Somewhere around day 97, most parents realize the big day is coming and nobody has planned the hair. Teachers feel the same pinch, usually when a student asks if their braid can count as a class project. The good news is that 100th day of school hairstyles do not need glitter, hours of time, or a salon budget. Almost every great one comes down to a single idea: count something. Ten ribbons, ten buns, a hundred beads, or a row of clips lined up like a ruler.
This list has 15 styles for short bobs, long coily hair, and everything in between. Each one comes with simple steps, a quick tip, and a small detail kids actually like showing off. Some are quick. A few take an evening. Pick one the night before, set out the supplies, and let the morning stay calm.
A child who loves their hair walks into that classroom a little taller. That is the real goal here, and it is easier to reach than it looks.
1. Box Braids With a Hundred Colorful Beads
Counting beads is the whole activity, and kids love it. Sort them into ten small cups with ten beads in each, and the math lesson is done before breakfast.
- Section the hair into neat squares and braid each one down.
- Slide one or two beads onto the ends, then seal with a small elastic.
- Mix three or four bead colors so the braids look playful from the front and the back.
Box braids hold up well through recess, so the beads stay put all day. Choose lightweight plastic or wood, because heavy beads tug at the scalp.
Quick tip: Add the beads the evening before so morning is only a quick tidy.
2. Rainbow Ribbon Pigtails Wrapped in Ten Stripes
Two pigtails and a few spools of ribbon are all this takes.
- Part the hair down the middle and make two high pigtails.
- Tie a ribbon at the base and wrap it down in a loose spiral.
- Switch to a new color for each stripe, so ten stripes make ten small sections.
- Knot the end and leave a little tail hanging.
Short on patience? Buy ribbon that already has stripes and skip the switching. Younger kids enjoy running a finger down each pigtail and counting out loud.
3. Ten Mini Buns Along a Zigzag Part
The zigzag part does most of the work here. Draw it with the tip of a rattail comb and the whole style looks planned.
Split the hair into small sections, five on each side. Twist each one into a mini bun and pin it flat. Work from the front to the back so the rows line up.
- Use clear elastics so nothing competes with the buns.
- Add one bobby pin per bun for recess.
Best for medium to long hair and for kids who can sit still for a bit. Put on an audiobook while you work, because patience is the real supply here.
4. Snap Clips Lined Up Like a Ruler
Tiny rule: even spacing makes this one work. Place ten snap clips in a straight line along a side part so the row reads like a ruler. Pick ten different colors, or ten shades of one color if the class has a theme.
This is the fastest style on the list. It suits short, medium, and long hair, and it needs no braiding skill at all.
Watch out: Clips slide on very fine hair. Dampen the hair slightly or add a little texture spray before clipping.
Let kids arrange the colors themselves. It keeps them busy while you hunt for the other shoe.
5. Fishtail Braid Dotted With Yarn Pom Poms
In the drop off line, a fishtail braid dotted with yarn pom poms gets noticed fast.
Braid a loose fishtail down the back or over one shoulder, then tie small pom poms along it with matching thread.
You will need:
- Ten mini pom poms in bright colors
- Thread and a blunt needle
- Two clear elastics
Tuck each pom pom between crossed strands so it looks like it grew there.
Good to know: Loose braids look fuller, so gently tug the edges apart before you add the pom poms.
A plain low braid that blends into the school uniform and gets forgotten by lunch.
The same braid with a trail of bright pom poms that people notice from across the room.
6. Bantu Knots With Bright Elastic Bands
Bantu knots are not just a weekend style. Done small and snug, they last through a full school day.
Section the hair with a rattail comb, twist each section in one direction until it coils up, then wrap it into a knot. Secure each knot with a bright elastic band.
- Repeat the same ten band colors so the pattern reads like a count.
- Keep the tension gentle near the hairline, since tight knots pull on tender edges.
They sit best on freshly moisturized hair. The bonus is a bouncy twist out the next day.
7. Pipe Cleaner Spiral Pigtails
The common mistake is leaving sharp wire ends poking out. Fold each end into a tiny loop before it goes anywhere near the hair.
- Make two pigtails with soft elastics.
- Wrap a chenille stem around each pigtail in a loose spiral.
- Bend the end inward so it lies flat and smooth.
Kids love the bendy look, and the colors can match a favorite outfit. Take the stems out gently at the end of the day, since they can snag on fine hair.
Quick tip: Have the child shake their head before school to check that nothing slips.
