These 23 Hairstyles Will *Actually* Get You Excited About Going Back to School

If you got the urge to go blonde for summer and bleached your hair, don’t rush to go back to your roots—a rooty blonde color is always a cool idea. Play up the ’90s grunge look with a textured ponytail and pieces in the front.

You don’t have to totally reinvent your style with the start of each school year if you don’t wanna. A subtle color change, like a sprinkle of highlights on brown hair, can still make a noticeable difference. Proof: These caramel babylights, aka the perfect fall hair color.

If you want an easy hairstyle idea that still looks cute, put down the hair tie and grab a hair comb clip instead. Never used one of these clips before? Here’s the trick: Lay the clip on the side where the comb fits the curve of your head, then push the teeth against the direction of the hair to secure it into your twist.

If you’re looking for a protective style that’ll last you six to eight weeks, try box braids. The versatility and longevity of this style definitely make up for the hours spent in the salon to get them.

Once you’ve got your braids, you’ve got endless options for ways to wear them in different braided hairstyles that you can switch up as often as you’d like. Take this braided box-braid look, for instance—10/10 recommend for your back-to-school style.

Whether you’re team middle part or side part, you can still update your hairstyle for the new school year by adding a few layers throughout your hair. Worried about going too short? Tell your stylist you want the shortest layer to still be able to fit into a ponytail or topknot.

For this take on a back-to-school hairstyle for curly hair, pair a low, slicked-back bun with curly bangs like these. To get the look, section off your fringe in the front, then use a brush to smooth and slick the rest back.

Whether you just hopped out of the shower and you’re late for class or you just prefer heatless hairstyles, this wet-hair look deserves a spot in your rotation. Get yourself a bottle of this shine serum to keep it looking wet all day long.

If you love a practical bun hairstyle but also want to change it up, try this ~twist~ on a classic bun. Pull out two sections of hair around your hairline to wear loose in twists, then gather the rest of your hair into a high bun.

All you need for this sleek look is a flat iron and a smoothing hair serum. Working with one small section at a time, run the straightener through your hair, slightly angling the plates outward as you reach the bottom inch of your strands to create a little flick on the ends. Then, use your serum and the palm of your hands to smooth any flyaways on top.

This cool, modern take on the pigtails you know and love is perfect for running around your college campus—and the braided accent makes it even better for this fall’s back-to-school hairstyle.