10 Beauty Trends You're About to See at Every Musical Festival in 2025

Music festival season is upon us. Whether you’re gearing up for Coachella, Stagecoach, Lollapalooza, EDC, Tomorrowland, or Bonnaroo, the prep is the same: narrow down your outfits and dream up the most stunning hair and makeup looks to complete the look. Today, we’re here to help with the latter. We chatted with a few beauty experts to uncover the most popular hairstyles and face beats for festival season. These aren’t your ultra-editorial beauty statements. Instead, they’re functional, easy-to-achieve face, eye, and hair combos that are bound to make you fit in and stand out, whether you’re in the desert or down south.

Before diving into ultra-specific lid looks, shimmering face accents, braided updos, and ethereal waves, let’s talk basics—specifically, the importance of sunscreen. Festivals are all fun and games until you get a gnarly sunburn in the process. To save yourself from such a skin disgrace, Sephora Beauty Director Melinda Solares says to start off your festival beauty look with mineral sunscreen, many of which are tinted and can serve as the base of a beautiful, barely-there complexion. “It is no surprise that beautiful, glowing skin is in but it is quite difficult to achieve if you get a sunburn,” she explains. “That is why SPF trends every festival season. However, this year, mineral sunscreen is proving to be the preferred SPF as brands have finally been able to innovate lightweight and sheer formulas.”

Meet Our Expert

• Melinda Solares is a Sephora Beauty Director and co-host of The Beauty Manifest.

• Mat Wulff is a makeup artist and Ulta Beauty Pro Team member.

• Sarah Potempa is a celebrity hairstylist and the inventor of The Beachwaver.

Speaking of barely there skin, Solares says no-makeup makeup is trending for festival complexions. “Whether it is Pamela Anderson or Alicia Keys, we have seen a surge of embracing a no-makeup look,” she shares. “Naturally, this trend is perfect for a music festival, as it requires very little. I’ll always remind you to wear SPF no matter what, but if you’d like to take it just a step further, try a [tinted primer and/or sheer foundation].” These products are designed to smooth texture, blur pores, and even skin tone, making for a natural-looking radiance perfect for festival season and beyond.

Once you get your complexion sorted, it’s time to incorporate fun cheek, lip, and lid looks, not to mention a hairstyle to top it all off. Find what fits your fancy this festival season, below.

Graphic Eyeliner

A simple complexion is the perfect base for a head-turning graphic lid look. “Graphic eyeliner has been everywhere, with sharp lines, exaggerated wings, and unconventional placements,” says makeup artist Mat Wulff. “Start by creating a sharp cat eye or dramatic wing with black or colored eyeliner. Add extra lines, dots, or shapes around your eyes.” And have fun with it! More is more come festival season. “You can experiment with geometric patterns or double wings,” Wulff says. “Use colored eyeliners to add pops of fun, such as electric blue, purple, or metallic shades. Complete the look with voluminous lashes or dramatic false lashes to really make the eyes stand out.”

Glitter

Glitter will forever be a festival season staple. “Whether it’s on your face, body, or hair, this look screams fun, festive, and fearless,” Wulff says. “Start with a clean base and a hydrating primer. Apply a sparkly glitter eyeshadow or loose glitter on your eyelids. A glitter glue can help it stick better.” You can stop there or take the shimmering accent beyond your lids to your cheeks. “Highlight your cheekbones with a shimmery highlighter and layer some glitter on top for extra glam,” Wulff suggests. “For added flair, try using glitter gel or body-safe glitter on your collarbones, shoulders, and arms. Finish with a bold lip and set your makeup with a long-lasting setting spray.”

Holographic Glow

If you’re looking for a shimmering effect without noticeable specks or sparkles, opt for holographic face and eye makeup products—you can even rock a holo pout! “Holographic makeup, including highlighters, eyeshadows, and lip glosses, gives a futuristic, multi-dimensional effect,” Wulff says. “Apply a holographic or iridescent highlighter on your cheekbones, brow bone, and cupid's bow to achieve a glowing, almost otherworldly look.” Hoping for a light-reflecting lid look? “Use a holographic eyeshadow or top your eyeshadow with a shiny, metallic finish for an extra pop,” Wulff says. Ready to make your lips the star of the show? “Try a holographic lip gloss for an ultra-glossy, prismatic effect,” Wulff says. And remember: The goal is to look ethereal for festival season. With that in mind, Wulff says to choose shades like lavender, teal, or iridescent pink.

