Chicago’s summer scene is about to explode! With festival season bursting with music, art shows, cookouts, and exciting events, it’s time to plan the looks you are going to serve. Your outfit may do the talking, but your hair and makeup? That’s where the magic happens.
From Lollapalooza in Grant Park to the Blues Festival, Pride parades, and wine-sipping at Chicago Gourmet don’t just attend—arrive. Our Chicago Festival Beauty Guide is your go-to for slaying every summer event with style, confidence, and Aveda-powered beauty.
Keep your hair hydrated, frizz-free, and photo-ready with Aveda’s plant-powered products, and turn heads with bold, long-wear looks using ESABeauty makeup designed to last from the first beat drop to the final toast.
Book a Luxe Look (Without the Luxe Price Tag)
Want a quality glam look without maxing out your credit card? The Aveda Institute Chicago’s talented students are here to help you get the trending hairstyles, rejuvenating skincare, and most makeup applications all with prices that do not hurt to look at. Book today and let your festival prep feel as luxe as your outfit looks.
More of a DIY diva? No worries, keep reading to discover the best tips and products for getting festival-ready in style and feel confident knowing you’ll be looking your best at all of Chicago’s best festivals!
Lollapalooza 2025: Neon, Noise, and Not Playing Safe
Lolla’s your license to go bold or go home and experiment with eye-catching makeup and daring hairstyles. This festival is all about fun, creativity, and making a statement, so embrace the vibrant atmosphere with your beauty look.
Makeup Tips
Eyes That Wow: Light up the stage with ESABeauty’s 24/7 Cream Eyeshadow. Creamy mattes and pearl textures blend seamlessly for bold, show-stopping eye looks.
Graphic Liner: Bold graphic eyeliner is a trendy and playful way to add personality to your eyes. Think lightning bolts, wings, and negative space artistry. Pair it with the Brow + Highlight Duo to define brows and brighten brow bones for a sharp, polished finish.
Glitter Bomb: For an extra touch of fun, add glitter makeup to your eyelids, cheeks, and collarbones with ESA’s Highlight + Shadow Liquid Shimmer. It is perfect for becoming the glowing goddess of this day-to-night festival.
Hair Tips
Space Buns + Braids: Keep your hair fun and practical with stellar space buns, effortlessly tussled tresses, or sweat-proof braids. Spray Aveda’s Air Control all over your hair to keep your hair party ready!
Textured Waves: Beachy waves are perfect for a relaxed, free-spirited vibe that works all day long at Lollapalooza. Use Aveda’s Texture Tonic Texturizing Spray to create the perfect piecey definition.
Chicago Blues Festival: Effortlessly Cool (With Just a Little Smoke)
The Chicago Blues Festival is a celebration of the city’s rich blues history, and it is known for its laid-back yet energetic vibe. With live music that moves your soul and a crowd that is all about enjoying great tunes and good times, your festival hair and makeup should match that easygoing but stylish energy.
Laid-back vibes, legendary sounds. Your look? Chill on the surface, smolder underneath.
Makeup Tips
Smoky Eye: A classic smoky eye never goes out of style especially for a bold festival makeup look. Add rich shades like plum, bronze, or navy for unexpected depth and drama. Use the ESABeauty Multi-Tasking Brush, your go-to smudge brush, to effortlessly blend and define your smoky eye with precision.
Glossed-Nude Lips: Keep it chill with a natural lip color with just a hint of shine or tint to pull your look together. The Longwear Lipgloss by ESABeauty gives that “no-effort” finish (but we know better), keeping your lips flawless all day.
Lived-In Glow: For a glowing, fresh face, opt for light foundation like the Hi-Def Anti-Aging Foundation to let your natural beauty shine through. A bit of highlighter on your cheekbones will add the perfect touch of radiance without going overboard.
Hair Tips
Messy Waves: Wind-tousled, effortless waves are perfect for any outdoor festival—the kind that says “I woke up flawless.” Get that natural, lived-in texture with Aveda’s Texture Cream, offering weightless definition and light hold for all hair types.
Lowkey Styles: With live music and nonstop movement, go for an easy ponytail, low bun, or side braid to stay cool and carefree. A loose braid or lazy bun keeps the focus on fun not flyaways. Smooth it all out with Aveda’s Smooth Infusion for frizz-free, touchable hair.
Pride Chicago: Max Volume, All Color, No Rules
Pride Chicago is the ultimate event to embrace bold love, bold colors and bold creativity in your festival makeup and hairstyles. Whether you are marching in the parade or attending a festival, it is the perfect occasion to display your unique style.
Makeup Tips
Rainbow Eyeshadow: Celebrate Pride with a bold, colorful eyeshadow look. Blend, clash, or wing vibrant shades—there are no rules, just self-expression. ESABeauty’s 24/7 Cream Eyeshadow delivers rich pigment and all-day wear in every color of the rainbow.
