4 Easy Half-up, Half-down Hairstyles Perfect for Fine Hair

I get lots of requests for easy, half-up, half-down hairstyles which can be tricky to pull off if you have fine hair like me. Follow along to learn 4 half-up half-down hairstyles that look great even on thin hair.

Tip: Prepare your fine hair for a half-up half-down hairstyle by creating heatless curls the night before. Another trick is to use texture spray before styling to give your hair a fuller appearance. 

Tools and materials: 

• Heatless curl set
• Texture spray
• Hair elastics
• Bobby pins

Crossed half ponytail

1. Make a small ponytail

Grab a small section of hair from the back and center of your head and tie a small ponytail using a hair elastic. Pinch and pull at the hair above the elastic to add fullness.

2. Cross sections of hair over the ponytail, alternating sides

Grab a section of hair to 1 side of the ponytail and partially wrap it around the base. Use a bobby pin to secure it in place.

Repeat with an equal section of hair on the opposite side.

Once more, cross a section of hair over the ponytail on both sides and secure with bobby pins. Then use your fingers to gently spread the hair to hide any gaps and pinch for fullness.

Pull out face-framing hair in the front if you’d like. Here’s the final half-up half-down hairstyle:

Half-up, half-down with crossed braids

1. Make a small ponytail

Start with a middle ponytail in the back.

2. Braid sections on either side

Grab a section of hair on 1 side of the ponytail and braid it toward the back of your head. Keep it slightly loose.

When reaching this point, hold the end tightly and use your other hand to pinch and pull at the sections to gradually add volume. Then tie it off with a hair elastic.

Repeat on the other side.

3. Wrap the braids around the ponytail base

Grab 1 braid and wrap it around the ponytail base, once or twice depending on the length of your hair. Then add a bobby pin underneath the ponytail to secure the braid.

Wrap the other braid across the ponytail base. For me, this side was shorter so I didn’t need to wrap it around–I just pinned it underneath.

Here’s the result of this braided half-up hairstyle:

Twisted, half-up half-down hairstyle

1. Make a small ponytail

Start off with the same, small ponytail in the back.

2. Twist hair around your finger

Grab a small section of hair on 1 side and lightly twist it around your finger.

While still holding the end, pinch and pull at the twist with your other hand.

Drape it across the ponytail to the other side and bobby pin it underneath to secure it.

3. Split a section of hair and twist 1 part over the other

Grab an equal section on the opposite side and split it into 2. Then loosely twist 1 part over the other.

While holding the end, pinch and pull to add volume.

4. Secure the twist on the opposite side

Drape this twist to the other side. Make an opening in the first twisted section and pull the twist through the gap.

Add a bobby pin to secure it.

No styling experience necessary for this gorgeous, half-up half-down hairstyle!

If you have enough hair, consider adding another row of twists:

Half-up, half-down with lots of topsy tails

1. Make a small ponytail

Start with a small ponytail in the back.

2. Join 2 front sections of hair in the back

Grab a section of hair on either side from the font and join them above the ponytail with a hair elastic.

3. Make a topsy tail

Flip the ends of this new ponytail up through the gap and pull them through the opening.

Pull the ends to tighten.

4. Repeat for 2 more topsy tail sections

Grab a section of hair from either side of your face and bring them together in the back, above the ponytail. Secure them into another ponytail with a hair elastic.

Make another topsy tail by flipping the ends up through the opening.

Pull the ends to tighten.

Repeat this for a 3rd topsy tail section.

5. Make topsy tails from the ponytail hair

Instead of taking more sections of hair from the sides of your head, grab a section of hair from either side of the ponytail itself. Tie these off with a hair tie in the middle.

Create a gap above the hair elastic and flip the ends through for a topsy tail.

Repeat for another topsy tail from the ponytail hair:

Keep making topsy tails from the hair of the ponytail until you can’t anymore.

6. Finishing touches

Spread hair at the base to fill in any gaps.

Pinch and pull at the topsy tails to create volume. 

This final half-up half-down hairstyle requires lots of clear elastics and patience, but for a special occasion, it’s worth it!

I’m loving this curly, half-up, half-down hairstyle!

Easy half-up, half-down hairstyles

Let me know in the comments which of these 4 half-up half-down hairstyles was your favorite.

Next up, try this easy and cute boho claw clip hairstyle.