SaveGoing out hair is about holding a shape, not just having one. The current trend leans toward soft face-framing layers, curtain bangs, and lived-in color that moves naturally, so a style lasts through dinner, dancing, and everything between.
This collection of 20 Trendy Going Out Hairstyles covers the full range, from low-upkeep blowouts to intricate updos, and works for fine or thick hair, short or long lengths. You will find the fix for hair that falls flat by nine, a visible grow-out line, or a fringe that will not sit. Each idea includes the styling time, the hold, and what to ask for at the salon.
21 ideas in this post
- Long Dark Brown Hair With Curtain Bangs Blowout
- Chin Length Ash Blonde Bob With Volume
- Mid-Back Voluminous Dark Brown Curls
- Long Rich Brown Sculpted Twisted Updo
- Mid-Back Dark Brown Wavy Ponytail
- High Dark Brown Ponytail With Voluminous Curls
- Ash Blonde High Ponytail With Dramatic Curls
- Long Dark Brown Half Up Half Down Curls
- Long Brown Blonde Highlight Top Knot
- Long Black Curly Updo With Side Part
- Long Dark Brown Soft Romantic Updo
- Mid-Back Medium Brown Sculpted Chignon
- Mid-Back Blonde Highlight Updo With Twists
- Long Blonde Voluminous Soft Bun Updo
- Mid-Back Blonde Braided Floral Updo
- Long Brown Blonde Locs Braided Updo
- Collarbone Ash Blonde Messy Bun
- Dark Brown Messy High Bun With Tendrils
- Collarbone Dimensional Blonde Layered Blowout
- Chin Length Ash Blonde Braided Updo
- Final Thoughts
Long Dark Brown Hair With Curtain Bangs Blowout
There’s a reason this long dark brown blowout keeps showing up: the middle part and curtain bangs work with thick, straight hair instead of fighting it. The long layers start below the chin, so the weight stays put and the ends flip just enough to add movement. This style reads polished, which works well for a night out.
Thick, straight hair that starts at mid-back is the ideal candidate. The curtain bangs soften a round or oval face, while the length keeps the overall shape narrow. Ask your stylist for: long layers with curtain bangs, middle part blowout. Blow-dry the bangs with a round brush, directing them to set the curve. A trim every six to eight weeks keeps the ends from splitting and the shape from collapsing.
Chin Length Ash Blonde Bob With Volume
A chin-length bob can hold volume even on fine, straight hair with the right blowout technique. Side-swept bangs add movement across the forehead, and the ash blonde base with subtle highlights gives fine strands dimension. Ask your stylist for: chin-length bob, voluminous blowout, side-swept bangs. Volume comes from lifting the roots at the crown while you dry, then rolling the ends under with a round brush. A trim every six to eight weeks keeps the line crisp and the bounce in place.
Mid-Back Voluminous Dark Brown Curls
Voluminous dark brown curls need a strong base, and thick, wavy hair delivers it. The loose face-framing pieces break up the mass of curls, so the style reads soft rather than heavy. The middle part lets the waves fall evenly on both sides, and the mid-back length gives them room to move.
This look holds up through an evening, but it does ask for upkeep. Apply a curl-enhancing cream to damp hair before diffusing, then let the curls set fully before touching them. A light mist of water or curl refresher revives the shape the next day. Trimming every eight to ten weeks keeps the ends from looking ragged, which is what makes the difference between bouncy and limp.
Long Rich Brown Sculpted Twisted Updo
The construction here is all in the twist. Long, thick, straight hair is sectioned and twisted back into a smooth, sculpted shape that sits close to the head. The rich brown color adds depth, and the lack of bangs keeps the front clean, so the eye goes straight to the detail at the back.
This is a formal evening style, the kind that holds its own at a gala or a wedding. The twists are secured with bobby pins and a strong-hold hairspray, which keeps everything in place for hours. It suits most face shapes because the height at the crown balances the jaw, and the smooth sides elongate the neck. Ask your stylist for: long hair intricate twisted updo.
Mid-Back Dark Brown Wavy Ponytail
Set this dark brown wavy ponytail against a sleek, straight version and the difference is obvious: the waves add volume and a softer edge. The high placement lifts the face, and the loose tendrils framing the sides keep it from feeling severe. Subtle lighter strands through the dark brown give the waves dimension without a full color change.
The style moves easily from a day at work to an evening out. The middle part keeps it simple, and the thick, wavy texture holds the curl without much fuss. Ask your stylist for: mid-back wavy ponytail with face-framing tendrils. Curl sections with a large barrel iron before gathering the hair up, then leave a few pieces out to soften the line.
