose curls with a wand. Alternate the direction you wrap the hair to achieve a more natural look. Then run your fingers through it to loosen it up, spritz it with some hairspray, and you’re ready to go! If you want some extra volume, you can also tease underneath sections of hair.
2. Side fishtail braid
This is elevated braid will keep your hair out of your face while looking chic and elegant. To achieve this look, part your hair to the side and pull your hair together at the nape of your neck on the opposite side of your part. Next, separate the hair into two sections. Take a piece of hair from one section and cross it over to the next, pulling it under and holding it with the opposite hand. Alternate each side until you reach the bottom. Secure with a hair elastic and get ready to put on your cap!
Related: 7 Mid-Length Hairstyles for When You Don’t Want to Go Too Short or Too Long
3. Blowout
Getting a blowout is a great way to keep your hair straight while adding body. Wearing a graduation cap can make flat hair seem even flatter than it is, so pin-straight hair might not be the way to go. Instead, opt for a light, airy blowout that will have you looking flawless. If you feel like shelling out a little money, you can always get it professionally done at a dry bar, but you can also get a fantastic blowout on your own. Check out our blowout guide to see how to look get a fresh salon look without dropping any cash.
4. Natural
If you’re loving the natural hair look right now and want that to be your style staple during graduation, Chizi Duru has the best graduation hack for your hair. Embrace your natural updo and ensure that it retains its life during graduation—no flattened hairdos allowed on this day! If you’re looking to keep your hair naturally amazing during the ceremony but are worried about keeping your cap on, simply hot glue or tape a headband to your cap like Chizi does and fluff out your hair so your style stands out—without having to worry about whether your cap will stay on or off.
Related: What Women With Curly Hair Need to Know About Hair Typing, & How to Do It
5. Braided updo
If you want a more formal look—after all, it is a pretty special day—then a braided updo is what you need. Not only will your updo hold up well under your graduation cap, but it’ll also be protected—so your pictures afterward remain flawless as when you did your hair! The braid also provides an extra twist to a simple updo. Let some hair fall in front so people can see a bit of your style during the ceremony. Follow the tutorial above to see how you can make your simple updo stand out during your graduation day.
6. Half-up curls
If you want curls but also want to keep your hair out of your face, then this is your go-to style. Not only will your hair fall softly in the back, but the updo will be secure in your graduation cap so once you throw it up in the air in celebration, your ornate updo will be intact! Create this half-up, half-down look through gently putting a curling iron through your hair (or get really creative with it and do ringlets!) and then gather half of it up with a comb and place a nice barrette or bow to hold it all together.
Gone are the days of ugly hat hair! With these styles under your cap, you’ll be graduating in style.