Preppy style is classic, polished and refined.
It exudes a carefree, sophisticated vibe. An essential part of achieving a preppy look is choosing the right hairstyle.
As a hair stylist, I’m always on the lookout for new ways to create chic, preppy hairstyles for my clients.
I’ll provide step-by-step styling tips and product recommendations so you can easily recreate these looks at home.
I’ll also suggest face shapes and hair types each style is best suited for.
The Polished Blowout
No preppy style wardrobe is complete without a polished blowout.
This look is perfect for creating voluminous body and bounce.
The key is to use a round brush while blow drying to smooth hair and create tension. This results in a sleek, shiny blowout with lots of lift at the roots.
Start by washing and conditioning your hair.
Apply a heat protectant evenly from roots to ends before blow drying.
Section clean, damp hair and begin drying one section at a time.
Hold the round brush underneath sections, pulling hair taut as you direct the dryer airflow down through hair.
Roll brush slowly down from roots to ends. Turn brush under as you get to ends to create an inward curl.
Once hair is 80% dry, switch to a smaller round brush to smooth and refine sections around the face and crown.
Focus on creating lots of volume at the crown and flipping ends outwards across mid-lengths and ends for bounce.
Finish with a spritz of light hold hairspray for extra polish.
This technique works best on medium to thick hair textures.
The voluminous body created suits round, heart and oval face shapes perfectly.
To get a salon-worthy blowout at home, invest in a ceramic round brush set.
Quality makes all the difference for smooth, frizz-free results.
Recommended products include:
– Strong hold blow dry spray – apply before drying for grip
– Ceramic round brush – 1.5 inch for precision, 2.5+ inch for volume
– Smoothing serum or oil – add shine and tame flyaways
– Soft hold hairspray – set style without stiffness
The Textured Lob
For a chic, relaxed take on preppy style, a textured lob is perfect.
A lob is a long bob just grazing the shoulders. Adding texture creates movement and dimension for a modern edge.
Use a sea salt spray on damp hair before blow drying for tousled texture.
Rough dry hair with your head flipped upside down, focusing on the roots.
Then section hair and blow dry upside down with a paddle brush to create volume.
Once dry, rub a texturizing paste, wax or pomade between your palms. Apply to mid-lengths and ends, scrunching and twisting pieces to define texture.
Finish by spritzing with medium hold hairspray and running your fingers through ends loosely separating pieces.
The texture should look soft and beachy, not crispy or stiff.
This style works best on medium to thick hair. The messy texture flatters square, oval, round and heart shaped faces.
Recommended products:
– Sea salt spray
– Texturizing paste, wax or pomade
– Paddle brush
– Medium hold hairspray
The Side Part Bob
A side part bob is a preppy hairstyle staple.
For a modern refresh, ask your stylist for an asymmetrical cut leaving one side longer than the other.
This creates a flattering angled shape while still keeping length for tucking behind the ears.
Start by sectioning hair diagonally from the arch of one eyebrow up towards the opposite corner of the forehead.
Mist hair with heat protectant.
Rough dry hair forward using a paddle brush until 50% dry. Then flip head upside down and blow dry hair under to boost volume at the roots.
Once dry, use a barrel brush to smooth the parted sections, rolling ends under slightly.
Set the part with some light styling cream or serum, sweeping longer side diagonally across forehead. Finish with medium hold hairspray to smooth flyaways.
This cut and style is perfect for oval, heart and diamond face shapes.
Have your stylist cut in some long, face framing layers to maximize the flattering effect.
Recommended products:
– Heat protectant
– Paddle brush
– Barrel brush
– Light styling cream or serum
– Medium hold hairspray
The Half Updo
The half updo is a timeless, elegant go-to hairstyle for preppy occasions.
Today’s version has a relaxed, undone vibe while remaining polished.
Start by applying a smoothing cream through damp hair.
Create a deep side part and blast hair mostly dry with a blow dryer using a paddle brush. Leave it slightly damp.
Next, take a triangular section from your part up to your crown. Backcomb this section, mist with hairspray and smooth over with a brush.
Pull it up and back, securing it into a little bun or twist with bobby pins.
Leave face framing tendrils down in the front and lightly tease the crown for volume. Set the style with firm hold hairspray.
Finish by massaging in a drop of hair oil through the ends for shine and softness.
This style complements oval, long, diamond and heart shaped faces beautifully. It works with any hair texture and keeps long hair manageable.
