Hair emergencies can strike at any moment, but the heat and humidity of summer are known for making casualties of even the best-kept strands. Products such as frizz-fighting potions and body-building sprays can offer some relief from the usual summer hair challenges, but without a great cut as a foundation, any style built on product alone can quickly fall flat.
At Lux the Salon, a recently revamped boutique salon in Grant Park, summertime brings in clients seeking stress-free styles that don't take a lot of time to manage. "No one wants to really do a lot in summer. We suggest our clients work with the natural texture of their hair," said salon owner Regina Guinn, who took over the space two years ago. "You want to get up in the morning and not have to do a lot of fussing."
It's a good idea to let go of the blow dryer and dry hair naturally to avoid an overdose of heat, she said. It also helps to use a UV protecting hairspray to shield hair from the sun's drying rays.
Guys tend to over-shampoo in summer, and should switch to a lighter shampoo and a molding mud or a cream for styling. The daily regimen will take all of five minutes to perform but will leave hair protected and looking finished.
For those who aren't ready to return to their natural texture, treatments such as the new keratin straightening method, which temporarily smooths hair and reduces drying time without chemically altering the hair, are also options, Guinn said.
To help clients get a jump start on a summer hair routine, the salon, a Sebastian flagship, hosts girlfriend parties where friends can come in and get step-by-step instructions on how to style their hair at home.
We asked three stylists at Lux to share some of their favorite summer hairstyles and styling tricks for several hair textures and types. The results ranged from a pixie-ish cut to long and lush waves -- all styled to be summer ready.
Ultra modern pixie
Stylist: Anna-Marie Taylor
It's all in the cut. This long pixie is shorter through the back and sides with lots of face-framing fringe in front. Color is optional, Taylor said, but a light blonde can brighten the eyes and make the skin appear to have that summer glow.Get piece-y with it. The key to styling this hairdo is to use a product such as Craft Clay Matte Texturizer by Sebastian ($18) that creates texture and gives the piece-y effect.
Lose the tools. Once hair has been blow-dried, you only need to use your fingers to work product throughout the entire head.
Loose bouncy waves
Stylist: Mimi Lee
Do the wave. This style works well with naturally wavy hair, which can be air-dried or blow-dried before loosely curling it with a 1-inch or 1 1/4-inch flatiron.
Taking shape. Lee used Sebastian Re-Shaper ($16), an anti-humidity hair spray, to help the style keep a full-bodied look even in summer heat. Lee also used mousse to give hair bounce, specifically Davines No. 3 Universal Mattering Mousse ($20).
Curly chic
Stylist: Adrienne Leak
Give curls a whirl. Very thick, curly or wavy hair textures work best in summer when you work with them. "A lot of people are wearing more texture in their hair," said Leak. This cut, twice as long on top as it is underneath, gives curly hair a nice shape.
Get set. Textured hair (or hair that has been chemically straightened) can be set on flexible rods or in flat twists and air-dried to emphasize the texture while avoiding heat. Leak set hair on rods, then separated and twisted the curls with her fingers.
Define and shine. Sebastian Potion 9 ($20) helps keep curls defined while Sebastian Liquid Gloss ($18) gives curls, which reflect less light than straighter hair textures, a little extra shine.
Short and sleek
Stylist: Mimi Lee
Back to basics. This basic layered cut works for any texture and is great for guys who don't want to spend a lot of time drying their hair and applying product. "Men spend about two minutes on their hair," said Lee, only slightly joking.
The smart part. The side part gives a hip new look to an otherwise standard hair style. "It's good for a polished look if you want something easy," Lee said.
Whip it up. To satisfy a guy's low attention span, a single product that gives both light hold and nourishes the hair is Sebastian Whipped Creme ($20).
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