30 Messy Hairstyles

Looking like a fairytale princess who got caught in a windstorm, this ultra long hair is heavy enough to weigh itself down, making it look tousled but not too messy.

For days when you just want to roll out of bed and go, or the morning after a long night out, try messily pinning bangs back for a carefree hairstyle that will take you from brunch to dinner the whole next day.

One of the worst things about short hair is how messy it can get overnight. But one of the best things about short hair is that it’s easy to style sticking up on purpose! 

One of our favourite things about braided hairstyles is how easy they are to enhance just by pulling apart or fanning out a braid. In Vanessa Hudgens’ style here, a crown braid that could look almost child-like comes across as a ‘good girl gone bad’ style.

While sleek bobs are great for projecting sophistication, this tousled style comes across as a little more daring and avant garde. If you’ve got natural curls, this style should be a cinch to recreate.

This style is messy compared to the traditional tight ballerina bun with no hair out of place, making it a softer way to wear the classic style.

This fairly standard three strand braid gets some added kick thanks to pulled out pieces of hair that compliment comedian Amy Schumer’s personality.

Being longer on one side makes it easy to wear this pixie in a messy style without looking unprofessional or unkempt.

In a very high fashion style, this messy platinum bob is a nice contrast to luxe, tailored clothing choices.

Add some skinny braids in random locations to take your messy style from sloppy to chic.

With more and more intentionally frizzed styles being seen in fashion shows and magazine editorials, frizzed out styles are making their way into the mainstream. Not only is this bun cute and feminine, but you won’t have to worry about getting every hair perfectly in place.

For the perfect next day hairstyle, create a deeper part than you usually wear to sweep hair over and add volume even if your hair is flattened from the night before.

In the most laid back of messy styles, Kate Hudson’s hair looks like it spent the day soaking up sun, sand, and salt water.

This shaggy bob is literally in your face! Full of messy layers, you don’t have to wear it with pieces in your eyes to achieve this look.

While exaggerated fashion choices are part of Kesha’s style this mix of spiral curls, loose waves and flatter pieces of hair can translate to the lives of non-rockstars.

Featuring a deep side part, this bob strikes an interesting balance by using messy styling on a typically sophisticated cut.

You can get this look the old fashioned way by leaving your french braids in overnight, or by gently rubbing them with your hands or a soft cloth that won’t catch the hair.

This super thick, curly hair doesn’t need much help to look wild and free, but you can add volumizing spray or curl defining cream depending on just how big and messy you want it.

With these crimped curls and skinny braids, this half up style wouldn’t look out of place on a woodland nymph or other fairytale creature.

Let natural curls go free while an asymmetrical bob provides structure and balance to the style.

Although the messy top knot seems to get more attention, this messy low bun is a nice alternative for a more mature version of the messy hair trend.

This style might not be messy by everyone’s standards, but it features curls and waves in a carefree pattern that a mermaid might wear if she went for a bob style.

Ripped straight out of the pages of an editorial fashion shoot, this messy style looks like a beehive updo if it was slept in overnight.

The perfectly placed comb over is a big trend in men’s hair, but this high, feathered, messy style is a fun and feminine way to wear the same haircut.

If you’re tired of flat ironing your curls into place, let them go free in a stylish, bouncy bob.

Taking the grey hair trend and fashion’s obsession with granny style, this messy top knot still looks young and feminine when paired with bold, bright makeup.

Add some interest to your sleek and sculpted bob by messing up the sides, and use spray clay or hairspray to hold in place.

This style is messy thanks to the styling, but also the super choppy cut. If you’ve got naturally coarse hair, a choppy style like this is easy to make messy, but fine haired women may have a harder time getting the mess to stick.

A messy style that’s good enough for a red carpet event, this well structured top knot features a few loose pieces to frame the face and soften the style without wrecking it.

These medium length curls are somewhere between messy and polished, making them a go-to style for most occasions.