It’s been years since I’ve worn my hair half-up. My go-to hairstyle in school, it somehow went by the wayside during adolescence, never to return again. And while the classic look has never really gone away, I certainly haven’t seen it on other people nearly as much as ponytails and loose, fully down styles. It’s like we forgot the happy medium that is half-up hair. But sometimes, all it takes is one little moment — or one humongous superstar — to remind us of one of our favorite, underrated, universally flattering beauty looks.
On Monday, August 23, Jennifer Lopez posted a few photos to her grid in which — brace for a shock — she looks absolutely gorgeous. She’s wearing glowy, neutral makeup with glossy, nude lips and highlighted cheeks, an elegant wine-colored manicure, and the cutest highlighter-yellow, ribbed knit dress. What really pulls the look together, however, is Lopez’s hairstyle.
Her long, honey-highlighted, straight yet full hair is mostly down, with just the very tippy-top layer — starting well above her temples — pulled back sleekly, though not too tightly. The slender ponytail sits neither high nor low, adding a bit of horizontal fullness when viewed from the side.
As is so often the case, Chris Appleton can be credited with the style, which he says has a “Glam Barbie vibe.” But a half-up look like this works for way more than a fancy getup. I’m already planning to wear it for a low-key date and a Zoom meeting.
Want more JLo half-up inspo? Although she doesn’t usually wear her hair like this, she did recreate her famous “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” half-up hairstyle earlier this year, proving how versatile it is — and how it really should become a huge trend again.