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    1. Beauty

    I'll Be Copying Rihanna’s Easy, Half-Up Hairstyle All Summer Long

    A laid-back take on the French twist.

    Ariel Wilson's avatar
    By Ariel Wilson
    Published 22 May 2025 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Rihanna wearing a white shirty, diamond chocker, and an updo hairstyle.
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
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    Rihanna is many things to me. Caribbean excellence. Genius beauty brand founder. Fashionista extraordinaire. Today, however, she’s my easy summer hairstyle inspiration. On May 21, the entrepreneur was photographed shopping in France, where she’s been attending the annual Cannes Film Festival.

    The singer wore cat-eye sunglasses and a black sweater while visiting a local boutique. My favorite part of her look? The laid-back, half-up, half-down hairstyle, which is perfect for a European getaway. Rihanna’s hair was first separated into two sections thanks to a horizontal part, with the top portion being sectioned off into a ponytail. That portion was then wrapped into a loose bun, with a few curls sprinkled throughout. The bottom portion of her hair was left out, and her edges were slicked down, creating an elevated version of a simple everyday hairstyle.

    Rihanna wearing a half up half down hairstyle, cat eye sunglasses, and a black sweater.

    Rihanna is seen shopping in Messika boutique during day nine of the 78th Cannes Film Festival.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Updos and middle parts have been ruling the red carpets in Cannes (in fact, Rihanna wore a French twist variation just yesterday), so it’s a breath of fresh air to see an A-list celebrity in a look that’s so easily achievable at home. That being said, half-up, half-down hairstyles can also easily be dressed up for more formal events like graduations, weddings, or even galas. They’re also incredibly simple to recreate.

    So keep reading to see the products I recommend to get Rihanna’s exact hairstyle.

    The Controlling Type Hair-Thickening Edge Control Gel

    Fenty Beauty by Rihanna
    The Controlling Type Hair-Thickening Edge Control Gel
    $18
    $18 AT SEPHORA

    Given that she's also the founder of Fenty Beauty's hair-care sister brand, I have a strong feeling that those perfect edges are courtesy of this edge control gel.

    Amazon Basics Bobby Pins, Black Hair Pins for All Hair Types, 48 Count

    Amazon Basics
    Bobby Pins, Black Hair Pins for All Hair Types, 48 Count
    $4
    $4 ON AMAZON

    Those cute little pieces sticking out from the bun are likely courtesy of a few well-placed bobby pins keeping them in place.

    Musk Therapy Hair Perfume

    Initio Parfums Privés
    Musk Therapy Hair Perfume
    $95
    $95 AT BLUE MERCURY

    Rihanna's well-known for smelling incredible so I can only assume that she wears hair perfume. This one from Initio comes in one of my all-time favorite clean-smelling scents, Musk Therapy.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    Explore More
    Rihanna
    Ariel Wilson
    Ariel Wilson
    Social Links Navigation
    Beauty Writer

    Ariel Wilson is the Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. Previously the associate beauty editor at PS, she also has bylines in InStyle, Forbes Vetted, Women's Health, and more.

    Shaped by her experience in research, social sciences, and the non-profit sector, Ariel enjoys looking at beauty from a sociocultural lens, looking to avenues like politics, culture, and the arts, to inform her views on the space. That being said, as a true beauty-product obsessive, testing the latest items to hit the market, keeping up with trends, and meeting industry icons, will always be her favorite part of working in the beauty space.

    When she's not working, Ariel can be found hanging out with her husband and loving on their two cat daughters: Cow and Chicken.

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