Recommended products:
– Smoothing cream
– Firm hold hairspray
– Hair oil or serum
– Bobby pins
– Teasing comb (optional)
The Faux Bob
Faux bobs are a fun way to switch up your style without committing to a shorter cut.
To get the preppy bob look temporarily, start by parting hair deeply on one side.
Smooth the parted sections with a flat iron to remove volume and frizz.
Mist hair with firm hold hairspray.
Next, gather all your hair over one shoulder and secure it in a low ponytail using an elastic that matches your hair color.
Fan ponytail ends loosely to create width like a bob.
Coil the ponytail into a bun and secure with bobby pins to create height at the nape of your neck.
Finish by misting your hair to blend natural hair with the faux bob ends. Run fingers through the ends lightly pulling out 1 inch pieces around the edges.
This faux bob is great for oval, diamond and heart faces. Play with a side or middle part. It works best on medium to thick, straight hair textures.
Recommended products:
– Firm hold hairspray
– Bobby pins
– Flat iron
– Clear hair elastics
The pixie cut
The pixie cut is a perennially popular preppy hairstyle owing to its chic, carefree vibe.
These days, pixies have more of a deliberately “undone” look.
Ask your stylist for a pixie with textured layers cut to a longer length on top and closely cropped sides and nape. This creates a flattering oval shape.
Style it by applying a mattifying cream through damp hair. Rough blow dry forward with your fingers or a brush to lift the roots.
Then sweep the longer layers on top towards one side.
Define the parted area with styling cream and create piecey texture in the layers using your fingers. Mist with a flexible hold hairspray.
For added volume, backcomb the crown area lightly before misting with hairspray. Scrunch ends slightly and tousle pieces towards the face.
This cut suits oval, diamond, and heart shaped faces.
Have your stylist customize the layering to suit your face shape.
Recommended products:
– Mattifying cream
– Styling cream
– Flexible hold hairspray
– Finishing wax or pomade (optional)
The Stacked Bob
For tons of bounce and volume, a stacked bob is the way to go.
This cut has precision layering with graduated lengths getting shorter up to the crown.
Blow dry hair with a paddle brush to create lots of lift at the roots.
Then go back in with a round brush to smooth sections and turn ends under for a curled shape.
Set the style with firm hold hairspray applied at the roots for maximum lift.
Finish with a light serum or oil on the mid-lengths and ends for shine and movement.
This style works best on thick, straight hair.
The volume created suits square, round, oval and diamond face shapes. Ask your stylist to include an off-center part and side-swept fringe to flatter your features.
Recommended products:
– Volumizing mousse
– Firm hold hairspray
– Paddle brush
– Round brush
– Serum/oil
The Top Knot Bun
For busy preppy girls on the go, the slick top knot bun is a quick hairstyle solution.
This ballet bun hybrid is equally at home at the gym or a casual brunch.
Start by brushing hair back into a sleek, tight ponytail positioned on the crown of your head.
Secure with an elastic matching your hair color.
Next, fan ponytail ends into a circle, creating a bun shape. Insert bobby pins in an X shape through the bun to keep the circle shape intact.
Mist with firm hold hairspray.
For second day styling, slick back any loose pieces around the hairline with gel. Pinch the bun in gently with your fingers to revived flattened sections. Mist with hairspray for hold.
This style suits straight or wavy hair best. It’s perfect for elongating round or heart shaped faces.
Recommended products:
– Gel or styling cream
– Firm hold hairspray
– Bobby pins
– Clear elastic
The Low Chignon
The chignon is timelessly elegant and ladylike. For a modern preppy vibe, style it sleek and low at the nape of the neck.
Prep hair by applying a shine serum through damp strands before blow drying smooth with a paddle brush. Create a deep side part.
Gather hair into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck, angling it slightly to one side. Twist the length of the ponytail until it coils into a bun shape.
Secure into a bun with bobby pins in an X shape. Coil any ends or shorter layers around the base of the bun, pinning to incorporate them invisibly. Mist with firm hold hairspray.
This style complements oval, diamond and heart face shapes. It adds sophisticated polish on straight or wavy medium density hair.
Recommended products:
– Shine serum
– Firm hold hairspray
– Bobby pins
– Paddle brush
The Slicked Back Ponytail
The slicked back ponytail is a take on the preppy look that oozes modern edge.
For this look, start by applying gel or mousse through damp hair.
