The latest trends, techniques, and insider secrets—revealed.

Sweet Embrace
Start working with your hair’s natural texture, and gorgeous summer strands can be a breeze.
By Kathleen O’Leary

It’s summertime, and the living is easy, but our hair has a mind of its own. Curls and waves swell into mess of frizz the minute we turn off the AC, and thin, straight strands fall flat the moment we walk outside. For many women, this sparks a never-ending war of the wills—a time-consuming, often damaging battle in which they attempt to beat their strands into submission with blow-dryers, flatirons, and other torture devices. But according to the experts, it doesn’t have to be so hard. Here, they share their tips for embracing your hair’s natural texture, a low-maintenance approach that will yield a better-looking mane and ultimately allow you to enjoy more fun in the sun.

Cut and Run
Not surprisingly, an easy-to-manage haircut is one that “works with your hair’s natural texture rather than fighting against it,” says Diane Irons, author of The World’s Best-Kept Beauty Secrets. Joey Noufal, owner of the Noufal Hair Color Studio in Vienna, Virginia, points out that each hair type lends itself to a different kind of cut: “For curly and wavy hair, I recommend fewer layers in summer because the hair will bounce up.” For straight hair, however, “it’s the opposite,” he says. “A little more layering will give the hair some bounce.” Irons concurs: “Layers give hair lift in the summer and work with the humidity.” Noufal recommends having your stylist combine longer layers with face-framing ones, but “people need to be educated,” he emphasizes. “Especially with curly hair, it’s best to keep bangs longer while wet. If they’re too long when the hair dries, you can always recut them.”

Along these lines, your hair’s length will play a role in its manageability, and this is one case in which the middle ground isn’t necessarily the best option. “You don’t want the length to be in between,” Noufal says. “Let it grow a little, or go a bit shorter. With short cuts, you can push the hair right behind your ear.” If you do decide to grow your hair out, make sure it’s long enough so you can tie it up in a ponytail: “It gives your hair a break, and ponytails will always be in,” he says. As an alternative to that ubiquitous style, Noufal suggests pulling only part of your hair up and leaving some face-framing pieces down to soften the look. Meanwhile, Irons advocates the bob, which she describes as “a great summer wash-and-wear cut.” Regardless of the length, remember to keep visiting your stylist. “Regular trims are especially important during the warmer months to get rid of the split ends that contribute to unruliness and frizz,” says Irons.

Summer Stock
A low-maintenance approach will also require you to invest in a few products tailored to your hair type. “If you have a little bit of curl, switch from mousse to straightening serum,” Noufal suggests. For truly curly hair, he recommends the Curls Rock line from Catwalk, which defines, adds shine, and minimizes frizz. Irons also recommends using a leave-in conditioner, rather than a cream rinse: “It will act as a barrier against the heat and keep hair from frizzing.” If you have straight fine hair, no adjustment is needed: “Use something to add volume year-round,” Noufal suggests. In all cases, products with UV filters can go a long way toward protecting your hair from the sun’s rays.

Although both experts advocate less styling in summer, they’re quick to point out that there are certain easy techniques you can use to coax your hair into shape. “If you have wavy hair, braid it while its wet, and you’ll have beautiful waves when it dries,” Irons advises. Those with thin, straight hair can similarly benefit from coiling nearly dry or dry strands up into a bun, which, when released, adds body and bounce. Since you won’t always have time to air-dry, there probably will be times when you’ll have to use a blow-dryer. In these cases, “allow the hair to air-dry as long as possible,” Irons suggests. “Use the dryer to finish the style only.” If you’re determined to straighten your strands for a special occasion, you’ll also need to rely on hot tools, but don’t expect a blowout to stand up to weather-induced frizz. “A flatiron helps more than a blow-dryer will,” says Noufal, and even so, on some days, “the kink still comes in.”

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