Ahoy fellow treasure hunters! After the huge success of Outer Banks and the imminent filming of its fourth season, here I am proposing a few looks for your summer. Whether you’re an adventurous Pogue looking for some fun or a polished Kook looking forward to some sophisticated beach time, it doesn’t matter. There’s a hairstyle for you. Ready to get styling?
The Beach Waves
The first hairstyle that comes to mind when thinking of Outer Banks is beachy waves – and it’s easy to see why. This is the ultimate beachy look as seen on many different celebrities – including Jennifer Lawrence and Chrissy Teigen, to name two. Mind you, you don’t have to be chilling on a sandy white beach to rock this hairstyle – matter of fact you can make it yours for various occasions including (but not limiting to) a seaside getaway, a picnic in the park, or a casual dinner with friends. To achieve this look you can use a curling iron or a wand to create loose waves and then tousle them with your fingers for a natural, effortless look; alternatively, you can use a hair waver to get the perfectly crimped ‘do. If your hair has some natural texture on its own, you can also use some sea-salt spray to enhance it and give it a beachy feel. I feel like both Pogues and Kooks would be able to rock this hairstyle in their own unique way – hooray for versatility! Extra-long beach waves give the look a boho-chic vibe that you can easily achieve by adding hair extensions to your tresses.
The Dutch Braids
Dutch braids would be a fun and stylish way to keep your hair out of your face while looking for Denmark Tanny’s treasure, or – why not? – simply enjoying a drink and a bonfire with your friends. This hairstyle has gained lots of popularity in recent years, becoming one of the hair symbols of festival season. Adding clip in hair extensions and applying them horizontally will help you add length and thickness to your natural hair to bring your Dutch braids to life. My recommendation? Seamless hair extensions, with their silicon seam that lays discreetly and flat against your scalp. Leaving them as they are makes the perfect Kook look with an Instagram-baddie accent – whilst, in order to achieve a Poguesque vibe, you can always accessorise them with colourful streaks, hair jewellery and rings, or even hair tinsel.
The Messy Bun
A messy bun is a go-to hairstyle for many people, and it's perfect for a day on the Outer Banks. We’ve seen this hairstyle make an appearance on Kiara in the actual show, but we all know a Kook girl may love a messy bun too. Initially deemed as an artsy, stay-at-home hairstyle, the messy bun rapidly gained popularity thanks to its unique, effortlessly chic indie vibe – soon enough becoming a hairdo choice for many different occasions, including weddings! This hairstyle is easy to achieve and looks wonderfully chic without ever being pretentious. To create a messy bun, simply gather your hair into a ponytail at the back of your head, twist it into a bun, and secure it with bobby pins. You can also pull out a few tendrils around your face to frame it and give the look a more casual yet romantic feel.
The Ponytail
A ponytail is an easy and practical hairstyle for a day under the sun in OBX – especially for a fancy Kook that wants to look sleek and put together. You can wear your ponytail high or low, slicked back or tousled; the world is your oyster. Looking for a fuller, longer and dramatic ponytail? Then look no further than the clip in ponytail hair extensions set that will take your tresses to the next level. Another way to add some interest to your ponytail is to incorporate a hair accessory, such as a scrunchie or a trendy hair clip. If you want a more casual, carefree look instead, opt for a low, messy ponytail instead, or why not? Add a colourful head scarf or bandana to match your outfit in pure Pogue style.
The Half-Up Half-Down
A half-up half-down hairstyle is a great way to keep your hair out of your face while still showing off your locks – but let’s be honest, unless you’ve been blessed with a thick, dense mane, putting half of your hair up means losing a great deal of volume and fullness. To get it all back and some, try using ultra volume hair extensions. These extensions are perfect for creating a more glamorous look. Now that you’ve sorted out the fullness, it’s time to get styling. To create a half-up half-down style, simply gather the top section of your hair and secure it with a hair tie or clip. You can also add some interest to this hairstyle by incorporating a hair accessory, such as a headband or a cute bow on the back of your head for a Kook-ish finish. Alternatively, you can mix and match and repurpose this hairstyle with loose waves or a messy bun.
