05-07-2025
The summer haircuts that feel cool
There are key times in life when going for a haircut just feels right – after a break-up, major life event or when the seasons change. In fact, the urge for a haircut mounts as the hotter summer months roll in because not only are shorter styles more heat appropriate, but they also align with a natural switch in our wardrobes.
'The change of season triggers something in all of us,' agrees John Paul Scott, founder and creative director of SALT salon in Hackney, London. 'Most of us feel like revealing a new iteration of ourselves when summer arrives, and a hair change is one of the quickest ways to do that.'
Case in point: Julianne Moore, who debuted a collarbone-grazing bob while on the press tour for her hit Netflix show, Sirens, in May. Swapping her auburn lengths for a sleeker lob felt fresh and cool without being dramatically different to what came before.
Zara Tindall also showcased a newly cut, choppy blonde bob at the Royal Windsor Cup Final last month; beachy and undone, she crowned the look with a season-appropriate straw boating hat and sunglasses. And Sharon Stone, who is known for her long, wavy pixie cut, has grown it out in favour of a mussed-up bob, a style she has also since paired with a hat.
Simplicity is the common denominator in all of these chic summer styles. 'I always think hair should be easy, effortless and as least faff as possible in the summer,' says hairstylist George Northwood, whose clients include Lily Collins (who also recently went shorter) and Alicia Vikander.
'When it's hot, who wants to spend time under a hair dryer or battling with a hot pair of tongs? It looks modern to have loose, effortless-looking hair.' He references a simple jaw-length bob (what he calls the 'Perriand' in salon, inspired by the French architect Charlotte Perriand) for its timeless, soft and unfussy finish.
Tempted? Here are the simple things you can do to update your hair for summer.
Long hair and layers
If you've got long hair, and would like to keep it that way, then adding a few layers around the front may be worth considering. See Jodie Comer, whose feathered look at the London premiere of 28 Years Later took its cues from Jennifer Aniston's famous Nineties Friends hairstyle. Modern and polished, it's an easy way to add detail to an otherwise simple silhouette: 'A glossy blow dry with lived-in razored ends works really well,' says Scott. 'It's easy, breezy and carefree, but lends an edge to the look.'
For optimal polish, make sure hair is hydrated and healthy with the help of a weekly conditioning mask. 98 Beauty's Hydra Bond Hydrating Masque, £35, is packed with nourishing oils and glycerin to restore hair elasticity and swish after a little as ten minutes.
Choppy bob
'This summer's bob is all one length and has no shape at the front,' says Northwood. 'It's a bit choppy but still chunky, and should look free and easy – nothing too studied.' If you already have a bob in situ, it may be time to experiment with a shorter look – it's a great way to provide ventilation to the neck area on sweltering days, plus it looks good too.
Alternatively, ask your hairdresser to chop into your ends – especially if your hair is really thick – to create a lighter texture, then aim for undone styling.
Hershesons Air Dry Spray, £18, Hershesons; ghd Wave Triple Barrer tool, £159, Boots
A tousled finish is incredibly easy to achieve with the help of Hershesons Air Dry Spray, £18, which now contains UV protection to fend off damage. Simply mist it into the hair, then twist, scrunch and leave to dry. For more overt waves, look no further than the ghd Wave Triple Barrer tool, £159, which delivers a mermaid look in no time.
Grown-out fringe
While some experts understandably warn against getting a fringe in the summer months – they can be high maintenance as temperatures rise and foreheads become oilier – Northwood says they're not something to shy away from. 'They're a great way to inject interest into long hair,' he explains, adding that he recently cut a set of curtain bangs for Vikander.
Typebea's 3-in-1 Dry Shampoo, £26, Boots
Great for opening up the face and accentuating the cheekbones, his advice is to opt for a style that 'blends seamlessly with the rest of your hair so that it looks more like a grown out fringe, rather than anything too graphic' that will inevitably require more maintenance. Typebea's 3-in-1 Dry Shampoo, £26, is a multitasking essential for summer fringes – as well as injecting volume into roots and absorbing excess oil, it's great for scalp health too.
A modern shag
The modern shag – a style that works especially well on those with curls – is also having a moment, with Google searches for 'layered shag haircut' up by 250 per cent in the last month alone. Selena Gomez recently had her own cut in by hairstylist Orlando Pita, who snipped in plenty of layers and mussed-up bangs for the singer.
Hair by Sam McKnight's Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist, £28, Hair by Sam McKnight
The more texture involved in this cut, the better – which is why it works especially well on holiday, when salty hair is par for the course – but you can fake it with the help of Hair by Sam McKnight's Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist, £28.
The hat trick
Since hats are an excellent idea to fend off the sun's UV rays, how to wear one and not succumb to dreaded hat hair? The key is to keep the hair looking lived-in to begin with so that any extra kinks aren't unsightly, but part of the look – as Phillips proves. Hats aren't the only summer accessory to get on board with, either.
Katya x Mousse crystal rose clip, £34, Katya; Joan clip, £28,
Scott is also a fan of claw clips to twist longer hair up on hot evenings – try Katya and Tort for great options.
