Easy DIY Hair Styling for Fireworks Festivals – Look Great in Your Yukata!

If you’re planning to wear a yukata to a summer fireworks festival, you’ll definitely want to make your hairstyle cute as well. Whether you’re someone who’s trying to do their own hair for the first time or someone who has always gone with a casual or the same hairstyle every year, you might be thinking, “I want to try a cute hairstyle with a trendy twist this year!”

Many people think, “Hairstyling is too difficult to do alone…” but there are several easy methods that can be combined to create various updo styles that go perfectly with yukata, even if you can’t do braids. In this article, we will introduce simple hairstyling methods for different hair lengths, from long to medium. We will also provide tips on how to ensure your hairstyle doesn’t get ruined during the fireworks festival and how to choose hair accessories that match your yukata.

Hairstyling You Can Do Alone – For Long Hair

Let’s start by introducing a hairstyle you can do alone, suitable for long hair. Having long hair opens up various hairstyling possibilities, but it can be quite challenging when you try to do it on your own. Spending too much time on styling can be tiring. That’s why we recommend a braided and twisted updo style that’s quick to achieve, even for those with long hair.

Long hair can be challenging to manage, with pins and clips often struggling to hold it in place. However, adding braids to your hairstyle helps to keep it organized and secure. This style is not only easy for beginners but also enhances the charm of your yukata, making it an ideal choice. Braids go well with both traditional and modern yukata styles.

How to Create Hairstyling You Can Do Alone

1. Leave the sides of your hair and gather the hair on the crown of your head, securing it into a ponytail at about ear level.
2. Take the remaining hair from the sides and bring it to the back, then tie it all together above the ponytail in a twist.
3. After twisting, fluff the top of the twist and secure it with pins to add volume.

4. Once you’ve braided the ponytail from step 1 and the twist from step 2, gently loosen them, and then secure the ends with a hair tie.
5. Roll up the hair from step 4 from the tips, and when you’ve finished rolling it up, secure the entire style with pins. Check the overall balance and lightly loosen it for the final touch!

When loosening the hairstyle at the end, it can be challenging to do it all at once, so make sure to loosen it gradually after securing each section. Also, for braids, it’s recommended to loosen them before tying them with a hair tie.

You can leave some stray hair at the back to enhance the cuteness when you curl it at the end!

Hairstyling You Can Do Alone – For Medium-Length Hair

With hair that’s too long, it can be challenging to manage and it may come undone easily. On the other hand, if it’s too short, you might not have enough length for certain hairstyles. However, if you have medium-length hair, there are relatively easy updo styles you can achieve!

A recommended option for medium-length hair is an arrangement that combines twisting and tucking. Even if you can’t braid, you can still pull this off! Here, we’ll introduce a simple method that involves twisting only. This straightforward updo gives a refreshing impression and complements any yukata style beautifully. You can adjust it to create a cool or cute look, depending on your preferences.

How to Create Hairstyling You Can Do Alone

1. Divide your hair at around ear level, leaving the sides, and tie the upper half into a twist.
2. Take the remaining lower half of your hair and also tie it into a twist.
3. Combine the two twists and roll them up from the ends. Secure them with pins.
4. Leave some stray hair at the back, twist the hair from the sides to the tips, and lightly loosen them.
5. Take the twisted hair from step 4 and secure it together with the ends of the twists from step 3.

Here, we’ve introduced a method that prioritizes “quick and easy” for you to do alone by simply twisting the hair. However, for step 4, instead of just twisting, you can also consider doing a rope braid or regular braid to make it even cuter. If you want a “cool” look to match a cool yukata, twist the hair modestly and lightly loosen it. If you want to enhance the cuteness, try rope braids or regular braids, and make sure to loosen them properly. Feel free to adjust it according to your preferences!

Hairstyling You Can Do Alone – For Short Hair

If you have shorter hair, it can be challenging to create an updo, which might lead you to give up on hairstyling. However, a half-up hairstyle is recommended because even those with medium-length hair can easily achieve it!

Here again, by combining “twisting (or rope braiding) and tucking,” you can instantly achieve a cute look. It creates a cooler impression compared to just adding hair accessories, making it an excellent match for yukatas.

Before giving up and thinking, “I don’t have enough hair length for hairstyling,” please give this a try!

