Style Inspiration: Wild, Free and Festival Ready

Festival hair should be bold, expressive, and unapologetically fun. In 2016, nothing captured the era’s essence better than classic mermaid waves (and the dog filter)! Fast forward to 2026 and we’re still gravitating towards striking looks that make a statement for festival season. 

For this look, I combined a cocktail of pastel hues with effortless texture – nothing screams ‘Coachella’ more than wild, care-free pastel hair! What makes this style a festival essential is its fluidity and impact. Waves create movement and light reflection, which makes the pastel shades pop in the sunshine!  To perfect bold waves and ensure that they stay in place whilst dancing in the sunshine is the technique! I always recommend enhancing the waves by creating soft bends throughout the lengths with straighteners. Follow-up with a texture mist for added volume and a shine spray to make the vibrancy of the colours pop! The key is keeping the movement controlled but effortless, so the colour stays the main focus. Festival hair is about making a statement, and bold waves are the ultimate power move - high-energy and high-impact.  

For the colour, I pre-lightened the hair with soft blended root highlights, I then sectioned the hair ear to ear, leaving a two-inch section around the face untouched to keep the front soft and flattering. This allowed the creative colours to sit mainly through the interior, letting them pop through the hair rather than overpower the look.

Using vertical panels, I layered Elumen Play shades in orange, purple, pink, petrol and yellow, staggering the placement to create movement and dimension. The final result is soft, multi-dimensional and elevated, with playful colour hidden within a beautifully wearable base – absolutely perfect for festival season.