20 Wacky Hair Day Ideas for School From Cupcake Buns to Rainbow Ponytails
Looking for wacky hair day ideas for school that go beyond a messy ponytail? Think cupcake buns, rainbow loops and even a little bird’s nest.
These pictures give you plenty to work with, whether you want a few colorful accessories or something much bigger.
You can keep it simple or go all out. Pick a look your child likes, then check the school’s rules on hair color and props.
The towering styles are fun inspiration, but a smaller version might suit a school day better.
Fun hairstyles to try for wacky hair day
little buns and rainbow squiggles
We’re starting off strong with these cute little buns and colorful squiggles. I love how the pink, orange and blue decorations stick out between the sections.
Try several small buns rather than one big one if you want a similar look. Curled pipe-cleaner decorations could give you those playful shapes, with any wire ends tucked safely away.
Read also: 20 Windy Day Hairstyles With Cute Braids, Buns and Scarves
a row of hair loops
How cute is this row of loops? Each section has a different colored tie, with a little braid hanging down at the back.
Keep the loops big if you want to follow this picture. You don’t need extra decorations for this one.
big hair and a leopard headband
If you are looking for something with lots of height, this one is for you. The hair fans out along the top and back while little colored ties sit close to the head.
The leopard-print headband is my favorite extra detail. Try a patterned headband you already have for your own version.
blue and silver pigtails
I am obsessed with these shiny blue and silver pigtails. There’s so much sparkle on either side of that neat middle part.
For a similar idea, choose hair accessories with long shimmering strands. Blue and silver look lovely together, but your school colors would be cute too.
a bird’s nest bun
Aww, how sweet is this? Two little decorative birds sit inside a nest-shaped bun, with orange and green leaves spreading out around it.
I especially love the leaves hanging over the front. Keep the bird decorations small if you’re borrowing this idea.
rainbow ponytail towers
If you want to go all out with color, then this one is for you. The tall ponytails have bright bands stacked up their bases, plus pink, purple and blue curls falling down the sides.
There are colorful streaks through the bangs too. You could borrow just the rainbow hair ties for a simpler version without added hair color.
a cup full of curls
Is that a noodle cup full of hair? The curls spilling over the rim make this idea so funny!
The cup sits above a high ponytail with two long sticks pointing upward. For a school version, I’d skip the projecting sticks and let the cup and curls tell the joke.
tiny ponytails everywhere
Don’t want to add a big prop to your hair? No problem! Try lots of little ponytails with colorful ties instead.
I love how the ends flip in different directions. The straight bangs stay loose at the front, so there’s no need to pull every bit of hair back.
Read also: 20 Prom Hairstyles for Medium Hair With Curls, Twists and Pretty Updos
cupcake buns with sprinkles
OMG, how adorable are these cupcake buns? The spotted wrappers and bright red toppers are just too cute together.
Little pastel rectangles scattered across the hair look like sprinkles. If you’re trying a similar style, those tiny colorful details are worth keeping.
green braided loops
This braided hairstyle may just be one of my favorites here. I love the loops standing up along the head and the green sparkle between the parts.
The remaining hair hangs in a ponytail at the back. You could keep that same mix of loops and loose ends without adding the sparkle.
Read also: 20 Easy Second Day Hairstyles With Buns, Braids and Cute Accessories
cherry buns
Who knew two little buns could look so much like cherries? The red buns have long green stems that meet above the head, with leaves at the top.
For a smaller take on this idea, try shorter decorative stems. I’d keep the red and green pairing just like this.
a funny face at the back
This is such a fun way to turn a bun into a character. Red glasses sit above the hair bun, with black whiskers sticking out and a pink tongue below.
The big black ears and little spotted bows make it even cuter. You could borrow the glasses-and-bun idea without using every decoration.
a towering Christmas tree
Looks like the elf found a new Christmas tree, lol! This towering hairstyle has green garland, colorful ornaments and a star right at the top.
It’s a big inspiration look rather than a simple school hairstyle. Try a smaller upright bun with a few lightweight festive hair decorations if you want a scaled-down version.
a spiderweb bun
If you’re looking for a Halloween twist, this one is for you. White web-like strands cover a high bun, with large black spider decorations sitting on top.
The dark hair makes those white strands easy to see. A smaller spider hair clip would be a cute way to borrow the idea.
a shiny candy-kiss hat
Don’t want an elaborate hairstyle? This picture takes a different route with a shiny, pointed candy-kiss hat and a long white tag.
It’s a headpiece rather than visible hair styling, so check whether hats count for your school’s event before choosing this one.
bubble pigtails and star clips
I love these bubble pigtails with all the different colored ties. The pink and purple star clips are such a cute extra touch.
Thin braids hang beside the bigger rounded sections. Keep those little braids if you want your version to have the same mix.
a purple unicorn horn
Calling all unicorn fans! This pointed purple hairstyle has a big pink bow at the front and colorful streaks through the hair underneath.
The curled ponytail at the back is pretty too. If the tall horn feels like too much, try a unicorn hair accessory with a pink bow instead.
Read also: 20 Valentine's Day Natural Hairstyles and Sweet Styling Ideas
a little dog face
How adorable is this dog-inspired hairstyle? Two braided buns look like ears, while the hair at the back forms a shaggy little face with dark eyes and a nose.
The brown bow above the face is my favorite part. This is a detailed inspiration picture, but the braided ears alone would make a sweet starting point.
pink balloons and lifted braids
These braids look like they’re floating! Two pink balloons sit overhead, with strings reaching down to the upturned braid ends.
Check the school’s balloon rules before borrowing this idea. For a balloon-free variation, pink bows at the ends of two braids would keep the same color theme.
a flower-filled hair vase
Last but definitely not least, we have this flower-filled tower of hair. I am obsessed with the orange, pink, yellow and purple blooms!
The rounded hair sections underneath look like a tall vase.
This is another big inspiration look. For school, you could try a small bun with a few flower clips instead of the towering arrangement.