8. Curly Top With Candy Colored Clips
Short hair gets left out of most celebration ideas, which is a shame. Curly tops hold clips well, because the curls grip them without any pulling.
Lift small sections on top, clip them back or to one side, and leave the sides and back as they are. Repeat the colors in a pattern, like red, yellow, blue, then start again.
- Mini claw clips work as well as snap clips.
- A little curl cream keeps the shape soft instead of crunchy.
Best for boys and girls with short curls or coils, and it takes only a few minutes.
Clip into dry curls or curls with a little cream.
Repeat one color pattern across the top.
Heavy clips that pull on small sections.
Clipping into slippery, freshly washed hair.
9. Half Up Waterfall Braid With Tiny Ribbon Bows
Long, loose hair and a hands on craft table do not mix. It ends up in the glue, the paint, or both.
A half up waterfall braid keeps the front out of the way and leaves the back flowing. Start at one temple, braid across the back of the head, and drop a strand from the bottom edge each time. Finish with a small elastic behind the other ear.
Tuck tiny ribbon bows along the braid for a festive finish.
Good to know: Wavy hair holds this braid best. Straight hair needs a little texture spray first.
10. Space Buns With Star Clips
High buns or low buns? Both work, and each gives a different look.
- High space buns: Playful, easy to spot, and quick to place with two elastics.
- Low buns: Calmer and more secure for kids who run at recess.
Start with a center part, gather each side, twist, and wrap it around the base. Slide a star clip into each bun so it shows from the front and the side.
Choose whichever suits the child’s energy that day. Pin the loose ends flat if they tickle the neck.
11. Stacked Scrunchie Ponytail in Rainbow Order
Five scrunchies stacked on one high ponytail look like a tiny rainbow bouncing down the back.
Gather the hair into a high ponytail with a plain elastic. Slide the scrunchies on one at a time, leaving a small gap between each, and keep them in rainbow order.
- Soft fabric is gentler on hair than tight elastics.
- Wrap the first scrunchie twice if the ponytail feels heavy.
The ponytail swings when the child walks, which is half the fun. Great for kids who want a style that moves.
12. Twist Out Puffs With a Dotted Headband
A dotted headband gives you a clean line at the front and a built in 100th day joke, since a band full of dots is easy to count.
Stretch a polka dot band across the front hairline, then shape the twist out into two soft puffs, one on each side. Fluff the ends with your fingers instead of a brush.
Quick tip: Choose a wide, stretchy band so it does not dig in behind the ears.
Twist outs look best on hair that has set overnight, so do the twists the evening before.
13. Looped Braided Pigtails With Bright Ties
Two braids, folded into loops, make a bold shape with a very simple method.
- Make two high pigtails and braid each one down.
- Fold each braid up into a loop and tie the end to the base.
- Wrap a bright hair tie around the base to hold the loop.
Use ties in two matching colors so the pigtails look like a pair.
Longer hair makes bigger loops, while shoulder length hair makes small, neat ones. Add a bobby pin if the loops droop by lunch.
14. Short Bob With Dotted Barrettes
Bobs are the quiet winners on the 100th day, because dots and barrettes sit right where everyone can see them.
Part the hair on one side and snap a row of dotted barrettes along the temple, spacing them evenly. Keep the rest smooth and let the bob frame the face.
- Match the dot color to one color in the outfit.
- Tuck the hair behind one ear so the barrettes show.
Dots count, too. Ask the child to count them out loud for the class.
Short hair holds a pattern as well as long hair does. Repeat one color or one shape and the style looks planned.
15. Temporary Chalk Streaks in Loose Waves
Chalk on dry, light hair gets everywhere, including collars and car seats. Do it outside or over an old sheet.
- Wrap a towel around the shoulders.
- Dampen a small section and rub the chalk down it.
- Let it dry, then brush out the extra dust.
Ask a grown up to check the package for age guidance first. Most hair chalk washes out, but the label will tell you for sure, so it suits a one day celebration.
Conclusion
Pick one idea from this list and make it your own. Let your child choose the colors, count the beads, or decide between high buns and low ones. The best 100th day of school hairstyles are the ones a child helped plan, because they show up proud instead of just styled. Short hair, long hair, curls, coils, and waves all have a spot here, so there is something for every head in your class or your house. Gather the supplies the night before, keep a few spare elastics nearby, and enjoy the quiet morning. The hair is only the start of a good day.
Save this list to your Pinterest board so the next school celebration, spirit week, or picture day has a hairstyle ready to go.