Face Gems & Glitter: Add some sparkle and shine to your look with the ESABeauty Pressed Shimmer Powder or festival face gems. Bedazzle that brow bone, add that beauty mark to your cheeks, and accentuate your assets.
Loud Lips: It is all about expressing yourself with bold lip colors! Use the Extreme Matte Lipstick by ESABeauty to go bright with electric purple, neon green, or blood red lipstick that says, “Kiss me and find out.”
Hair Tips
Temporary Dye: Add a pop of color to your hair with temporary hair dye. Bold pink, blue, and purple are perfect for expressing your individuality. Spray on color? Yes. DIY rainbow mane? Even better.
Mega Volume Curls: Voluminous curls create a fun, bold look that complements the festive spirit of Pride. Big hair, big pride, big main-character energy. Pure Abundance by Aveda infuses hair with all-day weightless volume that feels naturally yours.
Chicago Air & Water Show: Functional, but Make It Fierce
If you are attending the Chicago Air & Water Show, you will want a practical yet chic hairstyle and waterproof makeup that can withstand the outdoor elements. Here are some tips to ensure you look fabulous all day long at this exciting event.
You are outside. It is hot. Planes are flying overhead. Your look? Bulletproof beauty with wind-proof hair.
Makeup Tips
Waterproof Everything: Stay worry-free with Waterproof Lengthening Mascara by ESABeauty and eyeliner. These long-lasting products will keep your makeup in place, even if you are near the water. Liner, mascara, and setting spray. You want it locked in.
SPF Base: Protect the money maker. Go with a Foundation Cream Beauty Stix by ESABeauty, that doubles as armor, with SPF that offers both coverage and sun protection for a flawless finish all day.
Hair Tips
Slick Ponytail: A sleek ponytail will keep your hair out of the way while giving you a polished, chic look. It is the perfect festival hairstyle for windy conditions. Sleek, aerodynamic, high gloss. Use Firmata by Aveda to keep your hair slick and styling.
Messy Bun: For a more laid-back style, a messy bun works well for windy or humid days, and it is effortless and cute. You are chill, but you still slay. Add a scrunchie, and it’s game is over. Aveda’s Flax Seed Aloe Strong Hold Sculpting Gel is perfect for that unperfect look.
Chicago Gourmet: Soft Glam with a Side of Sophistication
For Chicago Gourmet, an elevated event for the elevated palette, elegance is key. Whether you are enjoying fine food and wine or attending a culinary event, your festival makeup and hairstyles should reflect the refined and sophisticated atmosphere.
You are not just eating hors d’oeuvres—you are dining with drama. Time to look as expensive as your wine.
Makeup Tips
Neutral Luxe: Soft, neutral shades are ideal for this event. Go for natural makeup with soft browns, golds, and nudes with the ESABeauty Sunlit-Go Bronzer to create a chic and timeless look. Soft browns, champagne lids, rosy cheeks. Clean, rich, and timeless.
Polished Base: Achieve smooth, flawless skin with the full-coverage Aveda Dual Powder Foundation and a light contour. This makeup technique will keep you looking polished and radiant all evening. Full coverage, light contour, set like you are walking a red carpet.
Hair Tips
Updo Chic: A classic updo like a sleek chignon or French twist, is an elegant way to keep your hair neat and stylish. Use Aveda’s Smooth Infusion Style Prep to keep your hair from falling out. French twist? Sleek chignon? Pick your poison (or your wine in this case).
Loose Curls: Loose, soft curls are a romantic way to complement a chic makeup look for an elegant evening. The Curl Perfecting Primer by Aveda is sure to give you the hair you are after. Glossy, bouncy, and born to sip cabernet on the patio.
Chicago Festival Beauty Guide Commandments
Follow these rules and never be underdone at any moment.
- Prep Like a Pro: Skin Prep is Key. Clean skin, hydrated base, and primer are non-negotiable to ensure your makeup stays fresh and long-lasting throughout the festival.
- Comfort > Chaos: Serve face, but do not suffer for it. Make sure your hair and makeup are comfortable for long days of fun in the sun. Choose looks that make you feel confident and at ease. Hair off your neck, lashes that do not stab.
- Accessorize the Drama: Hair clips, cute headbands, and hats can add the perfect finishing touch to your festival look and help keep your hair in place. Barrettes, flower crowns, rhinestone clips—if it sparkles, it belongs.
Ready to Reign This Festival Season?
Whether you want to learn the skills or get the glam, The Aveda Institute Chicago is your beauty playground. With expert tips and personalized services, we offer hair and makeup classes that help you master the art of festival beauty. Book a class. Book a glow-up. Walk into the crowd like you own the city.
Now, hold onto your contour, babe—this glow-up just went full throttle. Enroll at The Aveda Institute Chicago this spring or summer and snatch up to $2,000 off your tuition. Yes, you read that, right? Big savings, bigger slay. But do not drag your feet, this offer disappears faster than setting up spray in July. You have until July 1st to lock it in. Summer success starts with a flawless application—literally.