The Top Knot
As seen on Pogue princess Kiara, the top knot is a simple and stylish hairstyle that's perfect for a casual day at the beach – and it will surely come in handy during an action sequence in the jungle, too. It might not be your type of holiday, but hey – the more you know! To create a top knot, gather your hair into a high ponytail at the top of your head, twist it into a bun, and secure it with bobby pins. You can also add some texture to your top knot by using a texturizing spray or dry shampoo, also enhancing the hairstyle’s hold. Kiara’s version of the top knot was half-up, half-down – not to miss on looking trendy as per usual. Kiara’s hair is naturally curly, and if this is your case too, fear not: you can still add volume and thickness to your half-up hairstyle by using curly hair extensions. Quick and easy to apply, this type of hair extensions brings textured tresses to life with boosted fullness and precious inches of newly-found length!
The Messy Fishtail Braid
The fishtail braid is now considered a festival hair classic, and a popular summer hairstyle in general. You can either combine it with a slightly textured beach waves look or wear it as it is; finally, you can also accessorise it with hair rings, hair jewellery and other small details to make it stand out even more. For a more relaxed and effortless look, try a messy fishtail braid, leaving out some small, wispy strands that will give it more volume and movement. For the final touches, you can also pull out a couple of tendrils to wear around your face to frame it and give the braid a more casual feel; alternatively, you could go extra and opt for baby braids at the front too. Adding hair extensions to your fishtail braid will enhance volume and thickness and add some extra length, too!
The Low Bun
Are you a fancy Kook living your best life? Make the dolce vita your statement with a low bun or chignon. A low bun is a classic and chic hairstyle that's perfect for a country club day or to simply chill in the sun with a frozen cocktail in your hand. This hairstyle is easy to create and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion; and you know what else is so great about the low bun? Just like the messy top one, it is incredibly versatile and works really well with pretty much any hair type and length. Creating a low bun is incredibly easy, too: all you need to do is gather your tresses at the nape of your neck, secure it in a low ponytail with a hair tie, then twist it into the desired bun shape. As per usual, pulling out a few strands will grant you a laid-back, boho-chic finish that is perfect for a beach day in pure Kook style.
If you have shorter hair, you can use remy hair extensions to add some length and volume to your bun. You can also add some interest to your low bun by incorporating a hair accessory, such as a scarf or a hairpin. This hairstyle looks great with both casual and formal outfits, making it a versatile option for any occasion.
The Side Braid
A side braid is a fun and flirty hairstyle, perfect for any occasion really. In the Outer Banks world, I see a cute side plait both in Kook paradise and in Poguelandia, depending on the desired finish. Easy to create, the classic side braid looks great with all hair types and is particularly flattering to medium and long tresses. To create a side braid, start by gathering your hair to one side of your head, then divide it into three sections. Begin braiding the hair by crossing the right section over the middle one, then the left section over the middle section again, and so on. Continue braiding until you reach the end of your hair, then secure it with a hair tie or a colourful scrunchie. You can then decide to dress it up or down, depending on your designated vibe! For a chill, laid back surfer look, you can create a messy side braid by pulling out some pieces of hair around your face or at the nape of your neck. For a more formal look, you can create a sleek side braid by using a hair gel or pomade to smooth down any flyaways and achieve a flawless, shiny finish.
The Boho Headband
Boho headbands, bandanas and colourful headscarves all make a popular and stylish hair choice that's perfect for a Pogue individual looking to channel some raw OBX energy. I have talked more in detail about fashionable bandana hairstyles in our dedicated blog: 12 Cute Bandana Hairstyles You Must Try. To create a boho headband look, the first step is quite obvious: start by selecting a headband, bandana or scarf that matches the designated outfit. You can wear your hair down in loose waves or curls, a messy bun or a braid to complement the look in a stylish, personalised way; if you’d like to go a little extra and accessorise, you can rely on bohemian-style hair clips or even beads.
Conclusion:
These are just a few hairstyle ideas inspired by Netflix's Outer Banks, but the truth is that there is no fixed rule and you can feel free to express yourself and channel your very own Kook or Pogue vibe however you want! Whether you’d like to go for a high ponytail for a cocktail party or a messy fishtail braid to wear whilst you ride the waves on a surfing board, the key is to keep it simple, effortless, and practical. After all, it’s a treasure hunt we’re going on! With these hairstyles, you'll be ready to take on any adventure on the Outer Banks with style and confidence.
