Leaving your hair open doesn't mean leaving it unstyled. A small change at the front—adding a braid, creating a puff, changing the parting or pulling back a few strands—can completely change how open hair frames your face.
That is what makes front open hair hairstyles so useful. You can keep the length of your hair flowing naturally while giving the front enough detail to suit a wedding, party, office event or even an everyday outfit.
Whether your hair is straight, wavy, short or long, here are 10 easy and elegant front hairstyles for open hair, along with practical styling tips to help you recreate each look.
Top 10 Front Open Hair Hairstyles for Women
1. Soft Waves with a Middle Part
A clean middle part with soft waves is one of the simplest ways to make open hair look polished. The centre part frames both sides of the face evenly, while relaxed waves add movement through the lengths.
It works beautifully with sarees, gowns, lehengas and even minimal western outfits.
Styling tip: Curl the hair away from your face and brush through the curls once they cool for softer waves. If your hair looks thin through the ends, add clip-in hair extensions before curling for extra length and density.
2. Front Puff with Open Hair
The front puff is a classic front hairstyle for open hair, especially for Indian functions. A little lift at the crown keeps the front from looking flat while the remaining hair stays open.
You can wear the lengths straight, softly curled or wavy depending on the occasion.
Styling tip: Backcomb the crown lightly instead of teasing too much. For fine hair, a small clip-in volumizer near the crown can help create fullness without needing excessive backcombing.
3. Side Part with Hollywood Waves
For an evening event, reception or formal party, shift your parting to one side and style the lengths into defined waves.
The deeper side part creates more volume on one side of the face and gives open hair a more glamorous finish than everyday curls.
Styling tip: Keep the roots smooth and concentrate the volume through the mid-lengths and ends. Tuck the lighter side behind your ear and add a statement earring for a clean finish.
4. Front Braid with Loose Hair
A small braid along the front hairline can instantly make simple open hair look more detailed.
You can braid one side only or create two slim braids from either side of a middle part. Keep the remaining hair straight or add loose curls for weddings, festive functions and parties.
Styling tip: Gently loosen the braid after securing it to make it appear fuller. Add a tiny pearl, flower or decorative pin where the braid ends if you want a more festive look.
5. Twisted Front with Open Curls
If braiding feels too complicated, try front twists instead.
Take a small section from each side of the face, twist it backwards and secure it with pins while keeping the remaining hair open in soft curls. The result is romantic without looking overly styled.
This is a great simple open hair hairstyle for birthdays, dates, engagement functions or bridesmaids.
Styling tip: Cross two bobby pins underneath the twist so they stay hidden. For fuller curls, add a few clip-in volumizers through the back sections before styling.
6. Curtain Bangs with Open Hair
Curtain bangs naturally create shape around the front of the face while allowing you to keep the rest of the hair completely open.
They work particularly well with layered hair because the shorter front sections blend into the longer lengths instead of looking disconnected.
Style them with a smooth blowout for everyday wear or add waves for a party.
Styling tip: Use a round brush to direct the bangs away from your face. Avoid making them completely flat—the slight outward bend is what gives curtain bangs their soft, face-framing effect.
7. Half-Pinned Front Open Hairstyle
This style keeps the appearance of open hair but prevents the front sections from constantly falling onto your face.
Take small pieces from both sides, pull them gently towards the back and secure them with a clip. Leave a little volume at the crown instead of pulling everything tightly.
It works with everything from casual dresses to sarees and lehengas.
Styling tip: Replace a regular pin with a pearl barrette, floral clip or metallic hair accessory when dressing for a wedding. If you need more overall density, clip-in extensions can be placed underneath the open sections.
8. Sleek Straight Hair with Face-Framing Layers
Not every open hairstyle needs curls. Smooth, straight hair with a centre or slightly off-centre part can look equally elegant, particularly when the haircut has face-framing layers around the cheekbones or jaw.
This is one of the easiest open hairstyles for office events, dinners and modern ethnic outfits.
Styling tip: Straighten in small sections and turn the front layers slightly inward or outward instead of making every strand poker-straight. This keeps the style from looking flat.
If your hair is shorter but you want a longer, sleek finish for an occasion, seamless clip-in extensions can add length while keeping the overall hairstyle natural.
9. Open Hair with One-Side Floral Detail
For mehendi, haldi, daytime weddings or festive celebrations, fresh flowers can turn basic open waves into an occasion-ready hairstyle.
Create a side part, pin one section lightly behind your ear and place a few small flowers along the pinned area. The rest of the hair can remain loose and softly textured.
Styling tip: Use two or three small flowers instead of a large floral arrangement if you want the hairstyle to stay light. Baby's breath, mini roses or jasmine buds work particularly well with open hair.
10. Voluminous Blowout with Front Layers
A voluminous blowout is ideal when you want your hair to look styled without adding braids, twists or accessories.
The focus stays on movement, soft volume and layers around the face. It works equally well for brunches, office parties, dates and wedding functions.
Styling tip: Lift the roots while blow-drying and use large rollers on the front sections while the hair cools. If you have naturally fine hair, a clip-in volumizer can help maintain fullness through the back and lengths.
How to Make Open Hair Look More Voluminous
One common problem with open hairstyles is that hair can look full when you leave home but gradually become flat.
Start by focusing on the roots rather than adding curl everywhere. Blow-dry the roots in the opposite direction of your natural fall, then return the hair to its normal parting.
Layers can also create visible movement, while dry texturising products can help add lift.
If the issue is overall density rather than root volume, clip-in hair extensions and volumizers can help. Instead of adding an unnecessarily large amount of hair, use enough extension pieces to blend with your natural density and achieve the shape required for the hairstyle.
Final Thoughts
The best thing about front open hair hairstyles is how easily they can be adapted.
You don't need an elaborate updo every time you want your hair to look different. A soft front puff can add volume, a braid can bring detail, curtain bangs can frame the face and a simple side part can turn everyday waves into an evening hairstyle.
When your natural hair doesn't provide enough length or fullness for the look you want, extensions can also be used strategically.
At Gemeria Hair, we offer 100% human hair solutions including clip-in hair extensions and volumizers that can be incorporated into open hairstyles for added length and volume. The idea isn't to make extensions obvious it is to help your finished hairstyle look fuller while still blending naturally with your own hair.
Choose a front style that suits your face and outfit, then let the rest of your hair do what open hairstyles do best: move naturally and frame your look.