Metallic Eyes

If you love the idea of a shimmering festival makeup look but don’t want the futuristic, shade-shifting effect, skip holographic products in favor of metallics. “Metallic eyeshadows are bold, edgy, and reflective, perfect for catching the light at festivals,” Wulff says. “Use metallic shades like gold, silver, copper, or bronze on your eyelids for a sleek, shiny look; apply metallic eyeliner or shadow along your lower lash line for an extra dose of shine—you can also experiment with foil eyeshadows, which give you an intense metallic finish.” Just keep in mind that metallic eye makeup is attention-grabbing. As such, a simpler face beat is its best friend.

Solares says metallic makeup isn’t reserved for the lids. You can also use metallic liquid eyeliner and eyeshadow to add accents to other areas of the face. “Whether it is lines, dots, or squiggles, I love the self-expression through this trend,” she says.

Gemstone Accents

Another way to incorporate a light-reflecting accent into your festival beauty look? With gemstones! “Face gems are a great way to add some sparkle and dimension to your festival look,” Wulff says. “Apply face gems around your eyes, on your cheeks, or even along your brows for a whimsical, sparkling effect. You can use gems in different sizes or shapes, or even mix crystals with glitter for an extra glam touch.” Prefer to keep it simpler? “Try using a few key pieces near your temples, or cover your forehead with tiny rhinestones for a festival goddess vibe,” Wulff suggests.

Baby Braids and Waves

After perfecting your shimmering festival makeup, it’s time for hair. Celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa says you can’t go wrong with baby braids and waves in 2025—or ever, really. To get the look, she says to start with heat protectant, then curl your hair with a 1-inch wand or curling iron for a “tousled beachy wave.” Once your hair is fully waved, divide small sections at the hairline on each side of the face, and weave baby braids. “To make the braids appear thicker, try the method called ‘pancaking’ which is gently pulling at the sides of the braids,” she adds.

Boho Braid

If you want to keep your hair fully out of your face and off your shoulders, Potempa recommends a boho braid, like Margot Robbie’s, above. “Begin this look with a beachy wave,” she instructs. “At the crown of the head, create a half-up ponytail. Gently pull at the hair to create a voluminous look. Take a section of hair on the left side of the head and split it into three parts. Bring the left side over the middle, then the right side over the middle. This will create a simple three-strand braid. Continue the pattern ‘left over the middle, right over the middle’ all the way down. After the braid is complete, pancake each edge to increase volume and texture. Then, repeat the same thing to create a braid on the other side of the head. Secure the left braid in the back with a bobby pin just below the half-up ponytail, then bring the right braid over to the left to hide the bobby pin. Feed the end of this braid through a lower rung of the left braid. This will secure the braids seamlessly together.”

While lived-in hair is typical for festival season, Potempa says that using a braid balm will not only make for a smoother look, but also offer added grip for the style.

Upside Down Braided Space Buns

Here we have another festival favorite, season after season. “Use a wide tooth comb to create a clean center part from the front all the way through the hair,” Potempa says. “Secure the left half of the hair out of the way and apply braid balm evenly throughout the right half. Flip the head over and take a small section of hair from the base of the neck on the right side. Separate the small section into three even parts. Create a Dutch braid up the back of the hair by crossing the left under the middle, then, the right under the middle. Continue by adding hair to the left and crossing it under the middle. Then, add hair to the right and cross it under the middle. Keep adding hair to each section and crossing under the middle until you have reached the crown of your head. Secure the braid along with the rest of the right half of hair with an elastic into a high pigtail.” Then repeat the process on the left side of your head. From there, you can decide if you want to rock pigtails, messy buns, tight braided buns, or anything in between. “Adding glitter down the center part can help add a fun festival flare to this fun Miley Cyrus-inspired braided space bun look,” Potempa exclaims.

Mermaid Waves

Looking for a simple yet stunning festival hairstyle? Glossy mermaid waves are the way to go. To get the look, Potempa says to spritz dry strands with a heat protectant. Then, use a 3-inch-barrel waver to texturize 1- to 1.25-inch sections of hair all over your hair, from roots to ends.

“Place the hair inside with the two rods side underneath the section,” she instructs. “Hold for about three seconds, then slide the waver down the section so the first barrel lands where the last barrel stopped. Continue this pattern throughout.” If you want ultra-defined waves, leave them as is; if you want a softer end look, loosen your waves with a wide-tooth comb. In either event, Potempa says to finish with an anti-frizz spray or cream for a smooth, day-to-night style.

Hair Art

Last but not least, Solares says that hair art is in for 2025. This can be interpreted many ways, from glitter parts and rhinestone placements to artistic hairlines and cuffed bubble braids. “Expect more creativity with hair looks, from spiral curls flattened on the forehead to glued-on hair accessories,” she says, noting that an edge control gel is perfect for creating coiffed swirls, while clear glue works like a charm for long-lasting hair gems.

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