A low braid looks so pretty with a scarf and an open coat. A small clip can keep the front pieces of a bob out of your eyes. And a loose bun leaves room for the collar of that chunky sweater you keep reaching for.
The best hairstyles for windy days keep the parts you want held back in place while leaving the rest comfortable. You can start with a style you already wear and change one detail, such as where you put the tie or how much hair goes into the clip.
These five ideas cover loose braids, a low bun, a ponytail, half-up hair, and a short-hair option. Use the steps that fit your length and texture, then add a favorite ribbon or barrette. None comes with a promise to stay perfect through every gust. A few pieces moving around are part of an outdoor hairstyle.
Choose hairstyles for windy days around your hair and plans
Start with which part of your hair you want to keep out of the way. For a short walk, holding back the front pieces may be enough. For an afternoon outside, you may prefer to bring more of the length into a loose braid or bun.
Check the style with your coat, scarf, or hat on. A large claw clip at the back can press against a high collar. A bun at the nape may sit under the edge of a scarf. Moving the clip a little higher or wearing a side braid can make the whole combination feel better.
Keep the pull gentle at your hairline and part. The American Academy of Dermatology explains that repeated tension from hairstyles can cause hair loss. Loosen a style if it hurts or pulls. A comfortable fit matters more than making every small strand stay flat.
Use the texture your hair already has as a starting point. Loose waves can become a soft braid. Curls can sit in a roomy half-up clip. A short straight cut may need only two side pieces pinned back. You can change the amount of hair you hold without changing the whole look.
A loose low braid with a small ribbon
Bring your hair into one loose braid at the nape, then tie a small ribbon over the hair tie. This gathers the length in one place while leaving the top soft. A side braid works, too, especially when the back of your coat has a high collar.
Start by bringing your hair behind your shoulders with your hands. Divide the length into three sections, cross an outside section over the middle, then repeat on the other side. Continue down the length, keeping each pass comfortable rather than pulling it close to your scalp.
Secure the end with a hair tie suited to your hair. If you want a ribbon, tie it over the elastic in a short bow. Keep the ribbon tails short enough to sit with the braid, and check that neither tail catches on your bag or coat zip.
You can leave a small amount of hair around your face if you enjoy that shape. If you want those pieces held back, tuck them into the braid where their length allows or use a small clip. A few shorter layers may come loose as you walk, so carry another clip if that helps with your plans.
Try a brown ribbon with a cream knit and dark denim. A burgundy ribbon would look lovely with the fall outfits built around deep red, especially when the bag or socks repeat that color. The ribbon can be the only hair accessory you add.
For thick hair, a braid may feel full even when it's loosely done. For fine hair, a small tie can keep the end from looking heavy. Let those choices follow the amount of hair you're holding rather than a fixed accessory size.
A low bun with room around the hairline
Twist your length into a loose low bun and secure it without pulling the front tight. The shape sits close to your head, which can feel useful when you're wearing a scarf or walking between buildings.
Gather your hair at the nape with your hands. Twist the length gently, wrap it around its base, and use a hair tie or pins to hold the shape. You can make the bun a little off center if that gives it more space beside a coat collar.
Before adding another pin, check how the bun feels. You should be able to turn your head and move your eyebrows without a tight pull at the temples. If a pin presses into your scalp, move it rather than waiting for the feeling to settle.
A low bun can show off a pair of small hoops or a pretty scarf. Wear it with a cardigan and straight-leg trousers for a coffee date, or keep the same hair with a sweatshirt and jeans. Our cardigan outfits with skirts and trousers have a few combinations that give the neckline its own space.
For curls and coils, you may prefer to gather the hair gently and tuck the ends rather than twisting the full length. Use the amount of hold that feels comfortable for your hair. The bun can stay soft, with some texture showing around its edge.
A small side part changes the look, too. You can move the part before making the bun, then bring the side sections back with your fingers. There's no need to add heat to create a smooth section if you like your hair as it is.
A soft ponytail with the front held back
A ponytail gathers the length while leaving the ends free to move. Place it low or midway up the back of your head, then use a small clip for any front pieces you'd like kept away from your eyes.
Bring your hair together with your hands and wrap the tie enough to hold it comfortably. Give the hair at the top a little room before tightening the tie again. If the style feels secure and comfortable, you can leave it there.
The height changes how it sits with your clothes. A low ponytail can fall over a scarf. A mid-height ponytail may sit above a coat collar. Put the coat on before deciding, especially if it has a hood or a thick folded collar.
You can wrap a narrow ribbon around the tie or choose a soft fabric-covered one. A small patterned scrunchie adds color beside a plain sweater. Keep the tie itself doing the holding, so you don't have to knot the ribbon tightly around your hair.
For a casual fall day, try a navy tie with a striped top and dark jeans. You can pick a denim shape from our jeans and layering ideas for fall, then let the ponytail keep the front of the outfit clear. A bag strap is less likely to catch the loose length when you bring it over one shoulder before putting the bag on.
A half-up clip for curls, waves, or a bob
Gather a small section from each side and secure it at the back with a clip. This holds the front pieces while leaving the rest of your hair down. Start with less hair than the clip can hold, then add more only if it closes comfortably.
Bring the sections back with your fingers, keeping some room above the ears. Twist them together once if you like that shape, or let them meet flat at the back. Place the clip across the joined sections and check that its teeth sit comfortably.
For curls, take whole small curl sections rather than repeatedly combing through them to make the front match. For waves, you can keep the natural bend around your face. A bob may need only the pieces beside the temples to make a half-up shape.
Choose the clip around the section you're holding. A large clip can feel heavy on a small amount of hair, while a tiny one may not close around a thick section. The right fit is the one that stays in place without squeezing or scraping.
A tortoiseshell-style clip looks pretty with brown knit. A pale blue clip would be cute with cream. If a fall football afternoon with friends is on your calendar, this is a good place to repeat one of your team's colors without changing the rest of your outfit.
Two small side clips for shorter hair
Use one or two small clips to hold the pieces near your face when your hair is too short for a full ponytail. You can place both clips on one side of a part or use one on each side. Leave the rest of the cut as you like it.
Take a small section beside the temple, bring it back gently, and clip it close to where it naturally rests. You can twist it once to make a little roll. If that puts pressure at the hairline, use a smaller section or move the clip forward.
A plain metal barrette makes a clean line above the ear. A small colored clip adds a brighter detail. Try burgundy with a cream sweater or pale blue beside a navy collar. You can repeat the clip's color in a bag, a scarf, or the nail polish you already have on.
Keep an extra clip in your bag if you plan to change the style once you're inside. Before pulling a clip out, open it fully and support the section with your hand. The AAD's hair-styling guidance recommends gentle handling and limiting practices that cause breakage. You can take the hairstyle down with the same care you put into making it.
For the next breezy day, a cream knit, a blue clip, and your own hair texture make a lovely combination. Let the little blue detail have its moment above the collar.
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