Cute Summer Hairstyles

Is there any better way to dive headfirst into the hot days of summer than with a handful of great new hairstyles up your sleeve? Stylists offer tips and tricks on how to battle back against humidity and keep hair healthy while looking good during the warmer months, like actress Leslie Bibb shows here.

Summer is the perfect time to breathe new life into worn-out hair. And because many summer styles take little styling and don’t require heated tools, the season gives your hair a chance to recharge and look healthy again, like actress Jessica Biel's—seen here at a movie premiere in New York—says Los Angeles-based celebrity hair and makeup stylist Julia Papworth.

When the weather warms up, there’s a good chance you’ll be showing a little more skin with cute tanks and strapless dresses. For a style that’s versatile and sexy, go for a layered cut that hits right at the collar bone, suggests Marc Mapile, hair artist for the Chatsworth, Calif.–based Sexy Hair brand. Keep ends blunt—like model Heidi Klum does here at an event in New York—to create thicker-looking hair.

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Nothing keeps you cooler on a hot day than sweeping hair up and away from your face, and a top knot—like the one actress Elizabeth Olsen wears here at a movie premiere in New York—is a stylish and simple way to do it. Pull hair into a high ponytail and secure with an elastic, Papworth says. Wrap hair around the ponytail, and pin to hold.

If high buns aren’t your thing, try a messy, low bun for a more relaxed look, like the one actress Sarah Michelle Gellar shows off at an event in Hollywood, Calif., Papworth suggests. “Pull the hair back to the nape of the neck and start creating a loose bun,” she says, noting that the look works best with textured hair. “Pin the hair into place, but allow pieces of hair to fall out and look natural.”

Looking for a super-sleek look to help you shine this summer? A simple high ponytail will do the trick. Slick back hair (using a bit of gel or pomade, if necessary) and pull into a high ponytail, like the one TV personality Kim Kardashian wears here at an event in Los Angeles. “To make it slightly more sophisticated, take a piece of hair and wrap it around the elastic and secure with a bobby pin,” Papworth says.

The perfect go-to style after jumping out of the pool or ocean, a side braid is one easy look any woman with long hair can pull off. Pull hair to the side and braid it (try a fishtail braid, if you’re a little savvier); after securing, Papworth suggests loosening up the braid to make it look slightly undone and sexy, like actress Minka Kelly does here at a movie screening in West Hollywood, Calif.

For a style that screams summer, look no further than a head full of beachy waves, like those seen here on model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at an event in Beverly Hills, Calif. For women with curly or wavy hair, it’s as simple as letting hair air-dry, Papworth says. For straight hair, Mapile suggests dividing hair into four vertical sections, curling front sections away from the face while bringing back sections toward it. Run fingers through curls for a tousled look.

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Warmer months are also a great time to experiment with color. Many women go lighter during this season, but it's becoming increasingly popular to go back to your natural hue, Papworth says. That's one reason the ombré effect—seen here on actress Rachel Bilson at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards in Universal City, Calif.—is a hit for summer, because it combines natural roots with lighter ends.

Two things about summer that aren't so great? Heat and humidity. Keep hair tame in hot weather by working with anti-frizz sprays and serums, and go for updos that keep hair away from the face and mask frizz, like the one seen here on actress Victoria Justice at an awards event in Los Angeles, Papworth says. And don’t forget to keep dry shampoo on hand to battle a sweaty, oily scalp, Mapile suggests.

Whether it’s the heat of the sun or chlorine from the pool, hair can take a beating in the summer if it’s not properly protected. For hair as healthy as actress Salma Hayek's—shown here at the 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards—Mapile suggests using a leave-in conditioner to strengthen and nourish dry hair, and Papworth says to steer clear of blow dryers and chemical treatments when possible.