By Simi A Mira
Summer is, without a doubt, the best season for beautiful hair. Think about it – in Autumn and Winter, our locks are stuffed into scarves and beanies, and Spring is often wet and dreary. Summer, however, offers an opportunity for beautiful, wind-swept styles and mermaid-esque waves.
The last thing that we all want to do is use heated styling tools when it’s hot outside. Summer is perfect for effortless hair, so put away the hairdryer and straight iron for the next twelve weeks! Take advantage of your natural texture and make it work to your advantage.
The most natural summer hair is a wind-swept mermaid wave look. In wet or dry hair, use a sea salt spray to obtain a bit of volume, slight wave, and a tousled look that looks like you’ve spent a day at an exclusive beach. This style works great in short or long hair, and looks stylish both worn down and up in a high ponytail.
The next trend that’s really big right now are boho braids, specifically worn as a crown. To get this look, grab a 1-inch section of hair from near your right ear. Holding the piece vertically, braid so that the section easily lays across the top of your head. This braid can be worn and affixed either across the top of the hair like a headband, towards the back of the head creating a sectioned look, or towards the forehead similar to a hippie headband. With a flower tucked behind your ear, you’ll be in perfect style to head to the hottest music festival.
Inspired by Buddhist imagery, the top knot is making a major statement this season. The top knot is timeless ‘cool girl’ chic, as it looks completely effortless but totally stylish. With your fingers (we’re not looking for total precision here!), gather your hair into a high ponytail. Twist around the base until you have a traditional bun. Affix with a hair tie and separate loose pieces out for a messy look. This style can work for days running errands or nights at the club – it’s all about how you dress it up! For a very fun Japanese-inspired twist, follow the directions for a top knot but with pigtails (2 ponytails on the right and left side of your head). Twist each and affix with a hair tie for a playful riff on this style.
Finally, fringe is back and here to stay! Bangs have been seen on the runway recently and are making a big impact. The key to having stylish bangs is the length – they should be longer, touching to just at the bridge of your nose, and point-cut to give a ‘piecey’ feel. The great thing is that this style is expected to last well into Fall and Winter, so it will be a beauty investment with great payoff.
Summer can take a massive toll on your locks, so be sure to treat your hair with a hair mask at least once bi-weekly. Choose an option with lots of beautiful oils to increase hair elasticity so that it doesn’t break when you’re trying these new styles.
