Hannah Davies finds out how to wear summer hair. BIG, heavy fringes may be hot on the style radar, but they’re a nuisance in the summer heat. Who wants a permanently perspiring brow? When temperatures soar at home or abroad, lose the sweaty locks and keep hair fresh and fun with relaxed summer hairstyles. You don’t have to go to great lengths to change your look. From city slicker to beach babe, there are easy tricks to transform your hair this summer. PONYTAIL PARADE High or low, the ponytail is the easy-peasy option to sweep hair back and add a swing to your step. A messy up-do is a fabulous relaxed look for beach or bar. “A loose, sexy pony is great for a quick-fix hair do,” says Hair Doctor Lisa Shepherd (www.lisashepherd.co.uk). “It works great on slightly ‘dirty’ hair – so wash it the day before.” STYLIST’S HOW-TO • Begin by setting the hair on large Velcro rollers to add volume and texture. Leave in the hair for about 15 minutes. • Remove rollers and turn your head upside down. Run your fingers through the hair to get a loose curl texture. • Smooth the hair to the back of the crown or into the nape and secure with a hair band. • Once tied, take a small strand of hair and wrap around to cover the band. DO THE TWIST Those who favour sleeker summer styles should head for a smooth twist on the traditional ponytail. A “dressed” up-do is perfect for heady summer evenings. “To create this high pony-tail, that has an added twist, hair has to be of medium to thick texture and at least six inches past the shoulder,” advises award-winning hairdresser Andrew Collinge (www.andrewcollinge.com) STYLIST’S HOW-TO • Take a triangular section from the end of each eyebrow to the crown and temporarily clip out of the way. • Take the rest of the hair and using a paddle brush, brush hair vigorously from the nape towards the crown. Keep hair as close to the scalp as possible. Once done, secure hair tightly using a hair tie. • Gently smooth down any flyaway hair with serum. • Take the front triangular section and gently back-comb at the roots. Lightly spray hair and smooth carefully with a soft bristle brush. • Gather the hair gently at the crown and twist towards the scalp to create a soft quiff. Secure the twisted hair with a grip and allow the ends to fall into the ponytail. • Once the style’s complete, gently smooth down the ponytail and use hairspray to hold firmly into place. ACCESS ACCESSORIES Accessories are essential for scraping back your tresses in hot, stuffy weather. Anita Cox, celebrity hairdresser (www.anitacox.co.uk), has these tips for added flair when dressing your hair. • Head bands are super-versatile. You can team them up with most styles, be it up-dos or wearing simply with your hair down. • Accessories such as hair slides have made a big comeback this summer. They’re great for adding a little glamour to simple up-dos. • Flowers are a fun way to dress up hair in summer. With so many vibrant colours out there you can usually get a perfect match for your outfit. They act as a great alternative accessory for your hair at weddings. • Planning to wear your hair up for a special occasion? Wash and condition your hair the night before the event – this helps grips and slides stay in better. SLICKED BACK CHIC Want your hair loose but off your face? Slicked back hair was a regular fixture on the summer runways. The super-groomed, wet-look is perfect for keeping your cool and works well on short or long lengths. “Go easy on the product,” warns Adam Reed, creative manager at Charles Worthington, www.cwlondon.com. “Hair should look clean and healthy but still held back.” STYLIST’S HOW-TO • After shampooing, apply a leave-in conditioner to help groom the hair without weighing it down. • Blow-dry your hair smooth without a parting and run a flat iron through the front section to control flyaway hairs. • Work a grape-sized amount of smoothing cream into your hands and smooth from forehead to crown. HIT THE WAVES If the slicked-back look is just too severe, make the most of natural kinks and waves in your hair and embrace summer curls. “The look is pretty, soft curls,” says celebrity stylist Kevin Murphy (www.kevinmurphystore.com). “The style should look like a blanket of soft textured wavy hair, not separated.” Throw away your irons and embrace your natural movement. STYLIST’S TOP TIP: “It’s not a frizzy season, but there will be a bit more of a fluffy texture to hair styles. This requires a good conditioner and leave-in treatment; conditioning sprays will help,” Kevin says. | 
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