Comb all hair back away from the face.
Use a boar bristle brush to smooth hair back tight against the head and nape of the neck.
Mist hair with hairspray and sweep back any shorter face framing pieces.
Secure hair into a sleek, low ponytail at the nape of your neck with a clear elastic. Wrap a section of hair around the elastic to conceal it if desired.
Set the slick look with more firm hold hairspray. For second day styling, dampen hands and slide over hair to smooth back any frizz or flyaways.
This style is perfect for showcasing striking bone structure. It suits square, oval, oblong and diamond face shapes. It works best on straight or wavy medium density hair.
Recommended products:
– Strong hold gel or mousse
– Firm hold hairspray
– Boar bristle brush
– Clear elastic
The Fishtail Braid
The fishtail braid is an easy way to add a feminine, preppy feel to straight styles. Part hair in a deep side part and mist all over with heat protectant.
Smooth hair into a low ponytail using a brush and elastic. Split the ponytail into two even sections. Take a small piece from the outside of one section and cross it over into the other.
Repeat, alternating crossing over small pieces from the outside of each section into the other. Continue down the length of the ponytail until you reach the ends to create the fishtail braid shape.
Finish by misting with flexible hold hairspray to lock in the pretty braided texture.
This style complements thick and medium density hair types best. It’s perfect for softening angular face shapes like square or diamond.
Recommended products:
– Heat protectant
– Flexible hold hairspray
– Clear elastic
The Chin Length Bob
The chin length bob is a preppy classic reinvented. This version has piecey, textured ends for movement and dimension.
Get the cut by asking your stylist for an asymmetric bob grazing the chin with lightly layered ends cut slightly shorter towards the front.
Style it by applying a volumizing mousse at roots and a texturizing cream through the lengths.
Rough dry hair forward with your head upside down to lift the roots.
Then use a round brush to smooth the lengths, turning ends under for bounce. Backcomb the crown slightly and sweep sides back behind the ears messily.
Finish with a medium hold hairspray for light hold and touchable texture. Scrunch ends and run fingers through hair to finish.
This cut flatters oval, heart, diamond and round face shapes. The volume at the crown and sides balances wider jawlines.
Recommended products:
– Volumizing mousse
– Texturizing cream
– Round brush
– Medium hold hairspray
The Wavy Shag
For a cool, undone take on preppy hair, try a wavy shag. This cut has lots of choppy layers cut to create natural movement.
Ask your stylist for a shag cut with layers ranging from collarbone to chin level with shorter pieces framing the face. This creates natural volume and bounce.
Allow hair to air dry or diffuse naturally. Apply salt spray to damp hair scrunching sections with your hands to bring out wavy texture.
Once completely dry, add a texturizing cream through the lengths while scrunching. Mist with a flexible hold hairspray.
Finish by massaging a few drops of hair oil between palms and scrunching through the ends for extra definition and shine.
This style is perfect for naturally wavy hair types. The volume created flatters oval, round and heart shaped faces.
Recommended products:
– Sea salt spray
– Texturizing cream
– Flexible hold hairspray
– Hair oil
The 90s Half Pony
Tap into peak 90s preppy vibes with a sleek half ponytail. This nostalgic look gives a nod to the retro decade while still feeling fresh.
Start by applying a smoothing cream or serum to damp hair before blow drying straight with a paddle brush. Create a sharp central part.
Gather the top section of hair into a ponytail positioned on the crown of the head. Secure with a small clear elastic.
Smooth flyaways neatly around the hairline and mist ponytail with firm hold hairspray to slick down. Leave ends loose for a contrasting texture.
This style complements heart and oval face shapes. Work with your natural hair texture whether it be straight or wavy.
Recommended products:
– Smoothing cream or serum
– Paddle brush
– Firm hold hairspray
– Clear small elastic
There you have it – 13 on trend preppy hairstyles for this year from polished blowouts to messy texture!
Preppy hair is all about looking chic yet effortless.
With the right products, techniques and customized cuts you can easily recreate these looks.
Make sure to schedule regular trims and use heat protectants when styling to keep hair healthy. Invest in quality haircare products and tools suited to your hair type.
Don’t be afraid to add your own unique twist to customize looks!
With these tips and tricks, you can keep your preppy hair game strong all season long. I hope this guide has provided plenty of fresh inspiration to update your look.
Which stylish new preppy hairstyle are you most excited to try out?
