Much of the UK is seeing a record-breaking heatwave, with temperatures expected to rise to 40°C! With Google searches for “summer hair style” seeing an enormous 9900% uplift in the last week alone, Cliphair’s stylist Lynn Chambers and trend writer Brenda Lee Intignano advise the best hairstyle ideas for all hair lengths to keep cool this heatwave, from freshly cropped bobs to hip grazing lengths.
The duo also offers expert tips to keep your hair and scalp safe during summer and particularly hot weather.
By Cliphair’s stylist Lynn Chambers and trend writer Brenda Lee Intignano
Short hair length
Heartthrob bob
90s nostalgia is influential with so many hair and beauty trends now, but who would have thought our previous boyband crushes would influence our hair? Put simply, the heartthrob bob or boyband bob is a style that’s shorter than a bob, with longer front pieces that just about caress your cheekbones. As a summer style, you can’t get much cooler (figuratively and literally) than this. As hair is nape length, you won’t experience that dreaded sweaty neck feeling. When extra cooling is needed, you can play around with butterfly clips and other accessories of the sort to secure the longer front pieces away from your face.
The mini bubble ponytail
It can be difficult to style hair that’s chin length or longer, however, there are a few styles that can easily be done.
Achieving this style is simple. First, take the section of hair that’s just above the top of your ears and tie it into a ponytail using a hair band or a smaller scrunchie. Next, take the section of hair underneath the top ponytail and in between your ears and tie it into another ponytail, including the first ponytail. Secure with either a scrunchie or a hair band. Finally, with the remaining hair at the bottom, tie this into a ponytail, including the other sections.
The low loop
Having enough length to tie into a bun can be difficult with shorter hair, so consider the trendy low loop instead. Simply pull your hair behind your head and tuck your hair into a loop. This creates the illusion of having longer and thicker hair yet is light enough to keep you cool in hotter weather.
Medium hair length
Baby braids
As seen on some of the most influential celebrities of 2022 – such as Dua Lipa, Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie, baby braids are one of the biggest hair trends for this summer. Not only are they simple to do yourself and look great, but they help keep you feel cooler in the summer, as hair is made to feel lighter.
Creating baby braids is simple – to begin, take a very small section of hair on either side of your face, and simply braid downwards, following the direction your hair wants to fall. Ensure you are delicate with your braiding, as you don’t want to tug and tighten the braid too firmly.
A sleek, high ponytail
A long and sleek high ponytail is a versatile style that can be worn all throughout the year but especially during the hot summer months, as your hair is kept away from your face. For maximum impact, consider adding extra length to your ponytail with a clip-in ponytail extension. Adding length and volume gives hair extra movement, which means your ponytail won’t sit in one spot while you’re sitting outside, meaning you will stay cooler.
“Wet” look hair
There’s nothing better than the feeling of cool, damp hair after an extremely hot day, so why not recreate that style with the ever-so trendy wet look hair. As seen on the red carpet by Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid, the style is simple yet elegant. The wet look is also perfect for hot days as you don’t need to worry about having greasy appearing roots or unkempt hair, as that’s literally the style!
To achieve the look, you will need to use products but it’s important to find ones that look wetter than they actually feel. Ideally, look for high-shine serums and gels. To achieve the style, firstly wash and lightly dry hair, then brush the product through the hair. When brushing, start from the hairline and pull the brush or comb back over the scalp, to create the slicked back look.
Long hair
French braids
French braids are great for the summer, as they can hide greasy and sweaty roots and help prevent frizz in the humid weather. Although they can seem intimidating, they are easy to master and won’t need to be restyled throughout the day. In fact, the messier the French plaits, the more stylish and effortless it will look.
To start, use a comb and part your hair in the middle. Gather three proportionate sections of hair at the top and stretch downward, so all sections are as close to the head as possible. To begin braiding, take the left section of your hair and cross it over the middle section. Then, take the right section of hair and cross it over the middle. Follow this pattern, while gradually adding more hair to each section, until you reach the end. Secure with an elastic band and repeat on the other side.
Loaded top knot
Sometimes, and especially in hot weather, there is nothing better than just piling your hair on top of your head and going about your day. While this may not seem like the most elegant way to keep hair from your face, this can be styled in a way that’s summer chic and elegant. Gather hair into a ponytail, right at the top of your head. Then, loop the ponytail around the hairband to create the bun and secure it with another headband. For added style points, secure with a scrunchie. Pull a few hairs out from around the face and the bun itself to avoid it looking too polished.
The claw clip
Most hair and beauty watchers on TikTok have seen the claw clip hack and adopted the style themselves, with searches for #clawcliphair receiving 1.2 billion views on the app. Wearing claw clips creates an effortlessly chic style to an outfit but is also incredibly practical as it keeps hair away from your face – making it perfect for summer.
Firstly, ensure your claw clip is the correct size for your hair. If you have particularly long and thick hair, then you will need a larger clip than if your hair is slightly shorter. Then, simply pull hair back behind your hair, twist it upwards along your head and secure it with the claw clip. It’s as simple as that!
If, however, your hair is more thick or curly then you should consider tying the hair up into a low ponytail before twisting it upwards along your head. This just acts as an extra security layer and makes the style more effective.
How to keep scalp safe during the summer
The easiest way to keep your scalp safe when sat in the sun is to wear a hat, however that can’t always be done. Luckily, there are other products and ways to protect your scalp from burning and causing discomfort. There are sun cream products that as specially formulated for your hair and scalp, that protect from UV rays without making hair greasy.
