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Beginner hairstyles for little girls: Quick and cute ideas

Learn how to do your kiddo's hair with these simple styles for girls

Toddler with black hair bow
Omar Lopez / Unsplash

When you’re doing your own hair, you really don’t think about it. You can whip it up into a ponytail when you’re going for a run or curl it just right if you’re heading to a party, but when it’s your little girl’s hair, not so much. Once your daughter’s hair reaches a length that you can actually do something with it, you now have to think about styles.

If you happen to be someone like me who never really gave that a great deal of thought, you’re faced with a bit of a challenge. The challenge gets bigger when you have a little girl with the natural curls you always wanted. Take heart. There are beginner easy little girl hairstyles that won’t cause a lot of drama.

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Tips for doing hair

A parent brushing a baby's hair.
Deymos HR / Shutterstock

The journey to getting your daughter to sit still while you attempt to braid her hair actually starts way before the toddler and preschool years. It’s important to get kids used to you doing their hair at an early age before you attempt a particular style, no matter how simple. So, keep these tips in mind as soon as your baby’s hair starts to grow.

Get your child used to a hairbrush

Bath time is a fun bonding time with your baby and toddler, but it’s also when you start to plant those seeds for a hygiene routine. Even if your kiddo doesn’t have much hair, it’s important to get them used to the idea of shampooing, rinsing, towel drying, and brushing. That way when they are older and you attempt to get those knots out, they’re less likely to get upset.

Use the right tools

A soft brush is a must for babies. Their scalps are very sensitive. Once your daughter’s hair starts to grow, though, you will need a better brush. The Wet Brush really is a perfect pick for girls of all ages. It’s great at detangling and getting those knots out. If you’re going to make parts, have a fine-tooth comb available. This works much better than a brush. Another must-have when doing beginner easy hairstyles for little girls is a detangler. Spray lightly after washing or use in the morning as needed. A hair detangler spray helps with knots and keeps the crying to a minimum. You may also want to keep a small spray bottle with water if you need to spritz a little while styling.

Hair accessories

No little girl hairstyle would be complete without those adorable accessories. So, have an assortment of scrunchies, hair ties, bows, and clips. Use cotton hair ties whenever possible. These are perfect for kiddos because they don’t pull at the hair when you are removing them. They are relatively inexpensive, too.

Beginner easy little girl hairstyles

Young girl with braided hair
JGA / Shutterstock

Before you start styling, choose a spot that works for both of you. You’ll need to have someplace where your daughter is not up too high. In our house that’s the kitchen table or a desk. Ultimately, you have to find what works for you. If your little one doesn’t like to sit still when doing hair, distraction always works. Doing hair while she watches her favorite show isn’t a bad thing. She’ll be more apt to sit still, and you won’t feel pressured to finish quickly. Now, let’s get styling.

Down

Wearing your hair down is perhaps the simplest and easiest style for little girls, especially if their hair isn’t at a length where you can tie it back. If your daughter has those gentle corkscrew curls that fall naturally like mine, this a perfect style for a school day. You can dress up the hair down style with a side clip. Bows are making a comeback for adults but have always been adorable for little girls. You can use a small bow clip, pulling the hair slightly up on one side just above the ear. Just make sure the clip is secure enough. Some hairclips slip easily, which can get annoying on the playground during recess.

Headband

Another simple little girl hairstyle with the hair down is to slide on a headband. Soft headbands tend to be better options for kids because they don’t pinch. They do slide. So, try to choose a headband that doesn’t slip. There are quite a bit of style options for headbands from plain, different colors, glitter, bows, and much more. Headbands are a perfect pick, too, for girls with bangs. A headband is stylish and can keep bangs in check. Sporty girls might like the nonslip elastic headbands.

Ponytail

Beginner little girl hairstyles don’t come easier than the classic ponytail. Ponytails have been around for ages because it’s an easy hairstyle that is versatile. A basic ponytail is ideal for a school day, sports, or anytime. You can dress up a ponytail with a ribbon or a bow. Ponytails can be high up on the head for a bit more volume or low. You can also put your daughter’s hair in a ponytail and then braid it.

Pigtails

Like the ponytail, pigtails are a little girl hairstyle mainstay. When you’re making the part for the pigtails, use a fine-tooth comb to divide the hair in two. Pigtails can go on the side of the head or in the back like a ponytail. They can be high or low. Just like ponytails, you can dress up with ribbons or bows.

Braids

Braids are a fun and easy way to change up your daughter’s hairstyle. The simplest way to make a braid is to put the hair into a ponytail or pigtails first. Then, you braid the pony or pigtails and put a cotton hair tie on the ends. French braids look amazing but are more involved. If your daughter doesn’t mind sitting still, with a bit of practice, you’ll be able to French braid like a pro. Glam Fam has a French braid video for beginners that can teach you the basics. Once you’ve mastered the basics of the French braid, you can work them into down hairstyles, too.

Messy bun

If you need a quick hairstyle, try doing a messy bun. All you have to do is pull the hair into a high ponytail, twist the hair, and then wrap it around into a bun. Secure with a scrunchy. Trendy Lady has a quick YouTube tutorial to create a styling messy bun.

Doing your own hair is a snap. Learning how to do your daughter’s hair isn’t difficult either. With these beginner easy little girl hairstyles, you’re sure to find a simple style that will look absolutely adorable. The key to drama-free hairstyling is to get your little one used to having her hair brushed. Then, be sure to have your favorite hair detangler on hand with a Wet Brush. Both are parents’ secret weapons that help make doing hair stress free for everyone.

Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
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