Whether you’ve gotten a visit from the tooth fairy as a kid or prayed to your fairy godmother for endless good hair days, we can all agree that the mystical powers of fairies have bewitched us at some point. Luckily, fairycore is the latest spring hair trend to sweep through the #coreaesthetic world right now, and it couldn’t possibly have come at a better time. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about fairycore for hair and why it’s the ultimate aesthetic for all of your upcoming spring events like prom, festivals, and wedding season.
What does fairycore mean?
Fairycore is a design aesthetic that embodies the enchanting nature of fairy life, which can include everything from mythical creatures and magic to mischief and the mysterious nighttime woods.
Shop Our Favorite Products to Style Fairycore Hair
Total Results Keep Me Vivid Shampoo + Conditioner Duo
A sulfate-free, duo that gently cleanses and conditions so hair color remains vivid
Vavoom Extra Full Freezing Spray
A finishing hairspray that also works as a dry shampoo and texturizing spray.
Curl Manifesto Gelee Curl Contour Gel-Cream
A curl-enhancing, defining gel-cream for curly, coily, and very curly hair.
Hydrate Superfood Treatment Mask
A nourishing hair mask that hydrates, softens, and protects the vibrancy of color-treated hair.
All-In-One Multi-Benefit Oil
Lightweight, fast-absorbing multi-use oil that helps to nourish, add shine, and hydrate all hair types and acts as a pre-shampoo, leave-in, and overnight treatment.
Complete Control Hairspray
A medium-hold, styling hairspray.
What is the difference between cottagecore and fairycore?
The cottagecore and the fairycore aesthetic are similar, but there are a few key differences. Cottagecore is all about romanticizing rural farm life and features elements deeply rooted in nature and the countryside. Fairycore, on the other hand, is a bit more whimsical. While it does include nature-inspired motifs like flowers, butterflies, and springtime, it has a more fantasy vibe, incorporating imagery like glitter, pastels, and magic into its aesthetic.
Good hair day by @hairbyheathergreen.
What is the fairycore aesthetic for hair?
If you’re not afraid to have fun with playful, fantastical hairstyles, you’ll absolutely love the fairycore aesthetic. Expect bold hairdos with sprinklings of glitter, an array of pastel colors, fresh-picked flowers, nods to rainbows, and so much more.
Arguably, the best thing about the fairycore hair trend is that it can be tailored to any spring event you may have on your calendar. Choose floral, nature-based styles if you want to give a whimsical edge to a wedding or graduation hairstyle. Attending a festival or looking for a prom idea that’s not your average run-of-the-mill updo? Incorporate spellbinding hair accessories into your look, or test the waters of a unique hair shade that’s as entrancing as a fluttering fairy itself.
So while we may not always wake up with money under our pillow, we can bottle that same feeling of awe up and channel it into the best fairycore-themed hairstyles. Keep scrolling for 15 of our favorites this spring.
Our Favorite Fairycore Hair Ideas to Try in 2025
Good hair day by @chris0712
Lavender with Butterfly Clip
Butterflies and fairies often go hand-in-hand. When you pair a flirty butterfly clip with a whimsical fantasy color like lavender, you’ll basically be a walking billboard for the fairycore aesthetic.
Pro tip: A shampoo and conditioner system specifically made for fast-fading pastel hair colors like Matrix Keep Me Vivid Shampoo + Conditioner Duo can make all the difference in giving your lavender locks longevity.
Good hair day by @kellyawesomesauce
Pastel Braid
The only thing better than one pastel fantasy color is multiple shades of them! Show off all the nuances in your color with a side-swept fishtail braid secured into place with a flower pin.
Good hair day by @honeyhairandco_
Space Buns
Fairies are super unique and love to stand out, making these double-braided space buns the perfect fairycore anecdote.
Video credit: @jenniifernicolle
Sparkly Bubble Braids
We could all add some magic to our lives with a sprinkling of pixie dust. Bubble braids are enchanting all on their own, but a dose of glitter brings them to the ultimate fairycore level. Use a generous spritz of Matrix Vavoom Extra Full Freezing Spray to keep your bubbles and glitter on lock.
Good hair day by @curly.azahara
High Bun with Bangs
If “never grow up” was your motto long before a certain folkloric tale put the idea in your head, you’ll want to tinker with this fairy-inspired updo. Perfect for the gal on the go, a high bun with bangs is chic, effortless, and functional for those days you need your hair out of your face.
A high bun works on all hair types, but if you also have envious ringlets, as pictured here, enhance their shape with a defining gel like Kérastase’s Curl Manifesto Gelee Curl Contour Gel-Cream.
Good hair day by @hairbylunabelle
Pink Balayage
For a look straight out of a romantic fairytale, ask your stylist for a pink balayage. Top it with hair confetti to make it feel extra festive.
Fantasy hair colors require a good amount of bleach to lift the hair before a vivid dye is applied, so be sure to add lots of moisture to your hair care routine. A mask like Pureology Hydrate Superfood Treatment Mask can help hydrate, soften, and protect the vibrancy of color-treated hair.
Good hair day by @hairbylunabelle
Butterfly Clips
If we had a fairy godmother to grant our hair wishes at the flick of a wand, these butterfly-adorned waves would be at the top of our list. While we’re at it, we’d also wish for no heat damage to achieve them—these heatless wave tutorials may just do the trick.
Good hair day by @hairbylunabelle
Coastal Barette
Not all famous fairies live on land. Pull inspiration from the mythical sea fable creatures by opting for an amphibious barrette that encompasses all the best elements from the land and sea. Bonus points for dyeing your mane a mermaid hue!
Good hair day by @sparklingstrandsyyc
Hair Tinsel
Appropriately nicknamed “fairy hair,” hair tinsel can give you the shiny, glittery mane of your dreams without the commitment of actual highlights. When installed by a professional, these shimmery synthetic strands can last up to two weeks.
Good hair day by @luckylocks.co
Half-Up Sparkle Bun
For longer-lasting glitz, invest in silk-based sparkle threads. They’re heat, bleach, and dye-resistant, so you can proudly don your fairy hair anywhere from several months to a few years. Throw your mane up in a half-bun to really show them off.
Video credit: @sunniebrook
Gold-Encrusted Butterfly Barrettes
You may not have fairy wings, but you do have gold-encrusted butterfly clips that can make you feel a fraction as majestic. Here, Biolage Professional ambassador Sunnie Brook demonstrates a quick half-up how-to with butterfly barrettes.
Good hair day by @daliandra
Simple Flower
Some fairies prefer to fly under the radar. If that sounds a lot like you, a simple tucked flower is all you need to give a subtle nod to the fairycore aesthetic without overpowering your entire look. A dollop of Biolage Professional All-In-One Multi-Benefit Oil can help smooth down flyaways so your delicate flower—not your frizzies—takes center stage.
Good hair day by @annette_updo_artist
Floral Waterfall Braid
For easy nature vibes, dainty blooms placed throughout an ornate updo can make you feel anchored to Mother Earth.
Good hair day by @jamiewileyeditorial
Rose-Encrusted Fishtail Braid
Whether you pick your petals from your garden or buy them from the store, this rose petal-on-rose-color fishtail braid can transform you into a romantic fairy goddess.
Good hair day by @hairbykayti
Night Sky
Night fairies are indeed a thing, and you can channel their energy with clips reminiscent of a celestial midnight sky. If you’d prefer to try this intricate half-up look at home instead of at the salon, add a medium-hold styling spray to your arsenal, like Biolage Professional Complete Control Hairspray.
Find more of our favorite salon styling products on Hair.com, and tune into our weekly HDC Live broadcasts to see industry pros put them to work!
