Not to be dramatic, but doing my hair in the summertime is akin to partaking in an extreme sport. Like, I’m about to compete in the World Cup of styling thick hair. It’s wavy and frizz-prone, which is only amplified by the humidity of a New York City summer. And there’s only so many times I can wrestle with my boar bristle brush to perfect a slicked-back ponytail, and only so much time I want to spend styling a voluminous blowout for it to just go to waste the moment I step outside.

Luckily, there’s a hybrid hairstyle, perfect for summer, that also leaves plenty of room for fun iterations and accessories: the half-up half-down style. So many of my favorite celebrity hair muses are constantly rocking the look, and it works for every hair length—whether you have long layers or just chopped a bob. If you need a go-to for a sweaty commute and want less hair sitting on the back of your neck, or have a summer wedding where you don’t want to go full slick-back, the half-up half-down hairstyle strikes the perfect balance between chic and practical.

Ahead, all the best half-up, half-down hair inspiration for summer.

How to do a Half-Up Half-Down Style:

The beauty of a half-up, half-down hairstyle is that there's no strict formula. Start by sectioning off the top portion of your hair, deciding how much you want to pull back, and considering the type of look you’re going for. If you're creating a half-up bun, for example, you'll want to gather more hair from the crown than you would for a small ponytail or clipped-back style.

Once you've separated your section, use a brush to smooth it back, then secure it with a hair tie, clip, barrette, or pins. From there, you can leave the rest of your hair natural or style it however you'd like.

The Best Half-up Half-down Inspo:

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