How to Create Hairstyling You Can Do Alone

1. Divide the top section of your hair into left and right, twist each section three times, and tie them together at the back.
2. Gather the side hair sections while twisting them and pass them over the twisted hair from step 1 (repeat for the other side).
3. Similarly, gather the side hair sections while twisting them and pass them over the twisted hair from step 1 (you can adjust the number of times as you like).
4. Once you’ve twisted the ends of the hair from step 1, secure it with a hair tie, and tighten it. Finally, check the balance and lightly loosen it.

This hairstyle goes well with standard floral hair accessories, and adding a stylish ribbon can give your yukata a lovely Taisho Roman atmosphere. It’s also recommended for those who want to express their unique style!

Tips for Keeping Your Hairstyle from Falling Apart

After putting in the effort to create your hairstyle, you’d want it to stay in place as long as possible. Generally, using hairspray for the finishing touches helps prevent it from falling apart. However, you can also make it less likely to unravel by preparing your hair in advance.

First, even with a simple method, consider curling your hair to add waves. (If you’re not good at curling or don’t have a curling iron, you can use braids to add texture!)

Particularly, ensure you add texture to the tips of your hair. When you do this, the final style will turn out more fluffy and cute. So, it’s a win-win situation!

Additionally, if your hair is naturally straight or has a lot of volume, making it hard to manage, there’s a way around it! Applying a bit of styling product like wax can help your hair stay in place and come together nicely. If you’re not a fan of wax, there are lighter products like foam for styling hair that you can try!

If you find that hairpins are slipping or your hair is coming undone, pay attention to the direction of the pins and where you secure them.

When using hairpins, make sure they are placed perpendicular to the direction of your hair’s flow. Instead of trying to secure many hair strands at once, find the point where it won’t fall out when you place it.

Practicing before the day of the fireworks festival as much as possible will help you grasp the techniques, and you’ll become skilled at hairstyling even when doing it alone. Keep practicing, and you’ll do great!

Choosing Hair Accessories that Complement Your Hairstyle

Choosing the right hair accessories is quite important to enhance the hairstyle you’ve worked hard on by yourself! It can set you apart from others and even hide small styling mishaps (laughs). When selecting hair accessories that complement the hairstyles we’ve introduced, “tsumami kanzashi flowers” and “Japanese-patterned ribbons” are recommended.

Artificial flowers can also look cute ♡

When choosing hair accessories, it’s generally a good idea to match the colors with those of your yukata or obi to avoid any fashion mistakes. Coordinating with similar colors will give a beautiful look, while contrasting colors can make your style stand out! If you want a “cute” look to match your yukata, larger floral accessories are great! If you’re worried about hairbands or pins showing, you can use smaller floral accessories scattered throughout your hair to add cuteness and style at the same time.

If you want a more elegant or seductive style, consider using glass-bead kanzashi as an accent. Accessories that dangle gracefully can look incredibly cute when they sway as you walk during the fireworks festival ♡

At Rikawafuku Kimono Rental, we also offer yukata hair set plans. If you find it challenging to do your hair yourself, please don’t hesitate to use our services! Professionals can create braids and styles that may seem difficult to achieve on your own, and you’ll have a beautifully finished look.

Mastering the Art of Hairstyling for a Fun Fireworks Festival

Hairstyling that complements a yukata may seem challenging, but once you’ve mastered the techniques, you can easily create a unique look by combining simple methods like braids, twists, and tucks. If you can style your hair by yourself, you’ll have something to proudly show off to your friends at the fireworks festival ♪

However, if you’ve tried multiple times and still can’t get it right, or if the fireworks festival is approaching, and you can’t practice, there’s another option! You can use a yukata rental service that includes hairstyling. When professionals handle your hair, they can create beautiful styles that will match your yukata perfectly ♪ Enjoy the fireworks festival to the fullest with your cute yukata and the lovely hairstyle you’ve worked hard on by yourself!

Author of this article

Kyoto Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku operates four kimono rental shops in Kyoto city, including locations in Arashiyama, Gion, Kiyomizu Temple, and in front of Kyoto Station. In 2023, they served over 230,000 customers in the Kyoto area!
They offer affordable plans, with a kimono dressing plan starting from 3,500 yen, and a hair setting plan from 5,500 yen.
Close to popular tourist spots such as Togetsukyo Bridge, Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka Koshindo, and Yasaka Shrine!
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