Hands up if you’re ready to head outside, wearing something fresh and breezy with a fabulous hairstyle to top it all off (literally). Here are five fuss-free ’dos to embrace this summer, with tips from celebrity hairstylists on mastering the looks.
Slicked Back with a Part
“Straight from the beach or pool, it’s so easy to slick your hair back,” says hair pro Christian Wood, who works with Sophie Turner and Phoebe Dynevor. But you don’t have to be outside in a bikini to make this wet look work; do it straight out of the shower for the just-came-from-the-pool vibe. To get the look, towel-dry hair, then apply a hair mask. That’s right. “Applying a hair mask onto damp hair before slicking back into a chignon is a favorite summer trick,” says Wood. It’s a win-win: You get the damp look on the hair while treating it — a necessity in summer when the pool and sun can stress tresses. (Try Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Weightless Mask.)
To update the look for 2021, pick the part, from center to side, says Wood. “This automatically gives you a groomed, polished feel without any extra heat styling or fuss.” And then leave hair down (which looks great on short to shoulder lengths) or pull it into a low ponytail or chignon.
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Natural Texture
Store the flat irons and blow dryers because “this summer is all about easily achievable, effortless hair,” says Wood. “After a year of lockdowns and staying home, simple looks will be the way forward.” And that means embracing your natural texture, i.e. not fighting with hair to get it to conform to some trend that doesn’t work for you.
If your hair frizzes in the heat and humidity, Woods recommends a serum, which is designed to add moisture and shine to hair while minimizing frizz. (Try Leonor Greyl Nourishing & Protective Styling Serum, good for all hair types.) Curly hairs, especially tight coils, will benefit from a leave-in conditioner to prevent dryness in the heat. (Try SheaMoisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-in Conditioner.) And if you wake up in the morning with a few curls out of place or needing a refresh, try a spritz of Vernon Francois’ Mist Nourishing Water (Lupita Nyong’o is a fan).
What’s the prettiest way to remedy natural hair that’s tweaking out in one spot? “Gorgeous hair accessories,” says hairstylist Soledad Alberti.
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Punched-Up Pastel Shades
Daniel Moon loves the way people respond to his colorful locks (both on his own hair and his clients): “It brightens peoples’ day and makes them smile.” And he thinks others are in the mood to bring joy into the world this summer as well. “People are taking more risks with their look — they’re ready to emerge with a new colorful energy that draws positivity their way,” says Moon, the go-to guy in Hollywood for colorful hues. (He’s colored Kristen Stewart, Kanye West and Madonna’s hair.) But instead of traditional pastels that have been so popular, there’s a shift toward “medium vibrant, such as corals, neon orange and pink.” Why? “Because they fade so pretty. And because these colors are so easy to throw over your highlights or on your sun-kissed ends,” he says. Plus, “zero commitment” to these temporary shades is a big selling point, adds Moon.
Not a DIY-type? Go to a salon in your area to make sure it’s done how you want.
Want to take the plunge at home? Try LimeCrime’s array of shades that treat hair as well as color.
Braids: Low and Loose or Taut and Sleek
Nothing says playful and summery like braids. There are two standout styles of plaits this summer, however. The first are low pigtail braids. Jillian Halouska, who works with Natasha Lyonne and Taylor Schilling, says low pigtail plaits are “extremely versatile” because “you can do them when your hair is wet. Or throw them in your bed-head hair for an effortless vibe.”
Likewise, tight braids can be styled straight out of the shower, says Soledad Alberti. To get the look, she recommends lightly towel-drying hair, brushing it out, applying curl cream all over hair (try Virtue Curl Defining Whip), tightly braiding in preferred style “pulling the three strands in tightly together while braiding.” She says, “Tight braids are more refined and sleek as opposed to a loose braid that you would quickly weave together, without any tight pulling or product.”
Bonus: You can wear either of these styles all day and night. And the next morning when you take the braids out, you can “easily transition into a naturally curly summertime look,” says Alberti.
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Sunkissed Highlights
Think of highlights as the bronzer of hair — instantly brighten and warm your look. This isn’t a new concept for 2021, but it is a great option if you just want a low-key update for the season, says Alberti, who adds that they’re great on hair that’s cut to shoulder-length with clean layers. And yes, you can go to your colorist with this request, or go super simple, says Halouska. “Sun Bum makes a hair-lightening spray that magically gives sunkissed highlights. But be sure to moisturize hair after.”
Leave-in conditioners, masks, and silk pillowcases should be your hair’s BFFs all summer long to keep strands looking healthy. As Wood says, every style — from slicked back, to natural, to braids — will “look so much better if the hair is in good condition.”
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