High Dark Brown Ponytail With Voluminous Curls
A high ponytail is a reliable going-out move, but the volume in these curls makes it feel like an event in itself. The dark brown, mid-back length hair is pulled back from a smooth middle part, then released into thick, wavy curls that cascade down with serious lift. This construction elongates the face, which is good news for round and square shapes. Ask your stylist for: high ponytail with voluminous curls.
You want thick, wavy hair that reaches at least mid-back for this to land correctly. The curls need to be set thoroughly before the ponytail goes up. A curling iron and a strong-hold elastic are the basics. A layer of hairspray after securing keeps everything in place through a full evening. This is a salon-level finish, not a five-minute bathroom pivot.
Ash Blonde High Ponytail With Dramatic Curls
Where a warm blonde ponytail leans soft, this ash blonde version reads cooler and more deliberate. The high ponytail sits at mid-back length, packed with dramatic curls and face-framing pieces that break up the volume at the sides. Those pieces are what make the difference for oval and heart face shapes. They soften the perimeter without reducing the height. Ask your colorist for: high voluminous ponytail with dramatic curls and face-framing pieces.
This is a look that benefits from added extensions if your natural length falls short of mid-back. Curl each section away from the face before gathering everything high. The ash tone stays truer with a purple shampoo every two to three washes. A back view is where the ponytail really shows its scale.
Long Dark Brown Half Up Half Down Curls
Will the curls hold through dinner and dancing? With this half-up, half-down style, the answer depends on how you set them. The long, dark brown hair has subtle highlights running through defined, loose waves that fall past the shoulders. The top section is swept back and secured smoothly, which keeps the volume off your neck while letting the length move freely. A middle parting keeps the balance neutral for most face shapes. Ask your stylist for: long half up half down with defined curls.
Generous curling on the lower section is non-negotiable. Each wave needs to be set and cooled before you touch it. The top section holds with pins or a clip, and a light hairspray on the curls prevents them from dropping by hour three. The highlights add depth, so the waves read as dimensional rather than flat. A trim every eight weeks keeps the ends sharp enough to curl cleanly.
Long Brown Blonde Highlight Top Knot
The top knot here is high, sleek and built from long, thick, straight hair with a brown base and blonde highlights. The key difference from a casual bun is the slicked-back finish. Every strand is pulled taut from the hairline and wrapped into a tight, polished knot at the crown. This creates a clean silhouette that works with most face shapes, especially when the highlights are visible at the knot. Ask your stylist for: sleek high top knot, no bangs.
A strong-hold gel or pomade applied before smoothing back is what gives this its mirror finish. Wrap the hair tightly around the base and pin it without loose ends. The straight texture is ideal here, wavy or curly hair would need a blowout first to get the same sleekness. This is a cocktail-hour look that is precise and polished. The blonde highlights keep the dark base from feeling flat.
Long Black Curly Updo With Side Part
An elegant updo on thick, curly black hair is a striking choice, but the work required to keep the volume controlled is significant. This version uses a side part and side-swept bangs, while the long length is gathered into voluminous curls at the back. The side-swept bangs soften square and round faces, pulling attention diagonally. Ask your stylist for: long curly updo with side-swept bangs.
Thick curls have a tendency to expand, so pinning everything securely takes more time and more bobby pins than straight hair would. A curl-defining cream applied before styling helps the curls hold their shape without frizzing. This is a salon-level effort for a formal evening or wedding guest situation. The side part and bangs need a trim every six weeks to stay precise.
Long Dark Brown Soft Romantic Updo
A voluminous dark brown updo relies on two pin-placement rules: anchor the base firmly at the crown, then let the soft curls fall in a deliberate cascade. The side parting and face-framing pieces break up what would otherwise be a solid shape, which makes this design work for oval and heart face shapes. Ask your stylist for: long soft voluminous updo with face-framing curls.
This is a salon-only build because the curl-setting needs precision. Each section is curled loosely with a large-barrel iron before being pinned, never twisted tight. A flexible-hold hairspray keeps the waves from dropping during a wedding reception or evening event. The romantic shape stays intact for hours without looking rigid.
Mid-Back Medium Brown Sculpted Chignon
A sculpted chignon sits low at the nape with every twist smoothed flat, unlike a relaxed bun where pieces are left loose for texture. The straight, thick medium brown hair here is twisted into a clean coil and secured without a single flyaway, which suits formal events where polish matters. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length sculpted chignon. A smoothing serum applied before twisting cuts down on frizz and gives the finish a reflective shine. This chignon holds its shape through dinner and dancing because each pin is placed against the twist, not through it.
