I have a ridiculous obsession with my long hair, as anyone with long hair does since maintaining it requires a serious commitment (read how I manage the care). The hot weather, however, makes me consider cutting it, but the one summer that I did I regretted it as soon as the scissors sliced through. While I’ve adapted each season with various ways to keep it away from my neck and face to keep myself cool(er), living in Taiwan this year in the 100 degree heat and 80% humidity has driven me to new lengths for finding stylish ways to keep my hair at bay.
French Braid Bun
The Frida Kahlo crown braid is no longer a thing; sorry if you’ve perfected it, but it’s time to move on. A variation that is way fresher is the French braid bun (above) with a big, loose French braid on one side that leads to a super fantastic messy bun. Missy Sue has a great tutorial video (this requires visuals to fully know how to do it).
Loose Bun
From red carpet to the beach, the loose bun is always a thing, but the messier the better is what is trending. Whether you keep it in the back or slightly to the side, the trick is pinning and tucking until you get most of the strands up.
Messy Braid
It doesn’t get any easier than this; it’s the one I adopt on most days. The less you think about it, the better it turns out, but even if it doesn’t have the right amount of mess, you can easily pull and tug at it until you’re happy. Though I usually start the day out having it pretty tight and organized, it will naturally and eventually get that bedridden look by mid day.
High Ponytail
Sure this is a year-round style and doesn’t qualify as a trend by definition, but you cannot deny that this is perfect for any occasion; it’s just a matter of whether you brush your hair perfectly for an evening look or keep it loose for day. If you’re needing a formal hairstyle, tease the top of the head for some height before you pull it back, making sure you use a soft bristle brush on the surface to smooth it out (this is the classic Jennifer Aniston).
Twist Over Ponytail
This summer we are bringing back a Gossip Girl favorite, Leighton Meester’s twist over ponytail. This keeps most of the hair off the neck except for the nape but is good enough to invite some breeze while striking a perfect balance of coiffed and casual. If you want the festival feel, start the twist at the temple with a tighter coil. For Leighton’s version, twist less and crosscross 2 sections for an easy weave before tying it up.
Photo Credits: Missy Sue, Style Bistro, Zimbio, FameFlynet
