In the summer, my hair can go one of two ways: flowy, mermaid-like waves; or a frizzy, humidity-induced mess. Since it’s more often the latter, I usually twist it into a sleek ballet bun, but I’m ready to mix it up. So I grabbed four of my coworkers—who all have amazing hair, by the way—and asked them to show me their go-to humidity-proof hairstyles. I wanted to try these styles immediately, so I did what any beauty lover would do and ran to Sephora to grab the exact products they use for their hair. Sephora is a haircare paradise, stocked with every high-tech tool, buzzy product, and adorable accessory you can dream of. But luckily, you only need a few products to replicate these low-effort, high-impact looks. Below, discover four hairstyles you should try this summer and beyond.
“You know the feeling when you exit the hair salon with an extra pep in your step, and your hair literally bounces along with you? That’s the kind of volume I’ll be sporting all summer long.” — Jamie Schneider, senior beauty editor
“I look for products that enhance my natural curl pattern and deeply moisturize my strands without weighing them down. After washing my hair and letting it air dry for a bit, I grab my Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer and massage the foam into my roots. It provides grip and body without dehydrating my hair, and makes my fine strands look way thicker.
Next, I section my hair in halves and blow-dry using my Dyson Supersonic Nural, the most futuristic hair tool I own. Not only does it have special sensors that prevent heat damage, but it also remembers your preferred settings for each attachment. After rough-drying each section, I twirl individual pieces around my brush as I dry, which creates a bouncy, blowout curl. Once my bottom layer is dry, I brush my roots upwards and outwards to encourage my hair to lift at the crown. I do the same with my bangs, rounding each side with my brush until they’re fluffed to my liking.
There’s something about a ’90s bouncy blowout that just exudes life. It’s fluffy, airy, and really dials up the drama while being super minimal in technique. Easy yet high-impact—that’s my hairstyling criteria for the summer.” — Schneider
Shop Jamie’s Hairstyle
“I like to think of myself as the queen of slick-back buns. It’s an easy, five-minute hairstyle that keeps your hair out of your face while showing your natural beauty. There’s just something so polished about a sleek bun. This hairstyle is foolproof.” — Aniyah Morinia, editor
“While my hair is dry, I apply the Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil to make sure my hair remains hydrated and moisturized while it’s up. This product is TLC in a bottle for dry hair—my hair feels visibly shinier, softer, and less frizzy when I use it.
Once I part my hair, I apply the Briogeo Sleek Stick directly to the roots in a downward motion, making sure to coat every single strand. I follow up with a bristle brush to smooth any flyaways, then use two hair ties to create my bun before going back in with the Sleek Stick and brushing away any bumps. This product does an excellent job of sculpting my hair into the shape I’m looking for and making sure no strands are out of place. It’s small enough to throw in my purse for touch-ups, but with its 24-hour hold, I probably won’t need to.
Lastly, I add a little bit more of the Kérastase Oil to my scalp, and voilà, my hair looks sleek and perfect for a summertime updo.” — Morinia
Shop Aniyah’s Hairstyle
“I’ve always loved an undone, messy look—there’s something so effortlessly cool about letting your hair do its own thing by air-drying it. More people seem to be embracing their natural texture, which I’m loving this summer.” — Caitie Schlisserman, group executive director
“This is arguably the easiest style you can do. After towel drying my hair, I add a dime-sized amount of the Living Proof Air-Dry Cream to my locks and scrunch. That’s literally it. This cream promises shiny, soft hair and frizz control, and it really delivers. But, one of the coolest things is how quickly my hair dries. I have a lot of hair, and I’m used to it taking its sweet time to dry, but this product speeds up the process. It’s the ultimate example of a low-effort, high-reward hairstyle.” — Schlisserman
Shop Caitie’s Hairstyle
“Summery, beachy curls have my heart. Something about wavy hair in the summer just feels so right and gives your hair that effortless look.” — Anneliese Henderson, senior editor
“First, I wash my hair and add the Bumble & bumble Long Last Styling Cream all over my strands from root to tip. This hydrates my hair, seals my split ends, and makes my hair look so much healthier in just one application. After that, I blow-dry my hair. When my hair is completely dry, I section it off and curl it with the Bondiboost Airburst Styler. I’m absolutely terrible at using a curling iron, but this device makes creating the perfect curls so easy for me. I also hate how fast my curls fall when I use a hot tool, but this curl styler releases a burst of cool air to lock in the style flawlessly. These waves only look better as the week goes on—I just comb through my hair with my fingers every morning and I’m good to go.” — Henderson