First Birthday Hairstyles for Baby Girls by Hair Length and Texture

A soft side sweep needs very little hair. Move the longer front hair toward the side it already falls. Leave the crown and shorter sides loose.

The 2 sides do not need equal hair length for this style. If the front hair moves back across the forehead, leave it loose. When front hair falls into the eyes, see ways to move baby hair from the eyes without cutting.

If only the hair above the forehead reaches, make one tiny front pony. Gather only the small section above the forehead. Leave temple hair and shorter side pieces outside.

The pony does not need hair from both sides. If short side hair starts lifting, make the pony smaller. If fine hair keeps slipping, try a smaller front section.

See short and fine baby hairstyles for more options.

Use a palm-tree pony when crown hair is longer than the sides. Gather the longer top hair into one small pony. Leave the shorter side hair loose.

The pony may fan upward from the crown. If only the front section reaches, make a Tiny Front Pony instead. Make the crown section smaller if nearby side hair starts lifting.

Tiny pigtails become possible when enough hair reaches on both sides. Each side forms its own small pony, while short back hair remains loose.

Before making both pigtails, check each side separately:

• •the left side should form one small pony;
• •the right side should form another;
• •short back hair can remain outside both sections.

Turning 1 does not mean both sides are long enough for pigtails. If one side is shorter, make one side pony or a small top pony.

Your baby does not need a ponytail when curls already frame the face. The natural curl pattern can be the first birthday hairstyle.

Leave curls loose across the crown, sides, and back. Loose curls also work when short curly hair cannot form ponytails.

A birthday bow or crown is optional. Add one later if you want an accessory for the birthday photos. For more curl-based ideas, see baby curly hairstyles.

Half-up curls use the longer curls across the crown. Gather a small top section and leave the lower curls loose around the sides and back.

This style moves some front curls away from the face. Most of the natural curl pattern should remain visible.

If lower curls start moving upward into the top section, make that section smaller. If the gathered curls look flat, leave all curls loose.

See baby curly hairstyles for more options.

Use a curly side gather when one side grows longer than the other. Gather a small group of curls on that side. Leave the opposite side and lower curls loose.

The opposite side does not need a matching ponytail. If the small pony starts drawing lower curls upward, remove it. If that happens, leave the curls loose.

One central puff can form the birthday hairstyle for natural or coily hair. Gather the central hair near the crown and let the puff open naturally. Shorter coils along the sides can remain loose.

You do not need to divide the whole head into many small sections. If side hair cannot reach the puff, leave those coils outside.

See natural and coily baby hairstyles for the full puff method.

A mini top knot needs enough crown hair to gather and wrap. Gather the longer top hair first. Wrap only that section into one small knot. Leave shorter hair around the sides and back loose.

Straight or wavy hair can form this knot when the crown has enough length. If the top section forms a pony but cannot wrap, leave it as a pony.

Two joined braids need enough length across both front sides. Make one small braid on each side, then bring both braid ends toward the back. The lower back hair can remain loose.

1. 1.Braid the longer front hair on one side.
2. 2.Repeat on the other side.
3. 3.Bring both braid ends behind the head.
4. 4.Join them only when both braid ends reach the back without pulling lower hair upward.

You do not need to include every short piece in the braids. If one braid cannot reach the back, make one side braid instead. This style can work with straight, wavy, or longer loose-curly hair.