Mid-Back Blonde Highlight Updo With Twists
Does a sculpted updo work on thick, wavy hair, or does it just turn into a puffball? It works, provided the hair is prepped with texturizing spray for grip before the twists are shaped. The blonde highlights here add dimension to the curves, so the structure reads clearly rather than blending into one solid mass. Ask your stylist for: mid-back updo with sculpted twists and face-framing pieces. Those soft strands left out around the hairline soften angular jawlines and keep the updo from looking severe. This is a cocktail-hour style that holds its architecture for about six hours.
Long Blonde Voluminous Soft Bun Updo
A large soft bun depends on texture, not tension, to keep its volume through the evening. The long blonde hair here is prepped with a texturizing spray before being gathered into a high, loose bun, so the shape stays full without sagging. Ask your stylist for: long voluminous soft bun with face-framing pieces. Wavy tendrils left out break up the roundness of the bun, which prevents it from looking like a ball on top of the head.
Upkeep during the night is minimal. A few bobby pins slipped in at the base every couple of hours will stop the thick hair from pulling the bun lower. A flexible-hold hairspray misted over the finished style keeps the wavy texture defined without making it stiff to the touch.
Mid-Back Blonde Braided Floral Updo
An intricately braided updo with fresh flowers woven through the strands belongs at garden-party receptions and summer weddings, where the natural accents match the setting. The thick, wavy blonde hair here is braided while slightly damp so the plaits hold their definition, then pinned into a low, rounded shape at the back. Ask your stylist for: mid-back braided updo with floral accents. The white blooms and green stems are secured with small pins after the braiding is finished, which means the flowers can be removed without unraveling the style. This updo lasts about five hours before the flowers start to wilt.
Long Brown Blonde Locs Braided Updo
Start with long locs in a mix of brown and blonde tones, then ask for an intricate braided pattern that weaves the color variation into the design. The gold bead accents are a deliberate detail, and you need to request those too. Ask your stylist for: long locs intricate braided updo with beads. This style works for most face shapes because the height and side detail balance the proportions. The edges are smoothed with a lightweight edge control product, and the whole thing is secured with bobby pins and a firm-hold hairspray. This is a salon-only project, and it holds all evening without shifting.
Collarbone Ash Blonde Messy Bun
A textured messy bun at the nape is a good way to hide dark roots and make fine hair look fuller. The ash blonde base and darker grow-out look polished when you pull out a few wispy pieces around the face. Ask your stylist for: collarbone length messy bun with wispy bangs. To recreate it at home, tease the crown section before twisting the bun, then tug gently at the loops to loosen them. The hold is moderate: plan on a touch-up before you leave the house. The style takes about five minutes once you have the technique down.
Dark Brown Messy High Bun With Tendrils
The messy high bun here gets its volume from the dark brown base with subtle highlights layered through the texture. The face-framing tendrils can separate into flyaways after an hour of movement. Ask your stylist for: messy high bun with face-framing tendrils. This style works best on thick, wavy hair that holds a shape without pins slipping. The tendrils soften a square or long face by adding width at the cheekbone level. If your hair is fine or silky straight, the bun will deflate and the tendrils will look stringy.
Collarbone Dimensional Blonde Layered Blowout
This is not a blunt, one-length bob. The collarbone length with soft layers and a middle part creates movement, and the dimensional blonde with lighter highlights makes the layers read as separate pieces. Ask your stylist for: collarbone length layered blowout with curtain bangs. The curtain bangs are cut to hit the cheekbone and sweep to each side, so they need a round brush and a heat protectant every time you style. The blowout holds for a full evening if you finish with a cool shot of air on each section. Thick, wavy hair is the ideal starting point because it has the weight to hold the bend.
Chin Length Ash Blonde Braided Updo
Chin-length hair does not usually do updos without a lot of pinning, but this braided version works because the fine wavy texture has enough grip to hold the structure. The ash blonde base with subtle pink undertones adds depth to the braid, and the small green embellishments provide contrast without overpowering the color. Ask your stylist for: chin length braided updo with wispy bangs. The wispy bangs soften the hairline, which matters for round or heart-shaped faces where a tight updo can look severe. This is a salon-only style, and it stays put through dinner and dancing without sagging.
Final Thoughts
For fine hair, go with styles that build volume at the crown, like a blowout or a textured high bun. For thick hair, a sleek twisted updo or controlled curls hold shape without extra product. Match the hold level to the event: a formal dinner calls for a firm updo, a night out can take looser waves.
- Schedule salon touch-ups for updos or intricate styles every 4-6 weeks.
- Use texturizing sprays and dry shampoo to refresh day-old styles.
- Protect styled hair from heat with a thermal protectant spray.
- Consider a deep conditioning treatment weekly for optimal shine and manageability.
Master these going out hairstyles for your next memorable occasion.
